- "There are a couple different ways to handle this type of situation. If Oz is what you say... Well, guys like him, they can serve a purpose. Go on to do big fuckin' things, especially in my line of work. But you gotta know how to control them. Most of the guys that come to me say they're looking to make money. Now, that's fine, but greed don't buy loyalty. If I want loyalty, I bring in guys who are looking for a father. Guys like that got a void to fill. They'll do anything for me. Now, Oswald, he don't need a father. He's got you. He's devoted to you. And you can use that. Foster what he's got, embrace it, raise it. Maybe he'd be great."
- ―Rex's advice to Francis Cobb.[src]
Rex Calabrese was a low-level crime boss operating in Gotham City who inspired Oswald Cobb to take up his own mobster career.
Biography[]
Ruling Crown Point[]
Rex Calabrese and his gang operated in one of the poorer neighborhoods on the East Side of Gotham City. He was considerably more low-level compared to the big-league mafia figures such as Carmine Falcone and Salvatore Maroni.
Rex was greatly loved and respected by the people in his neighborhood. Whenever a family member was sick or had issues paying rent, he would help them no matter the cost. Rex had grown to know the names of everyone in the neighborhood and would always say hi when he saw them on the streets.[1] However, Rex also operated an extortion racket in the neighborhood, targeting local store owners.[2]
Working With the Cobbs[]
Rex was acquainted with the Cobb family, which included Francis Cobb and her three sons, Jack, Benny, and Oz. It’s alluded to during one of her dementia episodes that previously Francis came to Rex for help with paying to keep their heat on when the boys' father couldn’t. Eventually, sometime after her husband either died or left them, Francis got a job working as Rex's accountant.[2]
Sometime after Jack and Benny died from drowning in a storm drain, Rex visited Francis at her apartment to offer paying for their funeral, but she refuses to have one, not wanting to deal with the pity from everyone else. He then brings up her sidelining Oz in her grief, she then revealed that she knew that Oz was responsible for his brother's deaths. Rex tries convincing her to use Oz's love for her own benefit, similar to what he does with his men. Francis asks Rex to kill Oz for her.[3]
Francis takes Oz out to Monroe's, where she plans to have Rex drive Oz home, when he is actually going to kill him. Rex stood by at the bar speaking with the bartender as Oz and Francis sat at their table. However, Francis called off the murder after Oz made a promise to take care of her.[3]
Death[]
Two years later in 1990, Rex died from a heart attack, still holding his cigar after his death. Afterwards, everyone in the neighborhood threw a parade in Rex's honor.[1]
Legacy[]
After his death, Oz became inspired to gain that same level of love and respect as a gangster, being heavily influenced by Rex. He put his aspirations to action by seeking to gain control of the Falcone Crime Family following Carmine's assassination by the Riddler.[1]
Personality[]
Rex was shown to possess a typical wise guy persona, he maintained honor and respect amongst the people of his neighborhood. However, it was also revealed that he seemingly made a lot of his money off extorting from the people, highlighting his morally black and white nature.[2]
He explained in his conversation with Francis that with recruiting the members of his gang, he specifically picked boys without fathers, using their devotion and love for him to suit his own agenda.[3]
The fact that he also seemed perfectly fine with killing Oz for Francis also highlights how if the situation sways him he would kill anyone, even children.[3]
Though he was a big fish in his neighborhood, he never reached the same levels as Carmine Falcone or Salvatore Maroni did. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, he understood Oz better then either man did, recognizing exactly what kind of person Oz would grow up to become and successfully coached Francis Cobb on how to make him do what she wanted him to.
Abilities[]
- Leadership: Rex was known to be a respected leader by his gang, and maintained strong loyalty from them.
- Street intelligence: Rex maintained an incredible knowledge of the streets, with him going as far as memorizing the names of all the people in his neighborhood.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Calabrese Gang - Subordinates
- Francis Cobb - Employee
- Jack Cobb †
- Benny Cobb †
- Oz Cobb - Fan and Attempted Victim
- Vincent
Appearances[]
| Appearances for Rex Calabrese |
|---|
In chronological order:
|
Trivia[]
- In the comics, Rex Calabrese is an imprisoned crime boss who went by the name “the Lion” and is depicted as Catwoman’s father in the New 52 continuity. Like his counterpart, the comic version of Calabrese was also admired by the Penguin.
- The portrayal of Rex Calabrese in the show is simillar to Sonny from A Bronx Tale, with both of them being a well-respected figure in their community and were admired by children.
- His death with a cigar still in his hand is a nod to Carmine Galante, the former boss of the Bonanno Crime Family. Galante was gunned down outside a restaurant after having a brunch. His body was discovered with multiple gunshots and a cigar in his mouth.
- Rex's surname is derived from Calabria, a city in southern Italy.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 LeFranc, Lauren (writers); & Zobel, Craig (director) (September 19, 2024). The Penguin: 1.01: After Hours.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cvetko, Vladimir (writers); & Bray, Kevin (director) (November 3, 2024). The Penguin: 1.07: Top Hat.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3
