Who Is Victor Aguilar In The Penguine?

The world of Gotham City expands once again with the introduction of Victor Aguilar, a fresh character in HBO Max’s new show, The Penguin. Fans of DC Comics and The Batman universe have been speculating about Aguilar’s role in the show since his appearance in Episode 1.

While not originally from DC Comics, Aguilar’s character adds a new dynamic to the dark and gritty streets of Gotham, which have been home to many iconic characters.

Played by Rhenzy Feliz, Aguilar finds himself caught up in the criminal world of Oswald Cobblepot, aka

The Penguin, played by Colin Farrell. But who is Victor Aguilar, and what does his introduction mean for Gotham’s future? Let’s explore the significance of his character and the potential paths his storyline could take.

Who Is Victor Aguilar?

Victor Aguilar is introduced as a down-and-out teenager from Gotham City. In the first episode of The Penguin, Aguilar is caught by Cobblepot trying to steal the tires off the crime lord’s car.

Rather than killing the young thief, Cobblepot decides to take him under his wing, which begins a strange, mentor-mentee relationship that mirrors the dynamics often seen in Gotham’s history.

This introduction echoes a classic DC Comics storyline in which Jason Todd, the second Robin, also encounters Batman while trying to steal the tires from the Batmobile.

However, unlike Todd, Aguilar is not directly lifted from the pages of DC Comics. His character is a creation of the show, specifically crafted to fit into Matt Reeves’ grounded, noir version of Gotham, introduced in The Batman (2022).

Still, his story of a troubled youth crossing paths with a Gotham criminal hints at familiar themes from the Batman universe: mentorship, redemption, and the moral grey areas in a city plagued by crime.

Victor Aguilar’s Role in The Penguin

In The Penguin, Aguilar’s character is drawn into Cobblepot’s criminal world after their chance encounter. In the first episode, Penguin catches Aguilar and some of his friends attempting to strip his Maserati.

Instead of killing him outright, Cobblepot sees potential in the young man, dragging him into a world of crime. What follows is an uneasy partnership where Aguilar becomes a pawn in Cobblepot’s plans.

The Penguin is set in the aftermath of The Batman and explores Oswald Cobblepot’s rise to power in Gotham’s criminal underworld.

Aguilar’s introduction adds a new layer to this narrative, as his character represents the street-level consequences of Gotham’s rampant crime.

Aguilar is one of Gotham’s many wayward youths who have to navigate a city controlled by corrupt forces and criminals like Cobblepot.

Though still early in the series, some fans speculate that Aguilar may follow in the footsteps of characters like Jason Todd or even become a form of Robin in this new universe.

There are already clear parallels between Aguilar’s introduction and the way Todd was brought into Batman’s world.

Like Todd, Aguilar finds himself in a dangerous alliance with a Gotham icon after an attempted theft.

While there is no confirmation that Aguilar will evolve into the new Robin, the potential is there for a storyline that develops his character into something bigger.

With Batman himself (Robert Pattinson) having expressed interest in having a Robin in future films, Aguilar could be the first step in that direction.

Is Victor Aguilar Gotham’s New Robin?

The introduction of Victor Aguilar has led to a wave of fan theories about his potential future in Gotham. Could he be the new Robin in Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe?

His connection to the Penguin and his street-level introduction are strikingly similar to how Jason Todd became Robin in the comics.

In the DC Comics canon, Jason Todd starts out as a delinquent, much like Aguilar. Todd meets Batman while trying to steal the tires from the Batmobile, and instead of being punished, he is recruited by the Dark Knight to become his new sidekick.

Aguilar’s introduction in The Penguin follows a very similar pattern, with Penguin catching him in the act of a crime and deciding to take him in.

However, there are differences between the two. Jason Todd becomes a vigilante fighting alongside Batman, while Aguilar’s current trajectory places him in the heart of Gotham’s criminal underworld.

If the creators of The Penguin decide to turn Aguilar into a Robin-like figure, it could lead to an exciting new take on the character, one that merges elements of the comics with Reeves’ darker, more grounded vision for Gotham.

Alternatively, Aguilar could remain on his current path and become a key player in Penguin’s rise to power.

Gotham’s history is filled with characters who walk the line between good and evil, and Aguilar could easily find himself caught between those two worlds.

Final Thoughts

Victor Aguilar may not have comic book roots, but his introduction in The Penguin has already generated significant interest.

As a young man from the streets of Gotham who finds himself entangled in the criminal world of Oswald Cobblepot, Aguilar’s story is one that feels both new and familiar.

Whether he becomes a new version of Robin or continues down a darker path remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his character adds an intriguing new element to Gotham’s ever-evolving world.

As the series unfolds, fans will be watching closely to see how Aguilar’s storyline develops. Will he rise above his circumstances, or will he be consumed by the city’s darkness? Either way, Victor Aguilar is set to leave his mark on Gotham.