- "You looked me right in the eye, like a gentleman, and you assured me you would not hurt my family! Guess what? I'm a gentleman, too. And I'm gonna give you the exact same deal!"
- ―Salvatore Maroni to Penguin[src]
Salvatore Maroni was an infamous mob boss in Gotham City and the Head of the Maroni Crime Family who had been responsible for the creation and distribution of Drops, as well as being linked to the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Having built considerable power within the criminal underworld of Gotham, Maroni would then be betrayed by his rival Carmine Falcone, resulting in him being arrested and sent to Blackgate Penitentiary as part of a conspiracy, allowing Falcone to rise in power. In the wake of Falcone's death, Maroni began conspiring with the Penguin to retake control of Gotham, until Penguin had betrayed him, and killed Maroni's wife and son. Maroni then escaped Blackgate after a failed assassination attempt, and began conspiring with Sofia Falcone-Gigante to murder Penguin and retake Gotham City. However, Maroni ended up dying of a heart attack while facing the Penguin.
Biography[]
Rise to Power[]
Building his Crime Family[]
Over the course of years, Salvatore Maroni became one of the most prominent mafia bosses in Gotham City and Metropolis. His crime family rivaled other gangs in the city, including the Falcone Crime Family led by Carmine Falcone. When Maroni's operation extended to drug trafficking, he rose further to prominence through the creation of Drops, a powerful hallucinogenic drug. His grip on Gotham's streets grew even stronger, establishing himself as a notorious figure in the city's consciousness.
Marriage to Nadia Maroni[]
- "Nadia showed me her family recipes. So, I could pass 'em down. This is khoresh bademjan. Eggplant, tomatoes, a little meat. Taj liked yogurt on his."
- ―Salvatore Maroni to Sofia Gigante[src]
Maroni photographed with Nadia Maroni
Maroni eventually married an Iranian woman named Nadia, and together they had a son named Taj. Maroni began implementing Persian mobsters into his family, with his wife heavily influencing him.[1] During their marriage, Nadia would teach Maroni her family recipes, with the hope that Maroni would be able to pass these recipes down to the next generation. Maroni was very close with his son Taj, who used to love having yogurt with his mother's food.
Meeting the Penguin[]
Maroni used to spend a lot of time at the Iceberg Lounge, a nightclub owned by Falcone. Jim Gordon later stated that Maroni "Practically Lived There”. During this time, Maroni met Oz Cobb, also known as the Penguin, a low level associate of the Falcone Crime Family. However, both Maroni and Penguin ended up having a strained relationship, as there were many occasions where they worked together only for Oz to betray Maroni and his men.[2]
Dealing with the Waynes[]
- "Maroni was worried that your father would be in my pocket. Forever. He would've done anything to keep him from becoming mayor, you understand?"
"Are you saying Salvatore Maroni got my father killed?"
"Do I know it for a fact? I'm just saying, it sure looked that way to me." - ―Carmine Falcone and Bruce Wayne[src]
During Thomas Wayne's mayoral election run, Maroni wanted to get Thomas in his pocket, so he had a reporter on his payroll, Edward Elliot, dig up dirt on Thomas and found out that his wife Martha had spent time in Arkham State Hospital and Gotham Asylum due to a mental illness she developed from the trauma of her mother killing her father in a murder-suicide when she was a child, which was also covered up by her family. Elliot planned to reveal it to the world. Thomas, not caring about his political career and only caring about his wife and their son Bruce, went to Falcone and asked him to put "the fear of God" into Elliot to keep him from running his story. When it didn’t work, Falcone had Elliot killed.[3]
It was later theorized by Falcone that Maroni was worried that Thomas might be in Falcone's pocket as mayor forever, so he had a mugger kill him and Martha, though it was never proven if it was true, or if Falcone lied.[3]
Involvement in Renewal[]
- "After Thomas Wayne died, they all went after it like vultures. The mayor, Falcone, Maroni, everyone got in on it. It was perfect for making bribes, laundering money. A huge charitable fund with no oversight?"
