Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The PenguinThere are several ways in whichThe Penguinmore than likely sets up the events ofThe Batman - Part II. Taking place mere days after the events of 2022’sThe Batman, this new DC series set in the same continuity follows Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb as he looks to become the new kingpin of Gotham. To that end, the stage has very much been set for the next chapter inThe Batmantrilogy.
Streaming on Max,The Penguinconsists of eight episodes in total, as Oz Cobb and more Gotham criminals look to take advantage of the sizable power vacuum that was created when Riddler murdered Carmine Falcone inThe Batman, the head of Gotham’s biggest crime family. As Oz clashes with the likes of Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) and Carmine’s daughter Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti),The Penguinprovides multiple points of set-up for the future by the end of the finale episode.To that end, here are 10 specific ways in whichThe Penguinhas more than likely set upThe Batman - Part II.
10The Bat-Signal Is A Clear Sign For Batman’s Return
Where Has The Dark Knight Been?
One of the most obvious points of setup forThe Batman - Part IIcomes at the very end ofThe Penguinepisode 8. Living in a penthouse like he always promised his mother he’d one day get, Oz dances with his girlfriend Eve Karlo who tells Cobb that nothing is standing in his way.Ironically, this is right before the camera pans outside over Gotham just as the bat-signal is turned on. As such,the bat-signal feels like a pretty big shining sign that Batman will be coming for Penguin in the future, a very exciting way to endThe Penguinwhile also teasing the future.
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The bat-signal also generates the question as to where The Dark Knight was for the entirety of this new DC series, as Oz pitted multiple gangs against each other before collective sights were set on Cobb himself, resulting in several murders and ultimately the destruction of an entire city block. That said, there are some compelling theories and clues inThe Penguinand its promotional material that suggest Batman has been missing since the events ofThe Batman, and that his absence goes well beyond simple negligence. If that’s the case, one can imagine thatThe Batman - Part IIwill provide the answers.
9Penguin Is The New Kingpin of Gotham
Oz Cobb Got What He Wanted (No Matter The Cost)
Just like he’d always dreamed, Penguin’s cold and uncompromising ambition did get him the throne of Gotham’s criminal underworld. The Maronis and Falcones are no more thanks to Oz, meaning that he’s now one of the biggest powers and voices in Gotham, legitimately or otherwise.To that end, one can imagine that The Penguin will be well and truly established as the Kingpin of Gotham whenThe Batman - Part IIreleases. Perhaps he’ll build a brand-new Iceberg Lounge where he can conduct his business. Keeping that in mind, it’s certainly possible thatThe Penguin himself could be a primary villain ofThe Batman - Part II.
8A More Unified Criminal Underworld In Gotham
Former Deputies As New Heads With Loyalty To Penguin
A core reason why Oz Cobb was able to get the upper hand against Sofia Falcone byThe Penguin’send was due to secret alliances made with Gotham’s other gangs and their deputies. Offering them shots to take out the current leaders and take command for themselves,The Penguin has created an impressive alliance with all the city’s gangs, their new leader all expressing loyalty to him as the man who convinced them to take a chance and take a piece of the Gotham underworld for themselves, just like Oz had been doing for the entire DC series.
7Bella Reál Is Preparing An Anti-Corruption Initiative
The Mayor-Elect Means Business
It’s also confirmed inThe Penguinthat Mayor-Elect Bella Reál (Jayme Lawson) has big plans for Gotham City. Despite being shot by Riddler’s followersat the end ofThe Batman, Reál intends to push forward with a major anti-corruption initiative, wanting to change Gotham for the better from the inside out. To that end, Reál makes a brief cameo inThe Penguin’sfinale when Oz visits city hall, one that seemingly suggests she may clash with Oz and his future plans which will likely be revealed inThe Batman - Part II.
6Penguin Is Making Friends In High Places With Gotham’s Elite
Particularly Councilman Hady
By the end ofThe Penguin,Oz Cobb has gained a new ally in the form of Councilman Hady. Accepting Oz’s proposed narrative, Hady pubically blames many of The Penguin’s crimes onSofia Falcone/Gigante, the perfect scapegoat who makes Hady look good to the public, and Oz appearing cleaner than he actually is going forward. As such, it stands to reason that Oz and Hady will continue their alliance going forward, especially given Oz’s interest in meeting more of Hady’s friends in the Gotham elite. Likewise, it’s also worth noting that Hady is a character from the original DC Comics, one of Gotham’s many corrupt mayors.
