Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for The Penguin episodes 1 and 2.
Despite only one movie and one television series, Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe boasts a whopping eight villains, most of whom originated in DC Comics. Matt Reeves’ vision of Gotham in The Batman is a dark, gritty city teetering on the edge of chaos. This new universe was subsequently expanded in The Penguin, proffering a grounded take on the Caped Crusader’s world, filled with complex villains who are more than just comic book caricatures
In Matt Reeves’ Gotham City, criminals thrive in the shadows, and Batman’s presence is barely enough to keep them in check. The Batman and The Penguin delve deep into the criminal underworld, setting up a roster of villains that either already exist or will likely emerge in future installments, including DC’s The Batman Part 2. As Gotham’s criminal contingents battle each other for dominance, new villains are emerging and seeking to control the city.
8 The Riddler
Played By Paul Dano
One of the central villains in The Batman, Edward Nashton, aka The Riddler, is given a terrifying update from his comic book origins. Gone are the bright green suit, cane, and bowler hat. Instead, Paul Dano’s Riddler dons a grungy camouflage smock and thick glasses, hiding his face as he terrorizes Gotham. The Riddler’s modus operandi in The Batman is to expose the corrupt elite of Gotham City, believing that by uncovering their misdeeds, he is doing the city a service.
Riddler leaves cryptic clues for Batman, believing that the Dark Knight is working with him. Riddler’s ultimate plan is revealed at the film’s climax, where he successfully floods Gotham by destroying the sea wall. Although Batman partly stops Riddler’s wider conspiracy, the villain achieves a substantial portion of his goals, leading to Gotham being submerged in chaos. After his arrest, Nashton is imprisoned at Arkham Asylum, where he befriends another notable villain – the Joker.
7 The Joker
Played By Barry Keoghan
Though only briefly featured in The Batman, the Joker’s presence in Reeves’ universe is haunting. Played by Barry Keoghan, this iteration of the Joker appears in a short, unsettling scene near the film’s end, where he strikes up a conversation with the imprisoned Riddler in Arkham Asylum. Though the scene is brief, the deleted scenes from the film further confirm Joker’s existence in this universe.
In a deleted scene in The Batman, Batman confronts the Joker in Arkham early in the film, suggesting that the two already have a history together. Joker appears disfigured, his face twisted in a manner more grotesque than previous portrayals, hinting at a more disturbing take on the character. This incarnation seems to have been apprehended by Batman sometime before the film’s events, but given his penchant for chaos, it’s highly likely that Joker will return in future sequels to wreak havoc on Gotham.
6 The Penguin
Played By Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell’s Penguin is renamed Oswald “Oz” Cobb in The Batman and is both fresh and grounded. In this universe, Penguin is not yet the feared crime lord he is in the comics. Instead, he’s a lower-level gangster, working as a caporegime in Carmine Falcone’s crime family. While still powerful and running his own nightclub, the Iceberg Lounge, Oz operates in the shadows, biding his time while Falcone remains in control. Like many comic book iterations, Oz has a pronounced limp and is notably overweight, brought to life with stunning practical effects and makeup.
At The Batman’s conclusion, Falcone is killed by the Riddler, leaving a power vacuum in Gotham’s criminal underworld. The Penguin, now free from Falcone’s oversight, sees an opportunity to rise in power, a storyline that is explored in the spin-off series The Penguin. In the series, Oz is shown to be navigating the treacherous world of Gotham’s organized crime, attempting to pit the remaining factions against each other to seize control of the city.
5 Victor Aguillar
Played By Rhenzy Feliz
An original character introduced in The Penguin, Victor “Vic” Aguillar is a young homeless teenager who crosses paths with Oswald Cobblepot. When Oz catches Vic and his friends trying to steal the rims from his car in episode 1, Vic’s life takes a drastic turn. Unlike his friends, who flee, Vic is drawn into Oz’s world after Oswald notices the boy’s stutter, perhaps recognizing a kindred spirit in his affliction.
Oz takes Vic under his wing, molding him into a trusted driver and righthand man as Oz begins to solidify his grip on Gotham’s criminal empire. Vic represents the street-level grit and opportunism that defines much of the underworld in Reeves’ Gotham. His character provides insight into how Oz builds his power base from the ground up, serving as the audience’s surrogate as Gotham’s criminal underbelly is explored in more detail.
4 The Falcone Crime Family
The Falcone crime family plays a significant role in both The Batman and The Penguin. At the center of Gotham’s criminal empire is Carmine Falcone. However, after Falcone’s death at the hands of the Riddler in The Batman, the Falcone family is left in disarray.
