Since they have more screen time, Colin Farell and Paul Dano are understandably receiving all the plaudits for portraying the villains Penguin and Riddler in The Batman. However, John Turturro also impresses in the movie as Gotham mob boss Carmine Falcone, who is revealed to be the biological father of Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman.
Since Falcone has appeared in only three live-action projects so far, movie and TV fans don't know so much about him. After all, he has mostly been treated as a side character. However, Falcone is a much more fleshed-out character in the comics where he has multiple arcs with Batman, Catwoman, and the rest of Gotham's notorious baddies.
How Two-Face Steals Carmine Falcone's Dead Body
In Batman: Dark Victory #1, Falcone's body gets stolen from his grave. The thieves then cut off his finger and send it to his daughter, Sofia Gigante, as a message. It is later revealed that Two-Face has the body and is preserving it using Mr. Freeze's cryogenic chamber.
Gotham has plenty of crime kingpins, with all of them looking to be recognized as the best. Though Falcone's death creates an opportunity for a new major crime figure, the rise of Sofia Gigante prevents that from happening. Two-Face figures that the best way to stop Sofia from becoming another of the top crime lords in DC Comics is to intimidate her. And since he never hesitates to enlist help, it's also revealed that he was working with Calendar Man and Scarecrow.
Why Carmine Falcone Adores The Wayne Family
Among the ways that The Batman shocks fans is by revealing Thomas Wayne once hired Falcone to threaten a journalist. Well, the Wayne-Falcone relationship is nothing new. It begins in the comics when Thomas successfully treats Falcone's gravely wounded son. After his son gets shot in The Long Halloween: Father's Day, Falcone brings him to the Wayne Manor where Thomas saves his life.
Falcone paints himself as a man of honor by always looking after Bruce like he promised Thomas. However, the Don's adoration for the Wayne family tends to work against him in the comics because he always gives Bruce sensitive information which, in turn, helps him whenever he is fighting crime as the Batman.
Carmine Falcone Is Batman's First-Ever Target
When Bruce chooses to become the Caped Crusader in Batman: Year One, Falcone is the first-ever villain he faces. His attacks at the mob moss become so brazen that he even strips him to his underwear once.
At the start of his crime-fighting career, Batman appears to be a bit less cultured. His methods seem a bit extreme and senseless. A scene where he dumps Falcone's car into a river baffles readers because the mob boss has many others. Luckily, he becomes wiser as the days go by and learns to handle the villains better.
How Carmine Falcone Gets The Scars On His Face
Catwoman tries to steal from Falcone in Batman: Year One # 3Â but she is spotted. As she is fighting both the villain and his henchmen, she scratches him. This is how his face ends up being permanently scarred.
There are plenty of real-life mob inspirations in Gotham tales and Falcone's scar is clearly inspired by that of the infamous Prohibition Era mobster, Al Capone. That it's Falcone's own alleged daughter that gives him the scar, when neither of them knows they are related is quite interesting. And since every Gotham villain has something unique about his appearance, the scar is fitting.
How Carmine Falcone's Son Takes Down His Empire
Jealous of how his father ignores him while favoring his other siblings, Carmine's son, Alberto, becomes a serial killer named Holiday in The Long Halloween. He targets members of his father's empire, killing most of them. As a result, Carmine's business crumbles.
Interestingly, Alberto only commits the murders to prove to his father that he is tough enough. But he further demonstrates his competence by unknowingly destroying the organization he so desperately wants to be a part of. Like every other failed Gotham criminal, he ends up at the Arkham Assylum.
Why Gotham City's Villains Teams Up To Kill Carmine Falcone
Right after Falcone's empire crumbles in The Long Halloween, he returns home to find Two-Face, The Joker, The Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, Solomon Grundy, The Scarecrow, and The Penguin waiting for him. Two-Face then shoots him to death.
While the team-up is surprising, it's expected because the mob is shown to not respect Gotham's psychotic criminals, labeling them too chaotic. Since Falcone has the potential to rebuild his empire, it makes sense for Two-Face and his cronies to kill him so that they can take his place, Sadly, this development plunges Gotham into further chaos.
Why Carmine Falcone Is Obsessed With The Roman Empire
The mafia chieftain is known as "The Roman" in the comics because of his obsession with the Roman Empire. His villa is also designed like a Roman Emperor's palace.
Just like Roman Emperors, Falcone carries himself as a cunning and strategic leader at the height of his reign. It's the reason he manages to stay at the top in a city infested with so many criminals. But just as the Roman Empire crumbled, Falcone's empire crumbles too, leading to his death.
What Carmine Falcone Is Like In Different Continuity
In one of the best New 52 storylines, Falcone exists in the era of the pioneering mobsters. He builds his crime family in the late 20th century. His reign comes to an end when his henchman, Penguin, is corrupted by the Joker.
Fans of mob tales will love this alternate storyline more because the version of Falcone comes with more mafia stereotypes. Just as has been the case in real-life organized crime happenings, he even overthrows another mob boss, Rex "The Lion" Calabrese, so that he can take over Gotham. Fans also get to see an older generation, Batman.
The Nature Of Carmine Falcone's Feud With Jim Gordon
Falcone has an intense feud with Jim Gordon in Batman #404 because of the lawman's relentless efforts to bring him down. He even orders his nephew Johnny Viti to kidnap Gordon's family but they are saved by Batman.
Falcone's hatred for Gordon mostly stems from the cop's refusal to work for him as Commissioner Loeb does. Since Gordon has a high sense of morality, he would rather be at Batman's side than be one of the many GCPD police offices under the Don's payroll. Luckily, he suffers no serious consequences for choosing to defy the city's biggest criminal.
How Catwoman Finds Out That Falcone Is Her Father
In The Batman, Catwoman confronts Falcone and tells him that he is her father. This isn't a movie-exclusive occurrence. In Catwoman: When In Rome #1, she also finds out that Falcone is her father but this happens after the mob boss is already dead.
On the pages, Falcone is portrayed as the quintessential mobster who is promiscuous and enjoys partying. It's, therefore, expected of him to have a daughter he doesn't know about. Fans will agree that the arc in the movie is much better because Falcone and Selina get to fight about this, compared to the comics where she is left with no choice but to detest him after his death.