- "I don't... try. And I never stop. You won't see me coming. And you won't feel a thing."
- —Victor Zsasz to Jim Gordon[src]
Victor Zsasz is a hitman and enforcer formerly in the employ of Carmine Falcone and then allied with Oswald Cobblepot after Falcone's retirement. However, Victor was still loyal to Don Falcone and still carried out hits on Carmine's orders after he had retired. Zsasz quickly became a high-ranked member of the Cobblepot crime family and was Penguin's security counselor for almost three years. Victor betrayed Penguin when Sofia Falcone murdered her father Carmine and blamed Cobblepot for the hit, whereon Zsasz went to work with Sofia until she fell into a coma. Zsasz has a habit of carving a scar into his body, for every kill he has caused. Leading his own gang of assassins, Victor is one of the most feared assassins in Gotham City.
As of Day 87 of No Man's Land, it is revealed that Zsasz managed to claim his own territory similar to the way that of the GCPD, the Penguin and more have their own territory.
Biography[]
Hitman for Falcone[]
- "Hello, everyone. My name...is Victor Zsasz. I'm sent here personally by Don Carmine Falcone himself on a matter of deep concern to him, so please be respectful. I'm here for Jim Gordon. Only him. Everybody else, mind your business and we're cool. So, where's Jim, man?"
- —Victor Zsasz to the officers of the GCPD[src]
Victor Zsasz shoots the GCPD officer.
Victor Zsasz is sent by Carmine Falcone to the Gotham City Police Department to collect Jim Gordon. Two women in black leather accompany him. He tells the officers that he only wants Gordon and they are all okay if they comply, as they tell him where he is. When Jim arrives and refuses to go, Zsasz demonstrates the power and fear he commands by ordering the police officers to leave the scene and they do. He then reveals his deception, when he attempts to assassinate Gordon. However, after a pitched firefight, a wounded Jim escapes when Renee Montoya and Crispus Allen arrive on the scene. Victor Zsasz then kills a female police officer that he had shot during the firefight and marks it on his arm as his 28th kill. Later on, he is seen keeping an eye on Barbara Kean (who had attempted to negotiate with Falcone to drop his hit on Gordon) at the time when Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock arrived to bring in Falcone, after picking up Mayor Aubrey James. Gordon and Bullock drop their plans in exchange for Falcone having Zsasz release Barbara.[1]
Zsasz provides the pep talk that turns Don Falcone's thinking around when the mob boss is planning to give in to Fish Mooney's coercion. Zsasz is later seen discussing with Falcone about Fish Mooney's ploy, Liza who he then finds out was sent in by Mooney. Zsasz then accompanies Falcone when he kills Liza and overthrows Mooney's club.[2]
After Fish Mooney and Butch Gilzean return to the club, finding Oswald Cobblepot trying himself as the head of the club, Zsasz arrives under orders from Falcone and engages in a gunfight with Gilzean, where he shoots Butch in the leg after he kills one of Zsasz's henchwomen. Mooney and Butch try to block off the hitman but he follows them down into the basement, where Butch helps Fish escape out a window, but Zsasz catches Butch and discusses what to do to him, whether he should kill him or torture him.[3] With Penguin struggling to manage his new nightclub, Zsasz gives him Butch who is brainwashed by order of Falcone.[4]
Working for Penguin[]
- "Want me to kill him now?"
"No, make him a nice cheese toastie, yes, kill him now, please!"
"Just wanted to be clear." - —Victor Zsasz and Oswald Cobblepot regarding Gillian Loeb's fate[src]
Zsasz and Penguin threaten Comissioner Loeb.
