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Anthony "Tony" Zucco is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He was introduced in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940) and is most well known for his connections to the origin of Robin, namely in killing Dick Grayson's parents the Flying Graysons.

History

Tony Zucco

Antonio Zucco (originally just "Boss Zucco" in his first appearance) is a Mafia boss, or simple low level thug (his position of power varies depending upon the Golden and Silver Age continuity) in Gotham City who is responsible for the death of Dick Grayson's parents.

Throughout the years, Zucco's role in Robin's origin remains largely the same. Zucco tries to extort money from C.C. Haly, owner of Haly's Circus, where the Flying Graysons are the main attraction. When the ringleader, Haly, refuses to pay him protection money, Zucco sabotages the ropes the Graysons use in their act. They break while Dick's parents are in mid-air, sending them falling to their deaths.

Dick is subsequently adopted by Bruce Wayne (a.k.a. Batman) and becomes his partner Robin. Both of them locate Tony Zucco and send him to jail.

Pre-Crisis

Golden Age (Earth Two)

In original continuity, Boss Tony Zucco was the most powerful mafioso in Gotham. Zucco was portrayed as an aggressive, morbidly obese chainsmoker who had spies and operatives throughout city, with Batman describing the whole city as being run by Zucco. Tony Zucco's enforcers arranged for the Flying Graysons' ropes to snap when C.C. Haly refused to pay racketeering, "Protection" money, with the mobsters involved having been witnessed by a young Dick Grayson.

When Dick Grayson tried telling the police, he was quickly stopped by Batman who knew Gotham's police to be protectors of Zucco. Batman then adopted Dick, as due to being a witness, he would, "Be dead in an hour". Batman went on to target specific establishments owned by Zucco, attacking his employees while causing property-damage. Batman then sent Zucco a box containing a live-bat and a letter warning Zucco to leave town peacefully or else.

Zucco and his boys instead tried to blow up a building being constructed as a threat. They were confronted by Batman and Robin who joined forces for the first time to defeat the mobster. Zucco's terrified enforcer, "Blade" went on to give Batman a confession against Zucco and list of his enforcer's names. Enraged, Zucco pushed Blade off of the building only for Dick to snap a photograph of this and arrange for Zucco to be found guilty of murder. Zucco was found guilty with Batman believing him to likely be executed via electric-chair.

Silver Age (Earth One)

Zucco's history in this continuity near exactly matches up with his Earth Two history. Albeit this occurred decades later than the 1940s and in Golden Age canon, he is sent to the electric chair, whereas he is sent to prison for life in the Silver Age version.

New Earth

In New Earth continuity, Zucco was a low-level gangster and father to one Sonia Zucco.

Batman: Dark Victory

Tony Zucco 2

In this series, Zucco (dubbed Anthony "Fats" Zucco) is portrayed as a low-level thug working for Sal Maroni, a member of Carmine Falcone's Mafia empire. He and another minor family head, Edward Skeevers, are put in charge of drug trafficking. After constant attacks by other enemies such as the Penguin, Zucco starts a new method of smuggling these drugs. He only lets Skeevers in on the secret, believing that its success will make their minor families greater than the Falcones and the Maronis put together, and attempts to take over Haly's Circus in order to use its trucks for drug trafficking. He is shown to be heavyset (hence his street name) and quite nervous, as he is constantly sweating. He kills Dick Grayson's parents in order to show the circus owner, C.C. Haly, that he means business, and then quickly goes underground. He is later found by Batman and Dick Grayson, who is not yet Robin, and is chased down a dark alley by Grayson until he has a heart attack, confessing to various crimes.

Batman: Year Three

Although Dark Victory was meant to update Zucco's fate in Batman: Year Three, the Chuck Dixon miniseries Robin: Year One revealed Zucco did not die of a heart attack, but he actually went into a coma and was later sent to prison after recovering. He is sentenced to two consecuative life terms for the deaths of John and Mary Grayson, and he is incarcerated in Blackgate Penetientary.

Tony Zucco 003

Black Lantern Zucco

Seven years after killing the Graysons (it was said he had served slightly over seven years, since Alfred says "It was almost ten years ago that Richard Grayson became a victim"), Zucco files for a parole hearing, offering testimony to put other criminals away. He professes remorse for his crimes, but his real motivations are for his own personal gain. Before he was sent to prison, Zucco had hidden a ledger detailing every operation in Gotham City in the orphanage Dick spent a month in after his parents' deaths. It would be enough to send any criminal boss to life imprisonment if he offered it to the authorities. The orphanage is being condemned and he is eager to get it back before the place is torn down. Wanting to keep the truth from Dick, who has recently become Nightwing, Alfred goes to the parole hearing and pleads for the judge to keep Zucco behind bars. Unfortunately, Dick does learn of Zucco being released early, despite Alfred's attempts, and he races to Blackgate to confront his parents' murderer once and for all. However, as he steps out of the prison, Zucco is gunned down by a helicopter hired by a rival crime boss to eliminate him. While it does give Dick some closure, his relationship with Batman is even further strained, even though Bruce insists he knew nothing about the parole.

Prime Earth

In other media

Batman: The Animated Series

The Batman

Batman: Arkham Origins

Zucco is briefly referenced in Arkham Origins on a board of "fourth-tier" gangsters.

Titans

In the TV series Titans, Tony Zucco is the head of the Gotham City branch of the Maroni crime family. Year's later he was later killed by Maroni for confessing to Robin. He is portrayed by Richard Zeppieri.

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