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All Of Tony Stark’s Best Iron Man Suits, Ranked Least To Most Powerful 

By Steven Schneider

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09.03.2016

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15 Comments

These days, it’s hard to find a hero as iconic as Iron Man. Though Tony Stark may have sat on Marvel Comics’ B-team for years, the recent success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought the shell-head back into the spotlight. While the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist is definitely one of the best parts of any good Iron Man story, Tony Stark wouldn’t be a hero without his armor.

With over five decades of comics and nearly ten years of movies, it should come as no surprise that Tony Stark’s arsenal of armor clocks in at well over 100 different suits: everything from standard sets to specialized climate variants to magic-enhanced suits of armor have popped up over the years.

That being said, not all suits are created equal, and some have stood the test of time better than others – Mr. Stark has some incredibly powerful armor at his disposal, and here are the absolute best of the best:

16. Mark I

The original Iron Man armor might not be all that advanced compared to most of Tony Stark’s newer suits, but at the time, it was still one of the most advanced pieces of technology ever invented. Not only that, but Stark was able to build the Mark I while captured in Afghanistan and trying to keep a piece of shrapnel from piercing his heart. To say that he was working under pressure is a bit of an understatement.

The Mark I is no slouch when it comes to power, either: in the comics, the suit was able to fly (whereas the film version never quite did) and featured such weapons as a high-powered flamethrower, tear gas grenades and a primitive version of the iconic Unibeam. Even if the Mark I can’t stand toe-to-toe with the more recent incarnations of Iron Man, it remains the most important weapon that Tony Stark has ever created.

15. Mark III

The red-and-gold color palette. The iconic mask. The repulsor ray hand-cannons. All of these tropes – which are now an intrinsic part of Iron Man’s character – began with the Mark III armor.

When it was decided that the clunky, overly-cumbersome Mark II armor would be getting an upgrade, the suit was dropped in favor of something that was faster, more agile and easier to use.

As a result, the Mark III would go on to become one of the most iconic Iron Man suits ever created – and, for the past several decades, the armor has served as the jumping-off point for almost every suit that followed.

Most impressively, the repulsor rays that have come to define Iron Man’s arsenal made their debut with the Mark III. Every time a new suit debuts, the repulsor rays are the one thing that fans can always count on seeing – and that started all the way back in 1965.

14. Mark VIII: Silver Centurion

After nearly twenty years of red and gold armor, Marvel Comics decided that Tony Stark was long overdue for a costume change. Enter the ‘Silver Centurion’ Armor: with the vibrant gold hues replaced by colder, sleeker shades of silver, the new version of Tony Stark’s classic armor helped usher in a new era of Iron Man stories.

The most notable of these stories was ‘Armor Wars’, in which Tony Stark discovers that his Iron Man technology made its way into the hands of his deadliest antagonists. The plot served not only as a basis for the 2010 film Iron Man 2, but did a fantastic job of showing off what the Silver Centurion suit could do.

Compared to most of Stark’s other suits, the Silver Centurion was chock-full of weapons: enhanced repulsor rays, a new Unibeam, several different laser weapons, a tractor beam and even an energy blade were all stored in the updated armor. Calling the Silver Centurion a walking armory is definitely an understatement.

13. Mark V (Iron Man 2)

Back in the earliest days of Iron Man comics, readers were supposed to believe that Tony Stark was able to fold up his armor and stash it away in a briefcase. Granted, this was back in the 1960s, when cheesy science fiction was the norm… but that didn’t make it any less ridiculous.

Then, in 2010, Marvel Studios took the idea of ‘Iron Man in a briefcase’ and turned it into something amazing.

Say what you will about Iron Man 2, but the Mark V’s debut appearance is easily one of the best parts of the movie. It may not have all of the different weapon systems or defensive measures of Tony’s other, fully-featured armors, but the Mark V ensured that Iron Man wasn’t tied down to a single location. Plus, with that shiny silver finish, Iron Man 2 gave fans a better Silver Centurion reference than any other film in the franchise.

12. Mark XVI: Sentient Armor

Iron Man, like any good superhero, has a long line of villains all desperately trying to knock him out of the game for good. However, whereas most supervillains are external forces, Iron Man has had the rare privilege of creating one of his greatest villains.

