Salvatore Vincent Maroni is a fictional character appearing in
American comic book
An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...
s published by
DC Comics
DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...
, commonly in association with
Batman
Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...
. The substantial character is portrayed as a powerful mob boss and gangster of Italian descent in
Gotham City
Gotham City ( ), or simply Gotham, is a fictional city in the Northeastern United States that serves as the primary city appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. It is best known as the home of the superhero Batman and his List ...
and an enemy of Batman. Maroni is most famous for disfiguring Harvey Dent, setting the stage for the young
district attorney's transformation into the
supervillain
A supervillain, supervillainess or supercriminal is a major antagonist and variant of the villainous stock character who possesses Superpower (ability), superpowers. The character type is sometimes found in comic books and is often the primary ...
Two-Face.
In live-action, Maroni has appeared in the film ''
The Dark Knight'' (2008), portrayed by
Eric Roberts, the TV series ''
Gotham'' (2014), portrayed by
David Zayas, and the
HBO
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...
miniseries ''
The Penguin'' (2024), portrayed by
Clancy Brown
Clarence James Brown III (born January 5, 1959) is an American actor. Prolific in film and television since the 1980s, Brown is often cast in villainous and authoritative roles.
His film roles include Rawhide in ''The Adventures of Buckaroo Ban ...
.
Publication history
Sal Maroni first appeared in ''
Detective Comics
''Detective Comics'' (later retitled as ''Batman Detective Comics'') is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics. The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is ...
'' #66 and was created by
Bill Finger
Milton "Bill" Finger (February 8, 1914 – ) was an American comic book writer who co-created the DC Comics character Batman with Bob Kane. Despite making major (sometimes, signature) contributions as an innovative writer, visionary mythos/world ...
and
Bob Kane.
Fictional character biography
Pre-Crisis/Earth-Two
Maroni's first
Pre-Crisis appearance was in ''
Detective Comics
''Detective Comics'' (later retitled as ''Batman Detective Comics'') is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics. The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is ...
'' #66 (August 1942) as Boss Moroni, a mobster on trial for the murder of a man named "Bookie" Benson. Harvey Kent (original name of the character) is the prosecutor at the trial. He calls
Batman
Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...
as his first witness. During Batman's testimony, Moroni calls Batman a liar, leading Kent to show his proof: Moroni's lucky two-headed silver dollar was found at the scene with his fingerprints on it. Enraged, Moroni throws a vial of acid at Kent, horribly disfiguring his face. Driven insane by his disfigurement, Kent becomes the gangster
Two-Face and eventually kills Maroni before surrendering and going to prison.
Bronze Age/Earth-Two
During
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...
recountings of Two-Face's origin, Maroni's role was unchanged, but his name was changed to Morelli. Harvey Kent's surname was altered to Dent, which has become that character's permanent name. In this version,
Batman
Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...
is present at the trial and tries to prevent the mobster from throwing the acid, but is unable to prevent Dent from being disfigured.
Prior to ''
Crisis on Infinite Earths
''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' is a 1985 to 1986 American comic book fictional crossover, crossover series published by DC Comics. Written by Marv Wolfman and penciller, pencilled by George Pérez, it was first released as a 12-issue limited ser ...
'', Maroni appeared in ''DC Superstars'' #14 and ''Batman'' #328 to #329. He survives an assassination attempt by Two-Face in the first story, but his legs are left
paralyzed. In the latter
story arc
A story arc (also narrative arc) is the chronological construction of a plot in a novel or story. It can also mean an extended or continuing narrative, storyline in episode, episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strip ...
, he undergoes
plastic surgery to alter his appearance and changes his name to Anton Karoselle to avoid attention. He then exacts revenge on Two-Face by killing his former wife
Gilda's new husband Dave Stevens allowing the gangster to find him and gun him down in retaliation.
Post-Crisis
In the graphic novel ''
Batman and the Monster Men'', Maroni lends money to Norman Madison (father of Bruce Wayne's girlfriend
Julie Madison) to cover his debts, and to Professor
Hugo Strange for his genetic experiments. After Maroni puts pressure on Strange to repay his loan, the
mad scientist responds by robbing one of his illegal gambling establishments to steal the money he needs to pay Maroni off. When Maroni realizes Strange might be responsible for the robbery, he sends enforcers to intimidate and threaten him. Strange decides to get rid of Maroni once and for all, and sends another creature to kill him. Maroni is saved by Batman, who as a favor to Julie Madison, forces him to call off her father's debt.
In the sequel, ''
Batman and the Mad Monk'', Norman tries to pay off his debt to Maroni, unaware of Batman's intervention on his behalf; Maroni refuses to take the money, terrified that Batman would visit him again. Norman instead gives the money to rival mobster
Carmine Falcone, which humiliates Maroni. Later, near the end of the story, Norman tries to kill Maroni only to be gunned down by his men.
