Lazlo Valentin

Professor Pyg
Full name	Lazlo Valentin
Alias	The Professor Professor Pyg The Pyg Officer Fisole
Family	Unnamed (mother)
Affiliation	Sofia Falcone (formerly)
Occupation	Hitman Serial Killer
Status	Deceased
First	"A Dark Knight: Hog Day Afternoon"
Appeared in	6 episodes (see below)
Portrayed by	Michael Cerveris

"You came to this beautiful woman because you had a problem. A Penguin problem. Pax Penguina was gonna last. But Sofia had an idea. What if there was a killer, real vicious son of a bitch, hunting the police, all slice and dice."

—Lazlo Valentin to Jim Gordon^[src]

Lazlo Valentin was a contract killer and assassin hailing from the southern United States that impersonates serial killers. He was hired by mob figure Sofia Falcone in a conspiracy to end Oswald Cobblepot's control over the Gotham City Police Department and in turn aiding in her rise through the criminal underworld. He donned the persona of Professor Pyg, a serial killer with a troubled past that targets corrupt police officers and wealthy civilians for revenge, sometimes dressing them in pig flesh. This served as a means to turn the police department against Cobblepot and support detective Jim Gordon's promotion to captain. Valentin was ultimately murdered by Falcone to avoid her conspiracy from being leaked to the public, with Gordon claiming that he was killed in a shootout.

Biography

Background

Sketch depicting Lazlo Valentin's original face based on gathered information

South of the United States, Lazlo Valentin operated as a contract killer and serial killer, where he would mimic other serial killers and undergo different identities. In one of these instances he committed several murders down south, but managed to evade custody and changing his face with the use of surgery and metal plates under his skin.

Pyg stares at his next victim

Terrorizing Gotham

Ten years following the murders down south, Lazlo was hired by Sofia Falcone (the daughter of retired mob boss Carmine Falcone) in order to help in her scheme to take over the Gotham City criminal underworld and build back up her father's fallen criminal empire. Lazlo headed to Gotham, where he undertook the identity of Professor Pyg and used another serial killer's MO by targeting corrupt cops, murdering them and dressing in the severed heads of pigs. The Pyg's actions soon caught the attention of detectives Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullcok, who soon tracked him down to his lair, only to find a kidnapped officer with a grenade in his stomach. After the explosion, he took the detectives hostage and explained to Gordon that he had suffered greatly because of the greedy pigs in power. When Gordon broke free of his restraints, Pyg slit Bullocks throat and escaped.

Pyg taunting Harvey Bullock

Pyg later sent 44 pig heads to the GCPD, one for every cop, except Jim Gordon. In response to his officers getting murdered, crime boss the Penguin began a city-wide manhunt for the Pyg. When three officers went missing in the Narrows, the GCPD and Penguin's men located two of them, one alive, one dead, and a third missing. Gordon rode with the remaining officer, Fisole, in the ambulance, where they discussed the Pygs motives. Fisole told Gordon that the Pyg mentioned a place where there was "justice no more". Gordon deduces that he meant an abandoned courthouse and as he was about to leave, Fisole told him he's "one of the good ones".

As Bullock and Penguin prepared their men to storm the courthouse, Gordon received a phonecall from Pyg, who told him that he spells his name with a Y, because it's short for Pygmalion, and that he wants to create a better Gotham, and a better Gordon. He warned Jim not to enter the courthouse and that he's "one of the good ones". Jim realized that Fisole was infact the Pyg, and that he has been playing them from the start. Against Gordon's urges, Bullock and his men entered the courthouse and found what appeared to be the Pyg.

Pyg removes his makeup

Bullock shot the figure, who they discover is the missing officer. This sprung Pyg's trap, causing machine gun turrets to open fire on them. Gordon ran in and destroyed the turrets with a grenade launcher.

Later, Gordon received another call. Pyg, removing his disguise, told the detective that the next stage of his plan will be epic, and that Gordon was his muse.