Movie fans may immediately think of Ultron from the last Avengers movie, but the deranged, emotionally unstable A.I. never really lived up to his potential. Not only that, but Ultron wasn’t even the first of Tony Stark’s projects with daddy issues: when the Mark XVI armor gained sentience, it became completely obsessed with its pilot. In fact, the Mark XVI became so infatuated with Stark that it eventually confessed its love for him… while trying to murder him.

True, the story wasn’t handled in the best fashion, and the flip-flop ending felt forced – but few villains have ever come so close to truly destroying both Iron Man and Tony Stark at once.

11. Mark XL: Shotgun (Iron Man 3)

The Iron Man armor has always been known for its various weapons systems. The respuslor rays are easily the most recognizable, and there’s the extremely powerful chest-mounted laser beam known as the Unibeam, along with some more traditional armaments – but, when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the original suit was never really designed as a purely offensive machine.

That’s where the Mark XL armor comes in. Despite only appearing for a few moments during the finale of Iron Man 3, the ‘Shotgun’ Armor is notable for its use of rapid-fire repulsor rays – something that’s never been seen in any of Tony Stark’s other suits. Better yet, the Shotgun Armor is the perfect quick-response weapon, with a top speed in excess of Mach 5 to match its excessive firepower.

Sadly, the Shotgun Armor never really got much time in the limelight, and was ripped apart during the battle with Aldrich Killian before fans could see what the suit could really do.

10. Mark XLIII: Stealth Suit v.3

For all of his technological skill, few would ever consider Tony Stark to be a subtle individual.

The Iron Man suits reflect this perfectly: there’s a whole lot of style, without much in the way of subtlety.

That being said, there are situations that require a more delicate, thoughtful touch – when it comes to being Iron Man, there are some fights that just can’t be won with sheer brute force.

Tony Stark has developed a number of stealthy suits over the years, but the third iteration is easily the most powerful out of the lot. Not only was the armor built with numerous cloaking systems, it also provided its wearer with holographic disguises, reflective armor and several nonlethal weapons systems. Much like the other stealth-based suits, the Mark XLIII doesn’t feature much in the way of traditional weaponry, and its repulsors are noticeably weaker than normal – but the Stealth Suit v.3 is hard to beat when it comes to keeping things quiet.

9. Mark XXIX: Extremis

Many people think that Iron Man is ‘just some guy in a suit’…but anyone who reads the comics knows that the Mark XXIX armor, otherwise known as ‘Extremis’ is where things really started to get complicated.

Long story short, Tony Stark was forced to use an experimental version of a virus called Extremis in order to save his own life. In a stroke of good luck, Extremis also helped Stark further connect with his armor on a neurological level, amplifying the suit’s capabilities further

than ever before. After fighting off the villainous Mallen, Stark was able to build a suit with the Extremis abilities in mind, making the Mark XXIX the most powerful set of armor by far (at the time, at least).

As if that wasn’t enough, some versions of the armor included abilities such as cloaking, omnidirectional repuslor rays and even time travel – because, in the world of comics, there’s no such thing as ‘jumping the shark’.

8. Mark XLI: Bones (Iron Man 3)

Looking back, most of the Iron Man suits seen throughout the comics have been modular in some way, shape or form. It may be as simple as attaching a new weapon to a gauntlet, or something as complex an entire suit fitting into a larger shell – on the other hand, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the modular nature of Tony Stark’s various armors have been somewhat downplayed.

Except for the Mark XVI, that is: code-named ‘Bones’, the suit was designed with modular attachments in mind. Pieces from other suits can easily attach to the Mark XVI as needed, giving it more flexibility than just about any other set of armor, seemingly without sacrificing weaponry or overall power – sadly, the suit was relegated to a short cameo in Iron Man 3. Much like the Shotgun armor, fans never really got a good look at what the Mark XLI was capable of.

7. Mark XXXVII: Bleeding Edge

For many, the idea of a bulky suit fitting into a briefcase sounds silly. Even the idea of an huge mechanical rig can be a bit hard to swallow…but what if the suit assembled itself from thousands of microscopic robots?

