JJ

JJ
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Following the suspicious deaths of his multi-millionaire parents in a fire, **Roman Sionis** inherited their fortune and then went on to bankrupt their company. Saved by a buy out from Bruce Wayne, Sionis came to resent and hate his rescuer. Fixated on the concept of masks, Sionis carved one from his father's black coffin and sought revenge, becoming the **Black Mask**. Sionis was a feared gang leader and one of the most powerful mob bosses in Gotham City, with a burning hatred of Batman. He serves as a major antagonist in *Batman: Arkham Origins* and the main antagonist of the Red Hood Story Pack DLC in *Batman: Arkham Knight*, as well as a minor antagonist in *Batman: Arkham City*.

### Early Life And Mob Leader

— Black Mask

Sionis inherited his parents' fortune after a mysterious fire that claimed their lives (which he may have caused, possibly an early manifestation of his sadistic impulses). In addition to their cosmetics company, Sionis expanded into the construction business, purchased a Steel Mill, built theme park attractions, and purchased a restaurant as well. Unfortunately, Sionis Steel was forced to back out of the theme park business due to the resultant attractions breaking down and killing or maiming customers. Though it's just as likely that Black Mask was using the Steel Mill as a front to manufacture drugs during its legitimate days, control of the Gotham drug trade was the source of most of his money, which allowed him to dabble in other businesses, most likely also fronts, as well as bribe city officials. The greatest of these assets was undoubtedly ownership of the Gotham Merchant's Bank.

With the anonymity of Sionis' trademark mask allowed him to be the face of both his business *and* his criminal empires, Black Mask became a rising star in the Gotham underworld alongside arms dealing rival Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. the Penguin, and was backed up by an army of similarly masked mobsters. Sionis enjoyed so much wealth, that he was able to afford a private suite in the prestigious Lacey Towers, which he preferred to use as a safe house in times of crisis, and indulged several relationships with several women, particularly Tiffany Ambrose, a convicted drug trafficker who may have been the only person that he ever truly loved. Sionis' power similarly increased to the point where he had direct influence over corrupt GCPD officials such as Commisoner Gillian B. Loeb and SWAT team leader, Howard Branden. Sionis was even the one who suggested to a frustrated Loeb to use the stubbornly incorruptible Captain James Gordon as good publicity for the rest of the department. Whenever there was the possibility that he could be linked to his alleged crimes and his minions could not bribe or silence witnesses, Sionis had them kidnapped and disposed of. This most likely contributed to Sionis' developing appetite for torture, as torture equipment could be found within his own office at the Steel Mill. Such was Black Mask's power, that he was even able to challenge The Falcone Crime Family, Gotham City's most powerful crime family. A man pretending to be Sionis took particular delight in intimidating Alberto Falcone, the family's youngest and most insecure member, after he witnessed him drunkenly boasting about his supposed power in public at a restaurant. That came back to bite Sionis though as he was threatened over the phone by a "higher power", who was secretly Alberto in the throws of a schizophrenic episode.

In spite of all that, Black Mask was not invincible. Sionis was accused with multiple crimes despite managing to avoid conviction and large numbers of his men were dissatisfied with what he paid them and how he treated them. Sionis' legitimate businesses were not always successful, and Batman's presence also interfered with his criminal enterprises as much as any of his rivals'. Despite his bravado, Sionis was paranoid to the point of hiring a body double, not an entirely unreasonable outlook in his line of business but, coupled with his temper and sadism, was possibly also the result of instability. Sionis' physical health didn't air much better and he was forced to have a pace maker installed for Prolonged Q-T Syndrome. He also harbored an obsessive hatred of Bruce Wayne for some reason, though Dr. Penelope Young later speculated in her notes that Black Mask may have fabricated reasons for that as a result of his instability, but that was *simply* speculation.

When surveillance photos showed a pale skinned man called "the Joker" stealing chemicals from Sionis's various businesses, which could be used in the manufacture of explosives, Black Mask had the so-called-Joker followed to find out what he was up to. Black Mask was unaware that the Joker wasn't just after his chemicals and was turning members of his own mob against him to take over his empire. As the Christmas Season wore on, Joker raised the stakes by stalking Tiffany. That spooked Tiffany so much, that Roman placed her in his safe house at Lacey Towers. Unfortunately, for Black Mask and his lover, the Joker was waiting when Tiffany returned from grocery shopping. Tiffany's last act before Joker violently smashed her head into the kitchen counter and tied her to the living room chandelier was to message Roman about the identity of her stalker, whom he dismissed as "No one important" and begged him to come over.

Ever paranoid, Black Mask had his body double enter the safe house as a diversion while he snuck in via the adjacent balcony. When the decoy arrived through the front door, the Joker, who casually waited at a table, immediately shot him through the heart. The real Black Mask rushed from behind and tackled the Joker straight through his props, but the Joker managed to rally, overpowered Black Mask, and tied up his hands. The Joker removed any evidence of the crime (or so he thought) with a Molotov Cocktail and jammed a gun into Sionis's hands, then forced him to pull the trigger and shoot Tiffany dead before he dragged him from the room.

