Every Arkham Character Who Returns in Batman: Arkham Shadow Explained

As a seasoned aficionado of all things Batman, I must say that delving into the intricate web of characters and their backstories presented in ‘Batman: Arkham Shadow’ was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The narrative is meticulously crafted, providing a rich tapestry of interconnected lives that are woven together in the grimy underbelly of Gotham City.

This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Batman: Arkham Shadow .

A consistent highlight of the Batman: Arkham series has been its sense of scale. From even its humble beginnings in Batman: Arkham Asylum, the world of Arkham has felt like a full Batman universe, packed to the brim with not just the trademark archvillains, but a bevy of lesser-known rogues as well. Many of these more obscure villains were first referenced via Arkham Asylum‘s Easter eggs and Riddles, and grew to become a larger part of the Arkhamverse in sequels and spinoffs. Batman: Arkham Shadow shines the spotlight on some of these characters.

Although it’s only available on VR platforms, “Batman: Arkham Shadow” is a fully-fledged, official addition to the “Batman: Arkham” series, with its narrative seamlessly fitting into the sequence of events between “Arkham Origins” and “Asylum”. This placement enables a variety of familiar characters from both the hero and villain camps to make appearances in “Shadow”, some even playing pivotal roles in the game’s plot.

Every Returning Character in Batman: Arkham Shadow

Every Arkham Character Who Returns in Batman: Arkham Shadow Explained

Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow

In the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” the infamous villain Dr. Jonathan Crane, also known as Scarecrow, takes center stage and his backstory is significantly explored. Essentially, this game serves as a tale of how Dr. Crane became the iconic figure we know from Batman’s rogue gallery. Initially, Bruce Wayne meets Dr. Crane disguised as Irving “Matches” Malone in a group therapy session. Here, Dr. Crane criticizes Dr. Quinzel for her lenient interpretation of Jungian theories.

As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: Instead of making people talk about their hidden dark sides, Doctor Crane prefers a chemical approach to cure them. He plans to test this hypothesis on unwitting subjects from Blackgate, unbeknownst to them. His concoction makes patients confront their deepest terrors, leading many under his care to a total mental breakdown. Eventually, Batman intervenes and puts a stop to Crane’s experiments, but not before the good doctor inadvertently breathes in some of his own fear-inducing chemicals.

Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn

Harleen Quinzel, fresh from her therapist training, meets Bruce/Malone at Blackgate when he arrives. She endeavors to use group therapy for her patients but finds Dr. Crane challenging this by claiming she’s inadequate, trying to take over her clients. However, Batman receives aid from Quinzel in thwarting Crane’s schemes.

Harvey Dent/Two-Face

In contrast to Scarecrow, the VR game “Batman: Arkham Shadow” predominantly follows the origin story of Two-Face, with a significant chunk of its main plot delving into Harvey Dent’s past and transformation into a villain. The relationship between Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent is heavily emphasized, as they spent considerable time together following the demise of Bruce’s parents. Scattered flashbacks in “Arkham Shadow” depict Harvey’s father physically abusing both boys during their childhood, with these violent episodes being linked to a dissociative personality disorder that later manifests as Two-Face’s dual identity.

In the game Batman: Arkham Shadow, Harvey Dent primarily serves as the District Attorney, determinedly pursuing the elusive “Rat King,” a menacing figure planning to unleash a day of vengeance. As Arkham Shadow draws to a close, an undercover cop’s murder case comes to trial, with Bruce Wayne assuming the identity of the criminal Malone in court. In this trial, Dr. Crane, visibly shaken, attempts to administer his chemical compound; however, Bruce manages to seize it and knock it from Dr. Crane’s hand. Tragically, the vial breaks, spraying acid on Harvey Dent, inflicting severe burns on his face.

In the closing scenes of the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow“, it’s disclosed that Harvey Dent had been the Rat King in disguise, even though he wasn’t aware of it because of his dissociative identity disorder. This disorder was now manifesting itself. As the Rat King, Harvey threatened to murder an inmate in front of Batman. In a desperate move to rescue his childhood friend, Batman exposed his secret identity, which prompted Harvey to attempt suicide. However, Batman managed to save him. The ending of “Batman: Arkham Shadow” shows Dent losing command over his good side and transforming into Two-Face.

Carmine Falcone

In the Batman: Arkham series, Carmine Falcone has been frequently referenced; however, it’s in Arkham Origins where he takes center stage, acting as the criminal mastermind behind Blackgate Prison. Prior to Arkham Origins, there were rumors that Falcone was responsible for Two-Face’s scarring, a claim that remains valid since Malone is thought to have been under Falcone’s employ during the fateful trial where Two-Face was permanently disfigured.

Jim Gordon

In the movie “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” Commissioner Jim Gordon regularly features, collaborating with both Batman and Harvey Dent in a joint effort to dismantle the Rat King’s gang.

Barbara Gordon

In the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” Jim’s daughter, Barbara Gordon, plays a significant part. She supplies crucial intel that leads to the capture of a key member of the Rat King gang. Furthermore, during Batman’s investigation in Blackgate, she offers valuable insights, hinting at her future role as Oracle within the “Arkham” series.

It strongly suggests that one of the rats Batman captures at the Monarch Theater might be Dick Grayson, although it hasn’t been officially verified as such.

The Joker

In the game, Batman: Arkham Shadow, though the Joker isn’t physically present, he does engage in a short conversation with Batman when Batman is locked up in solitary confinement at Blackgate Prison. Interestingly, only the Joker manages to uncover Batman’s true identity beneath the “Malone” disguise.

Arnold Wesker/Ventriloquist

Initially introduced through collectible tapes in ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’, Arnold Wesker subsequently receives a brief backstory in ‘Batman: Arkham Shadow’. In a therapy session, Wesker is seen clutching the wooden puppet that his roommate, Donnegan, fashioned from a tree on Death Row. After undergoing Dr. Crane’s chemical treatments, Wesker develops an obsession with the doll, convinced it speaks to him. Ultimately, this leads to Wesker killing his cellmate for the doll, thereby solidifying his position as the sinister Ventriloquist.

Joe Chill

Joe Chill, a character frequently appearing in the Arkham series, is the individual responsible for the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents. He was initially introduced in Arkham Asylum and reappears under the same guise in Batman: Arkham Shadow. During the storyline, Bruce, disguised as Malone, interacts with Joe Chill on several occasions without realizing he was the one who took his parents’ lives. This shocking revelation is finally disclosed by Harvey Dent towards the end of Batman: Arkham Shadow. However, Batman chooses not to apprehend Chill.

Frank Boles

In the fleeting scene, Frank Boles makes a brief appearance in “Batman: Arkham Shadow” as a guard at Blackgate Prison. Later on, he is seen working at Arkham Asylum, where he eventually falls under the Joker’s control and becomes one of his victims.

2024-12-05 20:34