As unrealistic as a set of armor made of nanomachines might seem, the ‘Bleeding Edge’ armor is arguably one of the best suits that Tony Stark has ever worn. Not only does it bring the benefits of an improved Extremis to the table, the nanotechnology that powers it basically ensures that Iron Man is ready to fight whenever, wherever: the suit itself is stored within Stark’s own body, then forms into armor with a single mental command.

The Bleeding Edge armor also happens to be one of Stark’s most popular suits, becoming the hero’s default look for several years, as well as the main inspiration for Tony’s suit in Iron Man 3. Considering how quickly Iron Man can switch out suits, three years for a single set of armor is saying something.

6. Mark VII (The Avengers)

Tony Stark may have kicked off the first Avengers film with the Mark VI suit, but as it turns out, flying directly into a giant turbine while trying to stop a massive helicarrier from crashing has adverse effects on technology – even when it’s something as resilient as Iron Man’s armor.

Thankfully, Stark already had an upgrade waiting in the wings. The Mark VII armor was designed to replace the aging Mark VI, both in terms of firepower and usability. Instead of requiring a mobile disassembly station, the Mark VII is able to remotely deploy and construct itself around the wearer’s body – even if that body is falling from the top of a Manhattan skyscraper.

It’s not just ease-of-use, either: the Mark VII’s thrusters were able to redirect a nuclear warhead through a portal and into deep space, and its payload of mini-missiles were powerful enough to rip a Chitauri Leviathan apart from the inside. Needless to say, the Mark VII quickly became one of the biggest guns in Tony Stark’s ever-growing arsenal.

5. Mark IX (w/ Excalibur)

Iron Man has always been a symbol for technology. While other aspects of the Marvel Universe delve into the supernatural, Iron Man has been about using technology for the betterment of mankind. …except for that one time where the Mark IX armor was bonded with Excalibur.

Yes, for a time, all of Iron Man’s weapons and tech were replaced with magical implements of war. To be fair, it didn’t really change all that much: Tony Stark’s magically-enhanced armor still had all of its standard gadgets, though they used magic instead of repulsor technology. As an added bonus, Excalibur granted the Mark IX armor the power of invulnerability – which, when it comes to fighting off bad guys, comes in pretty handy.

Sadly, Iron Man’s time with Excalibur was short-lived, and the Mark IX went back to being a relatively standard suit of armor once the wizard Merlin retrieved his ancient sword. Thankfully, the ponytail went with it.

4. Mark XXII: Thorbuster

It’s no secret that Tony Stark doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with his Avengers brethren. The most popular of these bouts belong to Stark’s battles with Captain America and the Incredible Hulk, though Iron Man and Thor, the God of Thunder have also gotten into their fair share of fights over the years.

By utilizing Asgardian artifacts, Tony Stark was able to create the Mark XXII armor – otherwise known as the Thorbuster Armor. Modeled after the Destroyer, one of Thor’s oldest and most dangerous foes, the Thorbuster Armor was strong enough to withstand a beating from a god… for a time, at least.

Despite being one of Tony Stark’s most powerful weapons, the Thorbuster Armor loses some points for… well, losing. Once Thor was tired of dealing with Iron Man, the Son of Odin simply tore the armor apart. Thankfully, Stark himself wasn’t inside when it happened – and, eventually, the other anti-Avengers suits would find a bit more success…

3. Mark XLIV: Hulkbuster (Age of Ultron)

What’s better than the Thorbuster Armor? Why, the Hulkbuster Armor, of course!

Save for the classic red-and-gold, there’s nothing in Iron Man’s arsenal that’s quite as iconic as the Hulkbuster suit. Even the implications of Tony Stark building such a weapon are noteworthy: everyone knows that the Hulk is Marvel’s unstoppable force of nature, and the fact that the Hulkbuster exists means that someone is going to have to stand toe-to-toe with the Jade Giant.

In terms of actual confrontations, the fight between Iron Man and the Hulk from Avengers 2: Age of Ultron takes the cake. It’s the fight that everyone had wanted to see since the first Iron Man film debuted, and while the rest of the movie may not have lived up to expectations, the battle itself was amazing. Not only does it have the advantage of Marvel’s ridiculous CG effects budget, but the fact that Iron Man actually manages to win the fight proves that the Cinematic Universe version of the Hulkbuster is one of the most powerful weapons out there.

