THE PENGUIN

A nice, clean 6 inch scale action figure of Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot (aka THE PENGUIN) was going to be a MUST for my “Legends Of Gotham City” Collection.

I will state from the start that I am NOT a fan of the post-Tim Burton concept of The Penguin. My preference definitely leaned toward the classic Golden / Silver/ Bronze Age comic book version of this character.

In the end, a figure that I would consider suitable for my collection required a serious amount of customizing effort on my part. From the configuration of a proper anatomy, to the scratch building of accessories, The Penguin was certainly one of the more complex and challenging custom action figures of this series.

As a base figure for my custom, I started by using the DC Direct Penguin action figure (available in the Silver Age Penguin & Catwoman Deluxe Set). But right from the start, the very limited articulation, excessively rotund proportions, and off-balance posture of The Penguin were a big disappointment. The legs on that figure were actually static and non-poseable! They forced the figure into a permanent forward leaning posture, which made it impossible for him to even stand on his own! The feet were badly undersized, and the arms were excessively long and spread far apart.

I also did not care for the Mattel DC Universe Classics Penguin figure with its long “gorilla” arms, over-sized hands, frightening face sculpt, and non-traditional depiction of the character’s tuxedo. But the figure did feature a nicely sculpted, nicely articulated pair of working legs!

After a LOT of surgery to correct wardrobe and exaggerated anatomy, I was able to combine the grossly over-weight top half of the DC Direct Penguin, with the much slimmer lower body of the DC universe Classics character.

I fashioned a straighter more elegantly shaped Top Hat (taken from the Mattel DC Universe figure’s head sculpt). I also made a pair of umbrella accessories (open and closed) out of the DC Direct accessory, the Kenner Super Powers Penguin umbrella, and some odd household items.