Final Act

A few weeks later, Pyg disguised himself as a priest and murdered six homeless people by giving them poisoned donuts and then harvesting their organs. He then cooked them into pies and left two of the bodies in a tent outside of the GCPD to be devoured by pigs. Gordon and Vanessa Harper tracked the Pyg

Pyg takes Harper hostage

to an abandoned factory and found the remenents of his crimes. Pyg appeared and stabbed Harper, taking her hostage and escaping in his van. At the crime scene, Gordon and Lucius Fox found a message, whice was an extract from Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal. It described the rich eating the poor, specifically the orphans. Gordon realized that the Pyg will target the fundraiser at Sofia Falcone's orphanage. At the orphanage, Pyg disguised himself as the chef. When Gordon arrived, he was knocked out and awakened locked in the kitchen pantry where Harper was also being kept there. After he had tended to her stab wound, she revealed that she was able to smuggle a knife in because she wasn't searched. Gordon uses the knife to make a hole in the pantry door and escape. Meanwhile, Pyg revealed himself to the guests and served his meal, preforming his 'Meat Pie Tango'. When Sofia interrupted his dance, Pyg stabbed her in the hand. Penguin refused to eat, before Pyg threatened Martin, at which point Penguin scoffed down his pie. When a guest refused, Penguin yanked the blade from Sofia's hand and stabbed him in the head. An injured Sofia struggled to eat when Pyg urged her, so Penguin attempted to aid her. At this moment, Gordon and Harper both burst in and took out the Pyg's

Pyg battles Gordon

men. Whilst the guests escaped, Gordon brawled Pyg on the dinner table. Managing to dodge several hits from various knifes and meat cleavers, but was almost bested by the Pyg, before pulling the blade from the dead guest's head and stabbing Pyg in the shoulder, taking him out.

Onlookers watched as the Pyg was escorted out by Gordon and taken into police custody.

Sent to Arkham

Valentin listens to 'Ave Maria' in Arkham

Lazlo Valentin was then locked away at Arkham Asylum. During his stay, he was allowed to spend some time in the facility's recreation room along with fellow prisoners. There Valentin exchanged the vinyl record a gramophone was playing and instead started playing the vinyl disk "Ave Maria". Even though Pyg and several other inmates enjoyed the music, one of them spoke to Lazlo, telling him that he doesn't like that song since his mother used to beat him to it and it also played when he killed her. He afterwards ordered Professor Pyg to turn the music off and threated to kill him otherwise. However, Valentin stayed calm and slowly turned to the man, further provoking him by asking why his mother used to beat him, questioning if it was because he was a naughty boy or him stuttering. This caused the inmate to punch Lazlo in the face, causing the metal plates under his skin to dislocate and therefore disfiguring his jaw and cheek. Not impressed by this incident, Pyg declared that he really wished the other prisoner wouldn't have done that before shoving his metal jaw back into his original place. Lazlo then stated that he paid a fortune to look this good and afterwards turned back to the gramophone. Heavily outraged, the inmate run towards Professor Pyg who quickly broke one of the vinyl disks in half to ram one fragment into the man's chest before he could even reach Lazlo. Valentin then calmly flipped the other half and thereupon slit the fellow inmate's throat who collapsed dead on the ground. Pyg afterwards turned back to the gramophone, further enjoying "Ave Maria" while the guards were still trying to enter the room as the gate was held shut by another prisoner. 

This incident caused Gordon to visit Pyg, who was now in solitary confinement. Gordon asked him who he was, and Pyg said he was Gordon's reflection. Gordon didn't see a resemblance, and punched Pyg in the face. After Pyg fixed his face again, Gordon said that Pyg wanted credit for his crimes. Pyg stated that he gets all the credit, and that Gotham had gone hog mad for the Pyg. Gordon disagreed, saying no one will remember him, and that he doesn't have the staying power of Fish Mooney,

Valentin's facade slips

 Jerome Valeska, or Penguin. Pyg argued that Gordon was there with him, but Gordon replied that it was a final visit. As he went to leave, Pyg jumped up, revealing his natural southern drawl, and growled that Gordon will never forget him. Gordon smiled and said 'There you are.' That night, an Arkham guard investigated a strange noise coming from Pyg's cell and upon entering, was hanged from a vent above the door. Back at the GCPD, Gordon was informed of Pyg's real name and that he escaped police custody. Gordon rushed to Arkham and found the dead guard and a message written in blood that said Its been fun James - Lazlo'. The Pyg had escaped.

