The Penguin #1

The Penguin #1 is my idea of a perfect comic. It's full of suspense, never knowing when, or if Cobblepot will break. None of the internal monologues are his, instead, they are those of the people interacting with him. I find that simply fascinating, having an outside perspective of the central character reads something like a Martin Scorsese film, a real gritty gangster experience. Read Full Review

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. Read Full Review

Penguin's debut issue doesn't need to sleep with the fishes and marks a very promising start for this spotlight on Gotham's elite criminal mover and shaker. If King can keep the story rolling this could be a recommended DC title through the rest of the year. Read Full Review

This has the potential to be the darkest book King has done yet, and yet another winner in his massive library of DC gems. Read Full Review

King once again takes a series decisively into noir and hard boiled territory with another complex, though somewhat less morally gray, strong first issue. The entire creative team realizes this vision with outstanding work. Penguin #1 is a masterclass in resetting a character and fully realizing a new world for them. Read Full Review

Oswald Cobblepot is dead. Long live Gothams Crime King. King shatters dreams of a peaceful life with superb writing. The panels by De Latorre and Maiolos bold visuals set the tone for a forging a new trail in what is sure to be a suspenseful tale for the ages. Make sure this issue is in your possession on New Comic Book Day! Read Full Review

De Latorre delivers some amazing art throughout the issue. I love how the imagery captures the rising tension and suspense of the story. Read Full Review

The Penguin #1 brings the villain into the spotlight in an engaging, creative, beautiful opening issue of what is sure to be an exciting crime thriller. Read Full Review

The Penguin #1 is a solid start. It suffers from “Tom King formula,” a pattern that has developed in King's recent releases. They all follow a similar pattern in their storytelling, for good and bad. It can distract from those who have read a lot of his works. Still, it's a solid opening that makes you want to come back for the “how” of it all. Hopefully it can break out from the mold as the story progresses. Read Full Review

Penguin #1 is a promising start to an interesting idea about what would happen if one of Batman's rogues tried to retire. The character work is (surprisingly for King) on-point, and the art is top-notch. It's unclear where this plot is headed, but there's enough interest after issue #1 to find out. Read Full Review

This comic handily surpassed my expectations and despite not always being perfect I think it's well worth giving a chance and will likely only get better as it develops. The art is equally strong and as I guessed last week, you absolutely don't need to read The Penguin #0 to understand this comic. Hopefully, you skipped that one and saved your money last month, because this month, I recommend spending it on The Penguin #1. Read Full Review

The Penguin #1 promises DC Comics and Batman fans alike a story grounded by elements of crime and subterfuge not requiring any superhero hijinks to function, and in doing so discovers what makes Oswald Cobblepot such a compelling anti-hero. Read Full Review

It seems like Tom King is bringing the Penguin back to prominence as a threat to Gotham City, which he should always be. Read Full Review

Comics instrucciones de uso

Aug 22, 2023

One issue and I think is already the best Penguin story.

retcon_D

Aug 27, 2023

Most predictably, this is another smash hit. Moody, uneasy, and tense, filled with nervous chuckles along the way, knowing $&*@ is about to go down (see what I did there?).

REYNARD

Aug 29, 2023

Prose is unmatched! Very fun to see King turn Penguin into this mythological boogeyman of the underworld. I didn't read Batman: Killing Time, but this might convince me to. In for the ride!

cincyfan

Sep 03, 2023

What a fantastic start! I loved pretty much everything about this book and was really into the plot. I can't wait for the next chapter

derbycomics

Aug 22, 2023

“And what are you, then?” A question posed to Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin, during an interrogation scene in THE PENGUIN #1 and the central question author Tom King seeks to explore in a strong debut for the new series highlighting one of Batman’s most iconic villains. King uses the POV from a variety of characters — a tailor, his enamored wife, an obnoxious customer, a federal agent, and a caped crusader — to introduce Oswald’s new life in Metropolis after faking his death and being forced out of Gotham by his usurping children. By all accounts he’s a changed man — a passive demeanor, putting others ahead of himself, and leaving his past criminal life behind him. But what King does so effectively is keeping rea ders off-balance by never letting you know what’s going on in Oswald’s mind. Did he truly changed or has he fooled them all? It’s not until King has lead the reader along a good chunk of the issue do we finally get a glimpse of Oswald’s mindset and it’s done entirely through the impressive work of Rafael de Latorre’s art, Marcelo Maiolo’s color, and Clayton Cowles’ lettering. It’s a masterful use of unreliable narration and subterfuge you’d find in the best novels. The standout work by de Latorre, Maiolo, and Cowles isn’t reserved just for the climax though. The issue oozes with visual nuances that complement the “is-he-or-isn’t-he” tone of the book. De Latorre’s designs and bodily mannerisms for Oswald show an older, oafish man from afar, but his facial expressions show there’s something not quite right. Maiolo’s colors use muted tones to great impact and sprinkle in pops of color for dramatic effect. As King’s story reaches a crescendo, Maiolo matches it with an inverse color scheme that emphasizes the action on the page. With so many POV’s appearing throughout the book and King’s story requiring a lot of exposition and dialogue, Cowles’ approach to lettering is the unsung hero of the book. King’s meticulous writing looks gorgeous thanks to Cowles and it allows readers to seamlessly follow along as POVs switch. THE PENGUIN #1 has King’s fingerprints all over it and I’m fully bought in. Fans of his previous work, including the recent HUMAN TARGET series, will likely find this instantly relatable even if they aren’t huge Batman fans and Batman fans will enjoy this unique view on a classic character. The flash-forward tease King dangles at the beginning and end of the story also offers a hook to draw readers in. Rating: 9/10 more

KiryuMajima28t

Aug 23, 2023

Really solid first issue, tom king continues to do well with these types of characters.

Screaming Enigma

Sep 21, 2023

A pretty strong start for this series. I wasn't really sure what to expect from a Penguin-led series, but I had a nice amount of hope with King writing it. After reading, I really like what we got here. King is putting together a very interesting story here in building the setting of Oswald's new life after "dying" in Chip Zdarsky's current Batman run. Plus, Latorre's art really fits in with the story presented and I think it only adds to the overall feeling from this book. Good stuff all around with this one.

2birdsstoned815

Aug 24, 2023

https://youtu.be/jfGMpCajy9E?si=YKS-sHXWcXSgQ6N9 Review at (1:07) in video!

JerBearMI

Oct 05, 2023

An interesting concept is set up here, will be following in the early going to see where this goes

K-23

Sep 19, 2023

This book was fairly boring and King is writing Penguin as if he's the most evil character in the DCU which is totally off base and instantly took me out of the issue.

ItsJess

Aug 22, 2023

Who told this guy he can do noir?

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Comics instrucciones de uso - Aug 22, 2023

Haven't you read the much-awarded "Human Target"?

ItsJess - Aug 22, 2023

No but I have read In A Lonely Place!

KiryuMajima28t - Aug 25, 2023

This first issue was really good.