10 Easter Eggs & DC References

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Penguin episode 8The Penguin episode 8 is the finale of the new DC series, featuring several Easter eggs and references to the original comics, prior episodes, The Batman, and potential connections to The Batman – Part II. By the end of this major finale, Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) has finally made it to the top as the new kingpin of Gotham’s criminal underworld. Likewise, there are plenty of connections and references to be found, including those that very much symbolize Oz’s rise in power which serves as mirrors to the original Penguin seen on the page.

In The Penguin episode 8, Oz Cobb’s rivalry with Sofia Falcone/Gigante (Cristin Milioti) comes to an epic end, one that leaves the former leader of the Falcone Crime Family back in Arkham while Oz himself claims Gotham for himself. Furthermore, this major conflict featured its fair share of nods at the DC series came to a close while setting up the events of Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman – Part II. To that end, here are 10 of the biggest Easter eggs and references in The Penguin episode 8, the new DC show’s epic finale.

10 Gotham Renewal Banner

And More Gotham Graffiti

Having rallied the other Gotham gangs to help Oz after Salvatore Maroni and Sofia Gigante made their move against the Penguin, the explosion at Crown Point seen in The Penguin episode 7 motivates the gangs to turn back and abandon Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz), Oz’s right-hand man. To that end, several posters and graffiti can be seen on the side of the street while Victor tries to convince the gangs to help.

This notably includes a banner for the Gotham Renewal Corporation, the major Gotham fund that was used by Carmine Falcone and corrupt city officials before The Riddler exposed the truth as seen in 2022’s The Batman. To that end, Riddler’s question marks can also be seen on the walls amid old campaign posters for Don Mitchell Jr. Posters protesting against the police are featured as well with the slogan, “Protect and Abuse?”, confirming the corrupt nature of the GCPD, and that good officers like Jim Gordon are currently the exception, rather than the rule.

9 Bella Real’s Nameplate

Mayor-Elect of Gotham City

After escaping Sofia and her men at Monroe’s and getting his mother to a hospital, Oz Cobb visits Gotham City Hall in The Penguin episode 8. Meeting with Councilman Hady to discuss his plan to pin all the recent criminal violence on Sofia, Oz briefly looks at the nameplate belonging to none other than Mayor-Elect Bella Reál (Jayme Lawson). With Hady confirming that Reàl intends to go big on an anti-corruption campaign, it makes sense that Penguin would be interested in making himself appear as clean as possible (using Sofia as the perfect scapegoat for his recent crimes).

8 Penguin Forging Connections With Gotham’s Elite

Just Like In The Comics

Having been featured earlier in The Penguin, it’s worth noting that Councilman Hady is a character from the original DC Comics who at one point was Gotham’s corrupt mayor. As such, it doesn’t bode well for Gotham that he and Oz have become allies, though it does serve as a cool connection to the comics. After all, the comics’ Penguin has great influence and connections with Gotham’s elite, so it’s very exciting to see Oz beginning to do the same on-screen.

7 Bella Reál In A Sling

Still Recovering from 2022’s The Batman

As Penguin exits City Hall, Oz does see Mayor-Elect Bella Reál herself talking with various aides and officials on a balcony above. She’s also notably featured wearing a sling, still recovering from her recent gunshot wound. This makes sense, seeing as how the events of The Penguin take place almost immediately after The Batman which ended with Riddler’s followers shooting at Reál while she was on stage at the Gotham Square Gardens (as was saved by the intervention of Robert Pattinson’s Batman).

With Penguin continuing to gain more influence and power, it will be interesting to see whether Oz tries to ally himself with Bella. That said, it’s highly doubtful that she’d ever work with him given his anti-corruption agenda. Instead, it’s far more likely that the Penguin might one day try to remove Bella Reál from the equation altogether (perhaps replacing her with someone like Hady who would work with him).

6 Goodwin International Airport

Named After Archie Goodwin

Intending to leave Gotham for good after killing Oz, Sofia heads for Goodwin International Airport at the end of The Penguin episode 8. Goodwin International Airport is the same primary airport of Gotham in the comics, having been named after Archie Goodwin who was a comic book writer and editor for both DC and Marvel Comics. Goodwin notably served as editor on iconic Batman titles such as The Long Halloween.

