Which Menacing Adaptation Of Batman’s Victor Zsasz Will Stand The Test of Time?

#3: Harley Quinn

The Victor Zsasz of the Harley Quinn DC Universe animated series is the most recent adaptation of the character, and while he has far less screen time than the following versions, he left a lasting impact on Harley Quinn fans all the same. Comedian Brad Morris voices this unique version of the character, who comes already established as a notorious killer. 

What makes this version of Victor Zsasz unique is his initially reformed nature. He appears in the episode, “There’s No Place To Go But Down,” as a prisoner in The Pit, Bane’s personal prison/mental rehabilitation center for the incarcerated. While he does return to his pathologically violent tendencies before the credits roll, he first appears as a more controlled, intellectual and stable person. 

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We really enjoyed the dark comedy that he brought to the table, but he felt more like a parody than a fully realized adaptation, which works well within the Harley Quinn series, but also causes him to come in last on our ranking. 

#2: Harley Quinn: Birds Of Prey

Chris Messina took on the role of the scarred menace in Harley Quinn’s DCEU headliner, portraying a terrifying yet fashionable version of Victor Zsasz. Messina breathed new life into Cathy Yan’s unique adaptation with his soul-piercing stares and face removal antics. 

This version of the character exhibited a new fondness for Roman Sionis, also known as Black Mask, the primary antagonist of Birds Of Prey. While Messina nailed Victor Zsasz’s mannerisms and disturbing nature, his twisted love for Sionis felt uncharacteristic of the nihilistic villain. 

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On top of that, the romantic tension between Black Mask and Zsasz was palpable, but the movie never capitalized on the romantic facet of their unique relationship, despite promises of representation from the cast. For those reasons, Messina lost the gold medal to our number one choice. 

#1: Gotham 

The best onscreen version of Victor Zsasz is the one seen on Gotham, as played by Anthony Carrigan. Zsasz was a fan favorite supporting character and antagonist from his very first appearance, wherein he stormed the Gotham City Police Precinct and engaged Detective Gordon in a riveting firefight. 

Carrigan was magical in his ability to alternate from brutal and calloused to relaxed and affable. He was truly a force of nature, and one of the more consistent villains throughout the series run. 

He did receive several changes for the Fox series, such as his new profession as Don Falcone’s favored enforcer. The other notable change was the type blade used to mark his kills with. In the comics, he prefers a standard knife while Gotham’s Zsasz utilized a box cutter. These deviations from the source material served to distinguish him while honoring his comic book roots, making him the ideal adaptation. 

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What is your favorite on-screen appearance of Victor Zsasz? Let us know in the comment section below or on our social media!