4) Black Mask
For a period of three years between 2008 to 2011, the internet was awash with rumors of who would succeed Heath Ledger’s Joker as Batman’s new nemesis. While The Riddler was the preferred candidate to many, the schizophrenic mobster also known as Roman Sionis was another name that was consistently mentioned.
Despite strong fan support, he was far from a household name in the same vein as The Joker or Two Face, so his inclusion was always unlikely. However, with Gotham, that’s not such a problem. At this point in the show, organized crime has had its grip on the city severely loosened. Supplanting it is the kind of insanely nihilistic “super” crime that Batman will one day fight, and Black Mask bridges the gap between the two perfectly.
He’s a mob boss who takes pride in his tie and cuffs brand of old school criminality, yet relishes the kind of infamous glory that supervillain-y gives him. Even ignoring all that, his status as a narcissistic psycho with a borderline sexual attraction to his own alter ego would make him a perfect fit. Perhaps most delicious is the relationship he shares with one pre-existing character: He was one of Bruce Wayne’s few childhood friends, which should be enough reason for Fox to start looking for actors to play the role immediately.
Published: Jun 7, 2016 07:51 pm