You can check out the teaser trailer below!

The series picks up where Matt Reeves’s The Batman left off.  A power vacuum has been created in the wake of Carmine Falcone’s murder at the hands of The Riddler, and Oswald Cobblepot is bound and determined to fill it. However, that is not to say that the rest of Gotham’s criminal underworld will let him.

Craig Zobel, who directed the limited series The Mare of Easttown, is helming the eight-episode series, while Lauren LeFranc (Impulse, Agents of SHIELD) is writing the script. Colin Farrell, who reprises his role as Oswald Cobblepot from the film, will also executive-produce along with director Matt Reeves and producer Dylan Clark. Farrell is joined by Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone and Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni. Maroni is infamous among comics fans as the man who disfigured D.A. Harvey Dent in court with acid, unleashing his dual personality of Two-Face.

The Penguin is set to release on Max later this year.

The post THE PENGUIN Teaser Trailer Released appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer:  Tom King

Artist: Rafael de Latorre

Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Review by Kendra Smart

Summary

They say that revenge is a dish best served cold, and given Oswald Cobblepot’s propensity for the cold… he should be a master chef. The Penguin #1 gives us the explanation of what life looks like through the eyes of a Penguin living the good life in Metropolis. A happily married business-owner, of a flower shop at that, and life looks good, by all merits. But it is clear that below the surface still lies a man who all should fear, a ticking bomb of malice waiting for the right individual to lose his merciful ways. Agent Espinoza is dedicated to earning that title.

She Broke It All

There is so much to unload with The Penguin #1 that I will do it in two parts. The comic covers most assuredly deserve their time in the spotlight. There are five covers to choose from with one being a virgin edition of Nathan Szerdy’s variant cover. Being as that is our twofer, let us begin there. Nathan Szerdy gives us an amazing idea brought to life as Harley Quinn is Penguin’s tattoo artist. The “Straight Outta Gotham” tattoo is already great with a detailed scene, but the virgin 1:50 ratio variant adds more tats and details galore. The attention to precise detailing is wonderful and a genuine delight.

There are other covers that definitely stand on their own as well. Legend Brian Bolland brings us a version of Penguin in all his stereotypical glory. It is a wonderful old school feeling cover, where the more you look, the more details you find added to the picture. Even the main cover with art by Stefano Gaudiano and colors by Scorpio Steele is ridiculous fan service material. A full mafioso feeling indeed. David Marquez gives us a great cover featuring Penguin, Catwoman, and Agent Nuri Espinoza.  But the last cover by Kael Ngu is my favorite out of a hard selection to narrow down.  Kael gives us a luscious scene set specifically to draw the eye. Penguin sitting in an alley where the paper and graffiti proclaim his missing, dead self. The style is so lovely, dark, and gritty, with a cameo by Catwoman and Batman.

Welcome To Blossoms

For The Penguin #1, we dive in quick as Batman and Oswald are trapped, and seemingly debilitated, preventing them from escaping. Batman is struggling to find a way to save them, but seems to quickly be running out of options. Which leads us to how we got here. Starting one year earlier in Metropolis as Cobblepot is doing the task of getting a new suit with his tailor. But known or unknown, he is being watched. A seemingly normal guy having a seemingly normal day, but even as he is put to the test, there is nary a falter. Even his relationship with his wife, Rita, has Mr. Cobb, formally Oswald Cobblepot, looking like the sweetest, most patient individual.

Things move even faster as Mr. Cobb goes to his flower shop, named Blossoms, and finds himself facing not only unruly customers, but also the unforgettable introduction of Agent Espinoza. For better or worse, she most certainly has her target’s full attention. Oh, is the banter delicious.  The FBI and Waller want Cobblepot on their retainer and Espinoza is ready to be the one who brings him aboard. But what have they unleashed by messing with the Penguin? What exactly happened to put Batman and Oswald in such a state?

Positives

Tom King has a fan in me for his stellar writing. His deep character dives are always lovely and I appreciate him going to the core of what makes a human being. With The Penguin #1, he does this again, almost instantly, in two scenes — the banter scene between Oswald and Espinoza, which holds that self-awareness of how the world sees him and how much it actually does mean to him, as well as the scene where Penguin leaves the FBI interrogation room and Espinoza is allowed to let the stone wall break and feel the knowledge that by doing the actions she did to GET his attention… he will kill her. Without a doubt, the writing is matched gracefully with Rafael de Latorre’s artwork and Marcelo Maiolo’s color work, which are both outstanding.

