Penguin
Bio
"A Penguin plan is money in the bank!"
One of Gotham City's top criminals, Penguin almost always tries to cover up his criminal activities with some other false enterprise. He often pretends to be going straight, and usually wins the hearts of all Gothamites before revealing his true motives. He also loves discrediting Batman and Robin. But Batman always wins out because he doesn't concern himself with popular opinion, his dedication to solving the crime at hand allows him to cut right to the heart of Penguin's schemes.
Penguin also fancies himself to be quite the ladies' man. He carries himself with an aristocratic air, and is always formally attired. A cigarette is always on hand, and since he is one of refined tastes, Penguin uses a cigarette holder.
Nicknames
Often the criminal was given a nickname by those who sought to capture him or her. These names could be spoken by The Caped Crusaders, the members of GCPD, or even law-abiding members of Gotham society. What follows is a list of names people have called Penguin.
Aliases
From time to time, a villain will slip into a guise in order to further their criminal deeds. These aliases could be just a name or they could include costumes and make-up. In every case, however, Batman and Robin would eventually see the real evil behind the mask. What follows is a list of aliases used by Penguin.
- K.G. Bird, umbrella factory owner
Weapons and Equipment
- Umbrellas- many different types with many different features. Mostly used for spraying sleeping gas on victims. Some umbrellas had cutting tools on the end, while others could spray smoke and sparks to distract pursuants.
- Pengymobile- a golf cart topped with a large umbrella, used for getting around his expansive movie studio.
- Exploding umbrella- a special item with a timed explosive hidden in the handle.
- Itching powder- a strong, long-lasting version.
- Toy Penguin- when wound up by an unsuspecting person, it sprays poisonous gas through its beak.
- Carrier Pigeons- for discreet communication with his henchmen.
- Automatic Anti-bugging Machine- can detect a bug being placed anywhere in the building.
- Penguin Line- his answer to the Bat-rope. It has a large grappling hook on one end, that can be fired great distances by a small cannon.
- Penguin Magnet- it is super-powerful, strong enough to attract small metal objects from across a hotel suite.
Known Associates
Just as Batman and Robin do not go at crime-fighting alone, Gotham City's most notorious villains need fellow partners in crime to assist them with their malicious schemes.
Dove and Eagle-Eye- simple henchmen
Octopus, Shark and Swordfish- henchmen. Octopus was going to take his share of the money they stole from charity to the South Seas and open a school for pirates.
Finella- Penquin promised this disillusioned beauty she would win a bathing suit contest. In fact, she doesn't win, not fairly anyway. They kidnap the real winner of the charity beauty contest and Finella takes her place. After the crime is done, her conscience causes her resolve to wilt and she helps Batman and Robin bring Penguin to justice.
Later that day, she is invited to Wayne Manor for the charity banquet and is given a fur coat in thanks for helping the Dynamic Duo. She is looking forward to leading a normal life once she has gone to prison and paid her debt to society.
Cordy Blue, Matey Dee and Chickadee- Penguin's associates when he opened The Penguin's Nest restaurant. They were inmates on parole. Cordy Blue was the chief hash-slinger in the State Penn. Matey Dee was Warden Crichton's personal valet while in prison. Chickadee was doing time for bootlegging untaxed cigars.
Barney F Baxter, aka Ballpoint- A Master of Forgery who was in custody at Gotham State Penitentiary. He was to transfer the signatures of Gotham millionaires Penguin had obtained at his restaurant to blank checks. He was given parole and sent to teach penmanship at one of the Wayne Camps for Underprivaleged Children when Penguin was sent back to the slammer to prevent the two from fraternizing. Bruce Wayne commented Ballpoint should enjoy a life on the straight-and-narrow.
G.O.O.N- Grand Order of Occidental Nightowls, a phony organization who pretended to be supporters of Batman's campaign as he ran for mayor of Gotham against Penguin. These men were in fact Penguin's henchmen.
Lulu- Lulu and her two friends were three of Penguin's biggest supporters during the mayorial election, even though Lulu wasn't old enough to vote. During the final confrontation between the Caped Crusaders and Penguin, Lulu made a run for it. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
Joker- Penguin teamed up with the Joker to assist him with his Zodiac Crimes.
Marsha, Queen of Diamonds- Penguin enlisted Marsha because he needed a large amount of capital to keep his movie studio front operating.
Visor, Armband- simple henchmen.
Lola Lasagne- an old friend of Penguin's, he teamed up with her to try and get some money from a horse-racing scam.
Pushbroom, Dustbag- simple henchmen.
Miss Clean- a greedy woman, always asking Penguin for diamonds or houses.
Hawkeye, Sparrow, Swoop- simple henchmen. Presumably, they also helped to run Penguin's umbrella factory.
Hideouts
To some people villainy is a job; but, unlike the rest of the law-abiding citizens of Gotham City, villains do not work in an office, factory, or from their own homes. They must establish a 'hideout' from which they can organize and orchestrate their evil deeds.
- a warehouse near the outskirts of the city
- Penguin's Bookshop on Fleece Street
- K.G. Bird & Co. - makers of superior umbrellas
- Under Penquin's Umbrella, Perfect Security- security agency started by Penquin
- An abandoned building somewhere along Gotham's waterfront
- The Penquin's Nest- a restaurant owned by Penquin
- Penguin campaign headquarters
- Penguin Studios Inc.
- the empty apartment next to Barbara Gordon's
Name-calling
From time to time, those nasty villains would resort to insults. What follows are the names used by Penguin.
- Caped Crumb Bums
- Dynamic Dunderheads
- Dynamic Do-gooders
- Masked Meddlers
- Masked Muttonheads
- Costumed Cut-ups
- Caped Canaries
- Dynamic Doubletalkers
- Cupcake Crusaders
- Dynamic Dingbats
- Dynamic Dupes
- Dynamic Dreamers *
- Drole Deceivers
- Costumed Crooks *
- Pestilential Pair
- Dynamic Do-dos
- Scrapped Crusaders *
- Clanking Crusaders *
- Masked Missiles *
- Bungling Budinskis
- Piddling Pair
- Dressed up Desperados *
- Masked Menaces
Batman
- Caped Creep
- Masked Moron
- Caped Codger
Robin
- Teenage Toont
- Baby Barnacle
- Boy Bigmouth
- Boy Bungler
- Boy Bromide
- Boyhood Barnacle
- Boy Bluenose
- Boy Blowhard
- Unpleasant Adolescent
- Teenage Truant
- Wonder Midget
* Under special circumstances.
Return to Villain Index