2. Mark XLVI (Captain America: Civil War)

If you’re going to go hunting after some of history’s greatest heroes, you’re going to need some seriously powerful tech.

As most have come to expect, the Mark XLVI comes stocked with all of the standard Iron Man armaments: repulsor rays, the Unibeam, miniature missile launchers, and even a few non-lethal weapons made it into the suit. What’s most impressive about the suit, however, is how quickly and efficiently it can be equipped.

What started as a slow, rather unwieldy assembly sequence has been reduced to a scant few seconds. The Mark XLVI basically acts as a second skin, wrapping itself around the wearer with the touch of a button. Plus, the suit is now light and compact enough that the assembly setup can be stored inside of moving vehicles – or, in the case of the gauntlets, small enough to fold out of a specially-designed watch.

Were it not for the two-on-one fight that concluded Captain America: Civil War, it’s easy to assume that the Mark XLVI would have had more than enough power to overwhelm Steve Rogers – and that fact alone makes it one of the most powerful Iron Man suits ever built.

1. Mark LI: Model-Prime

When it comes to sheer power, the Iron Man comics have always had a leg up on the movies. To be fair, the Marvel Cinematic Universe tries to keep things as grounded as possible – while that may make the comics a bit more unbelievable, it does open up quite a few opportunities for some amazingly ridiculous technology.

The Mark LI armor may not be wired directly to Tony Stark’s physiology, but it still boasts some amazing abilities: all of the standard Iron Man weapons are present, a new on-board cloaking system was installed and the suit can work autonomously if the pilot is injured. Most impressively, the suit can change shape at a moment’s notice – there’s hardly a need for a dedicated Hulkbuster suit when the Model-Prime armor can simply bulk up on command.

With Riri Williams getting ready to take on the mantle of Iron Man (well, under the name Ironheart), the Model-Prime armor may be the last Tony Stark suit that fans get to see for some time… but, at the very least, the original Iron Man is going out with a bang.

Honorable Mentions

With so many different armor variants, it’d be impossible to include everything on this list. That being said, there are definitely a few suits which missed the cut that are still worthy of mention.

First and foremost, the War Machine armor has proven to be one of Tony Stark’s greatest creations… even if he isn’t the pilot. Like the standard Iron Man suit, there are a bunch of different variants, but the Mark III version from Captain America: Civil War is easily the most powerful of the lot.

In the comics, the Iron Man Mark XL was built after Tony Stark had been captured by the Mandarin. The suit may not have boasted any revolutionary features, but the fact that Stark was

able to recreate another, more advanced set of armor while in captivity is a testament to his incredible technological skill.

Sadly, the Mark L: Endo-Sym armor never got much in the way of screentime. Thanks to the recent re-merging of Marvel’s multiple comic book universes, Tony Stark upgraded to another set of armor relatively quickly – which is a shame, considering the Endo-Sym suit was partially based off of the alien symbiotes known as Venom and Carnage.

Finally, there’s the Mark LIII, which is basically a flying car. It’s the best kind of ridiculous: not only can Tony Stark’s hot rod sports car fly, but it can transform into an absolutely massive suit of armor.

BY: Steven Schneider Up Next

Gotham City Sirens: 15 Actors Who Should Play Black Mask 

By Jason Chamberlain

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18 hours ago

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14 Comments

Suicide Squad was a divisive film, but one thing most people agreed on was that Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was fantastic.

Warner Brothers shared that appreciation, it seems, as in December they officially announced that Ayer and Robbie would re-team for Gotham City Sirens. Not just a Harley Quinn spinoff film, it’s set to include as yet unconfirmed DC heroines and villainesses: likely Catwoman and Poison Ivy, if the comic book series of the same name is any indication.

Which villain will force these ladies to come together? Ayer might have tipped his hat in that regard this week with a conspicuous tweet referencing Black Mask, a character with an interesting history. Roman Sionis was the scion of a rich family, but he grew to hate his distant parents and eventually killed them after they rejected his poor fiance. Donning a mask made from the ebony of his own father’s coffin, he becomes the fearsome crime lord Black Mask. In some stories, the mask is burned to Roman’s face, while in others he can remove it at will.

Recent comics have also imbued the mask with the power of mind-control, which Sionis uses to command his henchmen.

