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The Cobblepot crime family is a powerful criminal organization in Gotham City founded by Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, A.K.A. "The Penguin." It was founded in the wake of the Falcone-Maroni war and quickly emerged as the dominant power in Gotham's underworld, seizing control of both remnants of Maroni and Falcone's organizations.

The family suffered three major but temporary downfalls. The first came after Oswald was hunted down by the GCPD for the murder of Theo Galavan, going into hiding after his release from Arkham Asylum, and once again after the combined efforts of Edward Nygma and Barbara Kean. Penguin retook control of the criminal underworld once again after Barbara's disappearance and his defeat of Nygma, opening the Iceberg Lounge in place of the The Sirens and issuing licenses for crime in Gotham. With Oswald incarcerated at Arkham for the apparent murder of Martin, the crime family was inactive once again, but was later rebuild by Cobblepot after he escaped custody. When Gotham City became a No Man's Land, Penguin used this as an opportunity to rebuild his empire, reforming his crime family and starting to claim his territory in Gotham. After Reunification, Penguin was arrested and sentenced to ten years in Blackgate Penitentiary. Ten years later, penguin was released and regained control over what’s left of his crime family, making plans to rebuild his power in the city alongside the Riddler, who now has become his partner in crime.

History[]

Beginnings[]

After joining the Maroni crime family, and running Fish Mooney out of the city, Oswald Cobblepot started his own gang in the maroni family, consisting of Butch Gilzean, Gabe, an Eye Patched gangster, and a few associates of Sal Maroni. After Maroni’s revelation that Oswald was Carmine Falcone’s mole in his crime family, and his attempted murder of him, Oswald and his gang defected over to the Falcone crime family. With him becoming a high ranking capo in the family. Taking over Fish Mooney’s nightclub and renaming it Oswald’s. However, Oswald wanted more, he wanted to be the king of Gotham. He manipulated and pulled the strings that eventually erupted into the Gotham gang war, Between Falcone and Maroni.

During the gang war, Maroni and Fish were killed, as well as large parts of their gangs. After it ended, Falcone decided to retire, and Oswald stepped forward to fill the power vacuum created by the Crime Lords' absence. He quickly took control of Gotham's criminal underworld and began running the city alongside former associates of both Falcone and Maroni, and different gangs of the city, dubbing himself the "king of Gotham."

Oswald Cobblepot talking to his underlings

The Cobblepot crime family during its beginnings.

Penguin along with Tommy Bones (who formerly worked for Sal Maroni), Butch Gilzean (who formerly worked for Fish Mooney), and Victor Zsasz (who formerly worked for Carmine Falcone) collected debts owed to retired Falcone, as, having taken over his organization, Penguin declared that the debts were now owed to him. Selina Kyle was in his presence where Cobblepot stated to Jim Gordon that he keeps her around like a a pet cat.[1]

Cobblepot later called a meeting with the other gangs, as the recent exploits of Jerome Valeska and The Maniax were causing their business interests to suffer. As such, Oswald ordered that all violent acts from then on would require his permission, to "restore faith" in their power. Oswald and his group were later dragged into Theo Galavan's scheme when he revealed that he had his mother Gertrud Kapelput in his clutches.[2]

The Penguin committed the murders of the mayoral candidates that opposed Theo's. He later had Butch hire the Pike Family to carry out an arson based robbery on a Wayne Enterprises building thus discovering the knife which would play a role in the temporary fall of his empire. During this time, the GCPD’s new captain Nathaniel Barnes began cracking down on Oswald’s businesses. Raiding places such as his Count House, and the Merc.

After Tabitha Galavan "reprogrammed" Butch Gilzean and stabbed Gertrud in front of Oswald, this leads to Oswald retaliating by orchestrating an attack on Theo's post-election party where he used look-a-likes of him to fool the police.[3] When it failed, Oswald and the rest of his men went into hiding.

Oswald later rallied his gang and Selina Kyle when they help Jim Gordon, Harvey Bullock, and Alfred Pennyworth when it came to rescuing Bruce Wayne from the Order of St. Dumas after he was captured by Theo Galavan. The group found themselves in a gunfight which resulted in the members of the Order ending up dead.[4]

In Hiding[]

Oswald and his gang went to their meat packing plant, to hide due to the manhunt for Oswald after Galavans murder by him and Jim Gordon. However they were attacked by Victor Fries, who began to freeze his underlings and chase him down. Oswald managed to escape with the help of Selina Kyle and a surviving underling, who drove Oswald away to safety. But when Oswald went to Gordon and Bullock for help, he was taken outside of Gotham and told to leave town for good as Captain Barnes was after him. Despite this warning, Oswald returned to Gotham.[5]

Oswald's empire fell in his absence and he was a wanted man for the murder of Theo. After spending about a month living on the streets of Gotham, he was eventually arrested and brought to the precinct by Barnes and later sent to Arkham Asylum after pleading insanity. Butch succeeded Oswald as the new crime lord of the Gotham underworld. [6]

Three months later Oswald formed an alliance to kill a resurrected Theo Galavan. Afterwards Oswald appeared to be back in control and Butch took orders for him, such as attacking a prison bus seemingly containing Hugo Strange - a chief psychiatrist from Arkham Asylum who had tortured Oswald during his time in there.[7]

Cobblepot crime family

Cobblepot crime family meeting at Van Dahl Mansion.

