A series of stunning Penguin cosplays show why the villains of Gotham City are among the best in comics. Batman’s rogues gallery includes heavy hitters such as the Joker and Bane. The Penguin also ranks as one of Batman’s greatest foes, and now a series of cosplays by a range of diverse cosplayers shows the versatility of Gotham’s villains — which puts them head and shoulders above anyone else.
Over the course of 80 plus years, Batman has fought some of the most nefarious comic-book villains, such as the murderous Joker, the twisted Two-Face, and the brutal Bane. While lacking super-powers or a killer gimmick, the Penguin also ranks as one of Batman’s greatest foes. Born Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, the Penguin rose to become one of Gotham City’s most notorious crime lords, which has repeatedly brought him into conflict with Batman. The Penguin has been brought to life in several live-action adaptations, played by actors such as Burgess Meredith, Colin Farrell, and Danny DeVito, all of whom helped to elevate the villain's profile among mainstream audiences. Now, a group of cosplayers has assembled to bring the Penguin to life — and to show why Gotham villains are the best.
The Penguin's Signature Style Makes Him a Versatile Villain
The four cosplays were unveiled on various Instagram s. The first, by kornd808, reframes the Penguin as an Edwardian era thug, reminiscent of characters on the show Peaky Blinders. The next, by sharp.shot.efx, invokes a more comic-book approach with the Penguin using his trademark umbrella to fly away. The third, by geekygothicgamergirl, gender-flips Cobblepot, recasting the Penguin as a maniacal, cackling fiend. Finally, in another gender-flipped shot, cosplayer stitchthrift_ reveals a shot heavily inspired by Danny DeVito’s portrayal of the character in 1992’s Batman Returns. All the shoots have garnered likes and praise from fans.
One of the greatest aspects of Batman is how the character and his world can be translated into nearly any social or cultural context. In the 1990s, DC published a number of Elseworlds series that put Batman, Superman, and many others into different historical and cultural settings. Fans could see, for example, a Batman who obtained a Green Lantern ring — or a world where Batman works in Victorian London. Likewise, Batman’s villains can be put into different contexts as well. For instance, in 2018’s Batman Ninja animated movie, the Dark Knight (and a few villains) is transported back to feudal-era Japan. The concept works beautifully and demonstrates the range and versatility of Batman and his adversaries.
These four cosplayers show this versatility even more. The various Penguins depicted in these shoots run the gauntlet; there are Penguins from Edwardian England as well as Penguins more faithful to the comics or the movies. Each of these interpretations is amazing, capturing different sides of the character. The Penguin is one of Batman’s most complex foes and these cosplay shoots prove it. They also prove just how versatile Gotham’s villains really are.
Source 1: kornd808
Source 2: sharp.shot.efx
Source 3: geekygothicgamergirl
Source 4: stitchthrift_
