Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Penguin #1!The Penguin #1 is an epic beginning for one of Batman's greatest and oldest foes. Tom King and Rafael de Latorre unite to bring a tale of crime, bloodshed, and mystery as Oswald Cobblepot sets out to rebuild his criminal empire.

Gotham's crime lord has been out of the game for a while. At the beginning of Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jiménez's Batman run, Oswald faked his death in order to frame the Dark Knight. Though it didn't land Batman in jail, the stunt did trigger Batman's robotic contingency Failsafe, who hunted Bruce Wayne down and sent him to another dimension. Meanwhile, Penguin retired to Metropolis where he took up an assumed name and opened a flower shop. Though his children fought and killed for control of his assets, Oswald was happy to wash his hands of Gotham and finally live an honest life.

The Penguin is a Great Examination of a Classic Batman Enemy

But as Tom King and Rafael de Latorre's The Penguin #1 shows, Oswald Cobblepot can't stay away from Gotham for long. The issue sees the former Batman villain living his subdued life in Metropolis. Oswald is being monitored by government agents, well aware of who he is. After spending days watching him, Oswald is brought into federal custody under the eyes of Amanda Waller. Waller delegates the handling of the Penguin to Agent Nuri Espinoza, who informs Cobblepot that he now works for the U.S. government. Espinoza tells the Penguin he's to return to Gotham and take back control of his territory by any means necessary in order for the government to run it. With no other option, Penguin agrees. However, dark days are ahead as a flashforward shows the Penguin and Batman together a year later, preparing to drown in Gotham River.

The first issue of The Penguin is a pretty straightforward tale. There isn't much in the way of action, but Rafael de Latorre's art is quite enjoyable. The Penguin's fury is absolutely felt the moment he unleashes his rage on a poor tailor. The story is driven by the narration of The Penguin's supporting cast. Batman, Espinoza, Waller, and even a random customer in Cobblepot's flower shop all spend their time analyzing and discussing the Penguin. King and de Latorre both pull their weight in a story that gives the Penguin one of his best stories in years.

The Penguin Could Be the Start of the Next Great Batman Story

While the story starts off slower than some fans may like, The Penguin #1 is a wonderful opening chapter that is certain to lead to some interesting places. Oswald Cobblepot might not be the villain fans recall, but this story promises a thorough examination of the character as he sets out to reclaim his old spot as Gotham's greatest crime lord. The first issue gives readers mystery, violence, and a character-driven comic about a villain even hardcore Batman fans likely didn't expect. Who knows what the creators have in store as Oswald begins this new chapter of his life, but judging from this issue, fans are not going to want to miss what's next in The Penguin. Fans can see Batman's underrated nemesis in The Penguin #1, on sale now.