Comic book villains who deserve their own series like The Penguin | Television and radio | Showbiz and television

The new HBO series The Penguin, inspired by the comic books, has taken off with a bang, receiving rave reviews and attracting more than 5 million viewers for its first episode.

This spin-off of the film The Batman features Colin Farrell reprising his role as the main character, alongside Robert Pattinson’s Batman.

The narrative continues where the film left off, with Farrell’s character beginning to rise in the criminal underworld of Gotham, a place where Batman is conveniently unable to intervene.

Rumors are circulating that other similar series may be in the works to bridge the gap between the Matt Reeves-directed sequels.

But which other villains are worthy of their own TV series? This includes at least one character not necessarily found in Batman comics.

Victor Zsasz

Victor Zsasz, also known as Mister Zsasz, like The Penguin, is another infamous character from Batman’s rogues gallery who could easily have a series centered around his wrongdoings.

While HBO’s Penguin draws inspiration from the gangster genre, a Zsasz series could borrow elements from crime or police procedurals. Imagine Dexter but with an even more deranged killer on the loose.

Zsasz is a serial killer who often arranges his victims into poses after slitting their throats. He is known to mark his skin after each crime as a souvenir.

He sees himself as freeing others from their meaningless existence and he could easily operate outside of Batman’s influence, at least temporarily.

Anthony Carrigan, known for his role on the TV series Gotham, could potentially delve into the story of his character Zsasz in a one-man show. The narrative could explore Zsasz’s journey from one of Gotham’s wealthiest citizens to losing his parents in an accident to depression and a life of crime.

In the original comic storyline, Zsasz loses everything to the Penguin, which could open the way for crossover opportunities. There is also speculation that Victor Aguilar, introduced in the HBO series, could replace Zsasz.

Doctor Destiny

Moving away from Batman villains, Dr. Doom is a popular choice among Marvel fans for a villain deserving his own spin-off, whether in movie or TV series form.

Primarily known as the archenemy of the Fantastic Four, Doom has also faced Spider-Man and the Avengers.

Earlier this year, MCU fans were surprised when it was announced that Robert Downey Jr., previously seen as Iron Man, would play the character in the upcoming Avengers films.

It’s still unclear how the franchise will handle its former hero becoming a villain, but several comic book storylines could serve as inspiration.

Regardless of the approach taken, Doom could be gradually introduced into the MCU, much like Thanos, suggesting that a spinoff series expanding on his story could be an ideal next step.

One fan took to social media, stirring up excitement by suggesting that the complexity of Doctor Doom mirrors the appeal of Robert Downey Jr’s iconic Marvel characters, adding fuel to calls for a dedicated spinoff show. They expressed: “Doctor Doom is easily a character that a franchise could be built around the fact that, while arrogant, he’s an honorable guy and even though he does bad things, there’s logic behind it. his actions.”

Deathstroke

Another comic book villain known for his clashes with Batman and other superheroes, Deathstroke is another popular choice among fans.

One online publication noted: “DeathStroke can actually work…because he’s not exactly as committed to a single hero. Nor as single-minded as Joker, Lex (Luthor), or Sinestro. I can’t imagine (a ) Lex film without Superman, or Joker without Batman, or Sinestro without Hal (Green Lantern).”

Known as Slade Wilson, DeathStroke underwent a Captain America-like transformation to become a super soldier, but later ventured down a darker road.

Rather than standing up for truth and justice, Wilson has opted for a life as a fearsome mercenary and assassin, marked by the iconic orange and black mask he wears to hide the loss of his right eye.

He made an on-screen appearance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League finale that had fans buzzing about a potential role in The Batman, but those plans were ultimately scrapped. There is now talk of a brand new film that could focus on this enigmatic character alongside his compatriot Bane, although studio boss James Gunn has yet to give the official green light.

Excitement is palpable among fans for the concept, with one expressing his eagerness: “A bloody, gory show showing him signing contracts, getting paid and maybe even the main enemy of the series could be a hero trying to stop him.”