The only thing that kept Sionis alive was the Gotham Merchant's Bank. The Joker needed him to access the bio-metric security that was installed in the vault. In the meantime, Joker disguised himself as Black Mask and began to take over his empire in earnest. Locked up in his own Steel Mill's torture room in his office, Sionis could only watch as the Joker turned Gotham upside down, ignored what few rules kept the underworld from erupting in all out war, and targeted honest and crooked institutions alike. The Joker's most brazen acts were hiring eight of the world's deadliest assassins that money could buy to kill Batman and openly attack Blackgate Prison, which released multiple inmates and killed Commissioner Loeb.

### Arkham Origins Incident

— Black Mask

During Christmas Eve Night, Batman thought that Sionis had put up the fifty million dollar bounty for his head. After he solved the Lacey Tower's case by hacking into the National Criminal Database, Batman made his way to the Gotham Merchant's Bank to track down the Joker who had taken Sionis hostage. In the bank vault, Batman encountered the Joker, who had disguised himself as Black Mask and Sionis. Sionis became infuriated at the Joker for stealing from him and for killing his girlfriend. Sionis threatened to kill him only for the Joker to beat and kick him into unconsciousness. Joker then revealed himself, while Batman quickly realized that he was the one who really put the bounty on his head. Joker then told Batman that he had more planned for him, took Sionis to the Steel Mill, and blew up part of the bank up in the process in the hopes of killing Batman. With this, Batman was forced to take down each of the assassins, hunt down the Joker, and save Black Mask. After he eventually rescued Black Mask from his former gang, Batman questioned him on the Joker's whereabouts. Sionis refused to divulge any information because he planned on murdering the Joker himself for stealing his money, his operations, and for killing his girlfriend. Batman started torturing Sionis and was almost able to control his pacemaker if he wasn't going to start talking. Before Batman could question him any further, Copperhead attacked, and while Batman was distracted, Sionis escaped into the night.

Later after he escaped the clutches of Batman and the Joker, Black Mask quickly moved to take back control of his empire. It was implied that Black Mask personally tortured and killed several of his former henchmen for betraying him to the Joker. This effectively scared many of Black Mask's men back into working under him once again. Black Mask then began by putting his drugs back out onto the streets of Gotham. Batman, however, was able to destroy almost all of his stashes before they could go on the market. Black Mask was furious at the Dark Knight, and set a trap for him at the Church, and used his last container of drugs as bait. After Batman destroyed the container, Black Mask appeared, flanked by several of his men. Black Mask then stated that he planned on making it his personal mission to capture and torture Batman to death for his meddling in his business. A large brawl then ensued with Batman besting all of Sionis' men before he personally beat the crime lord into submission. Batman then left a subdued Black Mask to be taken into custody by the GCPD.

### *Cold Cold Heart*​ Incident

After his fight with Batman at the Church, Black Mask was sent to Blackgate.

### *Arkham Origins Blackgate* Incident

After the events of *Arkham Origins*, Black Mask was finally arrested and placed within Blackgate Prison along with the other criminals within Batman's extensive Rouge's Gallery. During his incarceration at Blackgate, Roman kept a photo of Tiffany with him at all times, which implied that, despite his overall persona as a sadistic and mass murdering crime lord with several female admirers, Black Mask truly cared for and loved his former girlfriend. With his hatred of Joker only intensifying every day, Black Mask had his men within the prison watch the Joker and made notes of all his movements in preparation for his planned revenge.

After he stole various dental equipment from the prison's medical ward, Black Mask planned to slowly torture and murder the Joker in retribution for the actions against him and his criminal empire and planned to wipe out the rest of his opposition. Three and half months later, a massive explosion within the prison commenced a riot that allowed Black Mask, the Joker, and the Penguin to seize complete control of the facility and carve up a portion of it for themselves and advance their own, individual agendas. Using a homemade security override system and a crowbar, as well as cutting several power cords that controlled the security systems, Black Mask was able to access several weapon caches, claim the artillery for his gang, made his way to the prison's power plants, wiped out all resistance, planned on using the prison's power to flush the Joker out, and use as his trump card and ultimate weapon against the rest of the prison population.

After he believed the carnage to be much more complex than just a simple prison riot and takeover, Batman arrived at Blackgate to investigate the situation further, which allowed Black Mask a chance of ultimate revenge against his hated enemy. After he took over a section of the prison, Black Mask attempted to overload the prison generators to wipe out everyone in the prison, take out all his rivals in the process, and leave himself the sole remaining criminal kingpin. After he forced a technician to overpower the generators, Roman shot the man dead after he completed the deed and ventured further into the Industrial District with several dozen of his men. After he targeted a lone security guard, who made one final phone call to his wife to say goodbye, Black Mask murdered the man and cut off his thumb in order to use his fingerprint to activate the main electric controls to reroute even more power.