5Penguin’s Finale Teases A Future Sofia/Catwoman Team-Up
Selina Sent Sofa A Letter
Rather than killing her at the end ofThe Penguin’sfinale, Oz leaves Sofia to be arrested by the GCPD. To that end, Sofia is subsequently put back in Arkham State Hospital. While in Arkham,Sofia receives a letter from none other than Selina Kyle aka Catwoman.
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While the specific contents of the letter aren’t revealed, one can imagine that Selina’s words were supportive of Sofia. After all,Selina and Sofia are half-sisters whose respective mothers were both murdered by their shared father, Carmine Falcone. To that end, this does seem like a prime piece of setup for a future Catwoman/Sofia Gigante team-up in the future, be it inThe Batman - Part IIor even in a new spin-off series.
4The Penguin Has Some Potential Court of Owls Set-Up
A Dark Cabal of Gotham’s Elite
One of the bigger theories is thatBatman’s absence could be due to the Court of Owls, a cabal of anonymous elite who secretly run Gotham from the shadows. Likewise, it’s rather notable that Oz is so interested in befriending more of Hady’s connections among the city’s wealthy and elite.Perhaps this will put Oz on the Court’s radar, which could be equally good or bad depending on how the Court feels about Gotham’s new king of the criminal underworld.
3The Riddler Still Has A Presence In Gotham
His Followers Are Still Out There
ThroughoutThe Penguin,it’s confirmed that Gotham City is still being plagued by the rhetoric of Edward Nashton’s Riddler. Despite being locked away in Arkham and flooding the city, the Riddler still has his followers. Not only are there multiple signs and graffiti of his signature question marks,but a few Riddler followers are even shown passing out fliers with QR codeson the trains.
Naturally, the code is indeed scanable by viewers which directs torataalada.com, the same promotional website used during the release ofThe Batmanwhich featured Nashton sending riddles and messages to his followers. To that end, these new messages come from Nashton’s followers who are still meeting and having protests. As such, it’s certainly possible that Riddler could have some sort of ongoing role inThe Batman - Part II.
2Julian Rush Is Back Working At Arkham
Sofia Will Have More Control
It’s also worth noting that Julian Rush is seemingly back working at Arkahm following Sofia’s readmittance. Having been her original doctor during her first visit, Julian developed feelings for Sofia and left Arkham when she did, offering his help and services as she sought to take control of her family’s criminal empire and vengeance against Oz Cobb. However, the fact that he’s now back at Arkham is likely to remain close to Sofia.
Julian being back at Arkham does suggest that Sofia might have an easier time as Arkham potentially inches closer to the inmates running the asylum. It’s also possible that Julian may be plotting to eventually break Sofia out of Arkham inThe Penguin’saftermath. This would allow her to potentially have a role in future stories likeThe Batman - Part II.
1The Only Relationship Penguin Has Left Is Super Problematic
At the end ofThe Penguin’sfinale, Oz’s mother Francis has been left in a vegetative state. Likewise, Penguin made the brutal decision to kill his right-hand man, Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz) as the duo had grown too close (and Oz couldn’t afford any weaknesses).As such, this means Oz’s only real relationship left is with Eve, who’s shown dressed like Francis and speaking to him as if she were his mother (presumably at Oz’s request).
While this dynamic is incredibly problematic and disturbing in its own right, it’s also worth noting that Oz never found out that Eve was the one who sold him and his mother out to Sofia in the first place. As such, it’s possible that this relationship could have some significant consequences in the future, both for Oz and for Eve. Likewise, there’s nothing that says Eve won’t betray Oz again if the circumstances call for it, and Oz will likely kill her if he ever finds out she ratted him out. As such, perhaps the probable implosion of Penguin’s last surviving relationship could occur withinThe Batman - Part II.
All episodes ofThe Penguinare now streaming on Max.The Batman - Part IIis set to be released in theaters on October 2nd, 2026.
The Penguin
Cast
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
The Batman Part II
The Batman Part II is the sequel to Matt Reeve’s The Batman, released in 2022, and will continue where the original film left off. The film shares a universe with the HBO Max original Penguin series and sees the return of the Riddler and a different incarnation of the Joker.
