Summary
While Max’sThe Penguindoesn’t include Batman or any of the other big villains that have plagued Gotham for decades in comic books, television shows and movies, it does have at least two “bad guys” that are plenty riveting. There is of course, the titular character, played by Colin Farrell in makeup and an accent both so strong that no one would guess he was the man behind the mobster if they weren’t told ahead of time.
The Penguinhas another “big bad” in the series that has turned into one of the most interesting characters on the program. Sofia Falcone,played by Cristin Milioti, has almost surpassed Oz Cobb as the reason to watch the DCU series. While some viewers who might not be the strongest readers of the comics might believe she’s a minor character, or even an original entry to the series, Sofia Falcone has a long and rich history as one of the deadliest Batman villains to ever exist. Known as her alter ego, The Hangman, it appears that sooner or later, she’s going to spring into action and launch an impressive crime wave.
The Hangman In DC Comics
As in the show, Sofia Falcone is the daughter ofmob boss Carmine Falcone. Carmine was killed inThe Batmanand when The Penguin series kicks off, there is a brewing power battle among both the Falcone family as well as other crime families around Gotham.
In the comics, Sofia makes her first substantive appearance in thehighly-praisedBatman: The Long Halloweenseries. However, it wasn’t until the sequel run,Batman: Dark Victorywhere it was divulged that she was the serial killer known as The Hangman.
Sofia Falcone took on the rolein order to do battle with another serial killer known as Holiday. Holiday went on a massive killing spree mostly aimed at Gotham’s most powerful crime families. While the police and Batman tried to find an stop Holiday, Sofia believed the murderer wasn’t that important to the vigilante and law enforcement precisely because Holiday was taking aim at mob families.
Eventually, Holiday is revealed to be Alberto Falcone, Sofia’s brother. While Alberto was captured and the danger to the Falcones, the Maroni’s and other Gotham villains was over, Harvey Dent,in the guise of Two-Face, raids the Falcone’s complex to exact revenge for perceived slights as well as real attacks from Holiday. The attack kills Carmine and soon, Sofia begins her rampage as The Hangman.
The Hangman’s victims are all law enforcement officers thatSofia Falcone sees as associatesor toadies of either Harvey Dent or Two-Face. As the name of the villain hints, she kills her victims by hanging and leaves them strung up in places all around the city where they can be found to strike fear in the hearts of her enemies.
As the name of the villain hints, she kills her victims by hanging and leaves them strung up in places all around the city where they can be found in order to strike fear in the hearts of her enemies.
Some of the cops that The Hangman kills are good man who just happened to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. These untouchables included Jim Gordon, who was one of the only victims who actually survived Falcone’s attacks. She also killed several crooked cops who were either on the Falcone or Maroni payrolls or were helping Two-Face with his crimes. Her run as The Hangman was ended when she almost killed and hung Two-Face himself but Batman showed up at the last minute and freed him. As Sofia and Batman argued about saving the uber-criminal’s life, Two-Face pulled a gun and shot her, apparently killing her.
The Hangman In The Penguin
In thesecond and third episodesofThe Penguin, Sofia Falcone is mentioned repeatedly as being The Hangman, though so far in the show, it’s not explained exactly how she earned that moniker. Since neither Batman nor Two-Face exist in this world it appears her backstory is quite a bit different.
There is also the fact that the Holiday storyline never takes place (on screen at least) as Sofia’s brother, Alberto is killed in the first moments of the first episode ofThe Penguinby Oz Cobb as they’re meetingabout divying up the power of the Falcone family. That would seem to indicate that if Sofia Falcone takes on the actual personality of The Hangman, just how and what she does will be quite a bit different.
What is known about the DCU version of The Hangman is that she’s unpredictable and dangerous and she has no problem killing anyone who gets in her way. It would appear that rather than going on a crime spree, killing police officers, it’s more likely she could eventually start killing members of other crime families.
Of course, withBatman not even involvedin the Max series, it might beThe Penguinwho eventually has to stop her. Either to stop her killing or to take power over the Gotham crime families.
The Penguin
Cast
Created by Lauren LeFranc and starring Colin Farrell, The Penguin builds on 2022’s The Batman. The Max series chronicles the eponymous villain’s attempt to reach Gotham’s criminal peak, rising through the underworld in the middle of a power struggle.
