They may have spent most of DC history as bitter enemies, but in the latest run of Batman comics, the dastardly Penguin has actually become Bruce Wayne's newest partner. That's what happens when Bane demands loyalty from Gotham elite.

Our preview of Batman #60 begins the first chapter of Penguin and Batman's newly confirmed alliance. The previous issue saw Oswald Cobblepot seek out the Dark Knight, before explaining that Bane had been slowly controlling a much larger game from within Arkham Asylum - and at that very moment, was going to kill Alfred Pennyworth. Penguin called off the killers, and offered to work with Batman to foil Bane's plans. And while Penguin may not exactly have free rein throughout the Batcave, our preview shows how his partnership with Batman is slowly taking shape.

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While these preview pages of Batman #60 by Tom King, Mikel Janin, and Jorge Fornes don't actually show Alfred thanking Penguin for not having him killed, as was requested of the villain by Bane, we can assume it definitely happened. Instead, the pair are left to listen in on Batman's radio as he searches for leads or evidence of Bane pulling the strings from his Arkham cell. And from the looks of it, the inmates recently released from Arkham are about as unwilling to give real information as those still serving time.

Check out the preview pages below:

Aside from the Shakespeare, the other part of the preview that should interest fans is Jim Gordon's behavior, having recently dissolved his trust and partnership with Batman when the hero took his beating of Bane (and eventually, Gordon) too far. The cop's first priority? To pull out Batman's recent attack on Mr. Freeze and look over the case himself. The beating will be familiar to fans, since Bruce Wayne served on Mr. Freeze's jury, and already argued that Batman used excessive force. An epiphany that Batman has obviously forgotten about, or dismissed now that Penguin has revealed Bane's master plan. But even on good days, Batman doesn't want a man like Jim Gordon coming for him.

We'll need to wait and see the rest of the issue before predicting how successful this new alliance between Batman and Penguin will turn out to be. And, come to think of it, if Penguin may have more secrets and motivations than he is currently revealing (almost a guarantee for a gangster like himself). Until then, check out the full synopsis for the new issue below:

  • BATMAN (2018) #60
  • Published: December 5th, 2018
  • Writer: Tom King
  • Art: Mikel Janin
  • Cover: Mikel Janin
  • Variant Cover: Francesco Mattina
  • Batman takes on a new partner, and it’s…the Penguin? After rejecting Bane’s crime-boss co-op, Cobblepot finds himself in the crosshairs of some very teed-off villains. The feathered felon turns to his old foe to snitch on Bane’s scheme, but has to prove his intentions to avoid a Bat-beatdown. Along the way, this Gotham odd couple begins to bond—could there be a new bird joining the Bat-Family? Not if Bane has anything to say about it…

Batman #60 will be released on December 5th from DC Comics.

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