Negatives

Verdict

Ready and waiting for the next. The Penguin #1 is definitely a buckle up and bring down the pull bar for safety. Going to be a wicked ride.

Score: 5/5

The post Review: The Penguin #1 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artists: Belen Ortega

Color Artist: Luis Guerrero

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Review by: Kendra Smart

Summary

The Penguin #0 gives readers a peek into the Penguin in his element and prime. The spotlight is on him as he maneuvers his way out of Gotham with a false death and into a normal life. Seems feasible, right? But in his absence, there is a definite squabble that Catwoman finds herself in the middle of as the descendants of Penguin and his many rivals come to pick the bones clean. Gotham is about to find itself with many more corpses.

In Memory

The cover that we get for The Penguin #0 is astounding indeed. Belen Ortega provides great artwork, coupled with Alejandro Sánchez’s color work. We get a scene for Catwoman, and even meet a new character this issue who is a robotic creation known as The Executor.  The Executor is quite the pun given what happens this issue. Let’s jump right in.

Nom De Plume

The Penguin’s Iceberg Lounge has been a laundering site for many of those looking to make their money “clean”. It is an empire prized by many, and this is proven by the vultures coming to claim his bergs now that he is “dead”.  The Iceberg Lounge is like Boardwalk on a Monopoly board, and everyone is gunning for it. Catwoman finds herself between Finbar Sullivan and The Yakuza, both of whom wish to lay claim.

Interrupted by The Underbroker and his associate The Executor, they insist, quite pointedly, that the will must be honored. That should settle things, but Catwoman has her own mess to clear when The Executor requests her help with finding Cobblepot’s  next of kin. Of course, she is given a monetary incentive, but the problem is… they keep dying. Will Catwoman finish her mission or will she have to seek counsel from beyond the grave?

Positives

The Penguin #0 presents us with many high points. From the artwork to the story, new characters and fiendish foes, everything is executed splendidly. I loved every twist and turn, even when they were predictable. If Chip Zdarsky is giving us the type of story telling we can expect for this series… it heightens my anticipation ten fold.

Negatives

There really are none in The Penguin #0. Given that this is a zero issue, I expected a lot of fluff, but there was none. It was wonderful from panel to panel.

Verdict

With The Penguin #0, it feels like we are in for a wild ride. One that will explore Cobblepot on a different level then we have seen, and that is always exciting to a fan. Exploring the world of Gotham in a deeper way is always fun, but I also like that we get to see the stark, raw comparison of Metropolis and Gotham at their centers. Definitely a recommended pick up.

Score: 5/5

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment. 

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According to Deadline, The Penguin was set to film Tuesday in Westchester, NY, but WGA East picketers, Teamsters, and local guilds refused to cross the picket line.

The series picks up where Matt Reeves’s The Batman left off.  A power vacuum has been created in the wake of Carmine Falcone’s murder at the hands of The Riddler, and Oswald Cobblepot is bound and determined to fill it. However, that is not to say that the rest of Gotham’s criminal underworld will let him.

“It starts a week after The Batman ends, so Gotham is still somewhat underwater,” Farrell previously told Extra, referring to The Batman’s third act that saw Paul Dano’s Riddler instigate a plan to flood Gotham.

Craig Zobel, who directed the limited series The Mare of Easttown, is set to helm the eight-episode series. Lauren LeFranc (Impulse, Agents of SHIELD) is set to pen the script. Farrell will also executive-produce along with director Matt Reeves and producer Dylan Clark. Colin Farrell reprises his role as Cobblepot from the film, and is joined by Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone and Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni. Maroni is infamous among comics fans as the man who disfigured D.A. Harvey Dent in court with acid, unleashing his dual personality of Two-Face.

The Penguin joins Daredevil: Born Again, Billions, P-Valley, Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, and several others on the list of shows that have temporarily shuttered production because of the strike. The writing work has also ceased on Stranger Things, Cobra Kai, Abbott Elementary, Severance, Good Trouble, and Yellowjackets.

The Penguin does not yet have a release date.

The post The Penguin Series Put On Hold As Writers Fight For Better Treatment appeared first on DC Comics News.

