8 Nobodies Who Got The Better Of Batman

3. Penguins With Rockets

Yes, yes, yes, this is certainly intended to be a more lighthearted entry on this list - and it's a moment that is one of the great close shaves of anything involving the world of the Caped Crusader.

Back in 1992's Batman Returns, we have Michael Keaton's Bats tasked with taking down The Penguin, Catwoman, and Max Shreck. Of course, Batman being Batman, he eventually overcomes the odds and survives this three-pronged attack. That survival coming partly thanks to an assist from Michelle Pfeiffer's Selina Kyle.

While Kyle's beef with Shrek is what puts her in the Dark Knight's crosshairs, it's some teeny, tiny penguins that so nearly gets the better of Batman in Tim Burton's picture.

In a blink and you'll miss it scene, Batman is zooming underneath Gotham in a race to get to Danny DeVito's Oswald Cobblepot and finds himself on the verge of being offed by two cute 'n' cuddly penguins. Well, cute 'n' cuddly penguins with rockets strapped to their backs, that is.

Managing to just about avoid these rockets at the last second, it's Michael Keaton's confused selling of how the legendary Batman nearly got killed by a penguin that makes this moment hit home perfectly to match with the tone of Tim Burton's two Batman movies.

If ever there was a nobody who finally took out the Batman for good, I think we'd all agree an adorable little penguin would be an inspired choice to get the job done.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.