Roman Goodwin Roman Goodwin , known as Rutger Godwin in the Japanese version , and sometimes romanized as Rudger Goodwin , was the apparent leader of the Dark Signers as well as the Signer who originally possessed the Dragon Head birthmark . Design . Appearance . He wore black robes that were accented with red stripes and which corresponded to his " Earthbound Immortal " , as his Mark of the Shadows represented the Spider . It was also revealed that he was the original Signer with the Head Mark of the Dragon on his left arm , though he replaced it with a metal arm since when became a Dark Signer . Personality . Originally , Roman had a kind personality , who loved his brother Rex and believed in the infinite possibilities that Ener - D had to offer . However after being exposed to the light of the Ener - D reactor , he begun mentally struggling to keep his sanity as his dragon birthmark and the Dark mark he obtained fought for control over his body , and he eventually was consumed by the Dark Mark according to Rex Goodwin . As leader of the Dark Signers , Roman became very much ruthless and sadistic , and was even described as mad by Yusei . Much of his demeanor stemmed from his belief in destiny , especially in his jealousy for Dr . Fudo and the battle between both groups of Signers . As such he revered Ener - D as the light of destiny itself , and was willing to sacrifice as many innocent lives as it took to appease it and the Wicked Gods themselves . Abilities . Roman had the ability to possess ordinary people and used spiders he controlled ; potentially using them as pseudo or " fake " Dark Signers ( Shadow Drones in the dub ) who acted as unwilling and unsuspecting pawns for him . The number of his " Dark Spiders " currently possessing a victim was indicated by the number of legs missing from his birthmark . When one of them lost a Shadow Duel , the spider controlling them died , which caused Roman ' s birthmark to regrow its missing limb , and caused him pain when one of the people he controlled lost . He was also capable of switching himself out with those that were captured , as shown when he switched himself out for Rally during his first Duel with Yusei . Biography . History . Roman Goodwin was the older brother of Rex Goodwin . Just like his brother , Roman served as an assistant to Professor Fudo , while working in R . R . D . . Dr . Fudo was bent on canceling the Ener - D project due to the natural disasters occurring in Domino City as a result of using the system . But wanting to continue the research , Roman researched occurrences similar to what was happening in Domino City . He then came across the Nazca Lines . Once at the site of the Nazca Lines , a mysterious man who belonged to the Iliaster group spoke to him . The man told Roman that he was destined to activate the Ener - D Reactor and told him to look into the light of the Ener - D Reactor . After returning to the facility , Roman looked into the light of the Ener - D Reactor . He saw the battle between the Crimson Dragon and the Earthbound Immortals . The Spider ' s dark mark appeared on Roman ' s arm , where it struggled with the Dragon Head birthmark for control of his body . Under the influence of the Spider Mark , Roman ousted Dr . Fudo as head of the Ener - D project , having claimed " Stardust Dragon " , " Red Dragon Archfiend " , " Black Rose Dragon " and the " Ancient Fairy Dragon " cards , which were the keys to activate the Ener - D Reactor ' s control units . Dr . Fudo managed to take three of the cards and fled , and left behind " Ancient Fairy Dragon " when he was wounded by Roman ' s henchmen . When he nearly succumbed to the power of the Dark Signers , Roman decided to leave his Mark of the Dragon to destiny by tearing his left arm off and placed it in a preservation canister ( which was removed from the dub , and Roman still had his hand without being ripped off completely ) . He gave Rex the canister and told him to gather the Signers and someday defeat him . After that , he activated and overloaded the Ener - D Reactor which ultimately lead to the Zero Reverse , and killed himself and subsequently allowed the first Earthbound Immortal released , Uru , to revive him as a Dark Signer . Sometime after his revival , he set up a base in the old Reactor and eventually met and teamed up with 3 other Dark Signers , who served him as his subordinates . One of them , Misty was still in