However, Batman was able to foil his plans once again, stabilized the generators, defeated Black Mask and his men, and left them to be arrested and imprisoned once again. Black Mask, however, had a fall-back plan, where he had Catwoman rig the prison with various explosives (that revelation depended on which kingpin Batman defeated last). Catwoman didn't actually care about ensuring that the bombs went off, however, as she only needed a distraction to ensure that Bane was smuggled out. However, before Black Mask could be taken into custody by the police, he regained consciousness and took a technician, who was fixing the generators (who also commented that Black Mask's earlier actions had messed up the heating and cooling systems, and certainly weakened them due to the quick succession of expanding and contracting pipes), hostage.

Black Mask demanded that the police officers give him access to the Joker, who was still hungry for revenge against the villain for everything that he took away from him. When the officers refused, Black Mask threw the technician at them as a diversion and began shooting, which forced the police to fire back, killed the technician, and critically damaged the generator right next to him. As a result, the generator exploded and the resulting fire consumed Black Mask, who screamed uncontrollably, but was nonetheless able to escape into the night, with the guards also speculating that wherever he went to, the Joker had better watch his back. Eventually, Black Mask became a victim of an accident that resulted in his mask being grafted onto his face to the extent that it was unable to be removed short of sufficient blunt force.

### Between *Arkham Origins Blackgate* and *Arkham Asylum* Incident

At some point after Arkham Origins Blackgate, Black Mask was eventually recaptured and was presumably transferred to Arkham Asylum.

### *Road to Arkham* Incident

Oracle told Batman that Black Mask had retreated to Bludhaven.

### *Arkham Asylum* Incident

Black Mask didn't appear in Arkham Asylum, however, a replica of the wooden mask worn by the villain was mounted on the wall in Dr. Young's Office at the Arkham Mansion. In the Medical Facility there's a newspaper that says he was in court, meaning he was going to be sent to the Facility at that time.

### Escape From Arkham City

Black Mask was the only inmate who was confirmed to have ever escaped from Arkham City.

Using explosives that were stolen from the Penguin, Sionis waited until the TYGER Guard shift change, blasted his way through the containment wall, and went on the run in Gotham City. Black Mask then attempted to leave the city, but not before he decided to deal one last blow to Hugo Strange by attacking TYGER'S weapon storage facilities with some help from his own gang and Firefly. Furious, Strange ordered his TYGER operatives onto the streets, to focus all their attention on finding Black Mask, who was finally recaptured after a violent siege at the Meatpacking Plant that he owned which involved Batman, Robin, and Nightwing.

### Arkham City Incident

— Black Mask to the TYGER Guards at the Arkham City Processing Center

After he returned, Black Mask resisted on being sent back into Arkham City again. Black Mask tried to protect himself from the TYGER Guards with a chair in the Arkham City Processing Center, but he was easily overwhelmed by them.

Black Mask still had some loyal minions in the prison, as one inmate decided to go look for him because Sionis rewarded his men well. Said inmate would even put in a good word for his friends, to be hired as additional muscle.

That same night, Two-Face conducted his own version of a trial at the Solomon Wayne Courthouse, with Joker as the defendant. Black Mask showed up as both a witness and juror, testifying to how he lost the Sionis Steel Mill to Joker, who had stolen it from under him. Black Mask became overly passionate about his accusations, forcing Two-Face to order him to sit down. When Batman interrupted the proceedings to stop Joker's execution, Black Mask was one of many who attempted to kill the Batman. Batman eventually knocked him down, allowing both him and the Joker to escape.

### After *Arkham City* Incident

After the Joker's death, Robin went to find Sionis, as he became a new gang leader in Arkham City. He went to Black Mask's hideout, an old Sionis Meat Packing facility, where he found out that some of Penguin's thugs joined him, and that the Riddler was also helping him. Lastly, Robin went onto the Freight Train and beat through some of the Joker's thugs, that had also joined Black Mask. After getting through three cars, Robin came to the end to find a few thugs, Mr. Hammer, and Black Mask blocking the control box. After he beat the thugs and Mr. Hammer, Robin left Black Mask for last, apprehended him, destroyed the control box that was moving the freight train, and sent him, the thugs, and Mr. Hammer back into Arkham City. It could be assumed that Black Mask was taken to temporary holding cells when the GCPD invaded the mega facility and shut it down.

### Before *Arkham Knight* Incident

Like many of the inmates, Sionis was released with a compensation package. He likely returned to being one of the crime bosses in the underworld, taking the place of the Falcone and Maroni crime families as the former was now in Bludhaven and the latter was broken up.

