tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post5226970544983906124..comments2024-03-27T19:04:14.544-05:00Comments on The Absorbascon: A Post-Penguin World?Scipiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217376618860561999noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-91012397791303681682013-01-09T21:44:42.916-05:002013-01-09T21:44:42.916-05:00Funny, looking at the art in these examples sudden...Funny, looking at the art in these examples suddenly made me think of FDR -- somebody I certainly never associated with the Penguin, or any other villian before. <br /><br />I've read some discussions about how all types of comic strips in the '30s could be very political, (i.e. Annie.)<br /><br />Maybe somebody was grinding an ax against Roosevelt? (Of course, he wasn't President until 1932, but he was a national figure and NYS Governor before that.)<br />-----<br /><br />Nice to have you back, Scipio. Jee Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18217405064210778890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-35805787722077347262013-01-09T11:52:38.947-05:002013-01-09T11:52:38.947-05:00In Marvel, villains have to pretend to be heroes.
...In Marvel, villains have to pretend to be heroes.<br /><br />It's the only way to get to fight them.Scipiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112155718721908876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-36088663301132350642013-01-09T08:41:21.386-05:002013-01-09T08:41:21.386-05:00"When every single villain is a monster who w..."When every single villain is a monster who would blow up a busload of school children and/or rape your grandmother without blinking an eye, it gets boring"<br /><br />Absolutely. Nobody just wants to match wits with the heroes any more. Probably because that type of story line requires a certain amount of skill, and I'm not sure that the majority of the comic writers these days have it. And, of course, there's just pandering to the lowest common denominator. <br /><br />Don't get me started on the Joker. The fact that no one has killed him yet has bothered me for years. Bryan Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-34584901528291504862013-01-09T05:49:48.802-05:002013-01-09T05:49:48.802-05:00I do miss the wider variety of villains in DC comi...I do miss the wider variety of villains in DC comics. When every single villain is a monster who would blow up a busload of school children and/or rape your grandmother without blinking an eye, it gets boring, no matter what the villain's name, costume, and supposed theme are. Besides, there's only so many murder sprees you can buy before realizing some non-heroic people should have gotten fed up and killed the villains themselves by now. <br /><br />(Of course, in Marvel comics, I just miss villains, period. Seems like the heroes mostly fight each other, and the only villains that appear are pretending to be heroes.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-47081915424542925292013-01-08T08:42:46.432-05:002013-01-08T08:42:46.432-05:00"I'm suffering from Joker overload."..."I'm suffering from Joker overload."<br /><br />Heavens, yes. I've been suffering from Joker overload for 20 years or more. Pretty much since that whole "Death in the Family" business. And of course that's back now, too. Bryan Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-5053776189224780192013-01-07T16:29:24.221-05:002013-01-07T16:29:24.221-05:00Dick Tracy has been quite fabulous now that Joe St...Dick Tracy has been quite fabulous now that Joe Staton is drawing it. If only my newspaper carried it! <br /><br />Yes, I read newspapers.<br /><br />Frankly, the Riddler and the Penguin are my favorite Bat villains. I'm suffering from Joker overload. And I love spats. And monacles and umbrellas. But you're correct, the Penquin hasn't had a good crime spree in quite a while.SallyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05592635194271250605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-14107729360749045862013-01-07T11:20:37.971-05:002013-01-07T11:20:37.971-05:00That was a great storyline, particularly when we (...That was a great storyline, particularly when we (and Batman) discovered HOW and WHY the Penguin got elected. It was a true triumph of character-driven Batman storytelling.Scipiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112155718721908876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-90844283283887409782013-01-07T11:01:51.790-05:002013-01-07T11:01:51.790-05:00As I recall, you're correct, Mike. Penguin did...As I recall, you're correct, Mike. Penguin did get elected mayor in the animated comic. Which, frankly, is a great idea, though I might change it slightly to make him a corrupt councilperson or somesuch. Mayor is a bit high-profile, but Councilman Pengy continuously scheming against the other city officials and Batman would work nicely, I think. Heaven knows his criminal record wouldn't stand in his way. Bottom line, though, he's a much better mastermind that he is a supervillain, even with trick umbrellas. Bryan Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-10220587936216914162013-01-07T09:47:09.487-05:002013-01-07T09:47:09.487-05:00I didn't read many Batman: The Animated Series...I didn't read many Batman: The Animated Series comics past the Puckett & Parobeck issues, but I seem to recall the Penguin being elected mayor in the latter issues. <br /><br />I think the DCU's movement towards grim & grittiness doesn't leave room for the Penguin. I thought the crime boss/ Iceberg Lounge set-up was okay, but it was an early indicator of a larger trend: super-villains being marginalized unless they are:<br /><br />1) tied to the hero's origin;<br />2) mass murderers;<br />3) conquerors;<br />4) corrupt businessmen/ politicians/ preachers<br /><br />The Penguin as a gentleman thief wasn't "hip" enough, so he became a corrupt businessman. If he wasn't such a recognizable pop culture figure, I could see him being used as infrequently as T.O. Morrow or the Queen Bee.<br /><br />- Mike Loughlin<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-60873666754968472592013-01-06T19:04:01.422-05:002013-01-06T19:04:01.422-05:00I've always thought DC missed out on an opport...I've always thought DC missed out on an opportunity after "No Man's Land" to have the Penguin run a credible and winning campaign to be Gotham's mayor.<br /><br />Heck, he's a lot more qualified than that buffon J. Jonah Jameson, who's now mayor of Spider-Man's New York City!Scipiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217376618860561999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-43743170256407956282013-01-06T18:54:27.396-05:002013-01-06T18:54:27.396-05:00You know who the Penguin reminds me of? Not Wilson...You know who the Penguin reminds me of? Not Wilson Fisk, nor Viktor Bout, but Karl Rove. Maybe <i>Batman Returns</i> expressed the right idea the wrong way. Truly play up the class warfare by making Oswald Cobblepot an entitled, scheming little slug. Borrow from J. Jonah Jameson and turn the Penguin into a firebrand crusading against vigilante justice while touting gold and firearms. Really sell it by not making Cobblepot an actual above board criminal, but rather one of these conscienceless cretinous opportunists who'd sell out his city and consort with crazies based on self-serving, borderline sociopathic philosophies.Diabolu Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04685199809207954223noreply@blogger.com