Black Mask

"No one goes up against the Black Mask and lives."

- The Black Mask

The Black Mask (real name: Roman Sionis) is a villain from the Batman series. He was the son of a very wealthy couple, that died in a fire, in which he caused intentionally. He got their money and their company, but went bankrupt. His company was saved by Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Sionis hates him for that. His mask is carved out of the Black coffin of his father.

Personal History
Roman Sionis came from a rich familiy, his father was a very successful industrialist. His parents only cared for their social status, and where more concerned about then that then their son's well being when a nurse dropped him on his head after he was born. When he was child, Roman was attacked by a rabid raccoon, but his parents forbade him to tell the incident to anyone. They frequently dragged him around to parties, and would force him to become friends with the children of other wealthy families in Gotham City, like the young Bruce Wayne. His parents hated other people like the Waynes though, but they put on almost social masks in public to seem like more charming people. Roman hated these "social masks". After his high school graduation, Roman was given a high ranking position in his father's compnay, the prosperus Janus Cosmetics, where he began a fell in love with a secratary named Circe. However, he was enraged when his parents dissaproved and demanded that he broke off his relationship with her. He would later inherit Janus Cosmetics after his parent died in a very suspicious fire. Roman quickly drove the company into the ground, leaving the company open to a Wayne Enterprises buyout, and Circe broke up with him in front of the entire staff.

Roman Sionis was driven mad from losing everything he had, and he turned his hatred on Bruce Wayne. Donning a mask carved from his mother's black coffin, he began murdering Wayne employees. In the ensuing battle with Batman, Sionis's mask became permanently burned into his face as a living death mask, ironically granting his wish of removing all traces of his former identity. In the next years he would become one of Gotham City's most ruthless and sadistic crimelords, commanding the "False Facers", an army of masked henchmen. With each loss to Batman, his empire shrank and his sadism grew. Among his many crimes were the destruction of a community center on Gotham's East End, the painstaking murder of Catwoman's brother-in-law, and driving her sister Maggie insane.

War Games
Believed dead at Catwoman's hands, Black Mask survived, and when Gotham City's gang wars erupted - part of a "war game" created by Batman that went horibly wrong - they created a power vacuum in the underworld that he could exploit to build a criminal empire. He murdered Orpheus, a costumed gang leader secretly working with Batman to end the unrest in Gotham, and he took the tragic hero's identity and gained the trust of the teen hero Spoiler. This way he learned information vital to his cause before he betrayed and tortured her. Following Batman's plans, the fake Orpheus rallied all the factions, revealed his true identity and initiated a spree of carnage. Black Mask became the undisputed ruler of the entire Gotham City underworld.

The End
Deathstroke later approached Black Mask offering him a plice within The Society. Black Mask was eager to strenthen his increasingly tenuous grip on the underworld since Batman was targeting his operations. He accepted the offer and Captain Nazi and Count Vertigo were sent after Batman. However, these villains were defeated, and Batman ultimately prevented the Society from securing a foothold in Gotham.

In an attempt to "Improve Himself" after this debacle, Black Mask threatened the most important people in Catwoman's life, from Slam Bradley to Holly Robinson. Still thinking that Catwoman adhered to a strict no-kill rule, Black Mask was caught by surprise when Catwoman took revenge by shooting him in the head and blowing his jaw off. However, Black Mask survived. After the shooting, Seline Kyle passed the mantle of Catwoman to her friend Holly Robinson. Not long after, Holly was arrested for the killing of Black Mask.

Black Mask II
In the "Battle For The Cowl" storyline, a new Black Mask surfaces. He has drugged several of Arkham Asylum's inmate, including The Great White Shark, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, Victor Zsasz, Jane Doe and Scarecrow, with a substance that can kill when triggered. Black Mask is quickly acknowledged as the leader of the group when he blows up much of Arkham Asylum. He then prepares for his ascension by destroying Two-Face's and Penguin's reign and becoming Gotham City's crime lord again. Eventually, the new Black Mask is revealed to be Jeremiah Arkham, administrator of Arkham Asylum. After being defeated by Batman, he is imprisoned in the rebuilt Arkham Asylum.

Batman Arkhamverse
Main Article: Black Mask (Arkhamverse)

Batman: Under the Red hood
Black Mask is a secondary antagonist of the animated movie.

Facts
Real Name: Roman Sionis

Occupation: Professional Criminal

Base of Operations: Gotham City

Eyes: Brown

Hair: None

Height: 6 ft 1 in

Weight: 195 lb

First appearance: Batman #386 (August, 1985)

Attributes

 * Obsessed with masks
 * Harbors a hatred of Batman and Bruce Wayne
 * Face resembles a black skull
 * Feared and powerful mob boss
 * Skilled marksman, known for his double handguns