10 Badass Characters Inspired By Ridiculous Things
7. The Penguin Was Inspired By A Pack Of Cigarettes
As we all know, Batman has the best rogues gallery in all comic book history. From the Joker to Two-Face and Catwoman, almost every Batman villain is recognizable by the most casual of comic fans.
Chief among Batman’s rogues is the Penguin. Unlike Batman's other villains, Penguin has no physical deformities, and he doesn’t wear an extravagant costume. He merely dons a tuxedo and top hat. Okay, maybe that’s a little extravagant...
So, where does the penguin moniker come from?
According to Bob Kane, the Penguin was modeled after the popular Kool cigarettes mascot, “Willie the Penguin.” If you look up Willie online you will, indeed, see a resemblance.