Gotham’s shadows loom large over San Diego Comic-Con, but this year’s The Penguin panel revealed a striking twist: Batman may be watching from the rooftops, but the streets-and the story-belong to the criminals. As showrunner Lauren LeFranc teased, the series unfolds in the aftermath of The Batman, with Oz Cobblepot clawing his way up through chaos while the Dark Knight remains a distant, almost mythic presence. In this gritty new chapter, there are no heroes-just complex characters vying for control, and a city too big for even Batman to save alone.
Set approximately a week after the events of The Batman, the series sees Farrell reprising his role as Oswald “Oz” Cobb, the former right hand lieutenant of crime boss Carmine Falcone. With Falcone dead and Gotham City flooded in the aftermath of the Riddler’s attack, The Penguin centers on Oz’s plot to seize control over the remains of his boss’ criminal empire from Sofia Falcone (Milioti), Falcone’s daughter and heir apparent.
LeFranc’s series serves as the connective tissue between Reeves’ 2022 film and the forthcoming The Batman – Part II, which is scheduled to begin filming next year, so naturally the most obvious question, apart from how exactly Oz rises to power, is simple. Just what is Batman up to during this whole turf war between Oz and Sofia Falcone?
During the panel, Lefranc Twitter “The Batman’s up high looking down on Gotham and Oz is in the streets in the grit and the grime.” In addition, she also described The Penguin as a series that has no heroes, only complicated characters.
The last time audiences saw Robert Pattinson’s Batman, he had parted ways with Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), having re-committed himself to saving Gotham City and vowing to inspire hope in its citizens as they struggle to rebuild. While the series’ creators were cagey as to whether or not the Dark Knight himself would make an appearance in The Penguin, Matt Reeves did confirm that Oz himself would return in The Batman – Part II.
How does the series reveal Batman’s absence from Gotham’s chaos
How the Series Reveals Batman’s Absence from Gotham’s Chaos
Grounded In-Universe Explanation
The Penguin series addresses Batman’s absence by emphasizing the overwhelming scale of Gotham’s chaos following the events of The Batman. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc and director Matt Reeves clarify that Gotham is simply too large and tumultuous for one vigilante to monitor every crisis. Batman is depicted as being preoccupied with the city’s widespread devastation-bridges destroyed, flooding rampant, and citizens in constant danger-forcing him to prioritize where he can intervene.
Emotional and Psychological Factors
Matt Reeves adds a psychological layer, explaining that Batman is grappling with guilt and responsibility for the city’s current state. He “blames himself” for the aftermath of the Riddler’s attack and is focused on helping Gotham recover, rather than directly confronting the criminal power struggles that erupt in the vacuum left by Falcone’s death.
Narrative Choice and Off-Screen Presence
The show intentionally keeps Batman off-screen, reinforcing that while his presence looms over Gotham, he cannot be everywhere at once. LeFranc notes, “He doesn’t have a Spidey-sense that tingles. But just because we don’t see Batman in our show doesn’t mean he’s unaware or uncaring”. The series hints that Batman may be allowing the criminal factions to cannibalize each other, intervening only when necessary, and possibly keeping tabs on the chaos from afar.
Visual and Thematic Cues
The absence is further underscored by the unchecked rise in crime and the violent power struggles among Gotham’s underworld, with no sign of Batman stepping in-even during major events like the Falcone massacre or Maroni’s breakout. This narrative decision heightens the sense of lawlessness and sets the stage for Batman’s eventual return in future stories.
Summary Table
| Reason for Absence | Evidence in Series/Creator Commentary |
|---|---|
| Gotham’s overwhelming chaos | Batman focused on disaster recovery, not gang wars |
| Batman’s guilt and self-reflection | Reeves: Batman “blames himself” for city’s state |
| Narrative focus on villains | Series centers on Penguin’s rise, not Batman |
| Batman can’t be everywhere | “Big city, Batman can’t be everywhere” |
| Off-screen monitoring (implied) | Batman possibly lets criminal factions weaken each other |
In sum, The Penguin makes Batman’s absence a deliberate narrative and thematic choice, reflecting both the scale of Gotham’s crisis and the emotional toll on its hero.
How does Batman’s absence affect Gotham’s criminal power balance
Impact of Batman’s Absence on Gotham’s Criminal Power Balance
Unchecked Power Struggles and Rising Crime
With Batman absent in the aftermath of Gotham’s flooding and the death of crime boss Carmine Falcone, the city’s underworld is thrown into chaos. The power vacuum left by Falcone’s demise has led to violent struggles among criminal factions, with figures like Oswald Cobblepot (The Penguin) seizing the opportunity to rise through the ranks. The lack of Batman’s intervention allows these conflicts to escalate unchecked, resulting in a dramatic surge in crime-Gotham’s crime rate jumps by 42% as criminals exploit the city’s weakened state.
Shift from Old Guard to New Criminal Leadership
The absence of Batman also accelerates a generational shift in Gotham’s criminal hierarchy. The old guard, represented by Falcone and Sal Maroni, is being replaced by a new wave of ruthless, ambitious super-criminals. The Penguin’s ascent marks a tipping point, signaling the beginning of a darker era where costumed villains and psychopathic masterminds are poised to dominate the underworld.
Erosion of Deterrence and Symbolic Order
Traditionally, Batman’s presence serves as a powerful deterrent, instilling fear in both petty criminals and organized crime bosses. Without the threat of Batman’s intervention, criminals become emboldened, and the symbolic order he maintained collapses. This emboldenment leads to brazen power grabs, increased violence, and the proliferation of new criminal enterprises, such as the spread of dangerous new drugs on the streets.
Summary
Batman’s absence creates a vacuum that destabilizes the criminal power balance in Gotham. The city’s most dangerous elements seize control, crime soars, and the underworld transforms, setting the stage for a new era of lawlessness and villainy.
