Roman Goodwin aka Rudger Goodwin in the manga and in the Japanese version of the anime series.

He is sometimes romanized as Rudger Godwin. He is a villain character in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's. He is the apparent leader of the Dark Signers, as well as the original fifth Signer who originally possessed the Dragon Head birthmark.
Background
His birthday is never mentioned at all nor about his early childhood. Roman Goodwin, is the older brother of Rex Goodwin. Just like his little brother, Roman also basically served as an co assistant to Dr. Fudo, while working in the R.R.D organization.
Dr. Fudo was mostly bent on canceling and stopping the Ener D project due to the natural disasters occurring in New Domino City as a result of using the system. But by wanting to continue the research, Roman had researched occurrences very similar to what was happening in New Domino City. He then came across the Nazca Lines. Once at the site of the Nazca Lines, a mysterious man who belonged to the Yliaster group spoke to him all alone. The man told Roman that he is destined to activate the Ener-D Reactor and also tells him to look into the light of the Ener-D Reactor. After returning to the facility, and Roman looked into the light of the Ener-D Reactor. He then saw the battle between the Crimson Dragon, and the Earthbound Immortials. He was then appointed as the new head researcher of the Ener-D project after replacing Doctor Fudo.
Roman then obtains the Stardust Dragon, Red Dragon Archfiend, Black Rose Dragon and Ancident Fairy Dragon duel monster cards. Which are the main security keys to activate the Ener-D Reactor's control units. Dr. Fudo however managed to take all three of the cards, and flee for his life, while leaving behind "Ancient Fairy Dragon" when he was wounded by Roman's henchmen.
The Spider dark mark appears on Roman's arm, where it struggles with the Dragon Head birthmark for complete control of his body. Nearly succumbed to the power of the Dark Signers, Roman decides to leave his Mark of the Dragon to destiny by tearing his left arm off, and placing it in a preservation canister (in which was removed from the english version, and still had his hand without being ripped off completely). He then gives Rex the canister while telling him to gather the Signers and someday defeat him. After that he activates and overloads the Ener-D Reactor which ultimately lead to the Zero Reverse, killing himself and subsequently allowing the first Earthbound Immortal released, Uru, to revive him as a Dark Signer.
Personality
Originally, Roman Goodwin had a kind hearted personality just like Rex. However he began mentally struggling to keep his sanity as The Dark Mark, and Signer Mark fought over control of him, and he eventually was consumed by the Dark Mark according to Rex Goodwin. Following his transformation into a Dark Signer, his personality became very much sadistic, even being described as being "mad" by Yusei.
Appearance
He bears a striking resemblance with his little brother. However he has short gray hair instead.
Abilities
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Manga
5000 years ago, both Rex and Roman were poor little kids who had nothing and had to steal in order to survive. One day, a woman found them and adopted them as her little brothers, by giving them the names - Roman (Rudger in the Japanese version) and Rex Goodwin.
After Sect Ijuin lost to Yusei Fudo in a factory in the Satellite, he held his cards up to the sunset, clasped them together and prayed for the cards to help him beat Yusei.
Roman, in the form of the Skeleton Knight, appeared on an altar which had not been there before and took Sect captive. Yusei demanded that he give Sect back, but the skeleton had challenged Yusei to a Duel. He is defeated when Yusei breaks the pipe he was running along, thus causing him to get disqualified for stopping. After losing, he starts to disappear, but asks Yusei his name before totally vanishing.
While Sect is in the hospital, he appears to him in a dream. According to the ancient edicts, Roman says that he shall grant Sect's wish. When Sect wakes-up, he finds himself holding a card: A level 8 monster card, named Beelze, King of Dark Dragons.
Roman later on appears behind Yusei while he is Turbo Dueling against Hunter Pace, as one of his servants, Sect was currently being infected by one of the Skeleton Knight's dark cards, in which Yusei along with the other Signers could feel.
During Sect and Jack Atlas's Duel, Roman aka the Skeleton Knight interrupts the Duel by bursting out of the ocean on his altar and salvaging Sect before he lost to Jack. He then reveals that he and Sect are involved within an evil, dark cult known as the Skeleton Knight's Crusade, which consist of several Duelists who wished for cards from the Skeleton Knight. These members all follow his commands and consider the Signers their enemies. He then disappears with Sect, leaving Yusei and Jack shocked at the events that just occurred.
Roman's plans are later on revealed to involve the "Ultimate God", which he plans to resurrect in the Sky Fortress Seibal.