After Falcone retires from the criminal life, Zsasz begins working for Oswald and helps him threaten Commissioner Gillian Loeb to reinstate Gordon at the G.C.P.D. and resign his position as commissioner.[5]
Zsasz is sent by Penguin to kill Mayoral candidate Randall Hobbs. He enters and says he was there to volunteer. He singlehandedly kills all five of Hobbs' security guards and then chases the candidate out of the building. The Strike Force arrives outside and tries to stop Zsasz. A gunfight ensues and they bring the candidate to safety. Zsasz gets shot and shoots a fire hydrant on his way down, allowing him to escape unseen.[6]
After Butch is freed from his conditioning by Theo Galavan and his sister Tabitha and betrays Oswald, Zsasz, and his crew, are sent to kill Butch who has set up his own gang and hanging out at a bar. The gang retreat and Gordon and Bullock are forced to hold the fort until reinforcements arrive. Zsasz retreats after a barrage from heavy machine gunfire.[7]
Zsasz was present at a meeting along with other members of the Cobblepot crime family when Oswald (now the mayor of Gotham City) stated that he wanted the leader of the new incarnation of the Red Hood Gang dead and his head on a stick for destroying a statue of his late mother. Zsasz later took part in a scheme with Oswald's chief in staff Edward Nygma to expose Butch (now working with Oswald again) as the culprit for instigating the attack. During a party celebration held by Oswald at a nightclub The Sirens, Zsasz and Nygma convince Butch that they want to break off from Cobblepot and try to convince him to execute him wearing the Red Hood mask. But when Butch is skeptical, Zsasz reveals his underlings have his former lover Tabitha Galavan hostage in the kitchens, which pressures Butch to commit the act. Wearing the red hood Butch shoots at Oswald when he is on stage, but it turns out the bullets are blanks. Zsasz sneaks up on Butch and shoots him down, and Nygma unmasks Butch, showing him it was all a setup and convincing Oswald Butch has turned on him. Tabitha manages to break free and attacks several goons and allows Butch to attack Nygma, however Oswald knocks Butch out who is subsequently arrested and taken away.[8]
Zsasz is called in by Mario Calvi who tells Zsasz to hold Gordon at gunpoint. After holding Jim prisoner for a couple minutes, Zsasz tells him that he is free to go, as he was only instructed to keep Jim occupied for a few minutes. Jim asks Zsasz for his weapon back, but Zsasz declines. Jim then knocks Zsasz out, retrieving his weapon and sets off after Mario.[9]
Zsasz later visits Jim Gordon after Mario Calvi's funeral where he has a message. When Gordon least suspects it, Zsasz will avenge Mario on Carmine Falcone's behalf. Before leaving, Zsasz tells Gordon "Nice shot on Mario. I never liked him." While trying to follow Dwight Pollard, Gordon and Bullock are ambushed by Zsasz and his henchwomen. While behind some garbage cans, Gordon tells Bullock that Falcone placed a hit on him. Gordon makes a run for it in order to draw Zsasz' firepower away from Bullock. Taking the fight to the kitchen, Gordon ends up in a shootout with Zsasz which resulted in both of his henchwomen getting shot. Gordon then fights with Zsasz and manages to subdue him. After recovering, Victor Zsasz raids Gordon's apartment at the time when Bullock was visiting. As Gordon, Bullock, and Zsasz have each other at gunpoint, Carmine Falcone shows up stating to Zsasz that the job is cancelled. Zsasz then takes his leave.[10]
Enforcing Penguin's licenses[]
- "No license. No crime."
- —Victor Zsasz to Merton and his gang[src]
In the aftermath of the Tetch Virus outbreak, Oswald Cobblepot and his crime family played a major role in restoring order to the city, though their methods were controversial to say the least. Cobblepot and his men dealt with criminals with violence and deadly force, but did manage to cut the crime rate in half. The next step in Penguin's plan was to create a system of unionized crime by issuing "licenses of misconduct" that allowed only chosen criminals to commit crimes in exchange for a portion of their profits. Anyone who committed a crime without a license was dealt with using deadly force. Cobblepot even went so far as to legitimize this new arrangement by making a deal with the city government. He referred to his new regime as the "Pax Penguina."
When Merton, Grady Harris, and their fellow gang members interrupt a wedding reception and demand cash and jewelry, they are stopped by Victor Zsasz. He tells them that they must be licensed by Penguin to commit crimes. After the gang refuses to back down, Zsasz shoots Merton's finger off, telling the rest to leave the loot behind. The bride and the groom then run to Zsasz to thank him. Their joy quickly vanishes since Victor allows another gang operating under Penguin's licensing to rob the wedding guests.
After the crime license business is actually implemented, Zsasz is sent by Penguin to hunt down any criminal not abiding to this rule. In this position, Zsasz tracks down Tabitha Galavan and Selina Kyle and infiltrates their apartment. Despite holding guns, Zsasz claims that he has come in peace. He states that the two were hard to track down, and, looking over the run down apartment, asks Tabitha why she lives like that when she used to be richt. Tabitha reminds him that Penguin stole her club and Zsasz replies that Tabitha killed his mother, so they should just call it even. Tabitha asks Zsasz why he has come and Zsasz reminds Tabitha that every criminal in Gotham now needs a license from Penguin. Zsasz invites Tabitha to come to the opening of Penguin's new club the next evening. where she is supposed to "kiss the ring" and get her license. Zsasz then leaves the apartment after implying that Tabitha doesn't really have a choice. Once Zsasz is gone, Tabitha claims that the two need to find a new place immediately but Selina stops her and convinces her that it is in their interest to join Penguin. When Selina heads to the opening alone to swear loyalty to Penguin, Zsasz confronts her and asks her why she has come alone. To the surprise of both, Tabitha reveals herself and tells Zsasz that Selina has not come alone after all.