### *Arkham Knight* Incident

— Aaron Cash's audio file

At the GCPD Lockup, Black Mask's wooden mask appeared in his display case in the Evidence Room.

### Red Hood Story Pack

Black Mask appeared as the main antagonist of the Red Hood Story Pack DLC along with his men.

After Red Hood took out Black Mask's men during what was supposed to be an arms deal between them and Penguin's men, he attacked Black Mask's weapons storage unit, took out nearly all of his men, and interrogated the last one for for Sionis' location. Red Hood executed the henchman after he told him that his boss was at his office in Downtown Gotham.

Upon arriving at Black Mask's hideout, Red Hood killed a dozen of Black Mask's thugs. Black Mask then joined the fight with reinforcements and attempted to take him out, only to be defeated. After his defeat, He begged Red Hood to spare him and promised that he would leave Gotham and never to return, and even suggested that Red Hood tell him where to go. However, Red Hood sarcastically asked him: "How about you go to Hell?" and then kicked him out of a window, which caused him to fall screaming to his death. Before he left and disappeared into the shadows, Jason Todd said :"Say hi to the Joker for me".

## Personality

Before Joker's arrival that shook Gotham, Black Mask was feared by most everyone in the city and was one of the most powerful crime lords, who was known for his sadistic, brutal, and unconventional methods of torture. He kept virtually everyone who had influence in Gotham in his pocket, with either fear or blackmail. His love for material wealth was almost as extensive as his love for torture which Batman remarks that Sionis not only tortures for intimidation and information but for entertainment. Though his reputation as a ruthless crime lord is totally withstanding he can at times go from being a brutal criminal to an amiable businessman. He also remains the owner of several reputable businesses across Gotham, among them his own bank and restaurant. Sionis did have the capacity to be affable towards his clients such as Loeb but only if he believes there is a greater benefit for him. He also was mentioned by Batman to have a very paranoid nature, which was evidently how he managed to last as long as he did. This is further supported by his use of a body double in an attempt to distract the Joker when infiltrating his own safehouse, as well as his owning multiple safehouses and including enough security devices in the Gotham Merchant's Bank to make stealing money from it virtually impregnable.

Sionis was not afraid to challenge anyone, no matter how powerful they were. Two years into Batman's career, Black Mask began a war with Penguin and the Falcone Family. He also underestimated people when he described the Joker as "nobody that matters". This was ultimately his fall from grace as Joker took his entire Criminal Empire for himself and Black Mask was left with almost nothing. According to Aaron Cash in *Arkham Knight*, Sionis never could recover after that night despite his best efforts.

It was stated by many of his former henchmen that Sionis treated his men poorly and paid them almost nothing, which was the reason many of them were quick to take sides with Joker as he paid them better than Sionis and allowed them to do as they wished while he was away, which was different from Black's Mask's style of managing whom constantly kept them on a tight leash. After Origins it appeared Sionis learned his lesson and had a change of heart and treated his men much better, as during Arkham City, a few inmates mentioned that they should go work for Sionis, as he treats his men good.

Black Mask was very proud and would never beg for his life, close to sheer arrogance and narcissism. He did however show value for his wellbeing once but that was only after being confronted by Red Hood who mercilessly beat and shot him numerous times. Sionis also prided himself on his resilience. The night he lost everything to Joker he was beaten by his former men, tortured to near-death and was only able to escape their grasp with some accidental assistance from Batman and attempted to restart his empire but was stopped by the Gotham vigilante. He did manage to regain some influence and considerable wealth but was a fraction of what he once was.

Despite his brutal and sadistic tendencies, he was shown to have a deep love for his former girlfriend, Tiffany Ambrose, as he shown when he tried protecting her by sheltering her in his safe house and also lead a violent and personal vendetta against the man who had been responsible for her death, The Joker, though Sionis would never get a chance for his revenge.

Sionis is also great at escaping captivity, as he is the only person to ever escape Arkham City but was recaptured prior to Bruce Wayne's incarceration. He attempted to escape again and was successful which is a testament to his ability to escape as Hugo Strange increased security after this. He came close to escaping again but was foiled by Robin. Prior to this Sionis escaped his own steel mill after being held captive by his former employee's, managing to slip out unnoticed while Batman had everyone else's attentions, ignoring the fact his ribs were broken.

## Gameplay

Black Mask appeared in two DLC Challenge Maps that came with the Arkham City Robin Bundle Pack, which were Black Mask (Predator), and Freight Train (Combat). In the campaign, Black Mask was chased out of the meat locker by one of the four playable characters and fled onto a moving train that was smuggling weapons into Arkham City. The player fights their way through groups of thugs and engages in hand-to-hand combat with Black Mask, along with a group of Joker's thugs and Mr. Hammer. After knocking out all of the opponents, the player attacks the control box and destroys it, thus stopping the train and ending that shipment of weapons into Arkham City. Black Mask also tried escaping a second time.

