Why a Batman Beyond Game Would Be Fascinating After Arkham Knight

by

Rocksteady’s Arkhamverse has always held a special place in fans’ hearts as a continuation and expansion of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s beloved Batman: The Animated Series. It drew heavily from the show, using many of its original actors to voice their characters and capturing the series’ distinctive atmosphere. Paul Dini himself was a writer for Batman: Arkham Asylum, and he contributed to Batman: Arkham City as well. Although Dini wasn’t involved in the writing process for Batman: Arkham Knight, echoes of storylines from the iconic animated series can be found throughout the trilogy as tributes to its enduring legacy.

The storyline in Batman: Arkham Knight is quite controversial, much like its Batmobile, and for good reason. It seems no other Arkham game was planned to follow it until Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League came out more than eight years later; the fact that Jason Todd became the Arkham Knight was a predictable twist even though he hadn’t been mentioned or shown in the series before. The plot device of Joker’s blood transforming people into the Joker was daring. With that particular story arc now concluded, it will be intriguing to see what Rocksteady can accomplish if their rumored Batman Beyond adaptation becomes a reality.

Batman: Arkham Knight is a Mild Retelling of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

In the video game “Batman: Arkham Knight”, Bruce Wayne gets infected by the Joker’s blood. This infection causes him to gradually transform into the Joker over time. On the other hand, in “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker”, Tim Drake unknowingly has Joker’s DNA, which gives the Joker control over him.

If a Batman Beyond story were to be set in the Arkhamverse, it would need to come up with something innovative if it wants to include the Jokerz gang and, of course, the Joker himself. This could involve a unique twist on how the Joker’s influence is manifested or exercised over others.

It’s absolutely clear that with the Joker dead and sealed in a Titan vault deep within Bruce’s subconscious, he can never return. Even if the story of “Return of the Joker” is intriguing and enigmatic, it would be an illogical twist to insert him into another character or let his blood contaminate someone else without Batman being aware of it. This would contradict what was achieved in “Knight” and serve no purpose.

Instead of delving into Joker’s past again, which has been extensively explored in the Arkhamverse, it would be best to steer clear of this altogether. This move could pave the way for a fresh Batman Beyond storyline, allowing Rocksteady to infuse it with as much creativity and originality as they can.

The Arkhamverse is Ready for a New Batman in a New Era

The character of Batman is so universally recognized and enduring that it’s no wonder the Arkhamverse has become such a successful and beloved franchise. It would be fantastic if other DC characters could receive a fraction of the focus given to Batman in video game adaptations, particularly within the Arkhamverse. However, additional Arkham games might serve as a consolation prize, regardless of the situation. At this point, it seems highly improbable for any character besides Batman to appear in the DC mythology through gaming, considering the cancellation of Monolith’s Wonder Woman game. Yet, whispers of a Batman Beyond game from Rocksteady could potentially serve as an excellent alternative solution.

In Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, it’s clear that Bruce Wayne deeply and positively values his allies. This suggests that the possibility of mentoring another Batman might not be too unrealistic in the future.

Speaking of that, the killing of Tim Drake might cast a negative light on Bruce’s new persona and make him hesitant about taking on another young recruit for the Bat-family. If Rocksteady decides to use the Batman Beyond storyline and blend it with its own Arkhamverse, there’s an easy opportunity available. However, how a Beyond game might handle similar events without Joker could be intriguing to see.

Read More

2025-03-03 14:05