Kevin Conroy’s definitive performance in the 90s’ Batman: The Animated Series, and the rich Batman mythology and lore that Rocksteady steeped into its franchise, made it one of the most influential superhero franchises. However, while Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Gotham Knights would want fans to believe that the Caped Crusader is not present in their games, there are many clues that point toward a narrative twist with each game’s Bruce Wayne being alive.
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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Hides its Batman in Plain Sight
A compelling point of intrigue in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is that it was confirmed to follow the continuity developed by Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham franchise. Rocksteady’s choice to embed Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League into the Arkham universe has given it more weight on top of its own efforts as a co-op game featuring four playable protagonists from Task Force X. Rocksteady must now contend with the expectations of fans who are anticipating some semblance of closure for the franchise’s Dark Knight.
If Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League follows the Knightfall Protocol conclusion to Batman: Arkham Knight, Batman would be presented as a different figure than players remember. Bruce Wayne effectively “dies” at the end of Batman: Arkham Knight. It would seem unlikely, then, that this iteration of Batman linked back up with the Justice League.
Furthermore, Batman is publicly celebrated in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s open-world Metropolis with balloons, stuffed dolls, and other memorabilia. Batman’s Hall of Justice statue is seen briefly in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s official gameplay reveal from The Game Awards 2021. Either Gizmo, Harley Quinn, or someone else can be seen taking the Batmobile out for a spin in Metropolis as well.
However, the question as to whether or not Batman will appear is more important than if he is alive or dead in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. If liberties have been taken with regard to narrative continuity, or if Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League takes place somewhere in the continuity before Batman: Arkham Knight, Batman could be portrayed as a prominent Justice League affiliate.
Rocksteady may very well be reserving the character for players to see when the game launches as a surprise boss battle. However, while this would surely appease fans, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League would fail to wholly dissociate itself from the shadow of the World’s Great Detective if this was the case.
It could be as simple as Batman being deceased or unaffiliated with the Justice League at the time of Brainiac’s invasion, but it appears Batman’s involvement is indifferent to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s narrative, at least apart from a potential boss battle.
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Gotham Knights Barely Shrouds its Batman Mystery
WB Games Montreal’s Gotham Knights has much more liberty to author surprising twists for its diverse Bat Family. As the same developer that put forth Batman: Arkham’s prequel installment, Batman: Arkham Origins, WB Games Montreal also centers its game on four playable protagonists who are supposedly drawn out from Batman’s shadow. But Bruce Wayne’s death is significantly more integral to Gotham Knights’ plot.
Bruce Wayne documents and disseminates a farewell to the Bat Family before his imminent death — or so it is meant to look like. Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood are thus tasked with protecting Gotham City following Bruce Wayne’s alleged death. However, it would not be surprising to fans if Gotham Knights’ Batman was still alive, though his present condition or whereabouts may be more dubious.
If Bruce Wayne is alive, it is more than likely he has been apprehended by the Court of Owls, Gotham Knights’ primary antagonist organization. Comic book lore depicts the Court as having abducted and initiated child circus performers to become Talon assassins. This may not fall directly in line with their comic book source material, but Bruce Wayne could be indoctrinated otherwise and employed as a late-game boss battle in Gotham Knights.
Batman’s cowled silhouette is noticeable in a puddle at the protagonists’ feet in Gotham Knights’ official key art, suggesting his role is far more involved than a mere parting gesture at the beginning of the game. Batman may be in need of rescue or intervention by the end of Gotham Knights, or, similar to what Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League might do, Batman could truly be deceased in order for the game to concentrate on its playable protagonists.
Batman may be more or less involved in either game, though each could have substantial narrative twists that reveal the character when players least expects him to appear. Whether Batman should be deceased or not is one question, but Batman should not have an important presence in either game if they wish to be appreciated and enjoyed on their own merits. Still, fans will expect to see Batman either way, and will likely be disappointed if he does not make an appearance in either Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League or Gotham Knights.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is scheduled to release in 2022 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Gotham Knights releases in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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