Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Penguin
A major war between The Penguin and The Riddler has been set up forThe Batman - Part II. While both classic DC villains were introduced in 2022’sThe Batmanas foes of Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne, It’s hard to see Edward Nashton (Paul Dano) and Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) ever working well with each together. Furthermore,The Penguinhas potentially set up a way in which they could even become direct rivals in the upcoming sequel.
As seen inThe Batmanby director Matt Reeves, Edward Nashton was put behind bars after killing mob boss Carmine Falcone (whom Oz Cobb worked for). However,The Penguinhas confirmed that Riddler’s followers are still out there, even after they tried killing Mayor-Elect Bella Reál and triggeredNashton’s flood which caused city-wide devastation atThe Batman’sending.To that end, it’s been suggested that Riddler could very well become a major rival to Penguin inThe Batman - Part II.
The Penguin Revealed The Riddler’s Army Is Still Active
The Riddler’s Followers Are Still Gathering
As seen at multiple points throughoutThe Penguin,which takes place just one week after the events ofThe Batman,Riddler’s followers are still active in Gotham. Even though Edward Nashtion is still locked away in Arkham State Hospital, his presence and influence remain as seen inThe Penguinepisode 1 when two Riddler followers are shown handing out fliers with QR codes. When the code is scanned (which can indeed be done by viewers watching at home),the same “rataalada” website used by Riddler duringThe Batmanis shown with all-new messages between Riddler’s followers.
At the time of the premiere’s release, it was shown on the website that Riddler’s followers were still organizing, wanting to share the truth of Gotham’s corruption first exposed by Nashton inThe Batman. To that end, protestors with Riddler signs are seen outside Alberto Falcone’s funeral inThe Penguinepisode 2, protesting against the Falcone Crime Family and particularly Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) who was recently released from Arkham after being exonerated for crimes that earned Sofia the nickname “The Hangman”. Likewise,Riddler’s question marks are shown all over the city, confirming that Nashton’s impact on Gotham has yet to fade even as he’s behind bars.
Penguin’s Corruption Of Gotham Makes Him Riddler’s Enemy
Oz Cobb Represents Everything Riddler Was Fighting Against
Keeping the above in mind, it’s likely that Riddler and his followers aren’t too happy with the results ofThe Penguin. Having successfully taken advantage of the power vacuum created following Carmine’s murder, Oz Cobb is now the new kingpin of Gotham’s criminal underworld. Not only did his war with Sofia Falcone result in the end of the Falcone/Gigante Crime Family, but it also saw Oz uniting all the city’s smaller gangs after deputies were supported in taking out the various heads of the Triads, Odessa Mob, Burnley Town Massive, LoBoys, and The Sullivans (with each of them claiming loyalty to Cobb himself as seen inThe Penguinepisode 8.
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Penguin also forged new inroads with Gotham’s rich and powerful, having made a key ally with a corrupt councilman with the promise of getting more meetings with Gotham’s corrupt elite. As a result, Oz Cobb’s Penguin has arguably become far more powerful than Carmine Falcone ever was. As such,one can imagine that Riddler and his followers would want Penguin taken out just like any other corrupt and powerful member of Gotham City, now that he’s very much become a big part of everything Riddler was fighting to expose and bring to an end.
Batman Could Be In The Middle Of A Major War In Part II
Riddler Could Try And Disrupt Penguin’s Empire (With New Allies)
It wouldn’t be surprising if Penguin ends up clashing with Riddler inThe Batman - Part II, or at least with Nashton’s followers. Likewise, Gotham could have an all-out war on its hands, especially if Riddler manages to break out of Arkham in the upcoming sequel alongside the new “friend” he made behind bars at the end ofThe Batman,Barry Keoghan’s Joker. Regardless of how it specifically shakes out, Robert Pattinson’s Batman could find himself at the center of a major storm that comes to Gotham City.
“Penguin’s newly claimed power is exactly what Riddler would hate, including those who believe in his message and support what he did in the first movie”
Riddler and his fanatics could easily try and wage war against Penguin’s new criminal empire. After all, Penguin’s newly claimed power is exactly what Riddler would hate, including those who believe in his message and support what he did in the first movie.While it doesn’t necessarily have to be the primary focus or threat inThe Batman - Part II, Penguin having to deal with Riddler and his vengeful legacy could serve as an intriguing subplotThe Penguinhas certainly helped set up.
All episodes ofThe Penguinare now streaming on Max.The Batman - Part IIreleases October 2nd, 2026.
The Penguin
Cast
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
The Batman Part II
The Batman Part II is the sequel to Matt Reeve’s The Batman, released in 2022, and will continue where the original film left off. The film shares a universe with the HBO Max original Penguin series and sees the return of the Riddler and a different incarnation of the Joker.
