Penguin: Pain and Prejudice Kindle Edition

I have never liked Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, AKA The Penguin. Well that's not exactly right. I never hated him and I'm not saying he's a bad character; he just never "did" it for me. Sure I enjoyed Danny Devito's performance as the character in 1993 Batman Returns, but all other portrays like Burgess Meredith in the 1960's Batman series or even Batman:The Animates Series, Oswald never spoke to me as a heavy hitter in Batman's vast rouges gallery. He just didn't elicit the same atmosphere about him like the other rouges did.

So when Penguin: Pain and Prejudice (PPP, for short) came out in October, I skipped it when I went to my comic shop. Never occurred to me it was on the stands. But then I get home right afterward and see one of my reviews sites on the subject, reviewed PPP. And guess what: they loved it. And these reviewers where like me, in that the guys who didn't care for Penguin, just happened to love the issue. Since I know many #1's released at the time meant something special (every reboot means sell outs of #1's quickly), so I went back to the comic shop the next week and picked up issue #1. And just like that folks: I was hooked. I will try to keep it spoiler free and not give out too much information.

PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE is a 5-issue series looking into the mind and life of Oswald Cobblepot. It plays out very similar to the one-and-only Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition, in that it takes place in current world of Gotham. Penguin is doing what he does best and is having flashbacks of his life growing up. From the moment Oswald was born, his own father dropped him on his head (you can already get an idea of where this is going). And even with his knowledge of the past, Penguin thinks he sits on top of Gotham. But we really know who the "true" ruler of Gotham is, when "he" crashes the party. From there on, Oswald goes on a series of events that included finding a girl, taking care of his mother, while planning something sinister for Gotham.

Gregg Hurwitz is a novelist (though he's done Marvel's Moon Knight before) who writes this so much in the same vein as The Killing Joke. Now I'm not saying it's identical or putting it on the same level pantheon as TKJ, but it shares so many of the same traits and yet it comes off so beautifully. This is Penguins story no doubt, with a close case study on ALL aspects of Cobblepot that leaves nothing out. Bullied at home and school,as well as the public, and even his family trying to kill him. You see all of this and you actually sympathize with Oswald. You sort of understand his reasoning to being who he is. But then, Oswald does things that snatch that compassion from him. Just when you feel sorry for Oswald, he turns around and takes it all away. It's just very potent and done right.

Further examination goes into his insanely creepy mother (unconditional love from a parent), a woman who see's Oswald as handsome (compassion), and the idea of growing up against the odds and earning one's keep. And even just seeing how ruthless and badass Oswald is. This book covers it all exceptionally and I won't go any further with what happens next for Oswald. I can write a thesis paper on how much Hurwitz packs into this story, so I'll keep it like that.

And much like TKJ, Batman plays more like a secondary character getting very little panel time. But o-boy, he to is handled extremely well. Batman rarely says anything, you rarely see his face, and going with the theme of showing Oswalds sympathy and perspective, you sort of see Batman as a villain and even godlike being--and it works. Playing with the notion of the differences in Batman and Penguins ideology, you can see both sides of the perspective.

Mention has to go to Szymon Kudranski who paints a bleak, black world. A world perfect for the Batman setting. Many of Kudranski's best work is in the expressions. The eyes, the lips, and even the angles. You have to look closely at this book. There is just that much emotion put into the body language. Proof of Kudranski's art lies in the last issue that shows nothing but Batman taking out an entire gang and you never see him! It's not off panel either. You see it happen, but you don't see Batman. It's one of the coolest portrayals on Batman you have to see to believe.

Just so you know, the book is so bleak,as it is rated teen. But I can argue it sometimes feels like a mature read. It has it's scenes of realistic violence and slow torture that might make some people very unsettling. But considering the content of the book, I'm very pleased with it. I know Kudranski is doing the current back-up stories in Detective Comics, but he shows he can handle so much more.

For bonus, we also get the only work Jason Aaron (Marvel famed writer) ever did with DC comics in the one-shot "Joker's Asylum: Penguin". It's solid on it's own terms and goes pretty well with this new collection. It originally comes from Batman: Joker's Asylum.