A behind-the-scenes featurette, specifically, this first look shows principal photography in progress as well as some dialogue from lead actor Colin Farrell.

The Penguin Descends on Post-Riddler Gotham

The series picks up where Matt Reeves’s The Batman left off.  A power vacuum has been created in the wake of Carmine Falcone’s murder at the hands of The Riddler, and Oswald Cobblepot is bound and determined to fill it. However, that is not to say that the rest of Gotham’s criminal underworld will let him. Colin Farrell reprises his role as Cobblepot from the film, and is joined by Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone and Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni. Maroni is infamous among comics fans as the man who disfigured D.A. Harvey Dent in court with acid, unleashing his dual personality of Two-Face.

Sofia, like Carmine, was cocreated by Jeph Loeb and the late Tim Sale in Batman: The Long Halloween, a story that was the basis of Reeves’s film. However, much like Crystal Reed playing Sofia in Fox’s Gotham, casting has gone against type in the casting of Milioti, as Sofia, in the comics, is physically imposing, much like the late Joanie “Chyna” Laurer.

Other actors in TBD roles include Theo Rossi, Carmen Ejogo, David H. Holmes, James Madio, Scott Colven, Francois Chau, Deidre O’Connell, Michael Kelly, and Shoreh Aghdashloo.

There is no set air date at this time for The Penguin to debut, but it has been confirmed that Craig Zobel will direct the first two episodes. Zobel also serves as Executive Producer. Eventually it is going to link up with the greenlit sequel to the Robert Pattinson film. There is no word, as of yet, if Pattinson’s Batman will make an appearance in the show.

Please click the trailer below to view.

Official Source – Max releases first Penguin trailer | Batman News (batman-news.com)

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GQ Magazine’s interview with Director Reeves not only confirmed Pattinson’s involvement, but Andy Serkis’s return as Alfred Pennyworth. “Reeves confirmed to me that Serkis would return in his forthcoming sequel to The Batman, ” the GQ reporter claims. “But beyond that, Serkis has little planned, instead focusing on direction and producing his own projects. [Serkis claims] ‘I don’t have a burning desire to play [anyone]. What I do want is to go back to the stage. That’s one thing I want to do for sure – and I’m terrified of it.'”

As to what the plot of the film will be, Reeves claims “It’s very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman [tale. It’s] told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it’s going to be a story that will be thrilling but also emotional. It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films. The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it’s going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation.”

Robert Pattinson Suits Up Again, But How Does “The Batman 2” Figure Into DC Studios?

As to how the world established in The Batman will fit in to DC Studios’ plans, Co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran claim it is anything but a stepchild. Gunn elaborates, “Matt is working on Batman 2, which he thinks of it as a Batman crime saga, which includes The Penguin TV [series. And] it is its own thing, and he’s hard at work on that. He came in and pitched us some amazing, really cool stuff the other day. Our plan is for that to continue.” Safran added that they are devoted to ensuring the success of the franchise as they are in their other projects. A month earlier, the plan established that multiple continuities on screen and TV can be treated as separate branches of the multiverse, using the popular DC Comics term “Elseworlds.”

Utilizing the standalone film approach used by the successful Joker, The Batman found its own acclaim at the box office. The film raked in $770 million for its $180-200 million dollar budget. It also has been nominated in three categories at the 95th Academy Awards. The grounded, back-to-basics approach and Pattinson’s gritty portrayal of The Dark Knight prevailed over initial skepticism. Its success also greenlit the aforementioned Penguin project. Actor Colin Farrell will again get into the makeup chair to reprise Oswald Cobblepot. The show is to pick up where the movie left off, and follow his rise from former lieutenant to Carmine Falcone to the crime boss he’s known for in the comics.

The Batman: Part II is scheduled to premiere in theaters October 3, 2025. As it stands, it remains to be seen whether Zoe Kravitz will reprise her role as Selina Kyle aka Catwoman.

Official Source – The Batman Actor Confirmed to Return for DC Sequel (comicbook.com)

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Inspired by the comic book series by Mike Mignola, Richard Pace and Troy Nixey, Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham is a 1920s-based tale that finds explorer Bruce Wayne accidentally unleashing an ancient evil, expediting his return to Gotham City after a two-decade hiatus. The logic/science-driven Batman must battle Lovecraftian supernatural forces threatening the sheer existence of Gotham, along the way being aided and confronted by reimagined versions of his well-known allies and enemies, including Green Arrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, Two-Face, James Gordon and Bruce’s beloved wards. Prepare for a mystical, often terrifying Batman adventure unlike any other.

