Oswald Cobblepot (The Batman TV Series)

Oswald "Ozzy" Cobblepot is descended from an aristocratic family whose lineage goes back to Newcastle, England. Alfred Pennyworth's grandfather was once a butler to the English Cobblepot's and Alfred was raised on stories on how cruel and disrespectful the Cobblepots were to their staff.

Oswald's direct family line had a mansion located in Gotham City, but the family squandered their fortune away many years ago. As the apparent sole surviving member of the Cobblepot legacy, Oswald let the family estate fall into ruin, and eventually converted it into a huge aviary.

A few years ago, Cobblepot left Gotham City and spent several years traveling the Orient. There he met two silent female assassins known only as the Kabuki Twins who later went on to work for him as his personal bodyguards. Despite his portly physique, Cobblepot took an interest in martial arts, and trained his body into top fighting form.

During this time, he developed a keen interest in birds and decided that such animals would be ideal in helping him regain his family's former glory. Training the birds to obey his commands, Cobblepot turned to a life of crime.

Oswald eventually returned to the United States whereupon he used his birds to nab various riches from Gotham's wealthiest citizens. He stored his ill-gotten gains in the aviary at Cobblepot Manor. One evening, Oswald crashed a charity drive hosted by Bruce Wayne at Wayne Manor. He nearly came to blows with Alfred Pennyworth whose memory of his grandfather's mistreatment at the hands of the Cobblepots was as clear as ever. After making a scene, Oswald managed to snatch the party's guest list and used this information to select his future targets.

Bruce Wayne surmised that Cobblepot's return to Gotham City coincided with the most recent rash of burglaries and he investigated the crimes as his costumed alter ego – the Batman. Pennyworth, still angry with Cobblepot's behavior at the fund raiser, decided to take matters into his own hands. He went to Oswald's family mansion, but was captured by the Kabuki Twins. Batman arrived at the manor shortly thereafter and Oswald and he faced each other for the first time. Now calling himself the Penguin, he demonstrated his fighting prowess against the Batman and the two engaged in a protracted battle across the room. Batman eventually proved victorious and the Penguin was captured. The Kabuki Twins however, managed to escape. ^[1]

A short time later, the Penguin evaded custody and reunited with the Kabuki Twins. They broke into the Gotham Museum of Natural History for the purposes of stealing the fabled Phoenix Drawings. As luck would have it, Bruce Wayne was in attendance at the museum as a guest of honor. He changed to Batman and briefly fought with the Penguin, but the villain escaped amidst a flock of flying birds. Batman returned to the Batcave and used the Batwave to coordinate where the Penguin's would strike next. He tracked him down to a scrap yard, but was distracted by the Penguin's Kabuki twins who summarily tossed him into a dumpster. By the time the Batman extricated himself, the Penguin was long gone.

The Penguin's next plot was one of extreme ambition. Constructing a giant robotic penguin, he used it to strike at Wayne Industries. The robot burrowed through the ground surrounding the building causing massive upheaval. Batman swooped down in the Bat-glider and managed to destroy the machine. The robot toppled over back into the subterranean crater from which it sprung. The Penguin and the Kabuki twins fell in behind it – seemingly to their doom. The Penguin was not gone for long however, and has returned numerous times to plague the Batman with bizarre new schemes and weaponry. ^[2]

Powers and Abilities

Abilities

Martial Arts: The Penguin spent an indeterminate amount of time in the Orient and developed a mastery of the martial arts. The exact discipline that he utilizes is unknown, but his combat skills are proficient enough that he can hold his own in a fight against the Batman.
Swordsmanship: The Penguin spent an indeterminate amount of time in the Orient and developed a mastery of swordsmanship. The exact style that he utilizes is unknown, but his mastery is great enough that he can slice completely through a massive tree branch with a single slice and with very little effort. Unlike most swordsmen, Penguin uses an umbrella in place of a sword.

Paraphernalia

Equipment

The Penguin once used a giant robotic penguin in order to lay siege against Wayne Industries.

Transportation

The Penguin will occasionally use one of his trick umbrellas as a mini-helicopter. These devices are ideal for getaways escaping the grasp of the Batman.

Weapons

Penguin's Umbrella: The Penguin carries an arsenal of specially designed umbrellas. Nearly all of them are equipped with some kind of offensive weaponry. Some umbrellas double as flame throwers while others house coiled electrified chains that can be used to ensnare prey.
Green Lantern Power Ring (Formerly): At one point, the Penguin managed to acquire the power ring of Green Lantern Hal Jordan.

Notes

This version of the Penguin is exclusive to the continuity of the 2004 animated series The Batman. He was voiced by Tom Kenny.

Trivia

Penguin tells Killer Moth that he likes his coffee black with two lumps of sugar. ^[3]

Oswald Cobblepot (The Batman TV Series)

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History