Maroni is featured prominently in
Jeph Loeb's
maxi-series ''
Batman: The Long Halloween'', which retells Two-Face's origin. In this version, Salvatore Maroni is the scion of the Maroni crime family, headed by his father Luigi "Big Lou" Maroni. He is the most powerful mobster in Gotham next to
Carmine Falcone and was shown to have notorious enforcer
Tony Zucco as one of his henchmen. Both Sal Maroni and Carmine Falcone believe that the serial killer
Holiday
A holiday is a day or other period of time set aside for festivals or recreation. ''Public holidays'' are set by public authorities and vary by state or region. Religious holidays are set by religious organisations for their members and are often ...
(so named for assassinating mobsters on holidays) is working for the other, which strains their previously ironclad business relationship. When his father is killed by Holiday, Maroni makes a deal with Dent to reveal all of Falcone's criminal activities in exchange for leniency.
However, Falcone's daughter
Sofia
Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...
— Maroni's secret lover — visits him in jail, where she falsely claims Dent, not Falcone, is responsible for the killings and his father's death. Dent's corrupt assistant Vernon Fields provides Maroni prior to his court appearance with "stomach medicine" for a supposed
ulcer
An ulcer is a discontinuity or break in a bodily membrane that impedes normal function of the affected organ. According to Robbins's pathology, "ulcer is the breach of the continuity of skin, epithelium or mucous membrane caused by sloughin ...
. During the trial, Maroni throws the disguised acid into Dent's face, disfiguring him. Maroni then gets into a scuffle with a bailiff who shoots him twice in the chest, which he survives.
When he is moved out of his cell, Maroni is finally killed by Holiday. The killer is revealed to be
Alberto Falcone, who committed the murders to make a name for himself independent of his family. Maroni's sons Pino and Umberto later offer their services to Sofia Falcone and are later killed in the
Columbus Day Massacre orchestrated by Two-Face.
The New 52
In 2011, ''
The New 52
The New 52 was the 2011 revamp and relaunch by DC Comics of its entire Line (comics), line of ongoing monthly superhero American comic books, comic books. Following the conclusion of the "Flashpoint (comics), Flashpoint" Fictional crossover, cros ...
'' rebooted the DC universe. Maroni was later in court for multiple accusations of rape. Sal Maroni met with
Mr. Haly at Haly's Circus. When it was mentioned that his son CJ helped
Dick Grayson return to Haly's Circus, Maroni stated that he would be indebted to the circus should they ever need help.
Other versions
* Sal Maroni appears in the
Elseworlds
Elseworlds is the publication imprint (trade name), imprint for American comic books produced by DC Comics for stories that take place outside the DC Universe Canon (fictional), canon. Elseworlds publications are set in alternate realities that ...
story ''Citizen Wayne''. This version is an
Al Capone-esque crime lord from the 1930s who is involved in
bootlegging, was accused of tax evasion, and scarred all of Harvey Dent's face in an attempt to kill him. Maroni is later killed by Dent, who became Batman to seek revenge on him.
* Sal Maroni appears in ''
Batman: Earth One'' (vol. 2). This version is an enforcer of Gotham's late corrupt mayor
Oswald Cobblepot, who kills Harvey Dent with a Molotov cocktail during a prison riot orchestrated by the
Riddler.
In other media
Television
Salvatore Maroni appears in the
first season of ''
Gotham'', portrayed by
David Zayas.
Film
* Boss Maroni makes a cameo appearance in a flashback depicted in ''
Batman Forever'', portrayed by Dennis Paladino.
* Sal Maroni appears in ''
Batman: Gotham Knight'', voiced by
Rob Paulsen.
* Sal Maroni appears in ''
The Dark Knight'', portrayed by
Eric Roberts. This version is the successor of the Falcone crime family following Carmine Falcone's incarceration instead of a rival.
* Sal Maroni appears in ''
Batman: The Killing Joke'', voiced by
Rick D. Wasserman.
* Sal Maroni appears in ''
Batman: The Long Halloween'', voiced by
Jim Pirri.
''The Batman'' franchise
* Sal Maroni makes a minor appearance in ''
The Batman'', portrayed by an uncredited extra.
* Sal Maroni appears in ''
The Penguin'', portrayed by
Clancy Brown
Clarence James Brown III (born January 5, 1959) is an American actor. Prolific in film and television since the 1980s, Brown is often cast in villainous and authoritative roles.
His film roles include Rawhide in ''The Adventures of Buckaroo Ban ...
. This version is incarcerated at Blackgate Penitentiary, is married to Nadia Maroni, through whom he possesses connections to Iranian organized crime, and is the father of Taj Maroni who later dies of a heart attack.
Video games
Sal Maroni appears in ''
Batman: Arkham Shadow'', voiced by
Troy Baker.
Miscellaneous
Sal "Lucky" Maroni appears in ''
Batman '66: The Lost Episode'' #1.
References
External links
Sal Maroniat DC Wiki
Sal Maroniat Comic Vine
Sal Maroniat Gotham Wiki
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maroni, Sal
Batman characters
Comics characters introduced in 1942
Fictional gangsters
DC Comics film characters
DC Comics television characters
Characters created by Bob Kane
Characters created by Bill Finger
Fictional crime bosses
Male film villains
Male characters in television
Action film villains
Fictional Italian people