Why did The Penguin change his name from Oswald Cobblepot to Cobb?

As a long-time aficionado of the Batman universe who has witnessed the evolution of characters from the comic books to the big screen, I find myself intrigued by the decision to change Oswald Cobblepot‘s name to Oswald Cobb in the new HBO Max series, The Penguin.

In the original DC Comics, introduced back in the 1940s, the villain known as The Penguin’s real name was Oswald Cobblepot. However, in the 2022 movie “The Batman,” his last name was slightly altered to “Cobb.” It appears that the character’s surname has been modified in this particular adaptation of the story.

In the upcoming show titled “The Penguin,” premiering on HBO and Max this Thursday, September 19, you’ll notice a significant presence of Oswald. The producers had some conversations about changing his name with DC Comics and Jim Lee, who thought about it before but never executed it. Director Matt Reeves requested to call the character “Oz Cobb,” which was approved by Jim Lee, giving us permission to explore this character in a more realistic light.

Lauren LeFranc, the showrunner of “The Penguin”, agreed with the sentiment that the character’s new name better grounded him: “Matt Murdock has established new lore in his film, while I’m establishing new lore for this series. Our characters might be familiar, but they have a fresh twist,” she explained. “It seemed that in Matt’s Gotham City, Cobblepott felt less like a real person compared to Cobb as a surname. He’s a gangster, and it just felt more appropriate.

Does The Penguin need to change Oswald’s name?

To set the record straight, I’d like to make it clear that while some characters refer to him as Oz, the main character from the new series is actually named Oswald Cobb, not just Oz Cobb. This is evident from the trailer, where even his mother calls him “Oswald.

Regarding the question of whether his last name should have been altered, it’s fair to say that “Cobblepot” has a somewhat exaggerated feel. However, considering Batman is a comic book series featuring a man in a bat costume battling crime, it’s unlikely the franchise will ever entirely move away from its more dramatic roots. Yet, among all superheroes, Batman seems particularly adaptable to realistic interpretations, as demonstrated by the Christopher Nolan films and The Batman. Interestingly, I had an opportunity to preview The Penguin ahead of time, and it does come across as a realistic, grounded storyline…at least for a spin-off superhero television series; there are still moments that veer into the fantastical. Personally, I believe they could have retained “Cobblepot” without issue, but going with “Cobb” is also acceptable. I found it perfectly fine either way.

As a devoted comic book fan, I can’t help but notice the intriguing evolution of characters within the DC universe. For many years, the Riddler was known as Edward Nigma or E. Nigma, which, if you catch my drift, plays on his affinity for riddles. Quite a clever touch, but a bit on the nose, don’t you think? In the 2010s, DC Comics decided to shake things up and reintroduced him as Edward Nashton, a name he now goes by in The Batman. It seems they’re doing something similar with the Penguin, giving him a fresh identity.

The point you make is valid, but one of the advantages of the Batman series lies in its versatility. Sometimes it delves deep into realism, while other times it veers towards the exaggerated and absurd. At present, we’re experiencing a grounded phase, yet there’s a possibility that Oswald Cobblepot might reappear when the tide shifts again.

2024-09-17 05:41