Biker Mice from Mars meets the sensibilities of the people who made Dangermouse and Count Duckula… that should give you an idea of what to expect (unless you haven't seen either of those). A lot of good old fashioned dry British sardonic humor, mixed with a complete disregard to take yourself seriously and some fairly good writing.

The last cel-based cartoon from the Cosgrove-Halls studios (their 2D Productions after this would be digitally processed), Avenger Penguins bears the marks of its forebears and is as enjoyable as any of them, if not quite as intelligent as Count Duckula.

Marlon (the leader), Rocky (the big guy) and Bluey (the small, smart one with incomprehensible speech) find that one day their beloved city has come under seize of newly arrived, overblown Orson Welles megalomaniac type Caratkitus P. Doom. Doom has captured the President of the United Republics of the World (suggesting that this series takes place sometime in the near future), as well as Marlon and Rocky.

While not fighting the forces of Doom (puns are part of the package, take them or leave them) or the Stink brothers, the boys like to hang out at what else, the milkshake and soda bar Slush City. Here is also where the other misfits that make up the series cast hang out, the most predominate being the badly drawn brothers; who provide either whimsical comments on nonsense or occasional exposition.

The main guy prone to the later is of course the main villain, who like all stereotypical mad scientists instates every single move and phrase of his plans for all to hear, wither that’s his lackey Harry Slime or his nemesis’s. Doom effectively forgets about world domination in some episodes, instead seeking the end of those incorrigible, flightless birds; who haunt his dreams.

This is in essence a parody show and it does irrelevant takes on other shows outside of the obvious reference to Biker Mice. Takes on popular culture include: A Curella look-alike who’s been mixed with Hannibal, called Annabel the animal; who will eat anything colored black and white (her grandma force fed her humbugs). Costumed superheroes in the form of a visiting kid, who takes so long to get into costume that the danger no longer threatens who was in trouble. References to computers and videogames come up regularly, with Bluey being obsessive about playing his portable game, then having to use his knowledge to save himself and Marlon from being trapped in videoland. When relaxing the trio watch a badly made Australian soap (you can see the boon mike), a comment perhaps on the invasion of shows like Home and Away and Neighbours to UK airways (those are long running Australian soaps BTW).

One episode entitled ‘In the 23rd Century’ see the penguins sent to the far future to save the world from the great, great granddaughter of Doom. The whole episode is effectively a send up of sci-fi conventions with daft quotes in the vein of: ‘I like you Rocky but we’ve only got fourteen minutes to save the world’ comments on teleportation ‘what a horrible way to travel’ a nauseous Marlon exclaims, even the deaths of minor characters wearing red shirts ‘He ain’t got no lines’ Rocky informs Marlon ‘he never lives long enough to say them’ and of course the inevitable Doom Star.

The animation is decent throughout, even if it’s a bit rough around the edges. The writing is outlandish enough to escape pretty much any real criticism, much the same as it is in Cosgrove-Hall’s other shows. Essentially Avenger Penguin’s is daft enough to remain likeable. Most of it is complete nonsense and it makes no pretences about it and it is as enjoyable because of that; but I’d be lying if I said it was up to the task of it predecessors.

Still a good solid series nonetheless.