Salvatore Maroni was a criminal operating in Gotham City and a major rival to Carmine Falcone. He was one of the main controllers of drug trade in the city and was initially responsible for production of the narcotic Drops. Maroni was later arrested in a major drug bust organized by Falcone and his allies, resulting in his imprisonment and his rival's takeover of his remnants. Maroni would later serve as one of the major gangsters who'd attempt to take over Gotham after the Riddler's attacks, pitting him against the remnants of Falcone's empire including Sofia Falcone and the Penguin.
Biography[]
Salvatore Maroni was a major crime boss and leader of the "Maroni Organization".[1] He primarily specialized in the narcotics trade, dealing and manufacturing the narcotic Drops in Gotham. Maroni was a rival to Carmine Falcone and his crime syndicate, engaging in various bids to control power. The two were well-known rivals during Bruce Wayne's childhood.
According to Falcone, one of Maroni's contacts was Edward Elliot, a journalist who attempted to expose sensitive details surrounding Martha Wayne and the Arkham family. He claimed he did this to damage the mayoral election of her husband, Thomas, to prevent Falcone from gaining a puppet in the position. Falcone also claimed that Maroni arranged the murder of both Wayne members after Elliot was murdered by the mobster. It's unclear how much of it was true, with Alfred Pennyworth suggested Falcone's claims were lies.
After the Waynes were murdered in an apparent botched mugging, Maroni was one of the criminals who gained control of the Gotham Renewal Program, using its resources to discretely bribe officials and launder his activities. He and Falcone eventually became the two most powerful criminals who gain controlled the funds. It's possible Maroni also visited the 44 Below, an underground club run by the Falcone Syndicate.
Maroni on a newspaper reporting his arrest
Ten years before Batman's operations[2], Falcone grew power-hungry and decided to take over Maroni's shares in Renewal. Working with a number of contacts (including Don Mitchell Jr., Pete Savage and Gil Colson), he was able to arrange the arrest of Maroni during a Drops-related operation. With help from an informant, the authorities were able to gain evidence to convict him. Maroni was eventually arrested and imprisoned in Blackgate Penitentiary, with his remaining resources subsequently taken over by Falcone. The truth behind Maroni's arrest was exposed by the Riddler during his attacks on Falcone and his associates.
The Penguin[]
Maroni remained imprisoned in Blackgate despite Falcone's involvement in his arrest being exposed. He was briefly visited by Falcone's former lieutenant Penguin, who proposed an alliance.
Behind the Scenes[]
- Maroni does not appear directly in The Batman, though he appears in photographs and a brief video recording. His actor in the film is uncredited. In The Penguin, Maroni was portrayed Clancy Brown.[3]
- The arrest of Maroni on basis of Falcone's information was inspired by the FBI's arrest of the Underboss of New England's Patriarca crime family, Gennaro "Jerry" Angiulo at his headquarters in the North End area of Boston on the 19th September 1983. Angiulo was the leader of the Italian Angiulo Brothers Gang based in the North End and rival of Whitey Bulger's Winter Hill Gang. Like in the film, the arrest of Angiulo was on the basis of information supplied to the FBI by Bulger and Flemmi including the information regarding to the Angiulo Brothers' headquarters in the North End.