Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League's latest trailer featured an appearance from Oswald Cobblebot, also known as the Penguin and one of Batman's Rogues, but what is he doing in SS:KTJL? Before Penguin's appearance, the only villains confirmed in-game were the core team's : Deadshot, Harley Quinn, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang, though the possibility of other DC villains appearing is high. Penguin's addition may raise some eyebrows, as he's not the most threatening villain in DC's universe, but this isn't the first time the crime boss has interacted with Amanda Waller and her Suicide Squad.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League and Batman Arkham take place in the same universe, featuring familiar villains, characters, and references from previous Batman-centered games. Though Rocksteady has moved away from Gotham, the universe is continuing to grow around it. An alien force has brainwashed Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League's many heroes, who now lay siege to Metropolis. The military's failure to defeat the Justice League leads to Deadshot, Harley Quinn, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang to eliminate Earth's mightiest heroes.
The Suicide Squad, also known as Task Force X, is a secret government program that sends supervillains to defend the country's interests. Overseen by Amanda Waller, some of the most powerful (or comically useless) villains are recruited onto the force and implanted with bombs to ensure their obedience. The team's seriousness varies between comic series, TV shows, and movies, but fatalities are almost always certain. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's Harley Quinn proves that Rocksteady's game may continue this trend. It's unknown what Penguin did to earn a spot in Amanda Waller's crosshairs, but his abilities and influence could be the key to his in-game role.
Penguin May Be The Squad's In Kill The Justice League
Like many high-profile villains in DC Comics, Penguin has often been at the mercy of Waller and the American government. Despite Batman's distaste for lethal force, the prison system and Arkham Asylum offer many workarounds which encourage the exploitation of supervillains. However, the covert operations of supervillains in the field likely aren't a high priority for government dollars. Despite Waller's intimidation tactics, power, and influence, she rarely acquires significant assets for her teams, no matter the risk of their failure. The number of 'acceptable casualties' Task Force X suffers is expected but presents a danger to humanity, especially from Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's evil Superman. Amanda Waller likely had to pursue less legitimate means to outfit her villainous soldiers without any official assistance.
If Amanda Waller were looking to equip her Suicide Squad in Kill the Justice League against Brainiac, Penguin would be the perfect . The shock collar could be a method to by his greedy habits and prevent him from causing issues later. Though Cobblepot appears to be inhabiting a broken-down mansion, it's likely Penguin's stashed treasures within. The unfortunate truth of the Suicide Squad's confidentiality places all and associates at Waller's mercy. There are few operations that villains can expect to enter fully prepared, and even fewer can feasibly survive. With enemies like The Flash, Green Lantern, and Superman, the Suicide Squad will need every advantage they can get. Penguin's arms dealer history and fortune is an asset that Waller can't afford to overlook, literally.
Penguin May Have Been Part Of A Second Suicide Squad Team
The Suicide Squad trailer hints at a second team sent to Metropolis to kill the Justice League. Penguin wasn't the only new Gotham Rogue to appear in-game, with Poison Ivy making a surprise appearance within Metropolis' ruins. The latter's survival is astonishing, as Batman: Arkham Knight's Poison Ivy died to remove Scarecrow's fear toxin from Gotham's air space. She died in Batman's arms before her body disintegrated and blew away with leaves from her Mother Tree. Penguin and Poison Ivy appearing in Metropolis make little sense, as coincidences rarely occur in DC's chaotic universe. It's possible both Penguin and Ivy were a part of the second (or the first) Suicide Squad that failed to defeat the Justice League. As their name suggests, Waller and her peers fully expect of each group to die. Impossible challenges and enemies ensure casualties, but the lives of supervillains and criminals mean little to Waller.
Penguin's hopeless flight from Deadshot, Harley Quinn, King Shark, and Boomerang suggest terror beyond what the crooks could inflict. The collar on his neck in the Suicide Squad trailer also implies he doesn't have a bomb in his head, leading Waller to restrain him with explosive neckwear instead. Task Force X's failure usually leads to immediate execution in DC's comics and movies, but Penguin's survival could be a loose thread Waller intends to cut loose or tame. The rabid superheroes in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League pose a severe threat, meaning Penguin's survival could depend on redemption through executing Earth's heroes (or assisting the next Suicide Squad to do so). No matter Penguin's reasonings for being in Metropolis, Waller's control over him doesn't bode well for his long-term survival.
Penguin May Have Betrayed Amanda Waller In Kill The Justice League
There are many actions DC villains can take that result in extreme bodily harm or death. Some of these involve facing Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman, but a lesser-known danger is betraying Amanda Waller. The new Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League trailer depicts Penguin fleeing from the team and being repeatedly shocked, meaning Gotham's crime lord likely did something worth the punishment. If his murder, torture, assault, money laundering, and witness tampering charges weren't enough, it's likely Penguin double-crossed or escaped Amanda Waller sometime before the game's events. The Suicide Squad's detainment of the Gotham Rogue could be a play to reclaim Waller's lost asset and press him back into servitude. Penguin's potential encounter with Amanda Waller matches the Batman Arkham universe's timeline, especially since his last appearance included an arrest during Batman: Arkham Knight's Nightwing DLC. As a master con artist, it's unsurprising that Penguin might have betrayed Amanda Waller.
Penguin interacted with Amanda Waller throughout DC's comics and movies, such as the Suicide Squad: Assault on Arkham movie, whose canon in the Arkhamverse is currently being debated given the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's villain roster and in-game events. Cobblepot frequently offers safe houses, funds, weapons, and more to his criminal compatriots, but these often come in traded favors. Penguin's freedom from prison suggests Waller could have influenced some judges or juries to ensure his escape from prison, despite Nightwing and Batman's attempts to keep him there. If Penguin betrayed Amanda Waller and never delivered on their deal, it's most certainly in Waller's character to teach him a painful lesson.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is one of the first DC titles that focus on the villains rather than the heroes. Games like Injustice introduced some evil versions of heroes but omitted open-world mechanics due to its fighting game genre. Rocksteady Studios hasn't announced an official release date, but Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League will release at some point in 2022 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC systems.
