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"A Penguin is a bird that cannot fly. I am a man!"

REAL NAME: OSWALD CHESTERFIELD COBBLEPOT

FIRST APPEARANCE: DETECTIVE COMICS #58 (1941) $2,600

Next to the Joker, the Penguin is probably Batman's most fiendish and well known foe. His trademark top hat, monacle, cigarrete and famous umbrellas make him an easily recognized and reknowned comic book villian.

ORIGIN AND HISTORY

Unlike most of Batman's other advisaries, the Penguin was born, not created later in life. Born Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, he became known as the Penguin because of his long, hooked nose, tubby stature, and most of all due to his deformed hands. Embittered because of people's fear and disgust of his bizarre appearance, the Penguin turned to a life of crime. In the early comics, he was a funny character, more comedic than diabolical. However, in the 1992 film "Batman Returns", the Penguin was portrayed as a monster from the sewer, cruel and evil to the core. Danny Devito was cast as Cobblepot, and his make-up and performance were very well done.

PENGUIN PICS

Golden Age Penguin

Danny Devito in his incredible Penguin makeup

DID YOU KNOW?

On the 1960's Batman TV show, Burgess Meredith's trademark "penguin sqwaking" came to be beacause the cigarettes were irriatating his throat.

Also on the show, the Penguin got around in a huge submarine, complete with penguin flippers on the back.

The first ever supervillian team up in comic books was an issue of Detective Comics in which the Penguin teamed with the Joker.

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