- ―William Kenzie to Batman[src]
Following the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne, corrupt politicians and crime lords began using the Gotham Renewal Fund to launder and earn money. They also used it to bribe city officials, with Maroni expanding his ever-ceasing influence. Maroni earned a similar share as Carmine Falcone and many others, yet everyone was still piling for a bigger slice.[3]
Betrayed and Arrested[]
- "Everybody got a piece. But Falcone wanted more. So we orchestrated a play to take Maroni down, big. He ratted out his Drops operation. Made the careers of everybody that went after him"
- ―William Kenzie to Batman[src]
Maroni's arrest on televison
In 2020, Maroni and other members of his family were arrested in a large sting operation carried out by the GCPD. The event was widely reported, including in the Gotham Gazette.[3] Years later, it was revealed that Maroni's arrest was successful due to a conspiracy between Falcone and corrupt city officials, which allowed Falcone to take over Maroni's Drops business and enabled the officials to advance their careers, including Don Mitchell Jr. eventually becoming the mayor of Gotham.[3] Falcone was also able to gain sole control over the Renewal fund and wore Maroni's ring as an ultimate trophy over his former rival.[2][4]
Now incarcerated at Blackgate Penitentiary, control over his family was largely handed over to his wife, Nadia[1], while his former acquaintance, Penguin, would later be granted control of his Drops business by Falcone after selling out Falcone's daughter Sofia, which led to Falcone framing her for his crimes and having her committed at Arkham State Hospital.[4]
At some point prior to 2022, Maroni began suffering from a heart condition which required him to take a daily medication.
Penguin's Rise[]
Visited by the Penguin[]
Maroni having a meeting with the Penguin
- "I know who you are. I know what you are. I don’t work with people whose loyalty is for sale. You think I forgot all the times you schmoozed me and my boys just to turn around and fuck us? Thought I forgot that? Huge drug bust goes down right under your nose, and you got nothing to do with it?"
- ―Salvatore Maroni to Penguin[src]
In 2022, after the Death of Falcone and the Flooding of Gotham, Maroni was called to a meeting when Penguin had arrived at Blackgate Penitentiary, as Maroni met him at his reserved table in the prison's visiting room, where Penguin claims he wants to ally with him against the Falcone Crime Family. Maroni was skeptical of this, only for Penguin to remind him of his current status as a prisoner and inform him of how the Falcones were moving the Drops business up to Robbinsville, and that he is in charge of the transfer. Maroni was then offered the chance to attack the drug convoy to retrieve it for the Maroni Crime Family, thus taking back control of the Drops trade.
Maroni has his ring returned back to him
However, Maroni commented on how his men would be the ones putting themselves in danger by attacking the Falcones, while Penguin would be safe by pretending to be a victim. Maroni then asked Penguin what he really wanted, since Maroni knew what Penguin is really like: someone who sells his lethality. He also reminded Penguin of his potential role in the drug raid that led to his arrest and imprisonment, though Penguin mentioned that it was Carmine Falcone who had coordinated it. Annoyed by Penguin's offer, Maroni rejected it and told Penguin to leave Blackgate. Before leaving, Penguin gave Maroni back his ring, which Falcone took from him when he was locked up. Shocked by this, Maroni asked Penguin how he got it, but Penguin chose not to answer but merely suggested that Maroni had been underestimating him.[2]
Later that day, Alberto Falcone's body was found in a car that crashed on the Falcone estate, with his ring finger cut off and the word 'Payback' written above his body. The Falcones were led to believe that the Maronis had Alberto killed as payback for Carmine ratting out on Sal, which was amplified by Sal being seen wearing the ring around Blackgate. In actuality, Penguin had been responsible for Alberto's death, and staged it to appear it had been the Maronis' doing. As a result, both families went to war.
Ambush on the Drops Convoy[]
Penguin later visited Maroni and his Family at Blackgate, where they discussed the war that had started as a result of his actions. Maroni suggested he would tell the Falcones himself that Penguin killed Alberto and he would be killed himself, stopping the war in the process. Penguin told Maroni that he has no choice but to take credit, as he’s wearing the ring. He then told Maroni about Carmine's brother Luca Falcone taking the position of Don, and he had his ear, and could be useful to the Maronis in their war. Maroni turned to Nadia, and she told him that though Penguin was a dog, even a dog can be submissive. Maroni then agreed to Penguin's deal, and they began making arrangements to rob the Drops Convoy heading to Robbinsville. Maroni assigned one of his capos, Ervad Hakimi, to oversee the robbery.
Abduction of Taj Maroni[]
The Penguin would later abduct Taj Maroni in an attempt to leverage back his Bliss operation from them, finding him thanks to Taj's self-broadcasted social media. He would later murder both Taj and Nadia by igniting gasoline on them following an ambush. Killing the heir to the Maroni Crime Family. At the same time the Penguin attempted to have Sal killed while in Blackgate.
