The Penguin: What Oz’s Name Change Means for the Character and the Series

The Penguin marks a new direction in the comic book movie genre, focusing less on superhero elements and more on the intricacies of Gotham’s criminal underworld. Despite the excitement surrounding this shift, there’s one notable change that has stirred controversy among fans: the character’s name has been altered from Oswald Cobblepot to Oswald Cobb.

Opinions on comic book adaptations vary widely. Some purists resist any changes to the source material, while others are more flexible, accepting adaptations as long as they fit within the new context. Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot first appeared in Detective Comics #58 in 1941, and his full name has been consistently used in the comics. However, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, the Penguin’s full name is never mentioned. Instead, he’s referred to simply as “Oz.” With the new HBO Max spinoff series, showrunner Lauren LeFranc explained the name change, stating that “Cobb” sounds more realistic for a gangster and better fits the world created in the film.

Image Courtesy: Game Rant

LeFranc noted that while comic adaptations often change character names, they felt the need to modernize Cobblepot’s name due to its perceived silliness. This decision has drawn comparisons to the infamous costume changes in Bryan Singer’s 2000 X-Men film, where fans were outraged by the shift to black leather suits.

Ultimately, while changing Oz’s name may seem odd, it doesn’t fundamentally alter his character. Most of the time, he is still known as “Oz” or “the Penguin.” The name change reflects a broader trend in adaptations to make characters appear more serious and grounded, though it raises questions about fidelity to the source material. Overall, the character remains rooted in his original essence, even with the new moniker.

–Farheen Ali