2. Spring Heeled Jack
Public DomainOne of the oldest persisting myths straight out of Victorian London, Spring Heeled Jack was supposedly this phantom figure who was sighted several times in and around London during the Victorian period. He was characterized by his demonic appearance and his ability to leap great heights and distances. Stories like this are fodder for Penny Dreadful, Spring Heeled Jack often being the focus of actual penny dreadful books at the time. Other than the sightings, not a lot is known about him, leaving the TV show some creative license when it comes to characterization and motive. We'd have him as a sort of renegade Batman-like figure with misunderstood goals. Perhaps the people he attacked were reprehensible people themselves, maybe cut-throats or crooked noblemen. Perhaps he is out for revenge against the upper classes for something that happened to him. If you're thinking of an actor to portray Penny Dreadful's answer to Batman, it'd have to be Jason Statham. He's an unusual choice for a more dramatic series, but he got to stretch his acting legs and give a good performance in the film Mockingbird. We're thinking that a similar portrayal here would work wonders.