Writer Gregg Hurwitz Gives Us History of 'Penguin: Pain and Prejudice'

Gregg Hurwitz is the award-winning writer of novels, television shows, and comic books. His latest novel is titled "You're Next." I spoke to him about his work on DC's new mini-series "Penguin: Pain and Prejudice."

Getting to expand on the back-story of one of the greatest villains in Batman's gallery of rogues has to be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. First, tell us how it's exciting.

For me, it was a dream project. There are very few household-name comic book characters (heroes or villains) that don't already have a fully fleshed out backstory. While there have been some brilliant stories written about Oswald Cobblepot -- from Alan Grant to Jason Aaron -- there's not been a longer dedicated story that's tackled the Penguin in great depth. I had this tale about him and his upbringing that kept bubbling up in my brain that honored the spirit of versions past while offering something new.

How is it nerve-wracking?

Anytime I play with an established character, it's a bit nerve-wracking because I'll never own that character. A villain like the Penguin is in a public trust, really. I needed to make sure to honor his past while also bringing my own voice and approach to him. There's no point for me merely to regurgitate old versions. I was walking a balance between loyalty and freshness, respecting the spirit of the character while providing something readers haven't seen.

Also, because the Penguin is so well known, every reader brings associations to good old Oswald, whether it's the Kane and Finger originals or Burgess Meredith's broader interpretation. I didn't know if they would accept my spin on the man.

What are you trying to show readers of "Penguin: Pain and Prejudice?" Are you trying to show that the Penguin is a misunderstood tragic figure or a cold-blooded villain/psychopath? Maybe a mix of both?

I don't think that the Penguin is a psychopath because he deeply feels emotion -- like shame and anger and, yes, affection -- whereas a psychopath does not. I was drawn to him because out of Batman's main villains, he's one of the few who is fully sane. His very cold-bloodedness was a draw for me. I wanted to show the birth of a persona that was twisted and full of rage while also keeping him human. No flipper hands, no depiction of pure maniacal evil.

Others can touch him and he has his own code, no matter how harsh the downside of that code may be. To become this person, he had to have some connection with humanity and that, to my mind, is his saving grace. His relationship with his mother is the thread connecting him with humanity.

Out of all the different versions of the Penguin that there have been, what is your favorite - writer-wise and artist-wise?

Jason Aaron and Jason Pearson's "Joker's Asylum." I have to give Aaron credit for influencing my take on the character. Reading that story, I had a different grasp on who Oswald is and what motivates him. Fun fact: I pay homage to my influences in the comic. Oswald's brothers' names, which we see in the mausoleum, are Robert, William, and Jason. I named them for Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jason Aaron.

What can we expect from the next four issues of the mini-series?

A lot more Gothic creepiness. More jaw-dropping art from Szymon Kudranski. Oh -- and Oswald just might find himself a lady friend.

Is there another Batman villain you would like to open up and explore the way you've done with "Penguin in Penguin: Pain and Prejudice?"

Yes … stay tuned!

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Eric Shirey is the founder and editor of Rondo Award nominated movie and comic book news websites MovieGeekFeed.com and TheSpectralRealm.com. His work has been featured on Yahoo!, DC Comics, StarWars.com, and other national entertainment websites. Besides his three decades long obsession with everything sci-fi, horror, and fantasy related in TV and movies, Eric has what some would call an unhealthy love for comic books. This has led him to interviewing and covering legendary writers and artists in the medium like Scott Snyder, Steve Niles, Bernie Wrightson, and Howard Chaykin.