## Physical Appearance

### Arkham Origins

Black Mask appeared to have an average physical build, and preferred to wear white suits and black ties. As always, Black Mask was wearing a mask for the duration of the game.

### Arkham Origins Blackgate

Black Mask appeared the same as he did in Arkham Origins.

### Arkham City

Black Mask still seemed to have an average physical build. Instead of in Arkham Origins where he wore a nice and spiff looking white suit and black tie, he looked like a very rugged guy who wore a blue shirt with black straps around his shoulder as we saw him in the beginning of Arkham City and in the Challenge Maps. As always, Black Mask wore his mask for the time that we saw him, which appeared to be grafted to his face.

### Arkham Knight

Black Mask's appearance was exactly like his Arkham Origins appearance.

## Psychological Profile

### Attributes

* Tactical Analyst
* Torture Master
* Criminal Mastermind
* Hand To Hand (Basics)
* Escape Artist
* Skilled marksman, known for his double handguns
* Business Management
* Feared and powerful mob boss
* Wears a mask that resembles a black skull
* Master of Disguise

### GCPD Profile

Gotham City business owner Roman Sionis is alleged to be one of the city’s most powerful crime lords, though no convictions have ever been made. Sionis maintains several “legitimate” businesses - many of which are believed to be fronts for illegal operations. Notable businesses in his portfolio include: Janus Cosmetics, Gotham Merchants’ Bank, and the now-defunct Sionis Steel Works. Sionis has been charged with embezzling city funds, murder, racketeering, distribution of illegal narcotics, and other offenses, but never convicted. In previous trials, witnesses for the prosecution have been known to recant, die, or disappear. Investigation is ongoing. See District Attorney Harvey Dent for more details.

### Dr. Penelope Young

* **CANDIDATE FOR ADVANCE RESEARCH?**

Psychological Profile: A mild psychopath, Sionis has narcissistic tendencies but the main malady he suffers from is resentful obsession with, of all people, billionaire Bruce Wayne. Sionis is fixated on Wayne possibly due to childhood traumas that he has projected onto the idle playboy. It is difficult to say whether the two actually knew each other as children, or if this is Sionis's invention. However, it is Sionis's criminal activities, and the role playing that resulted in the black skull-like mask accidentally burnt into his skin, that resulted in his committal to Arkham.

**Additional Notes**

I'd question whether Sionis is actually insane, if not for the choice of his obsession; I can't imagine being interested in (much less stalking) such a pointless personage as Bruce Wayne.

### Batman's Database Profile

Roman Sionis is one of Gotham's most powerful crime lords through this he has avoided conviction. He maintains several legitimate businesses though many of them are fronts for illegal operations. Notable businesses in his portfolio include Janus Cosmetics, Gotham Merchant's Bank and the now defunct Sionis Steel Mill. Sionis has been charged with embezzling funds, murder, racketeering, distribution of illegal narcotics, and other offenses but never convicted. Witnesses for the prosecution have been known to retract, die, or disappear. He owns half of the Gotham City Police Department officers in Gotham along with several judges and city council members. He intimidates with torture or murder. Now in a turf war with Carmine Falcone, and the Penguin.

## Quotes

### Batman: Arkham Origins

* *"You son of a bitch! You think you can steal from me and get away with it? You're a dead man! Dead!"* (Joker)
* *"Go to hell."* (Batman)
* *"You think that'll make me talk-after what he's put me through? The torture... Turned my men on me. Stole from me. Murdered my woman. He's my kill. Not yours."*
* *"Kill him and I'll pay you whatever you want. Make him suffer and I'll double it."* (Copperhead)
* *"Couple a'freaks. You two deserve each other."* (Batman and Copperhead)
* *"I was hoping you'd show up. Saves me the trouble of having to hunt you down."* (Batman)
* *"With everything going on in Gotham tonight, you decide to waste your time with me? I'm touched!"*
* *"You'll die badly Batman. Making that happen is my personal mission in life!"*
* *"I've got the numbers here, Bat. Which means I've got the advantage!"*
* *"You really wanna spend the night screwing around with me in here?!"*
* *"Take off now and I'll consider not coming after you!"*
* *"You really should mind your own business, Bat!"*
* *"Oh, come on! Just die already!"*
* *"You know what's so great about you, Batman? Even when I lose, I win. So go ahead-call the cops. They'll lock me up, sure. But my lawyer will have me out on bail before the sun's up. And you know what I'm gonna do when I get out? I'm gonna dedicate every waking minute to tracking you down and taking you out. And the best part is-there's not a damn thing you can do about it. Because that justice system you love so much? It's a SCAM. And you? Well, you're the mark. Because you keep tossing us in-and we keep bouncing right. Back. Out."*

