The odd little man with the peculiar rolling gait… THE PENGUIN!

DETECTIVE COMICS Vol.1, No.126, August 1947; Cover Art: Jack Burnley, Charles Paris; Penciler: Jim Mooney; Inker: Ray Burnley

How much of a threat could a flightless waterfowl be to the Caped Crusaders?  Much more than you could ever imagine!  The Penguin, as unassuming as he appeared, became one of the chief nemesis of Batman and Robin after his first appearance in the pages of Detective Comics #58 in December 1941.  In fact, The Penguin appeared 32 times in the pages of Batman and Detective Comics in the Golden Age, second only to the Joker.

While he was described as the “odd little man with the peculiar rolling gait”, The Penguin proved to be a master criminal who thwarted our heroes on many occasions.  He was a brilliant planner and used unique umbrella-themed gadgets to commit his crimes.

Kudos and big thanks to Bill Jourdain for his expert commentary and to the talented artists and writers of DC Comics who captivated and inspired millions of readers during this magical Golden Age.  Bill Jourdain has been an avid reader and collector of comic books for over 40 years. He has an extensive collection of comics spanning the 1930s to the 1970s. Bill previously produced a podcast devoted to the Golden Age of Comic Books, has penned articles about the Golden Age for Alter-Ego magazine and Comics Now! magazine, and has maintained websites devoted to the Golden Age of Comic Books and the Golden Age of Batman. Bill resides in north Georgia with his wife and children, and somehow finds time away from comic books to practice law.