Episode #13: The Drunk History of The Penguin

Join us as we break down Oswald Cobblepot’s journey. It’s a crime-filled, umbrella-wielding, absolute rat adventure. He goes from a rough childhood to becoming Gotham’s sneakiest underworld kingpin!

With the latest Penguin series out on MAX , we HAD to cover the DC legend! We’re spilling ALL the tea on Penguin’s transformation. This journey spans from vintage comics to New 52 and DC Rebirth. Penguin’s story goes from a bullied rich kid to the Iceberg Lounge boss.

You’ll hear:

• Penguin’s tragic origins where he was bullied and basically created in to this dumpster fire role and rise to power 💀

• His twisted relationships with Batman, The Joker, Bane, and obviously more because obviously a rat has some ties 🦇
• How he became a mastermind snitch while still controlling Gotham’s criminal underworld

We take you through some of the MAX show and how it compares to the comic book world.

When we released this episode, it was right around the time of The Penguin being released, a show that captivated audiences and left a lasting impression. We actually recorded it the day after the finale aired. This timing added an extra layer of excitement to our discussion. If you haven’t given it a watch, you should definitely check it out. It’s truly a must-see for fans of the genre. This show is actually probably one of my favorite comic book adaptations of all time, and for good reason. The blend of darkness, quirky humor, and complex character arcs creates a rich narrative tapestry that is hard to resist. How The Penguin closes out as a complete savage is both exhilarating and satisfying, leaving viewers eager for what might come next. At Comics & Brews, we generally try to keep it to the straight comic book histories of these characters, exploring their origins and significant storylines. However, this was one instance where we felt compelled to stray a wee bit from our usual path because the show itself was so awesome, offering fresh perspectives that enhance understanding of the character. That said, I’m truly not sure if The Penguin has received a solid dark storyline in the comic books that we’ve all been yearning for. If I’m wrong, please sound off in the comments. I know I haven’t read every Penguin book out there. I’d genuinely love to hear your recommendations. Share your thoughts on any hidden gems you might have encountered.

Beers of the Episode

Elysian Brewing: Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale – Pumpkachino contains a short shot of Stumptown coffee in your pint. It has just a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. There is also a dabble of lactose. I personally can’t stand any pumpkin beers. There’s the rare pumpkin bevy that I think is just okay. This one is not it. I’ve been trying to sell these bad boys to the hockey squad. I’ve offered them for beer over the past few months without success.

(I Rated it a 3.0 – Abby actually enjoyed it) It’s Untappd overall rating is (3.93)

Weldwerks Brewing: Roller Ghoster hazy IPA: I actually really enjoyed this bad boy. It’s one of a few from Weldwerks that I believe is lower than a 4.0 and I think it’s totes worthy of a 4.0 rating at the least. Just a good ol fashioned hazy that has that perfect taste of haze. After I wrote this I just double checked and it has actually risen to a 4.05. So clearly everyone agreed with me that it was WORTHY!

(We rated it a 4.25) It’s Untappd Overall Rating is (4.05)

This episode was also recorded right after we found out that we got to design the IPYAY Comics! beer labels and menus that would be sold at Fiction Brewing Parker. Man was I PUMPED! If you missed our post yesterday, be sure to check it out. It was a Flashback Friday post all about the event. You gotta watch that video. It’s a good one for all the beer nerds out there.

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Be sure to comment your thoughts on this episode!

Let’s chat all things Penguin or DC in general! There’s so much that has been created over the years. This spans all the way to 1941 when The Penguin made his first appearance. I was 49 years back in the womb. If there’s any OG comic book peeps out there that have read those glorious oldies, please drop a line! Do you have some more Penguin history that we may have missed? Fill in the blanks in the comments so we can learn even more. Or we can just talk cool beer that you’ve had lately. We’re always on the hunt to try something new to add to our Untappd. CHEERS!