Sal Maroni

Sal Maroni is a male comic character who features in DC Comics.

Biography

Origin

Sal Maroni

The notorious mobster Boss Moroni was later put on trial for the murder of a man named "Bookie" Benson with Harvey Dent serving as the prosecutor in the trial. During this event, the Batman appeared as a witness with Moroni accusing him to be a liar when the Dark Knight's testimony found the mobster guilty. Kent came to reveal evidence that Moroni's lucky two-headed silver dollar was at the scene of the crime with his fingerprints on it. This secured his guilt leading to an enraged Moroni throwing a vial of acid on Harvey. Batman managed to knock Moroni out but failed to stop the acid that splashed on Harvey's face disfiguring him and driving him insane. (Detective Comics v1 #66)

Later on, Harvey Dent’s ex-wife Gilda Gold came to remarry where she wedded D.A. Dave Stevens. Stevens was killed by Anton Karoselle, who Two-Face learned was really the mobster Sal Maroni, who’d survived his last encounter with Two-Face. He was crippled, but alive, and contacted the famed Dr. Albert Eckhart to give him plastic surgery so he could assume a new identity. He killed Stevens as a way of getting back at Two-Face for crippling him. Two-Face was saddened when Gilda remarried, but was happy that she found happiness again, and was determined to kill the man who ruined her life again. He went to see Eckhart, hoping he could restore his face. Eckhart’s surgery was a success, but he warned Two-Face there was a good chance the results would be temporary. Two-Face came up with a plan to reunite with his ex-wife Gilda, and taking the new identity of Carl Ternion he murdered Anton Karoselle. According to the police report Carl confronted Anton, who claimed he couldn’t have killed Stevens because he was confined to a wheelchair. Anton pulled a shotgun, Carl grabbed it, and the shot hit a chandelier that came down on Anton, killing him. Ternion was tried for murder but found not guilty. He introduced himself to Gilda, telling her about how he was a friend of Stevens who’d brought his killer to justice. Gilda fell for him, and they started dating, but she had moments of hesitancy because of all the tragedy she’d had in her love life. Ternion sent a videotape to Batman confessing to Karoselle’s murder, saying he’d killed the man twice, and taunting Batman that he’d never pay for it because of double jeopardy. Batman confronted him at the Gotham Dam, where Ternion, claiming self-defense, shot at Batman and tried to drown Batman by opening the dam’s spillway. Ternion’s surgery stopped holding up, and he shot Dr. Eckhart twice in the head. Batman did an investigation on Ternion, and after Eckhart’s death realized he was Two-Face. Batman broke into Dr. Eckhart’s office to examine his medical files, but Two-Face threw a grenade through the window, forcing Batman to flee and incinerating the records. Batman had time enough to spot Anton Karoselle as one of Eckhart’s clients, and went to the Gotham coroner’s office to see Karoselle’s death certificate but Two-Face set it ablaze. Batman complained to Alfred that he was being frustrated at every turn. Ternion spent time with Gilda, and she told him how he’d made her feel complete again, but his plastic surgery finally gave out, and he fled, saying she wouldn’t see him again but if wasn’t her fault, not wanting Gilda to realize he was Two-Face. Batman broke the heartrending news that Ternion was Two-Face and assured Gilda he’d find a way to get him the help he needed if she played along. Two-Face was spying on Gilda, and had a rifle at the ready to snipe Batman, but after a coin flip he couldn’t. He cursed fate and his coin for conspiring against him, realizing his life would be so much easier if he’d been able to take advantage of the multiple opportunities he’d had to kill his nemesis. Batman disguised himself as Sal Maroni, kidnapped Gilda, and brought her to the Gotham courthouse. Two-Face confronted 'Maroni', but saw through his disguise and pistol whipped Batman before tying him up. He threatened to shoot Batman, who had Alfred project a video of Harvey Dent being disfigured by Maroni in the courthouse. Two-Face was on the verge of a breakdown when Gilda appeared, telling him she loved him even after he was disfigured, but he needed serious help. She told him that if he killed Batman she’d hate him forever, and he pleaded that Batman had a 50/50 chance thanks to his coin. Gilda said his coin was more of a crutch than anything else, and he dropped it and begged forgiveness, allowing the GCPD to take him away. Gilda told Batman she sincerely hoped Harvey got the help he needed, and that she’d be there for him. She noted that Batman had already slipped his bonds when Two-Face had his gun pointed at him, and Batman said he’d go to any lengths to see his friend get a chance at redemption. (Batman v1 #329)

Post-Crisis

Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Salvatore Vincent Maroni

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.

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.

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. (Nightwing v3 #25)

Maroni sheltered Tony Zucco's ex-wife and daughter Melinda after their divorce. Blockbuster eventually installed Melinda as Mayor of Bludhaven, much to Sal's excitement as he considered her one of them. He was unaware that Melinda was secretly an FBI informant and not Zucco's biological daughter.

Notes

• Sal Maroni was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger where he made his first appearance in Detective Comics v1 #66 (August, 1942).

In other media

Television

• In Gotham, Sal Maroni appeared in the live-action series where he was portrayed by actor David Zayas.
• In Titans, the Maroni crime family appear in the setting of the live-action DC Universe television series in the episode "Jason Todd". They were responsible for the death of Tony Zucco's family, which led to Tony's son Nick blaming Dick Grayson for their deaths.

Films

• In Batman Forever, Boss Moroni appeared in a flashback sequence in the live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Dennis Paladino. He was shown to had been taken to trial where he threw acid on the face of District Attorney Harvey Dent disfiguring him and turning him into Two-Face.
• In Batman: Gotham Knight, Sal Maroni appeared in two segments in the animated film where he was voiced by actor Rob Paulsen.
• In The Dark Knight, Sal Maroni appeared in the live-action film set in The Dark Knight Trilogy where he was portrayed by actor Eric Roberts.
• In The Batman, Salvatore Maroni was referenced in the setting of the live-action film. He was a notorious Gotham crime boss and a rival to Carmine Falcone though the two collaborated in using the Gotham Renewal Project to hide their money and illegal activities following the death of Thomas Wayne. This was until senior figures in Gotham became greedy and wanted a greater cut of the money leading to them allying with Falcone. This saw them publicly launching a police sponsored operation to break up the Maroni drug operations that was hailed by the people of the city. However, this was simply so that they could take over the profits from that venture as the Gotham council began to work for Carmine Falcone.
• In Batman: The Killing Joke, Sal Maroni appeared in the setting of the animated film where he was voiced by actor Rick D. Wasserman.

Appearances

• Detective Comics v1: (1942)

External Links

• DC Database Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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