5 Sofia Burning Carmine’s Watch

Falcone’s Birthday Present

Before arriving at the airport, Sofia finds the watch she was going to give her father the night of his birthday, the same night he had her arrested and eventually institutionalized in Arkahm State Hospital as was seen in The Penguin episode 4. Having already destroyed her father’s legacy and intending to give away his empire to whichever gang could give her Oz, Sofia burning the watch along with the Falcone family painting and mansion was her ultimate closure. Had Oz not gained the upper hand, Sofia would have left Gotham and never looked back as she started a brand-new life.

4 Selina Kyle’s Catwoman Sends A Letter

Selina is Sofia’s Half-Sister

After Oz gets Sofia arrested and placed back in Arkham, it’s revealed that her doctor, Julian Rush seemingly got his job back to remain close to her. To that end, he’s shown giving her a letter in a black envelope he tells Sofia she’ll want to read. The letter itself is confirmed to have come from Selina Kyle aka Catwoman who first debuted in The Batman (played by Zoë Kravitz). Presumably, Selina heard about what happened to Sofia and what she did with Carmine’s empire, and wanted to reach out to her half-sister.

3 Catwoman Theme Plays

Will Sofia Meet Catwoman In The Future?

As Sofia opens and begins to read Selina’s letter, Michael Giacchino’s “Catwoman” theme from The Batman plays in the background. While the contents of the letter are not revealed, it stands to reason that Selina and Sofa would have a lot in common considering their shared hatred of Carmine and the fact that he murdered both their mothers. While The Batm an confirmed that Selina Kyle intended to leave Gotham and start a new life in the nearby city of Blüdhaven, it’s quite possible that the two half-sisters could one day meet in the future.

2 Penguin’s New Clothes

Umbrella, Tux, and Top Hat

Seen living in a penthouse suite, Oz is shown at the end of The Penguin episode 8 wearing a tuxedo, complete with a top hat which he places on an umbrella once he gets inside. Not only does this connect with his childhood dreams and favorite movie (confirmed in The Penguin episode 7 to be 1935’s Top Hat), but it also connects to The Penguin’s iconic appearance in the original comics. It’s a simple yet incredibly effective way to show that Oz Cobb has indeed made it to the top, having finally become the new kingpin of Gotham as he always wanted (though it certainly wasn’t without cost).

1 The Bat Signal Lights Up In Penguin’s Finale

Where Has Batman Been?

The final shot of The Penguin episode of 8 sees Penguin dancing with Eve (who’s dressed and acts like Oz’s mother). Ironically, the Bat-Signal is shown lighting up in the Gotham night sky just after Eve tells Oz that there’s nothing else standing in his way. As such, this is more than likely a direct tease for the upcoming events that will be depicted in Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II.

Related

Will The Penguin Season 2 Happen? Everything We Know

The release of The Penguin Season 1 may have fans wondering whether a second season with Oz Cobb is on the cards – here is everything we know.

That being said, it’s still unknown where Robert Pattinson’s Batman was during the events of The Penguin itself. Considering all the damage and violence that has occurred across Gotham thanks to Oz’s ambition and rivalries with the Maronis and Falcones/Gigantes, one would think that The Dark Knight would have intervened long before things escalated as much as they have by the end of The Penguin’s finale. That said, there are several theories and clues that Bruce Wayne may have gone missing following the events of 2022’s The Batman, and that his whereabouts will eventually be revealed in the upcoming sequel.

All episodes of The Penguin are now streaming on Max.

Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.

Cast

Colin Farrell , Cristin Milioti , Rhenzy Feliz , Michael Kelly , Shohreh Aghdashloo , Deirdre O’Connell , Clancy Brown , James Madio , Scott Cohen , Michael Zegen , Carmen Ejogo , Theo Rossi

Character(s)

Oz Cobb , Sofia Falcone , Victor Aguilar , Johnny Viti , Nadia Maroni , Francis Cobb , Salvatore Maroni , Milos Grapa , Luca Falcone , Alberto Falcone , Eve Karlo , Julian Rush

Release Date

September 19, 2024

Seasons

1

Writers

Lauren LeFranc

Directors

Craig Zobel

Showrunner

Lauren LeFranc

Prequel

The Batman (2022)

Avg Episode Length

60 Mins

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