Richard Sionis

Evil-doer

Unmasked
Masked

Full Name

Richard Sionis

Alias

The Mask

Origin

Gotham

Occupation

Crime Lord

Businessman
CEO of Sionis Investments(formerly)

Powers / Skills

Skilled fighter and swordmanship

Criminal knowledge
Business management skills
Strategy mastery
Leadership

Goals

Kill Jim Gordon(failed).

Crimes

Organized crime

Mass murder
Black market retailing
Embezzlement
Kidnapping

Type of Villain

Wealthy Crime Lord

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

Richard Sionis, also known asThe Mask, is a minor antagonist in the TV Series,Gotham. 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 byTheo Galavan after he refused to join in on his scheme.

He was portrayed byTodd Stashwick, who also playedRicky Blaine inLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit,Teague Nolan inS.W.A.T.,Carmelo Dante inBurn Notice, andDr. Drakken in the 2019Kim Possible live-action film.

History[]

Season 1[]

One of the bodies, from his previous fights washed up on the docks. Upon investigating, GCPD forensics scientistEdward Nygma found the victim had bitten off his attackers thumb, this led to Detectives 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 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, Gordon managed to beat them and Sionis himself attacked with a katana. He was defeated, and was later incarnated in Arkham Asylum for over 20 murders.

Season 2[]

After having been caught by Gordon, Sionis was imprisoned at Arkham Asylum. In there, Sionis took a liking to new inmateBarbara Kean and did her a favor by getting her a cell phone. Sionis, along with other inmates, are broken out of Arkham byTheo Galavan and given the opportunity to be part ofa 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 sisterTabitha.

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 byTheo Galavan along with his fellow inmates.

Richard being strangled byTabitha Galavan shortly before his murder.

Trivia[]

The character is loosely based off the characterBlack 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 theGotham 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".
Richard's alias "The Mask" is much likeThe 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 inGotham to be brought over into the mainstream comics, with the second beingBridgit Pike.
Whilst his name is different, he is the first live action adaptation of the supervillain Black Mask. The actualRoman Sionis/ Black Mask wouldn't debut until 2020 in the DC Extended Universe filmBirds of Prey.
Richard Sionis' fights to the death with his employees always consist of three men facing off with one another with only one survivor. During James Gordon's fight against three of them at once, all 18 of Sionis' living male employees can be seen watching the fight on a television. These men, plus the five bodies found mentioned by Harvey Bullock, and the two other victims during the intro of the episode means Sionis is responsible for the deaths of at least 43 men. It's unknown if he also forces his female employees to fight for their jobs since none of them are ever shown to have injuries much like the male employees.