Publisher DC Comics Type of business Nightclub Owner(s) Penguin | Created by Chuck Dixon Base(s) Gotham City | |
First appearance Detective Comics (vol. 1) #683 (March, 1995) | ||
Iceberg Lounge is a fictional business organization in the DC Comics universe. It is a nightclub owned and run by the Penguin as a legitimate business front for his criminal operations.
Contents
History
Seemingly tiring of the criminal lifestyle, Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot) went "legit" and opened an upscale nightclub, "The Iceberg Lounge". He has three new women running his club for him in his absence: Jay, Raven, and Lark. The Iceberg Lounge is the hottest new place in town according to Gotham's jaded in-crowd. The preening Penguin enjoys the good life, but he hasn't entirely abandoned his criminal ways. Using the club as a front, the Penguin secretly continues to control Gotham City's underworld by bartering in illegal information and stolen goods, often with the help of his loyal waitresses (The Iceberg Ladies) who are armed with martial arts and military training. The two-story, 12,800-square-foot restaurant and lounge included a large pool for pet seals and penguins in the center dining area, an iceberg-like sculpture in the pool, a ship themed dance floor,and polar décor. A tuxedoed jazz band on the sculpture is often seen playing tunes. The Penguin has his own private dining area, upstairs near the bar where he can oversee everything. Some of the nightclub's more secret areas include the Penguin's office and armory, and some of the Iceberg Lounge's hidden back rooms, which serve various criminal purposes. Batman often infiltrates the Iceberg Lounge to keep an eye on The Penguin's after-hours activities, usually under the guise of Matches Malone. The Iceberg Lounge has been frequented by many minor and major rogues alike, from The Joker to Amygdala.
No Man's Land
The building sustained serious damage when an earthquake struck Gotham City, but the Penguin continued to operate, moving the lounge to the Davenport Towers. Then, when the federal government withdrew support, the city became a No Man's Land, and still the Penguin operated, profiting more than ever. He bartered goods and services to all comers, siphoning off enough to sustain himself. He also knew of an access tunnel that enabled materiel and supplies to flow into the city. After the city was reintegrated into the United States, the Penguin had the lounge rebuilt, only to discover that the building was now owned by Bruce Wayne, who kept a close eye on the business. Soon after, the Penguin was chased out of Gotham City by Black Mask, but he returned and continued to operate the lounge.
The New 52
Penguin reopened the Iceberg Lounge under a new name; the Iceberg Casino. It is now a floating casino and hotel just outside Gotham, designed like a sparkling iceberg. A secret backroom was the meeting place for some of Gotham's newest villains, such as Hypnotic, Mister Combustible, and Mister Toxic. Not long after its grand opening, the villain Snakeskin attempted to assassinate the Penguin, but was caught and killed by the Iceberg Lounge's staff before he could succeed.
Rumors began spreading that Lady Shiva was coming to Gotham to kill organized crime. Heeding the warning, Penguin closes down the casino temporarily and leaves the country until the threat passes.