the city disguised as a human while Roman and the others were in Satellite , it was likely that Roman had sent her there to find the 5th Dark Signer . Dark Signers . After the Fortune Cup ended , Roman possessed Grady and Trudge , in order to test the Signers , Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas . When the Signers along with Mina , Leo and Trudge venture to Satellite and are meet - up with Martha , Roman appeared and imposed a Duel . Jack wanted to , but was stopped by Yusei , who told him that it was too dangerous to Duel here , especially if a geoglyph appeared . Jack was instructed to take Martha and the kids somewhere safe , while Yusei , accompanied by Akiza , faced Roman in a Shadow Duel in another location . However , three of the children decided to watch the Duel . As the Duel unfolded , Yusei and Akiza noticed two kids near the flames that were caused by the geoglyph and wondered how they got in when they were not Signers . As Roman prepared to Summon his " Earthbound Immortal " , " Uru " , Yusei and Akiza feared that once it was Summoned , it could have used the kids ' souls as sacrifices . Luckily , Jack appeared and uses his birthmark to stop the kids from being sacrificed . Yusei eventually managed to gain the upper hand in the Duel . As a final insult to Yusei , Roman used evil magic to flee and forced Rally to take his place . Rally managed to destroy " Uru " , but doing so apparently cost him his life . Roman , along with the other Dark Signers , later appeared before their rivals , the Signers , to begin their final battle . Each of Roman ' s comrades were waiting at each of the control units of the original Ener - D Reactor with the purpose of Dueling against their correspondent Signer rival . As for Roman , he awaited within the place where the system itself resided . After Devack ' s defeat at the hands of Luna and Leo , he killed Greiger in order to remake him into a Dark Signer by hanging him over the Original Ener - D Reactor . After Kalin ' s defeat , Roman ' s mark seemed to cause him anguish as it escalated up his arm . But then he was confronted by Rex Goodwin , who Dueled him . Rex lost on purpose in order to be reborn as a Dark Signer like his brother . Yusei and his friends entered the crater in the B . A . D . , where they confronted Roman . Although Yusei won , Roman proceeded to tell Yusei that things were not finished yet , as the King of the Netherworld would soon be born . Before Roman dissolved , he detonated a bomb in his left arm , and blew up the bridge and sent Yusei falling into the depths of the Ener - D Reactor ( In the dub he didn ' t do this , he just warned Yusei about the King of the Netherworld ' s arrival while Uru ' s destruction caused the bridge to blow up ) . When Rex was finally defeated and the King of the Netherworld was destroyed , Roman and Rex were the only Dark Signers to not return to life . Manga biography . In the manga , Roman is the being known as Skeleton Knight . Non - canon appearances . Yu - Gi - Oh ! 5D ' s Tag Force 4 . In " Yu - Gi - Oh ! 5D ' s Tag Force 4 " Roman appeared as a Partner character and could only be found at nightfall after completing the stories of the Signers . Roman observed you Dueling the Signers and did not participate in Duels . Roman ' s story . In the first event , Roman had the Player Duel against Luna who reminded him of the events that happened in her story but Dueled him anyway . In the second event , Roman had the Player Duel against Akiza . In the third event , Roman had the Player Duel against Jack . In the final event , Roman had the Player Duel against Yusei , who had figured out everything . In the end , Roman ' s plan succeeded , though Yusei told him that he was still their friend . Roman then told the Player about his next opponent . Upon completing the story , the Player received three copies of Earthbound Immortal Uru and the photo " Roman Goodwin - Hungry Fangs " . Other appearances . In the final event of Yusei ' s story , Roman Dueled with Devack against the Player and Yusei . Yu - Gi - Oh ! 5D ' s Duel Transer . In " Yu - Gi - Oh ! 5D ' s Duel Transer " , Roman could be found on the second floor of Yggdrasil if you have an " Earthbound Immortal Uru " card . After defeat him , you could buy his Deck Recipe to Duel him in free Duels . Decks . Roman played a " Spider - themed Insect Deck . His " Earthbound Immortal " card was " Uru " .