DC made a bold move by putting one of their most underutilized and underrated Batman villains at the center of a new experimental Absolute Universe narrative—and it’s paid off in spades, with Absolute Batman becoming the best-selling comic of the year. While several factors contributed to the series' success, a key element lies in how the story allowed Roman "Black Mask" Sionis to fully realize his potential, turning him into a major driving force in the narrative.

Black Mask was introduced to the Absolute Universe alongside Batman in Absolute Batman #1 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta. With each issue, their take on the character has proven to be exceptional, ushering in a new era for Black Mask, one where he reaches his full potential as a villain. In fact, he’s now edging into legendary territory, ing the ranks of iconic figures like the Joker.

For those catching up on DC’s ALL IN initiative, the Absolute Universe is a world infused with Darkseid’s energy, created after his death, resulting in darker, more hardcore versions of beloved characters—and Black Mask is no exception.

Black Mask will help shape Bruce’s legacy and serve as a crucial learning curve for the hero.

BLACK MASK: A Brief Overview of Batman’s Most Underrated Villain

Main Cover by Matt Wagner for Batman: Arkham - Black Mask TP (2020)

Black Mask first appeared in Batman #386 (1985), created by writer Doug Moench and artist Tom Mandrake. Before becoming one of Gotham’s most notorious criminals, Roman Sionis was born into a wealthy family known for their business empire. After the death of his parents, Sionis inherited the family fortune but quickly squandered it, leading him down a dark path. He eventually became a ruthless crime lord, infamous for his obsession with masks and his penchant for torture. While Black Mask initially wore just a regular mask, a confrontation with Batman resulted in the mask being chemically fused to his face, marking his true Black Mask transformation.

This incident also marked his rise as the leader of the "False Facers," his masked army of henchmen. Though Black Mask has remained an underutilized Batman villain, he played a major role in one of DC's most iconic stories—Judd Winick's Batman: Under the Red Hood. In that narrative, Sionis became a central antagonist, clashing with both Batman and the Red Hood. This portrayal is often regarded as one of his best in comics, but now, with Absolute Batman, it looks like Black Mask may be getting a new best portrayal.

Who Is the Black Mask of the Absolute Universe?

Black Mask Character Design by Nick Dragotta for Scott Snyder’s Absolute Batman (2024–)

As previously mentioned, a key aspect of DC’s Absolute Universe is reimagining characters with decades of history in a fresh, bold way while still staying true to their core identities. In the case of Black Mask, he remains the sadistic, criminal overlord fans know and love. However, Absolute Batman amplifies this aspect tenfold, blending Sionis' ruthless gangster persona with that of a paramilitary leader. In this version, he commands his own personal army, the Party Animals gang, which he rents out to cities to cause chaos and destruction. This portrayal has seen Black Mask succeed in ways that go beyond his usual methods, with mass shootings, arson, and widespread mayhem being his calling card.

True to form, Roman still carries himself like a businessman, complete with the slightly cheesy salesman persona portrayed by Judd Winick in Batman: Under the Red Hood. In Absolute Batman #3, as Batman begins to disrupt his operations, Sionis approaches the situation with a strategic, business-minded solution—offering Batman a $200 million bribe to stay out of the Party Animals' way. This move highlights his cutthroat approach to consolidating power and eliminating threats, staying true to his portrayal as a ruthless gangster businessman. Snyder's take on the character puts a unique spin on Black Mask while maintaining his core traits.

The Absolute Universe not only reshapes Black Mask's origin and role in Gotham, but it also gives him a major design overhaul, courtesy of Nick Dragotta. While Dragotta still dresses Roman in the style of an old-school gangster, complete with designer suits, the most striking change is the helmet-like, bulbous black mask. This new mask retains the skull-like mandibles, ensuring that Sionis remains instantly recognizable while giving his character a fresh, menacing look.

Absolute Batman Is Allowing Black Mask to Finally Reach His Full Potential As a Villain

Comic Comes From Scott Snyder’s Absolute Batman #5 (2025) – Art by Nick Dragotta

While the changes to Black Mask's origins, role in Gotham, and appearance are certainly intriguing, perhaps the most notable aspect of his portrayal in Absolute Batman is that he is finally reaching his full potential as a villain. When fans think of Batman’s most iconic foes, they often think of Bane, the Joker, and Ra’s al Ghul. These villains have significantly shaped the Dark Knight's journey and have proven to be his equal on multiple occasions, something that can’t always be said for the Black Mask of Earth-Prime.

However, by making Black Mask Batman’s first true villain in the Absolute narrative, DC has positioned him to play a lasting, impactful role in Batman’s story. This portrayal marks a turning point, as Black Mask will help shape Bruce’s legacy and serve as a crucial learning curve for the hero. In Absolute Batman #5, their confrontation solidifies Black Mask as a worthy adversary. He defeats Batman, throwing Bruce off a skyscraper, then takes control of the media to recruit more followers to his personal army, further worsening the state of Gotham. In this version, Black Mask operates at the peak of his villainous power.

Absolute Batman's Modernization of Roman Sionis Will Be Key to His Character's Success

Comic Pages Come From Scott Snyder’s Absolute Batman #5 (2025) – Art by Nick Dragotta

Snyder’s modernization of Black Mask will be a key factor in the character reaching his full potential as a villain, adding depth and relatability that resonate with modern times. Roman’s background, as he reveals in a media broadcast, involves growing up as the son of a pig farmer, placing him on the same impoverished level as many Gothamites. He then appeals to their discontent with the wealthy elite, using their frustration to recruit them into his violent chaos. This more modern-day relevant twist on Black Mask sets him up to become an exceptional Batman villain.