How Vic in THE PENGUIN Mirrors Batman’s Second Robin, Jason Todd

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As a long-time fan of both Batman and The Penguin comics, I must say that HBO’s The Penguin has truly caught my attention with its unique take on the origin story of Victor “Vic” Aguilar, played by Rhenzy Feliz. The parallels drawn between Vic’s journey and that of Jason Todd, the second Robin, are both intriguing and well-executed.

In the HBO series titled “The Penguin,” there’s no connection or appearance of the Batman character, contrary to expectations since it’s a spin-off from Matt Reeves’ “The Batman.” As for Batman comic book references, they are relatively scarce. Characters like Sofia Falcone and some mob family names are borrowed, but that’s about it. However, one significant part of the storyline in “The Penguin” seems to pay tribute to Batman’s background, specifically in the dynamic between Oz Cobbs and his protege, Victor “Vic” Aguilar (played by Rhenzy Feliz), which resembles the mentorship between Batman and the second Robin, Jason Todd.

How Oz Cobb Meets Vic in The Penguin

In “The Penguin” series, we’re introduced to Vic in the initial episode. He’s a teenager who tragically lost his family during the Riddler-engineered floods at the end of “Batman.” Alongside a group of other street kids, all orphans from the same disaster, he attempts to steal car rims from Oz’s luxury vehicle. Oz retaliates by shooting at the group, but most manage to escape. However, Vic is caught in the crossfire. Despite his initial intention to kill him, Oz spares Vic due to his stutter and Oz’s own disability. Over time, he takes Vic under his wing, first out of fear, then eventually growing fond of him. This narrative mirrors how Jason Todd met Batman, although Jason’s original origin story differs significantly from the one “The Penguin” drew inspiration from.

Jason Todd’s First Robin Origin Story in DC Comics Was Different

For nearly four and a half decades in the DC Comics universe, Dick Grayson served as Batman’s sidekick, Robin. Due to a unique aging process, Dick remained around 18 years old throughout this period. However, when he took on the leadership role for the Teen Titans, his character gained significant appeal among fans. As a result, when DC Comics decided it was time for Dick to transition into the adult hero Nightwing, they needed a replacement Robin. This new role went to a younger character named Jason Todd.

In 1983, Jason Todd, who would later become Robin, made his debut in issue #357 of Batman comics. Similar to Dick Grayson, he was initially the orphaned child of slain circus performers, and Bruce Wayne took him under his wing as a new ward. Unlike Dick, however, Jason had red hair instead of black, and only dyed it when he assumed the Robin persona. Much like with Dick, Batman trained Jason in martial arts. However, the storyline was considered too similar to Dick’s background, so during the reboot of the DC Universe through the “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, Jason received a fresh origin story four years later.

Jason Todd’s Second Origin Changed The Character’s History

In the latest account of his beginnings, Jason Todd is a homeless boy residing in Gotham’s poorest district, Park Row, infamously known as Crime Alley – the same location where Bruce Wayne tragically lost his parents. Abandoned by his mother due to drug abuse and his father who disappeared after serving as henchman for Two-Face, Jason Todd is found attempting to steal tires from the Batmobile. Batman, moved by his audacity and recognizing a fellow orphan, decides to take him under his wing. With Dick Grayson’s acrobatic skills lacking, Batman provides Jason with an intense six-month training regimen, hoping he can harness his anger and fury into becoming his new sidekick, filling the void left by Dick.

In certain aspects, Batman recognizes more of his traits in Jason than in Dick, despite both being orphans. Unlike Bruce and Jason, Dick never harbored the intense rage that seemed to define them. However, Jason’s fury was a force he struggled to master. In 1988, readers were given a choice: keep Jason alive or let him die, using a 1-900 voting system. This dramatic storyline was titled “A Death in the Family” even before Jason’s fate was known. Regrettably, the fans opted for his death. It wasn’t until 17 years later that Jason would resurface as the antihero Red Hood.

Oz Cobb and Vic Is a Darker Version of Bruce Wayne and Jason Todd

In the story titled “The Penguin“, Oz Cobb encounters Vic in much the same manner. He recognizes some similarities between them, and even appreciates Vic’s audacity for trying to pilfer his rims. Their bond evolves to mirror Batman and Jason Todd’s dynamic from the comics, albeit with a distinct twist. Unlike Batman who aims to aid Jason (albeit in a questionable manner by turning him into a child soldier, which is common in comic books), The Penguin seeks to harness Vic’s anger and pain stemming from his own losses to mold him into another iteration of himself. However, it’s important to note that while Batman has genuine intentions to help Jason, The Penguin is a sociopathic antagonist whose empathy is limited and he only uses Vic for his own self-serving purposes.

It’s worth mentioning that Vic appears to have originated from a more robust and balanced family prior to their loss due to floods. There’s a kindness and kind-heartedness about him that Jason Todd didn’t possess, or at least not after his character overhaul following the Crisis. Could Vic transform into the ruthless criminal like the Penguin under his tutelage? At this point, it’s uncertain. While Batman positively influenced Jason Todd, we can hardly imagine a scenario where Vic would benefit from being mentored by the Penguin.

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2024-10-08 18:32