Alberto Falcone, Carmine’s son, is introduced in The Penguin as his father’s heir apparent, but he is killed early on, leaving a power struggle within the family. Luca Falcone, Carmine’s brother, steps in to take control, but is immediately embroiled in battles for dominance, not just within his family but with other crime syndicates as well. The Falcone family’s consigliere, Milos Grapa, and underboss Johnny Viti are key players in this ongoing conflict, with Viti in particular becoming a target for Oz Cobb as he schemes to frame him for his own gains.
Carmine Falcone
Carmine Falcone, the patriarch of the Falcone crime family, was the biggest figure in Gotham’s organized crime in The Batman. Played by John Turturro in The Batman and Mark Strong in flashbacks in The Penguin, Falcone was a calculating and powerful mob boss who controlled much of the city’s underworld. His grip on Gotham was so strong that even the police and political elite are in his pocket, allowing him to operate with impunity.
Falcone’s history is intertwined with the Wayne family, as Thomas Wayne once saved his life after he was shot. However, this connection also taints the Waynes, and Falcone is implicated in their murder – although this is left ambiguous in the film. Falcone’s criminal empire comes crashing down when he is targeted by the Riddler, who exposes his corruption and has him killed during the climax of The Batman. Falcone’s death leaves Gotham’s underworld in a state of chaos, with various factions vying for control in his absence.
Sofia Falcone
Carmine Falcone’s daughter, Sofia Falcone, has a more sinister backstory. As in the comics, Sofia is known for her violent tendencies and earns the nickname “Hangman” after murdering several women. This led to her imprisonment in Arkham Asylum, scuppering Carmine Falcone’s plan to have Sofia inherit the syndicate. Instead, Sofia’s brother briefly assumes leadership. However, after his death, Sofia suffers from PTSD and is consumed by a desire for revenge.
Sofia Falcone is introduced in The Penguin with an undefined position within the family but is clearly angling for more power. Her relationship with her father and her imprisonment in Arkham suggests that she is capable of taking drastic measures to maintain control over the family’s empire. Her fearsome reputation follows her around Gotham, while her cunning and ruthlessness make her a formidable opponent. Sofia is expected to play a larger role as the series progresses, potentially taking over the family.
3 Sal Maroni & The Maroni Family
Played By Clancy Brown
Sal Maroni is one of the most prominent crime lords in Gotham, and though he doesn’t appear in The Batman, his presence is deeply felt. Before the events of the film, Carmine Falcone had betrayed Maroni, leading to his arrest and the dismantling of his criminal empire. The Maroni family was Gotham’s primary supplier of the drug “Drop,” a narcotic that is still rampant on the streets and is now distributed by the Falcones.
In The Penguin, Maroni is depicted as continuing to operate from prison, attempting to use Oswald Cobblepot as a pawn in his war against the remaining Falcone crime family. Despite being behind bars, Maroni’s influence looms large, and his potential release could spell even greater trouble for Gotham in the future. He is portrayed with menace by the legendary comic book actor Clancy Brown.
2 The Trigger Twins
Played By Charlie And Max Carver
In the comics, the Trigger Twins are notorious mercenaries who operate as a deadly duo in Gotham City. In The Batman, they are reimagined as bouncers working at the Iceberg Lounge, Penguin’s nightclub. These brothers, while not major players in the film, engage Batman in intense combat sequences during some of the most memorable scenes. Their roles in The Penguin have yet to be explored, but their history as mercenaries could mean they’ll resurface in more significant ways in future projects.
1 Gotham’s Other Gangs
The Burnley Town Massive
A minor criminal group mentioned in The Penguin, the Burnley Town Massive is one of the many gangs operating in the criminal underworld of Gotham. Though they aren’t a major threat compared to the larger crime families like the Falcones or Maronis, the gang is a reminder of the multifaceted nature of Gotham’s criminal ecosystem. In the comics, the Burnley Town Massive is a collection of street gangs led by Abel Crown, and while they’ve only been referenced so far, they could pose more of a threat in future series.
The Odessa Gang
Another criminal organization mentioned in The Penguin, the Odessa Gang (or Odessa Mob) is a powerful Russian mafia group operating within Gotham City. Though they haven’t played a significant role in The Batman universe yet, their mention signals that Gotham is filled with competing criminal factions all vying for control of the city’s lucrative underworld. In the comics, the Odessa Mob is a dangerous and violent organization, known for their ruthlessness, and they could easily become a more prominent player in future installments.
The Riddler’s Followers
During the climax of The Batman, the Riddler amasses a fanatical group of followers who attempt to carry out his plan to assassinate the newly elected mayor. While Batman and Catwoman manage to thwart their efforts, The Penguin confirms that many of these followers are still active in Gotham. The survival of Riddler’s extremist group poses an ongoing threat, as their radical ideals continue to inspire chaos within the city. Whether they regroup or splinter off into smaller cells, these fanatical followers could continue to spread terror in The Batman movies and The Penguin.