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Batman’s Most Disturbing Villain Has Nothing Left To Offer (and He Should Call It Quits)
Batman has plenty of villains and, for many, it’s not necessarily a prison that they end up in when they’re apprehended by the Dark Knight. Most end up at Arkham Asylum and for good reason. Whether it’s crimes against humanity from the likes of Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, or even the Riddler with all his trophies across the city or the sickest of the sick, the villains who end up here are genuinely disturbed. Perhaps the most disturbing of them all, however, is Mr. Zsasz. The most prolific serial killer in all of Gotham City who marking his body with a cut for every victim, Zsasz has become the darkest part of Batman’s rogues gallery.
First appearing in the debut issue of Batman: Shadow of the Bat, by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle, Zsasz made his mark as a serial killer during the now legendary “Knightfall” event. He walked into the issue, dropped his shirt showing off his scars. and went after young scared women to make his next mark. But while he’s a fairly straightforward and very disturbed villain, Zsasz is no longer alone when it comes to serial killer villains in Gotham City and it’s time that the character moves on.
A Nightmare From Knightfall
Zsasz made waves when he first debuted in comics. As a truly twisted serial killer, he became a go-to creepy villain for many fans of the Dark Knight and as a threat to Gotham, his profile rose in various stories. However, there’s a problem when it comes to his popularity. The more popular Zsasz has become and the more frequently he’s appeared, the less effective the particular brand of terror he brings. His gimmick has largely lost its shock value and more than that, he’s also not the only shock value serial killer in Gotham anymore. Professor Pyg and James Gordon Jr. are both equally as disturbing killers, making the scene pretty crowded.
Zsasz is far from the worst Batman villain these days but it also goes beyond that. He also hasn’t done anything new in quite some time. He either catches you and kills you or he fails and doesn’t get to make a new scar. He doesn’t go after anyone of importance and feels like he has been turned into a B-list Batman rogue when he’s been at D-list for quite some time. With the likes of Cornelius Stirk and Abattoir, he’s just gross and doesn’t scream fear the way he once did.
Mr. Zsasz Has Lost What Made Him Stand Out
The fact that a character as small as Zsasz was when he started has made the leap to television, a few movies, and even video games is remarkable in its own right, but it doesn’t feel deserved considering how lackluster the character has become on the page. Outside of those first couple of appearances, can you think of the definitive Zsasz story? Sure, you might think of times he’s shown up as cannon-fodder but he’s never the main attraction or even the most urgent threat. Instead, he’s simply become a side character, something that doesn’t fully align with how gruesome he was initially set up to be.
While there are plenty of Batman villains who deserve his title, Zsasz has been a one-hit wonder for some time now and really, it’s time that the character move on. Gotham is a city full of darkness to be sure, but there are plenty of more challenging and disturbing villains these days that can give Batman a run for his money. At this point, Zsasz needs to be locked up for good and just fade into the background. While he may have overstayed his welcome, he had a good run as a villain. But instead of being in the shadow of the bat, he’s become a shadow of himself and it’s time to go.
Do you agree, should Mr. Zsasz call it quits at this point? Let us know what you’re thinking in the comments.
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