If ever the Penguin is inducted into the Villains Hall of Fame (should such a thing ever exist), who should be included in his acceptance speech? Let’s ask ourselves the obvious questions and see if they don’t surface our answers.

Why does the Penguin carry an umbrella? Well, the quip that springs immediately to mind is "the better to maim, shoot or burn you with, my dear." But actually, the real reason the Penguin perfected his use of the umbrella as a weapon stems from a childhood cautionary measure first instilled by his mother. Because his father died of pneumonia, the dearly departed Mrs. Cobblepot constantly urged little Oswald (the withdrawn child who would be Penguin) to carry an umbrella, regardless of the weather.

He can also thank his dear old mother for his freakish obsession with birds. Because he was relentlessly bullied by his peers (one of whom cursed him with the nickname that would live in infamy), Oswald spent most of his time at the local pet shop, owned by (you guessed it) Mrs. Cobblepot.