Richard Sionis

Evil-doer
Full Name	Richard Sionis
Alias	The Mask
Origin	Gotham
Occupation	CEO of Sionis Investments (formerly)
Powers / Skills	Skilled fighter Business management
Hobby	Watching his candidates fight it out to the death.
Goals	Kill Jim Gordon (failed).
Crimes	Mass murder Black Market Retailing Embezzlement Kidnapping
Type of Villain	Wealthy Arena Master

“	A mask hides the face but frees the soul. A mask speaks the truth.	„
	~ Richard Sionis.

Richard Sionis, also known as The Mask, is the eponymous main antagonist of the Gotham episode "The Mask" and a minor character in "Rise of the Villains: Damned If You Do". Richard is a rich businessman and owner of Sionis Investments, before hiring any new employees, he forced them to take part in all out brawl inside an abandoned building, mostly for his own entertainment. The last man standing would get the job. Though it did not have to be to the death, he cared nothing if it was and at least four people died in his previous fights. It is later revealed that he killed 22 people.

He makes an appearance in the second season in which he is seen being held at Arkham Asylum and is killed after the breakout orchestrated by Theo Galavan after he refused to join in on his scheme.

He was portrayed by Todd Stashwick.

History

Season 1

One of the bodies, from his previous fights washed up on the docks. Upon investigating, Nygma found the victim had bitten off his attackers thumb, this led to Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock investigating. Going to Sionis industries, they noticed that all his employee's had scars or cuts.

Confronting Sionis himself, he gave a talk romanticizing combat and bloodshed itself and how he believed it took a similar killer instinct to achieve in business, something which Jim Gordon (himself a war veteran) was not impressed with.

Later, while investigating one of the buildings where he supposedly had fights, Sionis' goons got the drop on Jim and captured him. Interested in seeing the fire in Jim, Sionis set three potential candidates against him promising them the job and a million dollars bonus for killing Jim.

However, Jim managed to beat them and Sionis himself attacked with a katana, but was no match for Jim. He was defeated, and was later incarnated in Arkham Asylum for over 20 murders.

Season 2

After having been caught by Jim, Sionis was imprisoned at Arkham Ayslum. In there, Sionis takes a liking to new inmate Barbara Kean and does her a favour by getting her a telephone. Sionis, along with other inmates, are broken out of Arkham by Theo Galavan and given the opportunity to be part of a group of criminals. However, Sionis turns down the offer and wants to take Barbara with him all while insulting Theo. Sionis is then stabbed to death by Theo's sister Tabitha.

Episode appearances

Season 1

• "The Mask"

Season 2

• "Rise of the Villains: Damned If You Do"

Gallery

Richard Sionis in his black warrior mask.

Richard faces off with Jim Gordon.

Richard in Arkham Asylum.

Richard captured by Theo Galavan along with his fellow inmates.

Richard being strangled by Tabitha Galavan shortly before his murder.

Trivia

• The character is loosely based off the character Black Mask, whose name is Roman Sionis in the comic continuity. It is unknown if this version of the character is a relation to a Roman Sionis in the Gotham continuity, or is indeed meant to be the Gothamverse's version of Black Mask.
• Although not given in the actual show, promotions for the character call him "The Mask".
• Even if he is loosely based on Black Mask, he is actually wearing a black samurai warrior mask in some point.
• Richard's alias "The Mask" is much like The Mask himself, an anti-heroic villain character of Dark Horse Comics, a company of DC Comics.
• Richard was introduced into mainstream continuity in the DC Universe in Catwoman Vol 4 #51, in which he was retconned as the father of Roman Sionis and the original founder of the False Face Society. This makes him the first original character created in Gotham to be brought over into the mainstream comics, with the second being Bridgit Pike.
• Whilst his name is different, he is the first live action adaptation of the supervillain Black Mask. The actual Roman Sionis/ Black Mask wouldn't debut until 2020 in the DC Extended Universe film Birds of Prey.