Batman Arkam - Penguin

 

As opposed to a few of the others that I have been writing about, I quite enjoyed this compilation of tales of Batman's foe, the Penguin. It starts with early, original appearances from the bird-man and moves through the decades, with more'n'more background being revealed as we go along, from the childhood bullying he endured (from peers as well as his mother), to his retaliations to said bullying, to his relationships, bizarre as they may be, with women. The past comes to haunt him just as he preys on past abusers and he even attempts to "go straight", although that doesn't mean that he no longer breaks any laws, he simply tries to be a white collar criminal, through bribery and manipulations. 

Although most people would never go to the extremes that the Penguin does, he is made a more three dimensional character and is made a bit more empathetic that he once was. Other outcasts from society can relate, although he does go a bit overboard, to say the least. A good read!