Real Name: N/A
Occupation: Criminal
Marital Status: Single
Base of Operations: Gotham
Height: N/A
Weight: N/A
Eyes: N/A
Hair: N/A
First Appearance: Detective Comics #31 (1939)
Created By: Gardner Fox, Bob Kane

Pre Crisis:
The Monk is one of the earliest significant villains of the series, his battle with Batman being one of the first multi-part Batman adventures. The Monk was a vampire who wore a red, monk-like outfit, with a hood that bore a skull and crossbones. He had an assistant named Dala who lured Batman to his lair and convinced him to use Bruce Wayne's fiancee Julie Madison as a way of hurting the Batman.

The Monk placed Julie in a hypnotic trance using his vampiric abilities and used her as bait for the Dark Knight. After rescuing Julie, Batman killed the Monk and Dala by shooting them with silver bullets as they lay in their coffins. This action is notable as it displays a ruthlessness and affinity for firearms that Batman would abandon in later stories as the series drifted away from its pulp adventure roots. The tale of the Monk is also remembered for its moody visuals and use of the supernatural, other elements that were downplayed as the Batman series continued to evolve.

Batman himself was transformed into a vampire by the Monk but was eventually cured by a serum administered by a priest/exorcist named Father Green. At the conclusion of the tale, Green departed with the captive Monk and Dala, hinting that he had been pursuing them for a very long time indeed.

Batman now has The Monks red hood displayed as a trophy in the Batcave.

Post Crisis:
The Monk is named Niccolai and is the vampiric leader of a cult called The Brotherhood, based in an abandoned castle/manor house on the outskirts of Gotham City. His followers, among whom is the gothic Dala, feed upon the blood of captured victims. Only the most devoted acolytes are transformed into true creatures of the night however. Julie Madison is turned into the Monk's pawn, as she is lured to the castle by Dala under the guise of the Monk being some sort of self-help guru. At present, the current origin of the character has not been revealed. It should be noted that Dala is not a vampire, but she hopes to become one so she can serve at Niccolai's right hand.