| Sal Maroni | |
|---|---|
 Sal Maroni's mugshot | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #66 (August 1942) |
| Created by | Bill Finger (writer) Bob Kane (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Salvatore Vincent Maroni |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Maroni Crime Family |
| Notable aliases | The Boss, The Italian, Morelli, Anton Karoselle |
| Abilities | Criminal mastermind Expert marksman |
Salvatore Vincent Maroni is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics, commonly in association withBatman. The substantial character is portrayed as a powerful mob boss and gangster of Italian descent inGotham City and an enemy of Batman. Maroni is most famous for disfiguring Harvey Dent, setting the stage for the youngdistrict attorney's transformation into thesupervillainTwo-Face.
In live-action, Maroni has appeared in the filmThe Dark Knight (2008), portrayed byEric Roberts, the TV seriesGotham (2014), portrayed byDavid Zayas, and theHBO miniseriesThe Penguin (2024), portrayed byClancy Brown.
Sal Maroni first appeared inDetective Comics #66 and was created byBill Finger andBob Kane.[1]
Maroni's first pre-Crisis appearance was inDetective Comics #66 (August 1942) asBoss 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 callsBatman 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 gangsterTwo-Face and eventually kills Maroni before surrendering and going to prison.[2]
DuringBronze Age 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 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 toCrisis on Infinite Earths, Maroni appeared inDC Superstars #14 andBatman #328 to #329. He survives an assassination attempt by Two-Face in the first story, but his legs are leftparalyzed. In the latterstory arc, he undergoesplastic 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 wifeGilda's new husband Dave Stevens, allowing the gangster to find him and gun him down in retaliation.
In the graphic novelBatman and the Monster Men, Maroni lends money to Norman Madison (father of Bruce Wayne's girlfriendJulie Madison) to cover his debts, and to ProfessorHugo Strange for his genetic experiments. After Maroni puts pressure on Strange to repay his loan, Strange responds by robbing one of his illegal gambling establishments to steal the money he needs to pay Maroni off. When Maroni realizes Strange may 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 mobsterCarmine 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 inJeph Loeb'smaxi-seriesBatman: 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 toCarmine Falcone and has notorious enforcerTony Zucco as one of his henchmen. Both Sal Maroni and Carmine Falcone believe that the serial killerHoliday (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.[3]
However, Falcone's daughterSofia — 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. Prior to his court appearance, Dent's corrupt assistant Vernon Fields provides Maroni with "stomach medicine" for a supposedulcer. 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.
While being moved out of his cell, Maroni is killed by Holiday. The killer is revealed to beAlberto Falcone, who committed the murders to make a name for himself independent of his family.[4] Maroni's sons Pino and Umberto later offer their services to Sofia Falcone and are later killed in theColumbus Day Massacre orchestrated by Two-Face.[5]
In 2011,The New 52 rebooted the DC universe. Maroni was later in court for multiple accusations of rape. Sal Maroni met withMr. Haly at Haly's Circus. When it was mentioned that his son CJ helpedDick Grayson return to Haly's Circus, Maroni stated that he would be indebted to the circus should they ever need help.[6]
Salvatore Maroni appears in thefirst season ofGotham, portrayed byDavid Zayas.[8]
Sal Maroni appears inBatman: Arkham Shadow, voiced byTroy Baker.[12]
Sal "Lucky" Maroni appears inBatman '66: The Lost Episode #1.[citation needed]