#### Challenge Map Introduction

* *"This is the way it's gonna go-you're all gonna watch this place and shoot anyone who comes in, otherwise, I'm gonna shoot all a'you. That clear?"* (Batman)
* *"Do me a favor, I'm beggin' ya. Don't screw this up, all right? I've got enough people to kill tonight, and I don't wanna add your names to the list."* (Batman)
* *"Whoever crosses me here's gonna get such a kick in the ass, he's gonna be eatin' Christmas dinner standin' up. Capiche?"* (Batman)
* *"Listen up. I'm not having a great night, okay? So don't make it worse by actin' like a bunch of morons. Got it?"* (Batman)
* *"Simple jobs for simple meatheads. That's my motto."* (Batman)
* *"Watch out, boys. This here is the world's most expensive assassin! I wanna see if he's worth what everybody says he's worth."* (Deathstroke)
* *"Morons, we got Deathstroke in the house. Tell ya what. I'll give ya 50 million reasons to stay breathin'."*
* *"Ahhh, Slade. How many masks did it take before you finally settled on that one?"* (Deathstroke)
* *"Listen here, Slade. My men are gonna up you under...or I ain't the Black Mask!"* (Deathstroke)
* *"Boys! Bring me the merc! I want to meet the man behind the mask!"* (Deathstroke)
* *"So boys, why don't you show Deathstroke what you're worth?"*
* *"Here's a present, boys. Merry Christmas!"* (Deathstroke)
* *"Hey, Slade. Do me a favor...die!"* (Deathstroke)

#### Predator (Calm)

* *"Hey, who needs a break?... That's the RIGHT answer. NO ONE gets a break til I get my city back!"*
* "*I don't wanna hear chatter, I don't wanna hear jokes. All I wanna hear is gunfire followed by the screams of anyone who steps foot in this mill."*
* *"Remember-I don't care WHO walks through those doors. You gun their ass down. Got it?"*
* *"Hey! I don't wanna hear any of your wiseguy B.S. Just do your damn jobs."*
* *"Big bonus for the who brings'em in."*

#### Predator (Nervous)

* *"Alright. The Bat just got one a'you. Someone find this unconscious lump and kick'em in the face for me."*
* *"You think I'm just gonna lay down for you, Batman? Nah uh. You're goin' down, freak."*
* *"Huh, Batman? It's gonna be so sweet when I finally get to give you all you all deserve."*
* *"You'll die badly, Batman. Making that happen is my personal mission in life."*
* *"I'm gonna cut out your liver and serve it to my dogs, Batman. You hear me!?"*
* *"Ahhh Slade, hiding in the shadows. Didn't think you were like that."* (Deathstroke)
* *"I don't need excuses. I don't want whining. I want damn results."*
* *"Keep it up, morons. Keep it up and see what I do to you."*
* *"And there is Deathstroke. Being the best he can be."*
* *"How can one man be giving you such a hard time!"* (Deathstroke)
* *"Someone just got whacked. It's not lookin' good!"* (Deathstroke)
* *"Down to three...what's wrong with you idiots..."*
* *"This ain't over, Batman. Not by a long shot!"*
* *"You let Batman draw first blood!? Morons!"*
* *"This is it. You got action-now ACT."*
* *"Three more chances, Batman!"*

#### Predator (Terrified)

* *"Honestly, Slade. I'm not so impressed. I guess I expected more from you considering everything I've heard."* (Deathstroke)
* *"You know I don't tolerate failure. So who are you more afraid of? The Bat? Or ME?"*
* *"I only need one man with a gun to blow you away, Batman. And I still got three."*
* *"How is this happening? Bring me Deathstroke! What don't you understand?"*
* *"Alright, Batman. You think you're tough? I'm gonna gun you down myself!"*
* *"Crap! It's down to you three. Should I throw in the towel now or later?"* (Deathstroke)
* *"You listenin', Batman? Somewhere, somehow, I'm gonna hurt you."*
* *"Hey Batman! Make sure you make this last one hurt. For me!"*
* *"You got a gun, moron! Shoot 'em with it!"*

#### Predator (KO'd Henchmen)

* *"Hey! Wake up out there! You need to get Deathstroke before he gets another!"*
* *"What was that?! Deathstroke, doing what he does best, no doubt..."*
* *"Okay, boys, he's on the hunt. Better get him before he gets you!"* (Deathstroke)
* *"The Bat got another one a'you freakin' geniuses. Sharpen up!"*
* *"Dammit. The Bat got another one. Don't trip over his body."*
* *"You let your guard down and that's what happens."*
* *"Didn't I tell you he was one of the best!"* (Deathstroke)
* *"Watch out! One a'you just took a hit!"*
* *"Wake-up! Wake-up! Wake-up!"*
* *"HA! Why am I not surprised?"*
* *"One down! Unbelievable!"*

