Danny DeVito writing a new Penguin story for upcoming DC comic

Now, this is very cool.

With the current resurgence of all things Batman ’89, with Michael Keaton returning to his iconic role in next year’s The Flash (here) and the first issue of the all-new comic continuation of the ’89 franchise hitting shelves this week (here), it’s time for one of the other iconic characters from that era to step forward…

Danny DeVito, who played the wonderfully dark and perverted version of Oswald Cobblepot AKA The Penguin in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns in 1992, is returning to the character to pen an all-new Penguin story for Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant #1, a 96-page anthology filled with stories based around comics’ greatest gallery of villains.

The nook will feature Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Ra’s al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, the Mad Hatter, Killer Moth, the original Red Hood and DeVito’s Penguin. I’m genuinely very excited for this book!

DC’s Batman group editor Paul Kaminski Tweeted about working with DeVito and artist Dan Mora: “This has been one of the coolest experiences of my life and I’m super excited for everyone to read.” 

Well, that’s ok, Paul, we’re super excited to read it!

Artist Mora also tweeted out that he’s ‘super excited’ for everyone to read it and it looks like we may also be getting Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman in the story as Mora shared his artwork, below, which features both characters and… is that the same little birdie that Catwoman threatened to eat (here) in Batman Returns (wasn’t it called Gertie?):

There’s no doubt that’s Pfeiffer’s Catwoman, even if the costume is changed quite a bit.

This has us a little baffled… because we know Catwoman survived Batman Returns and went on to eventually marry Batman/Bruce Wayne (here) which could explain the new outfit but DeVito’s Penguin wasn’t so lucky (to either survive or marry Wayne), so I’m not entirely sure how these two could meet.

Perhaps the story isn’t set in the continuity of Burton’s movies? Whatever it is, any return of these two will be greatly welcomed.

I have been working with @DannyDeVito & @Paul_Kaminski
in a new short Penguin story for Batman villain’s 80th anniversary.
I’m super excited for everyone to read it.
cover by the legend Lee Bermejo @DCComics @thedcnation pic.twitter.com/rbkCKoC7Hz

— Dan Mora (@Danmora_c) August 13, 2021

• GOTHAM CITY VILLAINS ANNIVERSARY GIANT #1
• Written by Danny DeVito, Wes Craig, G. Willow Wilson, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Joshua Williamson, Nadia Shammas, Stephanie Phillips, Dan Watters, and Mairghread Scott
• Art by Dan Mora, Wes Craig, Emma Rios, Riccardo Federici, Max Raynor
  Max Fiumara, Skylar Patridge, Ariela Kristantina, Khary Randolph, Jill Thompson, Christian Ward, Gabriel Walta, and others
• Cover by Lee Bermejo
• Variants by Frank Quitely, Wes Craig, Riccardo Federici, Dan Mora, and Maurgerite Sauvage
  1:25 variant by Francesco Mattina, 1:50 variant by Chris Burnham
• $9.99 US | 96 PAGES | PRESTIGE | $10.99 US VARIANTS (Card stock)
• ON SALE 11/30/21
• Gotham City may be protected by the Dark Knight, but this major metropolitan destination is also plagued by some of the deadliest, most nefarious villains in the DC Universe! In this oversize anniversary giant, DC Comics proudly presents tales of Batman’s deadliest foes written and drawn by some of the biggest, most exciting names in comics! 2021 marks an anniversary year for the Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Ra’s al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, the Mad Hatter, Killer Moth, and the original Red Hood, and Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant #1 brings these baddies to life in some big ways! Also featuring the anniversary celebration of the Penguin, written by none other than the man who brought Oswald Cobblepot to life in Batman Returns, star of the silver screen Danny DeVito!