Penguin

Biodata

Background / History

Penguin spent decades fighting his way through Gotham's underworld after being mocked as a “freak.” By the time Chu Men enters the Iceberg Lounge, Penguin controls the club and is a major crime boss 3 4 6.

Penguin confronts Chu Men with dozens of gunmen, but their bullets cannot reach him. Chu Men burns through Penguin's umbrella, severs his right arm with Heat Vision, and forces him to kneel and serve a meal 3. Penguin secretly sends Arkham footage to the police and Batman, spreads a rumor intended to draw Superman to Gotham, and sends his operatives Lark, Jay, and Raven to attack Chu Men with poisoned knives. The attempt fails; Chu Men brands “slave” onto Penguin's forehead, claims his assets and territory, and leaves him to run the businesses for 0.1% of daily profits 4 5 6.

Penguin continues plotting with Black Mask and Two-Face. They pool $300 million to hire Deathstroke, while Penguin prepares a way to flee if the assassination fails 13. Deathstroke is killed, and Penguin watches Superman lose to Chu Men. He tries to escape Gotham, but Lark stops him and Jay and Raven bind him 16 19 22. Chu Men brings Black Mask and Two-Face to the lounge; the three bosses blame one another and plead for mercy before Chu Men kills them with Heat Vision 22.

Appearance

Penguin is short and fat. He initially appears in a tuxedo carrying a black umbrella 3.

• Injuries — Chu Men severs his right arm; Penguin later wears thick bandages around the shoulder 3 4.
• Brand — The character for “slave” is burned into his forehead, which he subsequently covers with bandages 6 13.

Personality

Penguin's submission to Chu Men is driven by fear, not loyalty. After agreeing to surrender his empire, he privately rages against the humiliation and keeps seeking others who might kill his new master 6 13. He is also cautious enough to arrange an escape route rather than depend entirely on Deathstroke's contract 13.

Abilities & Skills

Underworld organization

• Commands Iceberg Lounge gunmen, guards, and other loyalists before Chu Men's takeover 3 6.
• Uses surveillance, informants, anonymous leaks, and black-market rumors to bring other factions into conflict with Chu Men 4 13.
• Negotiates a joint assassination contract with Black Mask and Two-Face, though neither Deathstroke nor his earlier operatives can harm the target 5 13 16.

Equipment / Items

• Bulletproof black umbrella — Burned through by Chu Men's Heat Vision 3.
• Iceberg Lounge surveillance system — Lets Penguin watch Chu Men's suite and later monitor events from an underground room 4 5 15.
• Private plane — Prepared as a means of fleeing Gotham, but Penguin is stopped before he can reach it 19 22.

Relationships

• Chu Men — Takes Penguin's empire, forces him into service, and ultimately kills him for conspiring against him 6 22.
• Lark, Jay, and Raven — Initially Penguin's elite operatives. After their failed attack on Chu Men, they serve Chu Men instead; Lark later prevents Penguin's escape 4 5 22.
• Black Mask and Two-Face — Fellow crime bosses who join Penguin in hiring Deathstroke. All three are killed after the contract fails 13 22.
• Deathstroke — Mercenary hired through the bosses' $300 million contract to assassinate Chu Men 13 16.

Notable Quotes

“To deal with a monster, all you have to do is find his weakness.” 4

“But we have money. We have resources. There's no one in this world who can't be killed.” 13