If Black Mask truly is the villain of Gotham City Sirens, who could play him? We have a few ideas, ranging from lesser known young actors to iconic veterans of the silver screen.

15. Milo Ventimiglia

Milo Ventimiglia may be best known for playing compassionate characters. Peter Petrelli of Heroes certainly qualifies, as does his current role as patriarch Jack Pearson on the critically lauded This Is Us. But the perpetually youthful actor has proven that he can play menacing and downright evil when called upon.

His short but memorable role in Gamer as the exceedingly creepy Rick Rape is one example of that, but a better one is his first foray into the realm of live action DC adaptations: his guest role as The Ogre on Gotham. As the sociopathic killer Jason Lennon, Ventimiglia was charismatic and manipulative as he pushed Jim Gordon’s then-girlfriend Barbara Kean into her own psychotic break. That experience would lend itself well to playing the similarly murderous Roman Sionis, who harbors anger at his dead parents, Bruce Wayne, Batman, and pretty much anybody else who gets in his way.

14. Adrian Pasdar

That’s right, we’re suggesting both of the Petrelli brothers for the villainous Black Mask! Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia famously played Nathan and Peter Petrelli respectively on Heroes, and they’re both uniquely qualified for the role of Roman Sionis, albeit in different ways. Pasdar would naturally bring a more experienced and authoritative vibe to the role, being over 10 years Ventimiglia’s senior.

He’s also no stranger to the comic book world. He has voiced the character of Tony Stark/Iron Man in many of Marvel’s animated and video game projects, and he recurs on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as the stuffy military man Glenn Talbot.

He plays a convincing leader of men, a necessity for Black Mask, and he’s got the commanding presence to pull it off. He excels at playing cocky and overconfident characters, traits Black Mask would almost certainly bring to his battle with Harley Quinn and her companions (to his detriment, of course).

13. David Boreanaz

David Boreanaz seems like the perfect fit for a superhero project of some kind. He’s no stranger to genre work, having risen to fame as the vampire Angel on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and then his own series. He’s got the classic good looks that casting directors like for their superheroes.

He’s also an underrated actor, adept at playing both heroes and villains and shouldering big projects. But he’s yet to get the call to the world of superhero movies.

One factor may be his busy schedule. He’s been starring in a lead role on Bones for over a decade, but with that series winding down, the timing may be right for him to stake his claim on the big screen.

Snagging the role of Black Mask in Gotham City Sirens would be a great first step on that journey. He proved his villain cred a long time ago with his incredible performance as Angel’s soulless alter-ego Angelus, and he could bring a similar verve and penchant for carnage to Sionis.

12. Richard Armitage

Black Mask is a calculating villain who keeps his criminal empire in line through sheer force of will (and occasionally, a mind controlling mask).

If you’re looking for an actor who can personify willpower, you don’t need to look much further than Richard Armitage. Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy had its drawbacks, but the performance of Richard Armitage was one of its triumphs. His take on the dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield was full of the kind of passion, bravery and fire that would inspire inspire a downtrodden people to risk their lives in a quest to reclaim their lost homeland. In the final film, The Battle of The Five Armies, Thorin’s growing ‘dragon sickness’ allowed Armitage to adapt his heroic character with selfishness and a quick, explosive anger.

Add in his villainous turn as Francis Dolarhyde on TV’s Hannibal, and you’ve got an actor more than capable of bringing Black Mask to life.

11. Peter Facinelli

A number of our choices on this list have prior experience in comic book adaptations, either in film or on television. That’s not a coincidence. If an actor has experienced the unique scope of a superhero film or show (or any big blockbuster, really), they’re better prepared for similar projects in the future.

Peter Facinelli has experience in the comic book world, having done a great job as the morally ambiguous Maxwell Lord on Supergirl. Though not a clear cut villain like Black Mask, his Lord was an arrogant and powerful businessman who was distrustful of superheroes and willing to break the rules to serve his notion of the greater good.

He’s also no stranger to blockbuster film making, thanks to his part in the undeniably popular Twilight films.

If Warner Brothers is looking for someone who can handle the pressure of a big budget set and who can play antagonistic in his sleep, they could do worse than Facinelli.