We have four brand new images from the film to share with fans. Enjoy!

Where Professor Oswald Cobblepot’s expedition ends is where Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham begins as Bruce Wayne and his crew discover Cobblepot’s abandoned ship, including his detailed journal. But the Wayne expedition can find no sign of the professor, even while the evolving Cobblepot and his penguins watch them intently from high above. David Giuntoli (Grimm, A Million Little Things) reprises his Batman: Soul of the Dragon role as the voice of Bruce Wayne & the Dark Knight, while William Salyers (The Regular Show) voices yet another rendition of the Penguin as Cobbelpot.

Killer Croc’s Elseworlds version might be even more menacing than his usual appearance, particularly as the massive creature operates under the merciless command of Talia al Ghul – or looming tall over Batman in Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham. David Giuntoli (Grimm, A Million Little Things) gives voice to Batman/Bruce Wayne.

Talia al Ghul seems to be integral to the troubled shadows overtaking the city in Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham. Three-time Emmy Award nominee Emily O’Brien (Constantine: City of Demons, Days of Our Lives) reprises her Gotham Knights video game role as Talia al Ghul.

As an Elseworlds take on Mr. Freeze, Grendon appears to Bruce Wayne and his family as a frozen, undying corpse who is devoted to the evil entity unleashed upon the unsuspecting world. DC Animated Movies veterans David Giuntoli (Grimm, A Million Little Things) and David Dastmalchian (Dune, The Suicide Squad, Ant-Man) give voice to Bruce Wayne/Batman and Grendon, respectively, in Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham.

BATMAN and all related characters and elements are TM and © DC. © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

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After being a bit coy in the interview, Reeves eventually revealed the following about the upcoming The Batman sequel. “We’re deep in it and my partner and I are writing, Mattson [Tomlin] and I are writing, and it’s really exciting, and I’m really excited about what we’re doing.”

He went on to say that he’s “really excited to be doing that with Rob [Pattinson], because I just think he’s such a special person and actor.”

The fact that they’re still moving forward with the sequel is definitely a good sign for the continued life of Reeves’ Batverse. Another great sign of this is the confirmation that the Colin Farrell-starring Penguin spin-off series is still underway, with Reeves saying “We are very, very soon going to start shooting The Penguin with Colin [Farrell]. That is super exciting.”

Farrell, himself, had previously spoken about his excitement after reading the first script, saying “I read the first episode, which is just so tasty and so unusual as the character was on the page and what Matt Reeves kind of envisioned when he was thinking of this iteration of the bang-up of Oz. So yeah, it’ll be, I think six or eight hours.”

Reeves went on to say “There are some other things we have planned too. […] The BatVerse of what we’re doing has me very, very excited, and I’m very passionate about it. So I’m excited.” Is this a reference to the previously announced GCPD/Arkham Asylum series that Reeves was planning? One can hope, as that series had quite a bit of potential within it.

The director also spoke about the connection between The Penguin and The Batman sequel, saying “There’s actually a whole little fabric of things we’re wanting to do, the way we’re doing with [the] Penguin and how that comes back into how that will lead into the sequel, and what that sequel is going to be.”

It sounds like he’s got a whole plan in motion, and Gunn and Safran seem to be on board with it. And with Gunn recently confirming that they are working on some Elseworlds projects, this universe would fit perfectly into that category, allowing them to keep it running and let Reeves have the freedom to mold it, while still reshaping the main DCU.

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In the aftermath of the devastating events of Dark Crisis and DC Universe: Lazarus Planet, the DC pantheon of heroes will once again find itself at a crossroads. Fittingly, the event christened Dawn of DC will begin with Action Comics #1051 and will feature iconic characters while introducing new heroes over twenty new titles.