Death and legacy

Shortly after, Carmine Falcone came back to Gotham to prevent a gang war between Cobblepot and Sofia. He met with Sofia and the Sirens at the Falcone Manor to inform his daughter that he came when Penguin called because she was going to lose the war and has brought disgrace to the Falcone name. To punish her father for not supporting her, Sofia ordered a hit on her own father carried out by Lazlo Valentin and her other henchmen. As Carmine was about to leave the Falcone Manor along with Sofia to take her back to Miami, a black van drove by and a shooter attacked the group, killing Don Falcone. To prevent Sofia from being suspected, Lazlo was hiding behind trees and bushes to shoot Sofia in none-vital areas of her body to ensure her survival. Sofia Falcone then made use of this incident to establish Penguin as the one who ordered the hit and thereby convinced James Gordon to hunt, arrest and imprison him.

Valentin appears during Jim Gordon's near death experience nightmare.

Later, Gordon came to confront Sofia at her mansion. Valentin surprised Gordon, thinking that Gordon was surprised that he looked the same, given that he killed a surgeon earlier. Sofia then explained her plot to the captain, who then subdued Valentin, vowing to take him back to prison, this time Blackgate. Before he could, Sofia shot Valentin in the face, killing him instantly. Blackmailed by Sofia for his part in her conspiracy, Gordon took the blame for the Pyg's death.

After Gordon was shot by Victor Zsasz who was mind-controlled by Ivy Pepper, his near-death experience shows Professor Pyg attending Gordon's funeral.

Personality

"Don't you walk out on me! You'll never forget me. I promise you that."

—Lazlo Valentin to Jim Gordon^[src]

Professor Pyg’s true personality is difficult to pin down, since much of what people know of him is really different disguises, façades, and impersonations. However, what is clear is that Lazlo Valentin has somewhat of a fragile ego, which is shown when Jim Gordon tells him no one will remember his reign of terror on Gotham.

Abilities

"He's a loony. But a crafty one."

—Harvey Bullock to Jim Gordon^[src]

• High-level intellect: Lazlo possesses above average intelligence. He would stage his murders to make them appear as if then had been committed by other killers.
  • Master tactician: Lazlo is very skilled at making plans and therefore was capable of escaping Arkham Asylum. He was able to methodically create traps that would lead to his victims being captured or killed. He also attacked a black market surgeon to trick the police into thinking he had his face altered following his escape from Arkham. He also has a talent for improvisation, such as when he used a broken record disk to kill an Arkham inmate.
  • Leadership: He was able to sign up two men as servants to assist him in his plan to feed human pies to the rich.
  • Impersonation/Acting: Lazlo is a very talented actor, even able to fool Jim Gordon with one of his disguises. He was capable of using make-up skillfully in order to improve his disguises. For example, he applied fake beards and prosthetic make-up for his nose. He was also able to change his voice to make himself sound like someone else. However, this skill requires mental focus as he could revert to using his regular voice if his emotions get to him.
  • Toxicologist: Lazlo has some knowledge of poisons as shown when he killed six homeless people by poisoning the food he gave to them.
  • Skilled cook: Lazlo is good at cooking and was capable of making pies out of human flesh.
• Expert hand-to-hand combatant: Lazlo is a highly skilled combatant, able to take on ex-soldier James Gordon, even mangaing to gain the upper hand against the latter.
  • Master knife wielder/Skilled knife thrower: Valentin is very accomplished at using knives in combat. He was able disarm Harper of her gun and hold her at knife point. He was also able to gain the upper hand in a knife fight with Jim Gordon. He is also proficient at throwing knives at his opponents, such as when he threw knives at James Gordon at the Falcone Mansion.

"It was some pretty shooting, if I do say so. I missed all her vital parts."

