Gotham Underground #9 - DC

This is another story that I would've enjoyed no matter who illustrated it, but the fact that J Calafiore does it makes it all that much more enjoyable. I think Frank Tieri did a fantastic job with this series. As it turns out the whole story was a set-up to get the Penguin to be a member of the Outsiders. Well . . maybe not a member, but . . at the very least . . a consultant. Or informant. Whatever you want to call it. Pengy is sitting in his Iceburg Lounge, waiting for the villains to attack, when the Riddler comes along. Pengy and the Riddler have known each other for quite a while, so they really have a heart to heart conversation. But the Riddler's not there to save Pengy, or even help, he just wants to talk to him a little before he goes. You see all this effort has been by Intergang to gain control over Gotham's crime world. To that extent, they're ready to run Penguin out of town on a rail . . or in a pine box . . they don't really care which. But as Intergang's goons attack, Batman appears on the scene. But he's not there to save him for Penguin's sake, he's there to save him for his own. As Penguin looks out the window and sees the Outsiders in the fight mano-e-mano, Batman tells him that this is his new gang. Penguin will now be working for him and giving him information about Intergangs activities and movements, and in return Batman will make him . . untouchable. Not a bad option for Pengy . . considering the alternative of what he was facing. And it could lead to some very interesting stories in the future for both Batman and the Outsiders. I was a little concerned about where this story was heading, but all in all I'm very pleased with the outcome. Plus, this series helped to bring Spoiler back to town. That in itself would've been worth it.