10. James Franco

To hold his own against the combined powers of Margot Robbie and her undoubtedly talented co-stars, the actor portraying Roman Sionis will need no small amount of presence. James Franco has that in spades.

There’s a reason Franco has become one of the most ubiquitous actors of the modern era. He has undeniable star power and energy that commands attention on the screen. He’s got the charisma to make Black Mask more than an average criminal who just happens to be wearing a strange mask.With an actor like Franco in the role, it might even be worthwhile to show Sionis become Black Mask for the first time, whether via flashback or as part of the story early in the film.

As Harry Osborn in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, he played the disenfranchised son of a wealthy family who flirted with villainy. As Roman Sionis, he can complete that particular journey to the dark side, this time with a pair of automatic pistols instead of a glider.

9. Sam Witwer

If there’s such a thing as “geek cred”, Sam Witwer may have more of it than any other actor alive.

Darth Vader’s Secret Apprentice in The Force Unleashed. Doomsday on Smallville. Crashdown on Battlestar Galactica. The vampire Aidan on the American version of Being Human. Oh yeah, and the voice of Darth Maul on The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels.

It’s an embarrassment of nerdy riches, but he hasn’t found a role in a big blockbuster movie. Yet! Witwer excels at characters who exist on both sides of the moral divide. His roles as Doomsday’s conflicted human host Davis Bloome and the reformed vampire Aidan are great examples of that.

He can turn on a dime and go from charming to murderous in the space of a couple lines. He could easily play Sionis as a man who enjoys the spoils of his criminal empire while never straying too far from his inner pain and anger.

8. James Carpinello

A talented performer with a diverse resume on stage and screen, James Carpinello is no stranger to characters who live on the wrong side of the law.

His first film role was in the 2004 version of The Punisher, playing the son of John Travolta’s crime boss Howard Saint. In 2012 he played a mob enforcer (and undercover FBI agent) in the short lived series The Mob Doctor. In 2013 he appeared in Gangster Squad, an embellished account of the LAPD’s efforts to counter infamous mob boss Mickey Cohen. Carpinello played Johnny Stompanato, a real mobster and associate of Cohen’s who met a violent end in 1958.

Most recently he appeared on Gotham as Mario Falcone, the son of crime boss Carmine Falcone.

Needless to say, Carpinello knows how to play a gangster, and with his Broadway experience, he can pull off the theatrical elements of the character easily. He’d be an ideal choice for Roman Sionis.

7. Jon Hamm

Everyone seems to agree that Jon Hamm belongs in a superhero movie. He was a favored choice for the Dark Knight before Ben Affleck took on the cowl. His All-American good looks and square jaw would seem destined to fit under a mask of some sort, but with both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe quickly filling up, his heroic options are running out.

His villainous options, on the other hand, are abundant!

Roman Sionis is something of a dark mirror of Bruce Wayne. They shared a similar wealthy upbringing, though where Bruce loved and then mourned his parents, Roman grew to loathe and eventually murder his. While Bruce maintained his family’s wealth as a successful businessman, Roman was a failure and lost much of his. And of course, both men became obsessed with the nature of duality and masks, albeit in different ways. If Gotham City Sirens stresses Black Mask’s similarities with Batman, Hamm would be a perfect choice for the role: especially if he survives to take on the Bat himself one day.

6. Alex O’Loughlin

Black Mask is more than just a criminal mastermind with an army of henchmen to do his bidding. He is fully capable of getting his own hands dirty and going toe to toe with his foes.

Anyone who can walk away from a fight with the Dark Knight is a dangerous man, and the cinematic Roman Sionis will need to convey that level of toughness.

Alex O’Loughlin has toughness in spades. Anyone who has watched him for seven seasons on Hawaii Five-0 knows that. In the lead role of Steve McGarrett, he has battled his way through over 100 episodes of crime fighting action and proven himself adept at both hand to hand fight scenes and gun play. He’s a veritable small screen action hero, and he deserves the chance to make a splash in film.

O’Loughlin would fit the role of Black Mask perfectly. All he needs to do is take the lethal man of action he plays on TV and eliminate all the compassion and positive qualities!

5. Jared Leto

This is admittedly a bit of a novelty pick, and unlikely to come to fruition. Still, it’s interesting to consider.

