Paris Franz
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Real Identity: Parry Francesco
Appearances (Movies): Batman: The Killing Joke
Powers/Skills: Planning, Knowledge of Technology, and Armed Combat
Voiced By: Maury Sterling
Paris Franz is a narcissistic sociopath and nephew of Carlos Francesco, the biggest crime boss in Gotham City's underworld. He was infamous for having his victims smiling right up to the moment he cut their throats. Franz, Lonny, and four of Francesco's men stole an armored car and took it in a big rig. The men failed to disable the armored car's tracker as they promised and the police soon pursued them. Franz kept his composure and guided Lonny into losing the police. When Batman arrived in the Batmobile, Franz reckoned it was going to be a night to remember. He was surprised to see Batgirl land on the truck's hold. After Batman recovered the armored car, Franz was ready to cut his losses. He blew a kiss to Batgirl then kicked her to the streets. Franz and Lonny ditched the truck soon after. They returned to Francesco's office building. Francesco was irate that the failed theft was all over the news, he lost four men, he was out $100,000, and he had Batman and Batgirl investigating him. He ordered Franz to pay him the $100,000 back or else.
Franz decided to rob one of Francesco's own warehouses. He placed a device on the door's keypad and it revealed the passcode, 12358. There was a veritable fortune inside, from money to artwork to cars. Franz revealed to Lonny the building was Francesco's then declared he his days were over. Batgirl arrived alone. Franz was eager to meet her. The two fought but Franz managed to spray her. With 10 seconds to go before she lost consciousness, Batgirl quickly sealed herself in the nearby vault. Franz was impressed. He, Lonny, and another hired thug fled with a large sum of money. Batman was concerned and ordered Batgirl not to go near Franz without him. Franz, Lonny, and the thug spent the night on a yacht with callgirls. Franz, fixating on Batgirl, cut up a pillowcase into a crude Batmask and had one of the callgirls wear it. The next day, Franz managed to gain access to Francesco's offshore accounts. He got a call from Francesco then this men attacked the yacht. Franz and Lonny slipped away in scuba gear and swam away.
Francesco's men boarded and discovered a bomb as it detontated. The remaining thug fled the scene. Franz recorded a video for Batgirl and sent it to the police. Batman and Batgirl viewed it. Franz stated he got Batgirl a gift and she could find it if he went back to where they first met. Batgirl knew it was a trick but found it a little flattering. Batman concluded Franz objectified Batgirl and told her she was off the case. Batgirl wanted to use his obsession against him. Batman disagreed. He preferred criminals to be afraid and nervous. Batman drove off to the Francesco warehouse where Commissioner Gordon and the police were already searching. Batgirl realized Franz was talking about the big rig truck used in the armored car theft and drove to the police impound lot. She found a cell phone wrapped in a red bow inside the truck. Batgirl spoke to Franz who revealed the real gift was still out there. She was unwittingly led to Francesco's building where she discovered his bullet ridden body.
Batgirl was alarmed he just caused a gang war to fill the power vacuum but Franz stated he was the next evolution - brains, nerve, and tech - and that's how he also going to get her. Batman arrived and took down Francesco's men. A few nights later, the police and Batman searched the docks after getting a tip Franz might be hiding out there. Franz and Lonny were lying in wait on some containers and fired a direct hit on the Batmobile with a bazooka. Stuck on its side, Batman ejected just in time as Franz fired a second bazooka into the Batmobile. Franz and his men spread out and fired on Batman's location. Batgirl arrived on her motorcycle and dragged Franz into a pile of crates. He relished being alone at last with her. Batgirl lost control and beat him senseless. Franz was turned over to police custody by Batman. While he was taken into arraignment, he declared to reporters he loved Batgirl. Barbara Gordon met with Batman and admitted she saw the abyss he spoke of. The place where you don't care anymore and all hope dies. She retired from being Batgirl and turned her gear over to Batman.