Who Is Black Mask? Origin, Powers and Key Facts

Black Mask is a DC Comics comic book character, the alter ego of Roman Sionis, with over 518 comic issue appearances. A ruthless Gotham mob boss and leader of the False Face Society known for his extreme hatred for Bruce Wayne and sadistic talent for torturing his victims.

Who is Black Mask?

This page is for the original Black Mask, Roman Sionis. For the second character to use the name Black Mask, see: Jeremiah Arkham History Beginnings The birth of Roman Sionis. Born to a wealthy Gotham City family, Roman Sionis grew up with parents that cared far more about their own social standing than about the well-being of their child. When an infant Roman was dropped on his head mere moments after birth, for instance, his mother refused to sue the doctor, unwilling to slander the Sionis name in a "common lawsuit". Thereafter, people - including Roman's parents - would note that Roman's eyes contained a "strange dullness". Roman's childhood proved to be one of pretensions as well as luxury. Countless times, his parents would don "masks" of courtesy and respect for similarly wealthy and influential guests that they privately loathed, including the Wayne family. Soon, Roman grew resentful of both the "masks" and his family's high-society "friends", not to mention his parents themselves, who would often pressure him into donning a "mask" as well.

Key facts

Black Mask is of human origin and first appeared in "Black Mask: Losing Face". The character is published by DC Comics. With 518 recorded issue appearances, Black Mask ranks among the most featured characters in comics.