Why THE PENGUIN Changed Oswald Cobblepot’s Name

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As a longtime comic book enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of Gotham City through various interpretations, I must say that the naming change of Oswald Cobblepot to Oswald “Oz” Cobb in the series The Penguin caught my attention. While initially skeptical about altering such a well-known character’s name, I have to admit that it works surprisingly well within the context of Matt Reeves’ dark and gritty version of Gotham City.

2022 brought us our initial peek at Matt Reeves’ interpretation of Gotham City through “The Batman.” Unlike previous attempts, this version leans towards a more comic-book-like portrayal of the fictional city while maintaining a balance between realism and fantasy. It’s neither “The Dark Knight” nor “Batman & Robin,” which required adjustments to certain elements, such as character names. For instance, in this film, the Penguin is referred to as “Oz.” However, the series “The Penguin” reveals that his real name is not Oswald Cobblepot.

The series changes the name Oswald Cobblepot to Oswald “Oz” Cobb. Small change, but bigger ramifications. In the comic, Oswald Cobblepot is a criminal in the vein of high-society wannabe. He’s the black sheep of a decidedly white sheep family. That really doesn’t fit The Batman‘s version of the character one bit, a mafia enforcer who fancies himself a bigshot. Similar vibe, wildly different execution. So the easy answer is, “Oswald Cobblepot” is a silly name.

In conversation with SFX (through GameSpot), The Penguin’s producer Dylan Clark expounds on the alteration more clearly. “DC Comics never modified The Riddler’s name like they did, switching from Edward Nigma [or Nygma] to Edward Nashton,” he said. This is accurate, as in the comics, we discover that Edward Nygma was a revised nickname for Edward Nashton, adopting the alias of the Riddler.

Clark explained that they held numerous discussions with DC Comics and its President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer, Jim Lee. Previously, they had considered altering the character’s name but hadn’t taken action yet. Matt inquired whether he could call the character Oz Cobb, to which Jim agreed wholeheartedly. This approval from the top allowed us to approach the character more realistically.

It seems there’s quite a concern surrounding a tale where a man in a bat costume finds himself rooted. Oh well, such is life. However, it appears that Oz Cobb suits the character more appropriately, so perhaps their decision wasn’t misguided after all.

The Penguin premieres September 19 on HBO.

Kyle Anderson, a seasoned editor at TopMob, oversees their platform. Every week, he delves into the world of pop culture with his insightful podcast titled “Laser Focus.” To catch his thought-provoking film and TV critiques, check out this space. Keep up with him on Instagram and Letterboxd for more insights.

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2024-09-18 23:03