In The Penguin #11, Penguin sets in motion a plan to reclaim Gotham, all while the Batman lays out a threat to the would-be king of Gotham’s underworld.
The Penguin #11 main cover by Carmine Di Giandomenico
Title: The Penguin #11
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Rafael De Latorre
Colors: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Main Cover: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Variant Covers: Tirso Cons
Release Date: June 25, 2024
This comic book review contains spoilers.
The Penguin #11 opens with Batman kicking the crap out of Penguin. The reason behind the beating is that Addison Cobblepot confessed her crimes to Batman, telling the hero that Oswald is playing him in order to retake control of the Gotham underworld. Batman tells Oswald that their deal is over and if he breaks the law, he can expect Batman to break his nose.
Penguin gets word to The Help to get to the gold that he has stashed away below Gotham City, but when The Help gets there, all he finds is a Batarang. Lisa St. Claire breaks up with Oswald by writing him a note. Her inner monologue lets us know that Oswald is the talk of the underworld as he is mocked for being broke and being a snitch to Batman. Penguin gives Sparkler a speech about how he is not good and then gives him a bus ticket back home.
Addison thinks Penguin’s Force of July squad is gone, so she sends Aiden Cobblepot to kill Oswald. However, Two-Face goons want revenge, so they go to kill Oswald. A massive shootout takes place. Force of July goes down. The FBI shows up. Aiden opens fire. It’s that massive battle that we saw the aftermath of in a previous issue. All of this is happening while Penguin sits in his apartment and reads a book.
Aiden makes his way to Oswald’s room. He is looking for help because of the wounds that he has suffered, but all Penguin does is stab him with his umbrella. The Help informs Batman of the massive shootout, and Batman heads out to deal with it.
A threat from Batman is not one to take lightly. Courtesy of DC Comics.
I like this issue a lot. There’s betrayal everywhere you look. Penguin is manipulating everyone into that shootout at the end, which was a stroke of genius. I liked it at the start when Batman has finally had enough of Penguin, and Penguin tells Batman that he has broken his nose 37 times. Outside of Joker and Catwoman, Batman has as much history with Penguin as anyone else, so I like that little tidbit of backstory.
The art is as strong as ever. This was one of my favorite issues of this series. Maybe it was because it involved more action, but I really liked seeing Penguin maneuver all the pieces on his chessboard in a way that benefits him. Gotham thinks he’s down and out but that is what Oswald Cobblepot wants.
Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with an advance copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.