### Arkham Origins Blackgate

* *"The board's locked down? It can't be reversed?"* (Technician)
* *"Yes."* (shoots Technician)
* *"You hit the nail on the head, Batman. I came to this hole to close the books on my competitors-especially the Joker. And I can't let you stand in my way."*
* *"Come on now, did you think there's even a prayer of you stabilizing these generators in time?"*
* *"The Joker...All I want is the Joker..."* (holds guard at gunpoint)
* *"Why not? He's worthless to me, compared to the clown."* (releases guard, then starts shooting at the other guards)

### Batman: Arkham City

* *"No one arrests Black Mask. No one!"*
* *"Get me Strange!"*
* *"You'll die for this!"*
* *"I'll kill you!"*
* *"You bast-!"*
* *"Stop it!"*

### Red Hood Story Pack

* *"Big mistake coming here! BIG! MISTAKE!"*
* *"This is gonna hurt!"*
* *"Okay tough guy! Swallow this!"*
* *"Come closer!"*
* *"Come on, vigilante! Dodge this!"*
* *"Gonna teach ya some manners!"*
* *"I'm gonna shoot your freakin' eyes out!"*
* *"You're gonna learn some respect!"*
* *"Take this!"*
* *"I'm gonna shove that hood down your throat!"*
* *"I'm gonna shoot that freakin' Hood off!"*
* *"I'm gonna tear you apart!"*
* *"Gonna put you in the ground!"*
* *"You're dead."*
* *"You don't stand a chance!"*
* *"Gonna feed you to my dogs!"*
* *"You think you intimidate me!? Think again!"*
* *"Let's see if that Hood is bulletproof!"*
* *"Let's put you in a body bag!"*
* *"Let's see you dance!"*
* *"I'm gonna shoot that hood off!"*
* *"You don't mess with Black Mask!"*
* *"I'm gonna break your head!"*
* *"You don't intimidate me!"*
* *"You piece of trash!"*
* *"Die! Die! Die!"*
* *"Lose the circus act, Hood-boy!"*
* *"Red Freakin' Hood!"*
* *"You're fish food!"*
* *"You don't need to do this. I'll give you money. Drugs! Guns! Weapons! Whatever you want. Please. I'll take a plane. Leave Gotham. Never show my face again. Anywhere you want! I'll go anywhere!"*

### Game Over Lines

#### Batman: Arkham Origins

* "*I was hoping you'd at least live long enough to see what I've got planned for this place"* (Batman)
* *"With you out of the way, Gotham's mine for the taking. And sooner than I thought!"* (Batman)
* *"That's it?! All this build up and he falls over like he's made of sticks?! What an anti-climatic ending!"* (Batman)
* *"What?! The party's already over?! But I was* *just getting warmed up!"* (Batman)
* *"I didn't think it would be this easy! Oh well, live and Learn!"* (Batman)
* *"Unkillable?...Not quite!"* (Deathstroke)
* *"Not your best day Deathstroke...now hurry up and die!"* (Deathstroke)

#### Batman: Arkham City

* *"No one goes up against the Black Mask and lives."*
* *"What? Did you think you could beat me? Me?!"*
* *"First you fall, then Gotham."*

#### Red Hood Story Pack

* *"Is this some kind of joke! Trying to run me outta Gotham! Get this schmuck outta here!"*
* *"Bring me the hood. The rest... do whatcha want. Just don't make a mess."*
* *"Do me a favor and die already! I got a business to run."*

## Gallery

### Batman: Arkham Origins

Black Mask's Concept Art Arkham Origins

Black Mask Biography Arkham Origins

Sionis without his mask

Black Mask Concept Art Arkham Origins

Roman Sionis Character Trophy Arkham Origins

Black Mask action figure

Black Mask's 8 assassins

Black Mask torturing a cop

Black Mask preparing to torture a cop in *Arkham Origins*.

Black Mask about to burn out one of Warden Joseph's eyes with a lit cigarette

"Black Mask" in Arkham Origins

Black Mask in *Arkham Origins*.

"Black Mask" at Blackgate Prison

"Black Mask" in the Vault at the Gotham Merchant's Bank

### Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

Black Mask in Arkham Origins Blackgate

Black Mask about to shoot the technician

Black Mask ready to shoot Batman

### Batman: Arkham Asylum

Black Mask Biography Arkham Asylum

Dr. Penelope Young's Notes on Black Mask

Black Mask's original mask in Dr. Young's Office at the Arkham Mansion on Arkham Island

Newspaper Clipping of Black Mask's Trial

### Batman: Arkham City

Black Mask Character Trophy Arkham City

Black Mask Biography Arkham City

Black Mask Game Over Screen Arkham City

Black Mask getting beaten on by the TYGER Guards at the Arkham City Processing Center

A closeup look at Black Mask's Arkham City Character Trophy

Batman : Arkham City Roman Sionis

### Batman: Arkham Knight

Black Mask's display case in the Evidence Room at the GCPD Lockup in Arkham Knight