Meeting Rex Goodwin inside the Duel Gate, both discuss their past and how they failed to complete the Festival of Duality years ago but now they will finish it today. After summoning their respective representatives Sect and Akiza, the Skeleton Knight proceeds to watch the duel between them. When Sect summons "Beelzeus of the Diabolic Dragons" in the climax of his duel, the Knight congratulates him for mastering the powers of darkness and tells him to rise to the pinnacle of darkness. Following Sect's victory over Akiza, the Knight leaves with Sect into the Aerial Fortress Seibal.
Encountering Yusei in the Northern Sky Corridor, Roman explains to Yusei about what happened to Sect and Akiza and what he must do in order to reach them. Noting that he lost the last time they met, the Knight makes sure that it won't happen the same way again.[11] Yusei is eventually able to defeat "Underworld Dragon Dragonecro" and Roman complimented him on his growth, by wondering if Sect's situation had drawn out his power.[12] He decided to unleash his full power, bringing out "Underworld Flood Dragon Dragocutos" and almost defeating Yusei, but Yusei was able to hold on with "Stardust Spark Dragon".[13] Roman ended his turn, poised to win on his next turn with the effect of "Dragocutos", but Yusei was able to defeat him by combining "Stardust's" effect with "Phoenix Battle Wings". Impressed by Yusei, by claiming that he was indeed the warrior that he'd recognized, the Skeleton Knight took his loss gratefully.[3] Afterwards, Yusei asked him what he'd seen in his memories. Roman revealed his name and his history with Ish and Rex, and begged Yusei to save Rex if Jack could not. The Machine Temple began to collapse, and Roman mused that it had been worth waiting 5000 years for a warrior like Yusei. Roman died in the wreckage, content with the knowledge that he had passed on Ish's last request to the next warrior and reunited with Ish's spirit at last.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (Anime)
Dark Signers arc
After the Fortune Cup ended, Roman possessed Grady and later on Tetsu Trudge, in order to test out the Signers, mainly Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas.
When the Signers along with Mina, Leo and Tetsu Trudge venture to the Satellite. They are meet-up with Martha. Roman appears imposing a Duel. Jack wants to, but is stopped by Yusei as he tells him that it's too dangerous to duel here, especially if a geoglyph appears. Jack is instructed to take Martha, and the kids somewhere safe, while Yusei, accompanied by Akiza, faces Roman in a Shadow Duel in another location.
However, three of the children decide to watch the Duel. As the Duel unfolds, Yusei and Akiza notice two kids are near the flames that is caused by the geoglyph and wonder how they got in when they are not signers. As Roman prepares to Summon his Earthbound Immortal, Uru. Yusei, and Akiza fear that once it's Summoned it could use the kids' souls as sacrifices. Luckily, Jack appears and uses his birthmark to stop the young kids from being sacrificed. Yusei eventually manages to gain the upper hand in the Duel. As a final insult to Yusei, Roman uses evil magic to flee and force Rally to take his place. Rally manages to destroy Uru, but doing so apparently costs him his own life.
Roman, along with the other Dark Signers later appear before their rivals, the Signers to begin their final battle. For the mean while each of his comrades are currently 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 awaits within the place where the system itself resides. After Devack's defeat at the hands of Leo, and Luna. He kills Greiger in order to make him into a Dark Signer by hanging him over the Original Ener-D Reactor.
After Kalin's defeat, Roman's mark seems to be causing him anguish as it escalates up his arm. But he is confronted by Rex Goodwin, who Duels him. Rex loses on purpose in order to be reborn as a Dark Signer like his brother.
Yusei and his friends enter the crater in the B.A.D., where they confront Roman. Although Yusei wins, Roman proceeds to tell Yusei that things have not finished yet, as an the King of the Netherworld will soon be born. Before Roman dissolves, he detonates a bomb in his left arm, blowing up the bridge and sending Yusei falling into the depths of the Enerdy Reactor (In the English version he doesn't do this he just warns Yusei about the King of the Netherworld's arrival while Uru's destruction caused the bridge to blow up).
Roman is the fourth Dark Signer to be defeated.
When Rex is finally defeated and the King of the Netherworld is destroyed, Roman and Rex are the only Dark Signers to not return back to life.
Quotes
- So your Yusei Fudo?
Relationships
Rex Goodwin
Dr. Fudo
Yusei Fudo
Jack Atlas
Tetsu Trudge
Gardy
Greiger
Rally Dawson
Yliaster
Kalin Kessler
Knownable Relatives
- Unnamed Adopted Sister
- Rex Goodwin (Younger Brother)
Trivia
- His birthday is ???, and his bloodtype is ???.
Voice Actors
- Japanese : Tora Take
- English : Marc Thompson
all information on Roman Goodwin came from http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Roman_Goodwin