Those who have played Batman: Arkham Origins, a prequel to the critically acclaimed Arkham series of video games, know that Black Mask is the villain who sets the story in motion (or is he?). The game takes place soon after Bruce Wayne first donned the cowl, and finds Black Mask placing a bounty on Batman’s head. A number of villains, from Killer Croc and Firefly to Bane and Copperhead, vie for the prize.

A twist in the story comes when it’s revealed that Roman Sionis has been kidnapped and the man wearing the ebony mask is actually The Joker. In the Arkham universe, it’s Batman’s first encounter with the Clown Prince of Crime.

Would Gotham City Sirens tell a similar story of The Joker masquerading as Black Mask? It’s unlikely, if for no other reason than Joker and Harley Quinn spent much of Suicide Squad on opposite sides, so repeating that formula would be an odd choice.

Still, you have to think Leto’s Joker will make some kind of appearance in the film. If he’s not under the mask himself, perhaps he’ll be in league with Sionis?

4. Rob Lowe

There’s an argument to be made that Gotham City Sirens should introduce a younger Black Mask, someone in the same age bracket as Robbie’s Harley Quinn. For most of this list, we’ve suggested a number of young actors who would fit that image. But for our last few entries, we’re going to take a look at older actors who could bring real gravitas to the role.

Rob Lowe isn’t an old man by any stretch: he’s just 52, which is surprisingly young considering how long he’s been in the public eye. The breadth of his experience is impressive (just look at his resume) and it lends him an air of authority. He’s also another actor who has yet to enter the world of big budget comic book adaptations, but he would instantly lend credibility to such a project.

He may be best known for playing charming ne’er-do-wells, but he could really sink his teeth into a remorseless villain like Black Mask.

3. Sean Penn

As one of the most celebrated actors of the modern era, Sean Penn would undoubtedly bring legitimacy to DC’s fledgling cinematic universe. Having a two-time Academy Award winner in their films (in a relatively minor role, no less) would certainly be a feather in their cap.

More importantly, Penn disappears into his roles and makes them his own. It’s why he won awards and praise for his work in films like Dead Man Walking, Mystic River and Milk. Whether he’s playing a Death Row inmate, a hardened crime lord or an icon of the gay rights movement, he makes you forget his considerable body of work and believe whatever story he happens to be telling you.

Playing Black Mask would be a walk in the park for Penn and he could do a lot of interesting things with the role, both with and without the mask. He’d make a great addition to the DC rogues gallery.

2. Al Pacino

Let’s not forget that Black Mask, like many comic book characters, originates with a fairly ridiculous premise. This is a guy who carved a mask for himself out of the material from his own father’s coffin, after all. He’s got more than one screw loose.

If you want an actor to really bring maniacal life to a crazed man in an ebony mask, Al Pacino is just the man for the job. Nobody chews the scenery like Pacino, and while that’s earned him some criticism for a few ‘over the top’ performances, you can’t argue with his resume. Iconic

characters, awards for his work on stage and screen: he’s an undisputed elder statesmen of the film industry. Like Penn, his casting would lend immediate credibility to DC’s films.

He’s also played so many powerful men (many of them of the criminal persuasion) that the role of Sionis would fit him like a proverbial glove.

1. Nicolas Cage

Where could DC find an iconic actor who can make the most bizarre of characters his own, and who doesn’t need to have the world of comic books explained to him? In the directory under ‘Cage, Nicolas’, that’s where.

Cage’s geek bona fides are well established. He has owned some of the rarest comic books in existence. He famously campaigned for the role of Johnny Blaze in the Ghost Rider films. His screen name is inspired by the Hero For Hire himself.

Of course, all that would be meaningless if he wasn’t a great actor. Sure, he may occasionally give Pacino a run for his money in the “overacting” category, but he’s got all the tools necessary to bring Black Mask to cinematic life. Combine the gleeful insanity of his hellish transformations as Ghost Rider with the sheer menace of Face/Off’s Castor Troy and you’ve got the recipe for a cinematic villain for the ages.

— Those are 15 of our top choices for the role of Black Mask in Gotham City Sirens. Who would you like to see play the part? Let us know in the comments.

BY: Jason Chamberlain @@ChambyX TAGS: gotham city sirens On SCREENRANT.com 

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