Unlike previous relaunches, such as The New 52, the publishing company will instead build on the foundation already established. Fans can also expect the return of Oliver Queen in his first ongoing Green Arrow series since DC Rebirth. There will also be a new volume of Batman: The Brave and The Bold, featuring a rotating creative team to unveil new chapters in the crusades of The Dark Knight, and lastly, the team of Mark Waid and Dan Mora will reunite to bring back the lightning of Billy Batson’s adventures as the champion once more in Shazam! Further, from preview art, apparently, Mora is going with a more classic look for Shazam but still retaining some accouterments of his New 52 costume. Connor Kent will also be returning to head Superboy: Man of Tomorrow and fellow Death of Superman alum John Henry Irons will forge forward in Steelworks. 

DC’s New Dawn – What Will It Mean And What Can We Expect?

Publisher and CCO Jim Lee has described the oncoming year as one of renewal and rejuvenation:

After the near-Multiverse-ending events in Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths and DC Universe: Lazarus Planet, the DC Universe will be heading toward the [light. With] brand-new series and story arcs from some of the top creative members in comics, Dawn of DC is one of our most ambitious initiatives ever and is a chance for us to tell bigger and bolder stories across our line.

Below is a list of oncoming titles to be released along with their creative teams:

• Superman #1 (Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell) – February
• Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #1 (Tom Taylor and Clayton Henry) – March
• Unstoppable Doom Patrol (Dennis Culver and Chris Burnham) – March
• Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow (Kenny Porter and Jahnoy Lindsay) – April
• Green Lantern: Hal Jordan (Mariko Tamaki and Artist TBA) – April
• Green Lantern: John Stewart (Philip Kennedy and Artist TBA) – Release Date TBA
• Green Arrow (Joshua Williamson and Sean Izaakse) – April
• Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Tom King, Mitch Gerads, Guillem March, Gabriel Hardman, Dan Mora, Rob Williams, and more TBA) – May
• Cyborg (TBA) – May
• Shazam! (Mark Waid and Dan Mora) – June
• The Penguin (Tom King and Stefano Gaudiano) – June
• Steelworks (TBA)

The format for Action Comics will also change with issue 1051 with three new stories in each installment going forward. The writing team will include Dan Jurgens (The Death of Superman), Philip Kennedy Johnson, and Leah Williams (The Amazing Mary Jane).

More information will be revealed in the coming months.

Official Source – “Dawn of DC” Starts in January 2023 | DC

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The actress will be playing Sofia Falcone, daughter of Carmine “The Roman” Falcone. Milioti herself is known for sitcoms such as How I Met Your Mother and Made For Love. She also delivered a Grammy-winning performance in the musical Once. Her film credits include Wolf of Wall Street and Greetings From The Shore.

Cristin Comes To Matt Reeves’s Gotham – What Can We Expect? And Who Is Sofia Falcone?

To recap, The Penguin is a spinoff of the blockbuster Matt Reeves film, The Batman, and is a prequel series depicting the underworld journey of Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell) to where we meet him in the film. It will also give Reeves – executive producer on the series – the opportunity to expand the grounded Gotham City’s criminal element introduced in The Batman. Falcone himself was played by John Turturro in the film, but it is unclear as to whether he will be involved in the project. It is also unclear as to whether we will see Robert Pattison reprise his role as Bruce Wayne and The Dark Knight down the road. The same can be said of Zoe Kravitz’s Selina Kyle, as it had been revealed in the film she was Carmine’s illegitimate daughter. However, it has been established that Sofia and Oswald will be fighting for control of the criminal underworld.

Sofia was introduced in Jeph Loeb and the late Tim Sale’s miniseries Batman: The Long Halloween, which celebrated its 20th Anniversary this year. Released from prison, she fails to protect her father from being killed by Harvey Dent, reborn as Two-Face in the series. Sofia later served as the main villain in the sequel series, Batman: Dark Victory, and meets her end also at Two-Face’s hands. Sale’s design of Sofia differs greatly from the live-action Milioti and Crystal Reed before her on Fox’s Gotham. The late artist drew her as a physically-imposing character who served as her father’s muscle, eager to please him. In the recent DCAU adaptation of The Long Halloween, Sofia was voiced by Laila Berzins.

Besides Reeves, the series will also be executive produced by Farrell,  Dylan Clark, Lauren LeFranc, and Craig Zobel. Zobel is set to direct the first two episodes, while LeFranc also serves as its showrunner. At this time, there is no official air date, but The Penguin is set to debut on HBO Max some time in 2023.

Official Source – ‘The Penguin’ Sets Cristin Milioti As Sofia Falcone Opp. Colin Farrell – Deadline

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