Together with Zsasz and other henchmen, Cobblepot stops a gang of thugs from deploying fear gas onto the guests. When Zsasz asks whether he wants the gang executed here or downstairs, Penguin then claims that he has an entirely different idea. Zsasz then watches as Penguin presents the captured gangsters to the guests downstairs. When suddenly the lights go out, the gangsters free themselves. Zsasz draws his gun and tries to shoot Grady, but cannot do so, as darkness and the chaos (thanks to Ivy Pepper shutting down the power) prevent him from getting a clear shot without harming the guests, allowing Grady to escape. While fighting the other gangsters, he aims his gun at the nearest combatant who is revealed to be Alfred Pennyworth. While he aims his pistol into Alfred's face, Alfred in turn points his shotgun at Zsasz. Both men lower their weapons as the situation is defused.[11]
When Penguin visits Barbara Kean's weapons dealership, Zsasz accompanies him. Zsasz is overjoyed to see all the different guns and rifles and takes one of the rifles with him when they leave. Before they leave, Penguin threatens Barbara that he will send Zsasz to end her with her own merchandise should he hear even rumors about Barbara attempting to make moves to contest him.[12]
At the Iceberg Lounge, Penguin is informed by Zsasz that some thieves tried to robb one of Penguin's shipments. Penguin is outraged but Zsasz tells him that Zsasz men managed to scare them off before they could steal anything. Penguin tells Zsasz that the shipment is required for a black market auction he is holding for Gotham's elite this very night, so the items have to be safe. He orders Zsasz to bring him to the warehouse the items are located; he wants to make sure they are all accounted for. After the two have left the Iceberg Lounge, a woman breaks in and starts melting Edward Nygma out of the ice block. When Penguin and Zsasz return, they find Nygma gone and Penguin screams and rages. Penguin furiously orders Zsasz to find the culprits, kill them and have Nygma back at the Iceberg Lounge in time for the auction. Eventually, Zsasz returns and informs Penguin that there is no sign of Nygma anywhere in Gotham. He reveals that he believes that it was an inside job and Penguin orders him to kill whoever is responsible for hiring staff for the Iceberg Lounge as this person hired a traitor.
Eventually, the trail leads the two to Myrtle Jenkins. Although Nygma has already fled Jenkins' custody, Penguin and Zsasz turn up at her place and interrogate her. After learning that Nygma cannot even solve the simplest riddle, Penguin orders Zsasz to make an example of her and Zsasz executes Jenkins by shooting her in the head.[13]
After Penguin had arranged a dinner meeting with Sofia Falcone at the Iceberg Lounge, Zsasz arrived to inform him that Sofia will not come. Surprised, Penguin asked why but Zsasz claimed that he has no idea, as he was not really listening. He then sat down next to Oswald and started eating, claiming that the stuff would go to waste otherwise. Penguin was annoyed and ordered Zsasz to follow Falcone to find out where she is. Zsasz followed Sofia secretly and witnessed a dinner between Mayor Burke and Falcone. He also found out that Falcone then headed to an abandoned hotel, which she apparently bought, and met with the zoning comissioner. Zsasz informed Penguin of this and he decided that Falcone must be killed. However, the two eventually learn that Sofia was merely building an orphanage.[14]
Away from Gotham[]
Some time later, Victor Zsasz left Gotham City to visit his bubbie. In order to find a replacement for his task of the security consultant of the crime family, Zsasz recommended another hitman, Headhunter, to his boss Oswald Cobblepot. However, Headhunter turned out to be a failure during the hunt for Professor Pyg and was later stabbed by Penguin himself.[15]
Victor Zsasz confronted Sofia on a train back to Florida as he frees her from police custody. After faking Martin's death during a confrontation with Sofia Falcone and The Sirens, Cobblepot had Zsasz take Martin somewhere safe.[16]
Betraying Cobblepot[]
After Carmine Falcone was killed by a drive-by shooter, Victor Zsasz attended his funeral and showed some respect to him by placing a bullet in his coat pocket. When Sofia Falcone stated that Oswald Cobblepot "killed" Martin and Gordon led the police into arresting Cobblepot, Zsasz denied any knowledge of Martin's survival. He was later seen making an alliance with Sofia.[17]
Helping Sofia Falcone[]
