The Penguin Hints That Batman Has Left Gotham

The Penguin Hints That Batman Has Left Gotham

Key Takeaways

  • The Penguin show effectively focuses on the Batman villain, elevating the series without the distraction of the Dark Knight.
  • With Batman absent in The Penguin, the absence becomes increasingly difficult to ignore, suggesting an intentional plot twist.
  • The absence of Batman makes power moves and the rise of crime bosses more prominent, hinting at a setup for The Batman 2.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of immersion into the Gotham City universe, I must say that The Penguin series has been a breath of fresh air, focusing squarely on one of Batman’s most intriguing adversaries without the distraction of our caped crusader. However, it’s becoming increasingly peculiar that the Dark Knight is nowhere to be seen despite the escalating chaos in Gotham.


The creators of HBO Max’s ‘The Penguin’ wisely chose to concentrate solely on the iconic Batman villain, rather than the character who frequently thwarts him across comics, TV shows, and films preceding this adaptation. This choice has significantly enhanced the show as it avoids the need for an abrupt entrance of the Dark Knight, which could potentially disrupt the intricate world the series is developing.

It’s peculiar in “The Penguin” series that Batman is absent, and this absence is increasingly hard to overlook, given it’s likely a creative choice by the show’s team. It doesn’t add up that he would be ignoring what’s happening in Gotham, considering his usual involvement in city affairs. In fact, it seems more plausible that Bruce Wayne himself may not be present in the city when looking at all the evidence. This could well be the only explanation.

Things Are Getting Bad Enough In The Penguin That Batman Would Notice

At the beginning of “The Penguin,” it’s understandable that Batman isn’t mentioned since things were relatively low-key. The city was dealing with a massive flood, which consumed the focus and resources of every law enforcement agency, making it challenging for a vigilante like Batman to be in multiple places at once. This portrayal of reality in the show is quite convincing.

The Penguin
CastColin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo Michael Zegen
ShowrunnerLauren LeFranc
WriterLauren LeFranc

The show does a good job of illustrating why the Bat Signal exists. Even if he spent all night tooling around Gotham looking for crime, he’s not going to see everything going on. The Penguin and his ilk aren’t the comic book villains who did everything loud and raucous. They know things need to be under wraps.

As multiple schemes unravel simultaneously, it seems as if not even the vigilant Batman could overlook something amiss. Similarly, when Sofia Falcone executes her coup, it becomes apparent that such actions would be difficult to disregard.

Mass Murder Of A Prominent Family Can’t Be Ignored

The Penguin Hints That Batman Has Left Gotham

Certain matters may be disregarded at times. However, if Sofia Falcone were to slaughter her entire family except for her niece, it’s hard to imagine such a large-scale crime going unnoticed – even by Bruce Wayne, who was still recuperating from the previous night.

The confrontation between the Falcones and Maronis, which resulted in Sofia and The Penguin parting ways, also signaled that Batman would likely take notice due to the intense gunfire, collisions, and loss of life. Given his nature, he’d naturally be curious about such events and feel compelled to intervene. Moreover, considering the recent assassination of the Falcone patriarch, Batman was already on high alert, closely watching the power struggle that ensued. He would only stay absent if he chose to do so.

Batman Learned A Lesson He Might Have To Unlearn

The Penguin Hints That Batman Has Left Gotham

By the film’s conclusion in The Batman, it’s evident that the crime-fighting vigilante, played by Robert Pattinson, is experiencing some turmoil. He questions whether his actions bring more good than harm. This isn’t a foreign feeling for this character adaptation, but in this grittily realistic portrayal, where a deranged gang detonated the sea wall, his doubts about worsening conditions during his presence may have intensified significantly.

It seems Batman isn’t around right now, possibly on a break, helping out elsewhere, or maybe even on vacation. This absence creates an opportunity for characters like The Penguin and Sofia to potentially seize control over Gotham City’s crime scene. Interestingly, this situation could pave the way for the continuation of the story in The Batman 2.

Officially, the showrunners have said that Batman will not appear, but that could be a misdirect

Only a handful of episodes of “The Penguin” series remain, and it appears that the finale will be quite dramatic, potentially setting the stage for the second film. The mob boss who decides to assert control may take actions so significant that they could ultimately prompt Batman, portrayed by Robert Pattinson, to return to town. It would be a fitting conclusion if he were to make a brief appearance at the end of the season, providing an explanation for his absence and hinting at a return, ready to intervene and halt the chain of events initiated in Episode 1.

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2024-10-27 03:06