The Penguin might not be as maniacal as The Joker or as powerful as Bane, but he still ranks among Batman’s greatest foes thanks to his formidable criminal empire. Soon, fans will get to see a lot more of Gotham’s crime kingpin with HBO’s upcoming The Penguin TV series premiering September 19. The show is a spin-off of director Matt Reeves’ 2022 film The Batman and sees Colin Farrell reprise his role as The Penguin.
While the new TV series will be the most on-screen time The Penguin has seen yet, the character has also starred in his own comic storylines and one-shots over the years, and we’ve rounded up a brief list highlighting some that are worth reading to see the origins of the tuxedo-and-top-hat-wearing villain and some of his biggest clashes with Gotham’s caped crusader.
If you’re looking for more Batman comic recommendations–perhaps because the new Penguin series doesn’t feature Batman or Bruce Wayne at all–then be sure to check out our giant roundup of the best Batman graphic novels to read in 2024.
The Penguin series
One of the best places to start is the character’s latest storyline, which is aptly titled The Penguin. This 13-issue comic series–which ran from 2022 and recently wrapped up earlier this month–centers on the titular villain, who has returned to Gotham after years of absence as a secret informant for the US government.
The first trade paperback for the series, The Penguin Vol. 1: The Prodigal Bird, released back in June and collects issues 1-6. Issues 7-12 will be collected in The Penguin Vol. 2, which releases February 25, 2025 and is available to preorder at Amazon. You can also grab the entire series in digital Kindle format, including the prequel Issue 0 that isn’t part of either trade paperback volume.
Batman: One Bad Day – Penguin
The Penguin appears in many other DC comics and graphics novels, including his own story in the Batman: One Bad Day anthology. The series spotlights eight of Batman’s most iconic villains–The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Catwoman, Bane, Clayface, and Ra’s al Ghul–and the “bad days” that sent them over the edge and into a lives of crime and villainy.
The Penguin’s story is available as a standalone graphic novel for $11 (was $18), or you can grab all eight stories, plus a special version of Batman: The Killing Joke, in the Batman: One Bad Day Hardcover Bos Set for $90 (was $160). The series is also included as part of the Kindle Unlimited library, which members can access as part of their $12/month subscription. New members can sign up at a discount and get their first three months for $12 until September 15.
Batman Arkham: Penguin
If you want to grab a collection of classic Batman stories featuring The Penguin, the Batman Arkham: Penguin graphic novel is on sale for $16.76 (was $20). This trade paperback collection includes 10 issues from various Batman comics runs, all of which see the Dark Knight squaring off with The Penguin. The collection is also available in Kindle ebook format for $10, or as part of Kindle Unlimited.
Penguin: Pain and Prejudice
Penguin: Pain and Prejudice offers another take on the origin’s of Gotham’s crimelord, giving readers a glimpse into Penguin’s childhood and his eventual rise to Gotham gang leader. The full 5-issue series was collected into a 142-page graphic novel back in 2012. Physical copies are hard to find at decent prices, but the paperback edition is available from third-party sellers at Amazon. You can also grab the graphic novel digitally via Kindle for $10, or read it as part of Kindle Unlimited.
Penguin: Pain and Prejudice Kindle edition — $10 | Also included in Kindle Unlimited
DC Comics Encyclopedias
The Penguin is also highlighted alongside over 1,200 other DC characters in the massive DC Comics Encyclopedia – New Edition, which is on sale now for $22 (was $40). For a more compact option, there’s the upcoming revised edition of the DC Ultimate Character Guide launching on November 5, and narrows its scope down to just 230 DC heroes and villains–including The Penguin and other members of Batman’s rogues gallery. You can preorder the DC Ultimate Character Guide – New Edition for $22 at Amazon.