Renewed Power[]

Six months after the escape of the Indian Hill prisoners, Oswald appears to have taken control of the Gotham Underworld with Butch as his willing right hand man. Offering Barbara to run protection for her Sirens Nightclub as it is built on his land to which she refuses his offer preferring to run things herself along Tabitha.

Five crime families

Cobblepot meeting with leaders of five crime families at Van Dahl Mansion.

Collapse[]

After being elected as Mayor of Gotham Penguin effectively rules Gotham as kingpin of it's criminal underworld and as the legally elected Mayor of the City. Whilst continuing the rule Gotham, jealousy pushed him to arrange the death of Edward Nygma's girlfriend. Eventually Nygma discovered the truth and, along with Barbara Kean, orchestrated the fall of Penguin's criminal empire as well as his reputation as Mayor. After Nygma and his co-conspirators had finally destroyed everything Oswald had built, he shot his former friend in the gut and dumped him in river.

Reformation[]

Oswald survived the attempted murder and was nursed back to health by Ivy Pepper. She subsequently helped him to reorganize his syndicate and take control of Gotham once more. With the aid of former Indian Hill inmates Victor Fries and Bridgit Pike, he began planning his re-ascension as well as his revenge on Edward Nygma.

After another failed attempt on Penguin's life, Nygma brought him to the same harbor where he had first attempted to kill him, only for Oswald to reveal that his former friend had fallen into a trap. Penguin delivered the final blow of the conflict by having Fries freeze the Riddler alive. He kept the resulting ice block as a reminder to never again let love weaken him.

Cobblepot crime family

Oswald Cobblepot, Ivy Pepper and Victor Zsasz

Returning to his mansion with Ivy, Cobblepot announced the idea for a new club which he dubbed "The Iceberg Lounge" noting the fact that is corresponds with his nickname "Penguin" but also because of it's main attraction being the cryogenically frozen Edward Nygma being on display.

In the three months following this, Penguin gained influence in Gotham City and has unionized crime, in which criminals have to come to him for a license before they commit a crime so he can get a cut of the take. Penguin helps to cut down the crime rates, and manages to get control of the Gotham City Police Department as his policies have prevented attacks on the department and the rate of cop murders has gone down.

No Man's Land and aftermath[]

After the cataclysm, Oswald Cobblepot took control of the District Fashion and the munitions factory. Due to this advantageous locations, his empire was more powerful than the other surviving gangs.

After falling the helicopter of Wayne Enterprises, Oswald with 5 thugs went to steal the supplies, when the GCPD arrived, Tabitha Galavan appeared from nowhere and attempted to assassinate Oswald in retaliation for his murder of Butch Gilzean. Due to a bullet misfire in Tabitha's gun, Penguin managed to kill her.

Cobblepot demanded food as payment for his munitions, but squandered it all for himself. This upset Arthur Penn and other cohorts who defected to Haven, a location controlled by the GCPD. Penguin joined forces with the Lo Boyz, Undead, and Street Demonz gangs to reclaim his men. Penguin conquered Haven only to be betrayed by the other gangs and Penn to be killed by the Street Demonz Leader. With the help of Gordon, Penguin defeated the gangs and won back the respect of his crime family.

Cobblepot soon turned inward, beginning to only trust himself and a few others. He planned to abandon his crime family with his Nygma and Kean while taking his ill-gotten gains to the mainland via a submarine. This plan was foiled by Nyssa al Ghul stealing his submarine and the riches within. This left the Cobblepot crime family with no funds. Penguin and Riddler decided to start anew and take over Gotham together.

Penguin and Riddler's plans were soon scuppered when Jim Gordon arrested and imprisoned them six months after the No Man's Land incident ended, with Penguin being sent to Blackgate and Riddler to Arkham. Both men spent ten years locked up, until Penguin got released and Riddler later escaped thanks to Jeremiah Valeska. Penguin and Riddler teamed up along with a few of Penguin’s men who remain loyal to him, and whilst currently having no influence, did plan to rebuild and battle against the vigilante crusading against the criminal element of Gotham City.

Known members[]

Leadership[]

Underlings[]

Known associates[]

Known Locations

Appearances[]

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Gotham Stories


References[]

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