After Headhunter gets out of the hospital where he now wears an eyepatch, Victor Zsasz invited him into raiding Arkham Asylum to target Oswald Cobblepot following Martin's abduction. The two of then raid Arkham Asylum where they confront Harvey Bullock. Both sides didn't know it yet, but this turned out to be a diversion so that Edward Nygma could spring Cobblepot from Arkham Asylum. Headhunter and Zsasz find Cobblepot on the streets with Jim Gordon and Bullock which resulted in a gunfight. Lee Thompkins managed to get Cobblepot away from the fight. After Victor Fries brought a frozen Cobblepot to him, Sofia learned from Headhunter and Zsasz that Gordon and Bullock are finding out where Arthur Penn is. Upon tracing Arthur Penn to his location at a spa called Spa Bo'sh Sumka, Headhunter, Zsasz, and Sofia end up in a gunfight with Gordon and Bullock. While Sofia fought Gordon, Headhunter and Zsasz chased after Bullock and Penn. After the two of them escaped in Lee's car, the two of them gave up pursuit and went to get smoothies when they saw the police cars come into view. He does not witness Sofia being shot in the head by Lee Thompkins, which results in her entering a coma.[18]
No Man’s Land[]
Destruction of Haven[]
After Haven blew up, the GCPD led by Jim Gordon and backed by Oswald Cobblepot and his men and ammunition, followed an anonymous tip stating where the bomber would be. Upon arrival, Cobblepot announced that the bomber a sniper from one of the buildings began shooting at the group causing them to take cover. After Gordon and Cobblepot prompted him, the shooter proceeded to yell back at them. Upon hearing his voice Gordon, Bullock and Cobblepot came to the realization that their mystery sniper was Victor Zsasz. Zsasz claimed he didn’t blow up Haven and refused to come down. Gordon ordered everyone to keep him pinned down for a couple of minutes while he went up to Zsasz’s location and got the element of surprise, tackling him and handcuffing him.
After a brief argument of who gets to interrogated Zsasz between Gordon and Cobblepot – with the former winning more or less – Zsasz is taken to GCPD headquarters for interrogation. Zsasz continues to deny that he was responsible for the Haven bombing. He claimed if he did, he would be covered in scars if he was responsible for that many deaths. Gordon gets called away and Cobblepot came and took Zsasz to his ‘trial’.
Cobblepot hosted a trial for Zsasz to appease everyone who was hurt by the destruction of Haven. Zsasz asked if he would be appointed a lawyer claiming his human rights were being violated. Cobblepot remarked that’s his right to remain silent wasn’t and Zsasz had his mouth taped shut. During this trial Cobblepot acted as judge and prosecutor, questioning witnesses who saw Zsasz leaving Haven moments before it blew. Gordon spoke on Zsasz’s behalf and brought forward evidence that it couldn’t be Zsasz for the bomb wasn’t really a bomb but an RPG fired into the building's oil tank but, the jury still found Zsasz guilty and he was sentenced to death.
Zsasz was set up in a guillotine ready to be beheaded when Cobblepot asked if he had any final words. Despite still having duct tape covering his mouth he spoke – not that anyone could understand him. Before they could execute him, however, Gordon and Bullock came in and rescued Zsasz, deciding to take him back to where they found him. After his handcuffs and gag had been taken off, Zsasz proceeds to taunt Gordon for trying to make Gotham a safer place, claiming it will always belong to the bad guys. Gordon, provoked, orders Bullock to give Zsasz his gun, wanting a shootout. Zsasz refuses and instead decides to leave.[19]
Hypnotized[]
Several months later, Zsasz was found by Ivy Pepper and she hypnotized him into serving her. She ordered Zsasz to kill Jim Gordon as revenge for killing Mario Pepper. Zsasz was able to shoot Gordon from a sniper position, critically wounding him. Determined to finish the job, Zsasz went to GCPD headquarters to kill Gordon up close and personal. While shooting at the police outside, Alfred Pennyworth snuck up behind Zsasz and knocked him out.
While being interrogated by Bullock, Zsasz confessed that he was serving Ivy. He mulled over his delusional love for her when Ivy entered with another hypnotized victim. Ivy claimed to be disappointed in Victor for failing her instruction. Zsasz stated that he would do anything to make her happy. Ivy told him to keep the cops busy while she herself would kill Gordon. Zsasz shot up the bullpen and pinned the cops down long enough for Ivy to make it to Gordon's bedside. Pennyworth and Bullock devised a plan to stop Zsasz, with Bullock wearing an explosive-proof suit. Zsasz shot Bullock multiple times only for Harvey to get up and take down Zsasz.
Personality[]
- "Jim, how would you describe Victor?"