—Lazlo Valentin to Jim Gordon^[src]

• Expert marksman: Lazlo is highly trained with firearms, This is seen when he was able to use a rifle to shoot Sofia without hitting any of her vital organs.
• Stealth: Lazlo is an expert in stealth tactics. This seen when he ambushed one of his victims in an alleyway. He was able to get the drop on officer Harper. He was able to sneak into the Falcone Mansion. He hid in the bushes when he shot Sofia as a part of her plan.
• Singing: Lazlo is talented at singing as shown when he fed human pies to Gotham's wealthy elite. 
• Indomitable will/High tolerance for pain: Lazlo has shown to never give up on pushing through his goals even if he has to violate himself to accomplish them, as shown when he stabbed himself with a knife to outsmart the GCPD.

Equipment

• Pig Mask: Whilst in the guise of Professor Pyg, Valentin wore what appeared to be a severed pig head to conceal his identity. He also put one on the head of Patel to fool the police. Whether it was a real pig head or a synthetic mask is unclear.
• Kitchen Knives: Valentin carried a variety of kitchen knives with him as Professor Pyg, to kill or maim his victims. These included meat cleavers, butcher knives, and paring knives.
• Guns/Firearms: Valentin also used various guns over the course of his career, such as handguns and sniper rifles.

Appearances

Season 4 "A Dark Knight: Hog Day Afternoon" "A Dark Knight: A Day in the Narrows" "A Dark Knight: Stop Hitting Yourself" (mentioned) "A Dark Knight: Let Them Eat Pie" "A Dark Knight: Things That Go Boom" "A Dark Knight: Queen Takes Knight" "A Dark Knight: A Beautiful Darkness" (mentioned) "A Dark Knight: Reunion" (mentioned) "A Dark Knight: The Sinking Ship, The Grand Applause" (mentioned) "A Dark Knight: One of My Three Soups" (mentioned) "A Dark Knight: One Bad Day" (mentioned) Season 5 "Legend of the Dark Knight: The Trial of Jim Gordon" (nightmare)

Trivia

• Executive producer Bryan Wynbrandt stated in an interview, "Professor Pyg is set to be the big villain of the first part of the season, and Jerome is going to be taking over the back half." This makes Lazlo Valentin the sixth 'big villain' of the series, behind Fish Mooney (Season 1), Theo Galavan (Rise of the Villains), Hugo Strange (Wrath of the Villains), Jervis Tetch (Mad City), and The Court of Owls (Heroes Rise).

• The "Pyg" is spelled with a "y" because it is shorthand for "Pygmalion". Lazlo claimed he chose this name because he wanted to warp Jim Gordon into a reflection of his own psychotic self-image. In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with his own creation.
  • According to Professor Pyg's co-creator Grant Morrison, the original comics character was inspired by the play Pygmalion and the song "Pygmalism" by Kahimi Karie. The Greek myth of Pygmalion also mirrors Professor Pyg's obsession with mutilating his victims to "perfect" them.
  • This is one of the only variations where Pyg's henchmen, Dollotrons, don't make an appearance.
  • Regardless of spelling, the pronounciation of Lazlo's last name differs per adaption. Gotham uses 'Va-len-tine', and Batman Arkham Knight, for example, uses 'Va-len-teen'.
  • Valentin was a wanted murderer in the south, where he lives.
  • To add, he also was proven to be a contract killer, which says his 'Pyg Persona' was an act, requested by Sofia Falcone.

Notes

• In the DC Comics, Lazlo Valentin alias Professor Pyg, is an insane scientist who experimented on humans to turn them into genderless mind-controlled beings known as Dollotrons. Refering to the Dollotronsl Michael Cerveris stated that "You do have characters in Gotham where the way we know them in the comic book is much later in their lives. It's possible that the Dollotrons are a later part of his life. You know, that doesn't mean that they just decided to get rid of it."
  • Professor Pyg is traditionally depicted as severely mentally ill and delusional. In the video game Batman: Arkham Knight, Alfred Pennyworth warns Batman that Pyg is "unhinged, even by Gotham's standards."
• Before his apparent death on the show, Lazlo Valentin's M.O. was impersonating serial killers, going as far as to change his voice and reconstruct his face for his personas. Whether Valentin was impersonating a real serial killer known as Professor Pyg, or if he invented the role himself is unclear.
• Valentin appeared as the main antagonist of the second quarter of Season 4, before Sofia was revealed to be the puppet master (making him the secondary antagonist).