Attack on Salvatore Maroni[]
That night, Maroni was in his cell about to take his heart medication pills, when he was attacked by Mikey Stone, one of Penguin's men who was disguised as a guard, who stabbed him in the side. Maroni was able to overpower Stone, and killed him, taking his uniform and using his keys to escape Blackgate. Maroni fled to his Cabin in upstate Gotham where he recuperated.
The next morning, Penguin called Mikey's phone, and Maroni revealed that he had escaped and killed Mikey, threatening Penguin that he will find and kill him. Penguin in turn told him to call his wife and see if she answers, remarking that he stole from the wrong man. Maroni later received the devastating news that both Nadia and Taj were killed when Penguin set them both on fire during the hostage exchange.
Meeting with Sofia Falcone[]
Maroni sat in his cabin, eating ordered out Italian food and staring at pictures of his wife and son, crying. Suddenly he heard gunshots outside, and was soon met by Sofia Falcone and her bodyguard Leo. Maroni attempted to attack her but was forced to sit down when she aimed her gun at him. Commenting on his sad state, Sofia sat down and talked about her father Carmine's belief that Maroni's love for his family was what made him weak, with Sal angrily remarking that was because the Falcone's betrayed their own family members.
After offering her condolences for his wife and son, Maroni annoyingly asked Sofia why she was there, to which she revealed that she came to settle the feud between their families. Revealing that the Falcone's are no more and they are now the Gigantes, Sofia proposes an alliance between their families to kill Penguin and take over the city. Maroni, fuelled by his desire for revenge, accepted her offer.
Hiding in the Falcone Mansion[]
Whilst hiding in the Falcone mansion, Maroni cooked a meal of khoresh bademjan for Sofia, telling her of how Nadia taught him her family recipes and how Taj liked yoghurt in his food. Something which Sofia agreed tasted better. He also opened a bottle of wine that Carmine Falcone had been saving for years, claiming it was gathering dust just like the former Falcone crime boss. Sal said a small prayer in Farsi before they began. The two of them plotted over dinner about how they would kill the Penguin as revenge for how he devastated both of their families.
Hunt for the Penguin[]
As the Penguin hid below Crown Point, Sofia and Maroni would go to his apartment to look for anything they could use. Maroni reacted in anger about how little there was they could use as Oz claimed his own family including his mother were dead. Sofia handed Sal a golf club, telling him to practice his swing, as he took out his anger on the furniture. However, Sofia did find a photograph of Eve Karlo, Oz's love interest. After a tense visit she alerted Sofia to look in Crown Point.
Capturing the Penguin[]
After Sofia kidnapped Francis Cobb and knocked out Victor Aguilar, Oz returned to the apartment in distress. Victor revealed to him what happened but not before Sal Maroni, along with a few of his own men and Sofia's, arrived outside. After Victor fled, Oz stayed behind to face Sal Maroni. As his men grabbed the Penguin, Sal swung his golf bat several times and brutalized him, much to the distress of Sofia's bodyguard Leo who reminded him of his deal with Sofia. Instead, Sal made Oz show him his Bliss operation hidden in the Subway tunnels underneath Crown Point.
Attack on Penguin's Crew[]
Maroni and his men raided Oz's underground base of operations in order to take over Bliss production; Salvatore held Oz hostage and proclaimed that the Bliss business was now in the hands of the Gigante-Maroni families.
However, Oz improvised a counterattack; while Sal studied the blueprints of Gotham's tunnels, Oz began to mock him about setting his family on fire, commenting on Taj and Nadia's smell as they burned to death. Bringing Sal to his breaking point when Oz asked him if his wife used any hairspray, telling him that it burned like a matchbox. Enraged, Sal grabs a gas tank and calls for a lighter, intending to burn the Penguin. Leo attempted to prevent him but was unintentionally killed when Sal hit him in the head with the gas tank, at which point one of Oz's men took advantage of a moment of confusion and turned off the lights, giving Oz's people a chance to fight and escape, leading to a shootout between the two gangs.
Sal dies of a heart attack
Sal is knocked down by Oz but then chases him down and the two engage in hand-to-hand combat, with Maroni gaining the upper hand. Sal's heart could not take it, however, and as he was about to finish Oz off, he suffered a heart attack. Moments later he fell to the ground, and died staring Oz in the face, who could not accept that he had not won by his own means instead of by luck. Oz fired a few shots at his corpse, and pilfered his ring as a trophy.
