A review by billyjepma
The Penguin Vol. 1 by Tom King

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was sure this would be a drab read—if not because I don’t care that much about The Penguin, then because I didn’t love all of King’s characterization of the gangster in his Batman run—but lo and behold, it’s a brutal, violent slow burn that could be setting up something really special and unique. This is a full-blooded gangster tale, with these introductory issues essentially functioning as Penguin’s “let’s get the band back together” moment, which is just as cool/scary as you might expect. 

King doesn’t hold back, either, and I was surprised by how far DC’s editorial let him go with some of the violence. Even the suggestions of violence are just as potent and, not uncommonly, more unnerving than the actual blood that’s shed on the page. Penguin is as cold-hearted as can be here, and King’s writing leans into the hardened criminal vibe in great ways. The artwork brings all of those vibes right to the forefront, too, and gives the comic a dirty, palpable grit that I really loved. There’s not a ton of momentum here—at least on the broader plot King is developing—but the foundations are rock-solid so far. I’m very eager for more.