The Death of Black Mask

Black Mask in the Red Hood Story Pack

## Trivia

* As this version of Roman is stated to be paranoid and uses body doubles, it's unknown that which Black Mask's seen in the games are real. The only confirmed Roman is seen in *Arkham Origins*, but the design differences make it unclear whether or not the ones seen in *City* and *Knight* are the real Roman Sionis, although the TYGER would presumably perform tests to imprison the original one.
* He shares one similarity to the Penguin; they both enjoy torturing others.
* Black Mask did not appear in *Batman: Arkham Asylum*, but his original wooden mask was mounted on the wall in Dr. Young’s Office at the Arkham Mansion. A newspaper clipping about Roman Sionis before he became Black Mask also appeared on a bathroom cabinet in the Patient Observation Room at the Medical Facility. Black Mask was referenced in the game in many of the Penitentiary cells. For example, in the cells, was a drawing about a little boy and a house on fire, then the devil rose up and took the remains, and the boy was happy. This could also be a vague reference to Thomas Elliot, who wanted to kill his parents for their fortune.
* Black Mask's mask that was seen in Dr. Young's Office in *Arkham Asylum* was different from the one that was seen in *Arkham Origins*. However, he had been Black Mask for some time at the beginning of *Origins*, which made it possible for Dr. Young to have the first mask that he used. By the time of *Origins*, he could have already worn another.
* Black Mask's appearance in *Batman: Arkham Origins* seemed to be based on his appearance in The Batman TV series.
* The GameStop pre-order bonus included two Black Mask themed Challenge Maps for *Batman: Arkham Origins*: Lot Full and Hidden Facility.
* Despite having brown hair in *Batman: Arkham City*, Black Mask had black hair in *Batman: Arkham Origins*. Black Mask could've dyed his hair, which was very unlikely, or this could've just been a continuity error.
* Black Mask's Character Biography in *Arkham Origins* still stated that his hair was brown.
* When you went back to the Church to check on Black Mask after his Most Wanted Mission, he was not there anymore. He must've been taken to Blackgate or found a way to escape.
* If you looked closely at the screenshot on Black Mask's Concept Art page, you could see him kicking someone who looked like Alberto Falcone. This was perhaps a scene that was planned in early development in which Roman Sionis, or the Joker in disguise, would assault Alberto.
* Black Mask was the first and only known inmate to successfully escape Arkham City.
* It was unknown when Black Mask's mask was burned onto his face, though it was presumably after he escaped from Blackgate and before he was incarcerated at Arkham Asylum, as, in *Arkham Origins Blackgate*, he still had his wooden mask. Before the accident, Black Mask got rid of his wooden mask and replaced it with a newer, leather mask, which was the one that was burnt onto his face.
* Curiously, Black Mask and Hush were surprisingly similar to one another. They both came from very wealthy families, they both suffered from abusive parents whom they eventually grew to resent and hate, they both orchestrated their parent's deaths to gain their inheritance, they were both childhood friends of Bruce Wayne, and both eventually grew up to have an obsessive grudge against the billionaire.
	+ It's currently unknown if Roman Sionis and Thomas Elliot had any prior connections to one another, although given the fact that they were both childhood friends of Bruce Wayne, it's likely that they were at least aware of each other, if not very close.
* In Arkham City, Batman used his Cryptographic Sequencer and hacked the code that said: "Roman Sionis", which the code was a reference to Black Mask's identity.
* In the Game Over Lines for the Deathstroke DLC, his voice was noticeably different to when he defeated Batman. This was likely because at the time, Black Mask was being impersonated by the Joker. It could then be assumed that Black Mask's voice when beating Deathstroke was his real voice.
* At the time of *Arkham Origins*, Roman Sionis was 38 years old, this would make him over a decade older than Bruce Wayne, who usually started as Batman around his mid-20s in most versions. It also means that by the time of *Arkham Knight*, Sionis was almost 50 years old.
* Black Mask's position as the top crime lord being stolen by the Joker during the Christmas Eve Incident was referenced by Aaron Cash in the Evidence Room at the GCPD Lockup. Cash also stated that Black Mask was never the same after that night as he was unable to rebound nor able to adapt to the influx of super-villains that took over Gotham and remained a small time player in crime
* As stated in Black Mask's bio, he carved the mask from his father's grave that was seen in game. However, in the comics, he carved the mask from his mother's grave.
* Black Mask's current voice actor, Brian Bloom, had previously voiced Ultraman in *Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths*. Coincidentally, his rendition of both characters spoke with a Brooklyn accent, behaved in a similar manner to a stereotypical Italian-American mobster, and acted as mob bosses for a massive criminal syndicate (the Crime Syndicate of America for Ultraman, and the False-Facers for Black Mask).
* In Arkham City, the riddle 'Did you hear the HOLE story of how Black Mask escaped?', requires Batman to scan a Wanted poster for Black Mask, according to the poster, Black Mask escaped the prison on 13 December.