Summary
The Penguinfeels like a new frontier for the comic book movie craze. While the fervor has certainly died down, great entries likeThe Batmanstill stick out.The Penguinrepresents a shift in genre, completely excising the whole superhero conceit in favor of a deeper exploration of Gotham’s organized underworld. While it’s not as far from some of the comics as it could be, there’s one notable change that fans seem up in arms about. The Penguin’s government name has been changed from Oswald Cobblepot toOswald Cobb.
There’s a wide variety of perspectives on comic book movies. It’shard to convince puriststo turn away from even the most minor details of their favorite text. Some are more casually devoted and willing to accept any twist on the material as long as it works in context. These things are generally healthier on a case-by-case basis. It’s no help to shout about the alterations that allow for the new medium, but that certainly doesn’t mean that every concession adds something to the conversation.
The Penguinchanges Oswald Cobblepot’s name
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot first appeared inDetective Comics#58 in December 1941. The character has almost exclusively used that name since his debut. Interestingly,Matt Reeves' The Batmannever once mentions their version of the Penguin’s real full name. People regularly call him “Oz,” but no one mentions his surname. Even the script refers to him as the Penguin, presumably to his chagrin. When the spinoff series dropped onto HBO Max’s slate, it became clear that the screenwriters and showrunners changed his name to Oswald Cobb.Comic Book Movie’sJosh Wilding reports writer and showrunner Lauren LeFranc’s comments to SFX Magazine on the subject:
Matt’s created new canon in his film, and I’m creating new canon in this show. We have characters you’re familiar with, but there’s a different spin on them. It felt like in the Gotham City that Matt created in his film, Cobblepott seemed less of a real person in the way that Cobb is a real last name. He’s a gangster and it just kind of felt more correct.
To hear her tell it, the team decided to change Oz’s namebecause “Oswald Cobblepot” soundsa little silly. Cobb is a real surname. It certainly sounds a lot more traditional. LeFranc mentions the fact that the comics changed Edward Nigma’s name to Edward Nashton but never did the same for Oz, leaving them to make that change. Incidentally, Cobblepot is a real name.My Heritage reportsat least 57 family trees by that surname. The same search for Cobb returned more than a million results. In any case, the producers of Matt Reeves’Batmanuniverse have decided that silly names aren’t part of the new canon.
Comic book movies have made worse changes
Many fans compared the alteration of Oz’s name to the infamous costume decisions madein Bryan Singer’s 2000X-Menfilm. The filmmakers' decision to trade in the mutants' traditional colorful garb for indistinguishable black leather outfits evoked a ton of rage. Shockingly, the writers chose to address the concerns by throwing in a sardonic quip at the old outfits' expense. This targeted insincerity is often far more infuriating than the changes themselves. Without that joke, they might have gotten away with the choice by citing various tactical benefits. With the joke in place, they paint themselves as the saviors of the source material, which could never attract a fanbase in its original form. This isn’t to say that any adaptation owes anyone any form of fidelity. It’sjust that a boring, trend-focused decisioncan often look like an attack under the wrong light. Oz’s new name doesn’t read quite the same.
Comic book character names are a common issue
Ultimately, the silly names from comic books often become problems for filmmakers. They can’t imagine a character with a comical name in a more “serious” medium. This is common across studios and decades.Victor Von Doom was a commoncontestant for this issue. The 2015Fantastic Fourfilm attempted to change his name to Victor Domashev but changed their minds as a result of fan outcry. Even the comics altered him for the Ultimate Universe, calling him Victor Van Damme. The Riddler is something of an outlier. According to the current DC Universe, the character was born Edward Nashton and changed hisname to Edward Nigma. There’s not much difference between that slight shift and Oz’s new name. While comic book names are often something of a sticking point, does Oz Cobb really say anything new aboutThe Penguin?
Again: Weird, but Not a Sin
The alteration of Oz’s name is a strange choice that doesn’t really change anything. The character goes by Oz or the Penguin for 90% of his screentime. Some fans imagine creators turning up their noses at the material as if there isn’tplenty of familiar DNA inThe Batmanand its spinoff. He’s called Oz Cobb, and he doesn’t kill people with an umbrella nearly as often, but that doesn’t push him much further from the Penguin.
The Penguin
Set in Matt Reeves' Batman Universe, one week after the events of The Batman, this is the origin story of Oswald Cobb, AKA The Penguin, one of Gotham City’s most notorious crime bosses. Presented by HBO Max. Starring Colin Farrell.
