Tom King, the mastermind behind several popular comic book series, has recently opened up about his past work and new directions in storytelling, particularly concerning the Batman universe. As he ventures into more nuanced terrains of Gotham with his new series, ‘The Penguin,’ King shares insights into his creative process and future aspirations.
Missed Avenues in Batman’s Portrayal
King openly discussed his previous 85-issue run on Batman, noting a tendency to focus too much on the larger-than-life superhero elements. This approach often led to high-stakes conflicts with iconic villains like Bane, Joker, and the Riddler. While these narratives were entertaining, they failed to tap into the more grounded, noir aspects of Batman as a character. “The unique essence of Batman is his shadowy, noir characteristics,” King expressed. “He’s not just about grand battles and iconic villains. There’s a John Wick element to Batman that speaks to the audience—his engagement with street-level crime in Gotham is equally important.”
Moving away from the caped superhero paradigm, King’s current series, ‘The Penguin,’ promises to present a different, darker version of Gotham City. The atmosphere of the series is described to resonate strongly with the mood of ‘Mean Streets,’ highlighting the criminal underbelly that often goes unexplored. King is keen on providing a well-rounded view of Gotham, one that focuses on street crimes and shady dealings. “Now that my Batman run is behind me, I’m eager to delve into these stories,” he remarked.
King’s decision to center this series around Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, allows him to explore these dimensions more deeply. This focus is a deliberate strategy to take readers into the darker corridors of Gotham City—away from the skyscrapers and Bat-Signals and into the smoky bars and hidden alleyways where the real action happens.