If there are any possible faults to look for, are three small ones. The art is fabulous and right, but there are times that it is too dark and you'll find yourself flipping pages back to get caught what you missed. The second is the tonality change near the last issue. Most of the book is very grounded, gritty, and contained. When you find out about Oswald's master plan, it goes into completely different surroundings that might take a person out of the book. And the last one is the conclusion. It's solid, but it leaves some level of ambiguity to the reader to what happens next. Other then those, I found them all minor complaints.

PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE is a wonderful case study on one of Batman's oldest foes that has given me a new outlook on Cobblepot. There have been Penguin stories before, but this might be the best one yet. You can call it Penguin's own Killing Joke, if you will. Dark, insightful, creepy, and just plain awesome. Penguin: Pain and Prejudice is a must pick up for Penguin fans and those who truly want a great Penguin story.

Before I begin my review?
SPOILER ALERT!
Don't read any farther unless you want this incredible work of fiction ruined by my big mouth.
I warned ya!
A marvelous piece.
Never before did I know the tragedy to befall the character of Oswald Chesterfied Cobblepot.
This story gives us more than a look into his psyche, the entire tale encompasses us within his little world.
His nightclub, his love life .. emphasis on 'his'.
Because as so duly stated in the novel itself?
'Whatever Oswald wants? Oswald GETS.'
Ozzy has always been a favored character in the gallery of Bat-Man baddies.
From his love of ornithology to the classic and elegant style he possesses, the man has a certain wicked charm about him.
His beginnings are dark to read, his midlife is just as tragic; a young boy whose father doesn't love him because of his avian appearance, bullies who torment him endlessly, brothers who hassle him: you think you might have it bad? Oz always comes out on the short end of the stick when a hand is dealt to him.
Until the day the 'accidents' begin happening.
One brother fell into a pond and ended up drowning.
Another died of food poisoning.
His father died of pneumonia.
All these little 'accidents' were young Oswald taking what he wanted.
Be it revenge on his brothers and the family patriarch or just avarice toward his mother's love, I'm not sure.
Fast forward about thirty years.
Nightclub owner.
Gentleman thief.
Procurer of goods for the right price.
Oswald appears to have it all.
In reality?
He's a lonely man with a short temper, not a soul to call 'sweetheart'. I won't give anything away but there's a certain way that Penger's shows affection to the woman of his dreams.
And it is DARK.
I'll stop now, I've said far too much already.
Read the rest and see what it is you've witnessed.
EXCELSIOR AND AWAY!

Finally, a Penguin origin story. I liked that they used some of the elements from Burton's movie, and of course THE PENGUIN is one of my fave BAt-Villains, just because he gets underestimated by the occasional crime boss, as well as his fellow rogues. When in fact he may be fat, disfigured and short, you don't wanna cross this bird. I'll probably get crucified for saying this, but to me, he's now like the Lex Luthor of Gotham, trying to take over the city but Batman keeps getting in the way. Somethimes I can certainly relate more to the Penguin than to Batman...While Batman's story is tragic, whether he's Batman, or Bruce Wayne women want him, and men want to be him, either way he wins. With the Penguin, as someone who was bullied and ridiculed from childhood to adulthood, I can totally empathize...even though he is evil.

An excellent read that really examines the Penguin's insecurities, power, and the destruction that power brings. I found the art excellent but the coloring was a little to dark and unrefined. I felt there were times I had to really look at some art to identify what I was looking at. Also, the Penguin's "revenge" that is unleashed on Gotham is a bit on the campy side. But, do not let that stop you this an excellent Penguin story that should not be missed.

This is a fairly good Penguin story. I often feel he gets left out or people think he only works for Adam West's Batman which is somewhat true because, let's face it, he is a bit of a goof. However I think its possible to give the Penguin more depth which this comic book does. Its a fun read, going back to the Penguin's childhood and seeing a bit more what the Penguin does when he is not bothering Batman (or running for mayor of Gotham.) While it didn't blow me out of the water I overall enjoyed the story line and am pleased I picked this comic book to spend my Christmas money on.