HBO’s The Penguin series has thrown the Gotham criminal underworld into chaos with Carmine Falcone’s family wiped out, Crown Point is leveled by an explosion, and Oz Cobb clawed his way to the top through his determination and brutality. Yet, there’s one glaring absence in this crime-ridden city: Batman.
While all of this happens, Robert Pattinson’s Dark Knight is nowhere to be found in the series, with the Bat-Signal only making a brief appearance in the closing moments.
But according to The Penguin showrunner Lauren Lefranc, there’s a good reason for it. Speaking to Empire Magazine, Lefranc explained why Batman didn’t swoop in.
“What Matt reiterated to me early on is that it’s a big city and Batman can’t be everywhere. He doesn’t have a Spidey-sense that tingles.”
That’s a fair point as Batman isn’t omnipresent, and Gotham isn’t exactly small. But does that mean he’s oblivious to everything happening around him? Nope.
Lefranc assured fans that the events unfolding in The Penguin will have lasting consequences. He said:
“But just because we don’t see Batman in our show doesn’t mean he’s unaware or uncaring. The events that have taken place in Gotham City, and the repercussions that come with them, will carry into the next film.”
Matt Reeves, director of The Batman, had previously revealed that a cameo was considered but ultimately scrapped. Last November, he provided a more detailed explanation for Bruce Wayne’s absence.
“This was a time of great turmoil in the city, it’s literally the week after what happened. Much of the city is in desperation, so police can’t get everywhere, there’s crime everywhere, it’s a very, very dangerous time.”
Basically, Batman is just stretched thin. Gotham is still reeling from the Riddler’s flood, and the streets are crawling with criminals. Reeves added:
“[Batman’s] out there trying to grapple with the aftermath of everything that happened, which to some degree he blames himself for.”
So, while Oz and Sofia Falcone are tearing each other apart, Batman had his hands full elsewhere. It’s a solid justification, though some fans may still find it hard to believe that Batman wouldn’t step in at some point.
Either way, The Penguin is setting the stage for The Batman: Part II, and it sounds like the consequences of Oz’s bloody rise to power will ripple into the next chapter of Reeves’ Gotham.
