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Victor Zsasz, or Mr. Zsasz is a fictional character in DC comics. He is a sociopathic serial killer and is a nemesis of Batman. He usually kills with a knife, and carves a tally mark somewhere on his body whenever he kills someone.
Zsasz first appeared in Shadow of the Bat #1 (1992), and his origin story was told in Batman Chronicles #3 (1996); both stories were written by Alan Grant. His name is derived from that of psychologist Thomas Szasz.
Zsasz was the head of his own international company, and had amassed a large personal fortune. His parents died in a boating accident when Zsasz was 25, and he was deeply affected by their loss and turned to gambling. He ended up losing everything in a Gotham City casino, where he gambled everything he owned and ended up losing it all to The Penguin, afterwards he decided to end his life. While attempting to hang himself by jumping from Gotham Bridge, a knife-wielding mugger tried to rob him. Instinctively grabbing the knife, he thanked the man for restoring life to him, and returned the favor by stabbing him to death. From then on he dedicated himself to liberating others from their pointless existence. He usually preys on young women, but has no qualms over who he kills. He has been deemed insane, and is regularly incarcerated in Arkham Asylum courtesy of Batman, breaking out on occasion to carry on killing.
Rumors persist that Zsasz will appear as a cameo in the 2005 film Batman Begins. There is a possibility that he will play a more prominent role in a sequel.
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