"Victor Zsasz... a homicidal maniac and sadist."
"A homicidal maniac and sadist of the highest professional standards." - —Harvey Bullock and Jim Gordon to Reed[src]
Whilst a psychopath and cold-blooded killer, Zsasz demonstrates loyalty to both Falcone and Cobblepot in turn and seems very willing to be directed by a boss, as long as he is let off the leash at regular intervals. He appears to view his killing as a form of art, planning meticulously in many cases, always prepared with an escape route, and happy to confront multiple gunmen head-on. He demonstrates a substantial degree of discipline and professionalism when carrying out his tasks. His formidable combat skills and natural wits make him one of the deadliest and most feared killers in Gotham. He shows neither remorse nor empathy at any point. He also has a morbid sense of humor, as seen when mocking his foes in their pain or dying moments.
Zsasz's true loyalties seem to lie ultimately with Carmine Falcone, since he came to "guard" Jim Gordon at Falcone's request even when he was supposed to be working for the Penguin's organization. Although he continues to work for Cobblepot, he takes jobs for Falcone whenever he is needed. He maintains his loyalty to Penguin as one of his top enforcers, but ultimately he betrays him when it appears Penguin may have been responsible for Falcone's death. Zsasz showed genuine distress at Falcone's funeral, indicating that he always had genuine loyalty for the former Don.
Abilities[]
- "Just me on my own... I can take out Fish's crew easy."
- —Victor Zsasz to Carmine Falcone[src]
- Peak of human physical condition: As a hitman who has worked for multiple crime bosses in Gotham, Zsasz is in top physical condition. He appears to be as equally strong as Jim Gordon, such as when he struggled to get one of his guns from him.
- Acrobatics: Zsasz has shown he can do somersaults, such as the first time he went after Jim Gordon and Randall Hobbs.
- Master marksman: Zsasz is highly trained in the use of firearms and is able to fire guns using both hands while moving. During his first confrontation with Jim Gordon, he shot the latter from behind while Gordon was escaping. He has also been shown to kill several bodyguards before they could take their guns of their holsters. He's shown to be accurate enough to shoot a man's finger off, and to shoot Bob in the forehead. When he was hired a second time to kill Gordon, he used a rifle and a machine-gun, but was less accurate with them when he aimed at his targets than he is with his handguns. His aim is so precise with pistols that he was able to shoot off one of Merton's fingers. He also shot a mayoral campaign poster of Oswald Cobblepot in the forehead.
- Skilled hand-to-hand combatant: Zsasz is shown to have some hand-to-hand combat skills during his assassination attempt on Jim Gordon.
- Expert torturer: Zsasz tortured Butch Gilzean for several weeks in a way that he managed to brainwash him, allowing him to be controlled by Penguin.
- Indomitable will/High tolerance for pain: Determined to finish the job he is given, Zsasz does not stop hunting his targets until he is told to do so by the people who hire him. For every person he kills, Zsasz carves tally marks onto his body without experiencing any kind of pain. He was once able to escape from the GCPD despite having been shot by one of them.
Equipment[]
- Guns/Firearms: Zsasz caries different types of guns with him when performing a hit. These includes handguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers.
- Box Cutter: Zsasz uses a box cutter to cut a tally mark onto his body every time he kills someone.
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- Like in the comics, Zsasz carves a tally mark into himself for each kill. In the comics, which are set decades after the time period of the series, his body is nearly covered in the cuts he's made.
- Zsasz's surname is a palindrome.
- Alvarez, Victor Zsasz, Jennifer Luree, and, Jerome Valeska are the only recurring characters to appear in all five seasons.
- It is mentioned that Zsasz is a big fan of disco. His ringtone is "Funkytown."[20]
- Unlike most versions of Zsasz, this one is a hitman and is not a free-roaming serial killer. The concept of him being a hitman for Carmine Falcone originated in Batman Begins. This concept of Zsasz being a hitman was utilized again in Birds of Prey. The difference being Zsasz worked for Roman Sionis/Black Mask.
- Victor is vegan.[21]
- Zsasz is possibly bisexual or pansexual. He commented on Alvarez being handsome and saying he'd let him do a strip-search.
- Victor's quote "A man with no hands can still be alive." and is ringtone being the song "Funkytown" might be a reference to the viral gore video "Funkytown" depicting a man getting brutally mutilated and killed while the song plays in the background.
Notes[]
- The character was created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle. He first appeared in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1 (June 1992) and is usually depicted as a nihilistic serial killer rather than a professional hitman. Zsasz's name is derived from that of real-life psychiatrist Thomas Szasz, whose name Grant saw while visiting a library.