Mon Sep 30 03:00:20 UTC 2024: ## “The Penguin” Takes a Page from “The Sopranos,” Continuing a Trend of Batman’s “Crime Epic” Influences

**HBO’s new series “The Penguin,” a spinoff from “The Batman,” is drawing heavy inspiration from another iconic crime drama: “The Sopranos.”** The series’ showrunner, Lauren LeFranc, has downplayed the show’s direct Batman connections, emphasizing its focus on a “serious crime drama.” This approach mirrors a trend in Batman media that sees the character’s world filtered through the lens of classic crime epics.

**Colin Farrell’s performance as Oswald Cobblepot (aka The Penguin) channels the swagger and pathos of James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano,** with a similar volatile mother figure (played by Deirdre O’Connell) mirroring Nancy Marchand’s Livia Soprano. The series even features a young protégé (Rhenzy Feliz), reminiscent of Michael Imperioli’s Christopher Moltisanti.

This reliance on “The Sopranos” echoes a long-standing trend of Batman stories drawing from classic crime narratives. **Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s 1996 graphic novel “Batman: The Long Halloween” famously aped “The Godfather,”** with Carmine Falcone serving as a Vito Corleone stand-in. The Falcone family, with their internal conflicts and power struggles, mirror the Corleone dynasty, with characters like Alberto Falcone embodying the weakness of Fredo and Sofia Falcone echoing the ruthless ambition of Sonny.

**The influence of these crime epics speaks to a broader tendency within the Batman universe to elevate the character and his world beyond the confines of traditional superhero fare.** While some adaptations shy away from the source material’s inherent weirdness, others embrace it, adding a layer of self-awareness and humor. However, the persistent use of classic crime dramas suggests a desire to ground the character in real-world themes of power, corruption, and violence.

As “The Penguin” joins the ranks of Batman stories drawing inspiration from “The Sopranos” and “The Godfather,” it becomes evident that **the Caped Crusader’s universe thrives on the interplay between fantastical elements and the grounded realities of crime and its consequences.**

“The Penguin” is available to stream on Max.

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