Oswald Cobblepot is preparing to take back the Gotham underworld at the behest of the U.S. government, but to wage this war, he's going to need some ruthless soldiers. For starters...the Help, the merciless assassin Penguin first encountered in the epic Batman: Killing Time. But can the Penguin free the Help from a prison of his own making? Whoever wins, everyone dies. The tough-as-nails series continues!
Big risk devoting the entire second issue to only two players and not following up on many of the plots in the first issue, but as usual for King, it worked brilliantly. Read Full Review
De Latorre delivers some beautiful art in the issue. The visuals are brilliantly detailed and capture the dark and growing menace within the story. Read Full Review
The vibe that King delivered with the first issue of this new series continues over into The Penguin #2. The repeated use of muted colors and expressive close-ups really lean into the noir, gangster motif. The creative team really continues to deliver with this series, so there's not much else to say except that someone should turn this into a TV show! Read Full Review
King, De Latorre and the team dont miss a beat with another fantastic issue of the return of Gothams Crime King. Superb writing orchestrates a plot that deceptively keeps readers guessing with exceptional art. The series has come out of the gate swinging and you dont want to miss your chance picking it up. Read Full Review
The Penguin #2 cements the series as one of the best of the year so far. Two issues in, both have demonstrated a quality that's amazing on every level. It's one that's not to be missed a gem of DC's “Dawn of DC” line. Read Full Review
Ultimately, this issue reveals how genuinely frightening and evil Penguin is when he has his mind set on something. He's quite small and can't fight, but he's as dangerous as they come. So far, King and De Latorre are establishing a level of danger Penguin exudes, first from an outside perspective and in this issue through his sheer act of willpower and tenaciousness. The Penguin isn't just a Batman villain but a force to be feared. Read Full Review
There is still enjoyment to be had with this issue and I wouldn't call it bad, but it isn't nearly as engaging as the first. The story assumes too much about the reader's knowledge and even without that, Penguin as a character is significantly less likable or sympathetic, making staying engaged a hard sell. The art is still beautiful but that isn't enough to keep me invested if the writing doesn't get back to what worked in part one. This isn't a good sign but I still hope that this comic justifies itself and proves this is just a bump in the road. Read Full Review
All of this action occurs within a setting that is wonderfully realized by De LaTorre with violent sequences every bit as impactful, but it's difficult not to question whether there's actually a story worth telling beneath those appealing aesthetics after this second outing. Read Full Review
I really enjoyed this issue, and it solidifies the idea the first issue brought about. That being the ruthlessness and that he is a man that gets what he wants by any means necessary. This also brings back The Help who is one of the most formidable members of Batman's rogues gallery. I think this issue was stronger than the first, and was a far more enjoyable read although we are still in the setup phase of Penguin getting a gang together. I am excited to se where this is headed and I can't wait for the next issue.
Latorre's art was good here, but the highlight of this is how good the writing was. I didn't read King's previous Killing Time series with Batman, but I still really enjoyed this. This was a slow burn, in my opinion, that really paid off in the end. It's a little difficult for me to put into words exactly why I liked this, but I just did. Great writing + nice art = awesome book.
Not at the level of n.1, but still a good storie.
https://youtu.be/TbXkVlhF5Cw?si=B0FlWjyu9N0qp4Ec
Review at (1:13) in link
Entire issue is just 2 individuals. The violence shown by Oswald though has sucked me in as I am curious to see where he pushes this
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