Personality[]
Salvatore was a straight and respectable mob boss, but much more open-minded than the other bosses of Gotham's other mob families, as, being Italian, he married an Iranian woman and brought Middle-Eastern men into his family. Which is strategically sound, as in an Italian-American family war, mobsters who spoke Farsi would be very difficult to understand, which would give them an advantage. Like many others driven by greed, he took a slice of the Gotham Renewal Fund. However it would backfire as his long-time rival, Carmine Falcone, would out him to the GCPD which resulted in his arrest and being sent to Blackgate Penitentiary. He was still able to run some of his criminal operation out of the prison. Although willing to work with the Penguin, Salvatore was no fool, he knew his apparent ally was up to something, and he didn’t fully trust him. Which would later be proven right as he would play both sides.
Salvatore was a man with a deep affection for his family, all of which he puts against his rival, Carmine, who called him weak for his attachment to his loved ones. After the death of his wife and son, Salvatore had become a detached and melancholic man who no longer cared about anything, not even living, all he wanted was revenge, even if to do so he had join forces with his former enemies.[5] He took pride in beating Oz and sought to kill him when he insulted the death of his family.
Salvatore also had some hobbies, enjoying cooking with recipes his wife taught him to do, so he could pass them down. He could speak Farsi and listened to Persian music as he did when eating with Sofia Falcone.
Abilities[]
- Combatant: Maroni had some skill in hand-to-hand combat, able to overpower and kill Mikey Stone despite having his stomach stabbed by the latter. He fought against Penguin and had the upper hand before dying from a heart attack.
- Multilingualism: Maroni spoke fluent English and Farsi, as seen when his wife discreetly spoke with him about Penguin. Sal also appeared to at least know some words in his ancestral Italian.[1]
Relationships[]
Family[]
Allies[]
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Enemies[]
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Appearances[]
| Appearances for Salvatore Maroni |
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In chronological order:
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Trivia[]
- As seen in the episode “Inside Man”, Maroni seems to at least understand Persian (also known as Farsi), which was probably taught to him by his wife.
Behind the Scenes[]
- In DC Comics, Salvatore Vincent "Sal" Maroni, also known as "The Boss", was one of the toughest gangsters in Gotham City, and the second most powerful mobster after Carmine Falcone. He is largely credited with being the mobster who threw acid at Harvey Dent, turning him into Two-Face.
- Salvatore Maroni in The Batman Universe is the fourth live-action incarnation of the character following incarnations portrayed by Dennis Paladino, Eric Roberts, and David Zayas.
- Christopher Jon Gombos was a stunt double for Clancy Brown in the role of Salvatore Maroni.
- Before he was portrayed by Clancy Brown in The Penguin, Salvatore Maroni was previously portrayed by an uncredited stand-in for The Batman.[6]
- He can be seen on television in the Batcave, as well as on newspaper clippings throughout the film, although his face isn't clearly visible.
- Maroni's Arrest on the basis of Falcone's testimony is based on the real-life arrest of Gennaro "Jerry" Angiulo, the underboss of the Patriarcia Crime Family of New England who was arrested at Angiulo's restaurant on 98 Prince Street in the North End area of Boston on the September 19th, 1983 by the FBI on the testimony of James "Whitey” Bulger, the boss of the rival Winter Hill Gang and the inspiration behind this version of Carmine Falcone.
References[]
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Johnson, Erika L. (writers); & Zobel, Craig (director) (September 29, 2024). The Penguin: 1.02: Inside Man.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 LeFranc, Lauren (writers); & Zobel, Craig (director) (September 19, 2024). The Penguin: 1.01: After Hours.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Reeves, Matt & Craig, Peter (writers); Reeves, Matt & Clark, Dylan (producers); & Reeves, Matt (director) (March 4, 2022). The Batman.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Valdivia, Noelle (writers); & Zobel, Craig (director) (October 6, 2024). The Penguin: 1.03: Bliss.
- ↑ Gibson, Breannah & Ogbonna, Shaye (writers); & Shaver, Helen (director) (October 20, 2024). The Penguin: 1.05: Homecoming.
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/TheBatmanFilm/comments/qwhxh6/does_anyone_have_an_idea_of_who_is_playing/
