Why Dick Grayson’s Reveal in Batman: Arkham Shadow Deserves Its Own Game!

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Following the releases of “Gotham Knights” and “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League”, along with Warner Bros.’ emphasis on Batman, it’s highly likely we’ll see more “Arkham” games or even additional Batman titles in the future. Notably, while exclusive to Meta Quest 3, “Batman: Arkham Shadow” is an exceptional new addition to the series and serves as a testament to the rich and unexplored prequel era of the Arkhamverse, which was only partially addressed by Rocksteady’s “Arkham” trilogy.

Following the events of both “Batman: Arkham Origins” and “Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate”, “Batman: Arkham Shadow” delves deeper into the lore of the Arkhamverse, providing answers to questions such as how District Attorney Harvey Dent became Two-Face and what Bruce Wayne’s involvement was in that transformation. Additionally, it sets up potential future appearances for Dick Grayson’s Robin and Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl, suggesting a sequel could feature a team of three superheroes. However, it would be even more intriguing if either Dick or Barbara were to lead the story themselves.

Barbara Gordon is the Unsung MVP of the Arkhamverse’s Bat-Family

In the captivating world of Arkham, Oracle has consistently played an impressive role since I first heard her voice through Batman’s earpiece during our shared mission in “Batman: Arkham Asylum.” Given that she had already sustained a disabling injury within the Arkhamverse timeline, it felt plausible that Barbara Gordon, as Batgirl, had hung up her cowl for good.

Despite the numerous adventures of Batman, the unwavering care for Bruce and Commissioner Jim Gordon, particularly Barbara Gordon, has consistently shone as a beacon of compassion and morality in the Arkham games. In Batman: Arkham Knight, Barbara was introduced in-game through Batman’s comms feed, but Rocksteady opted to keep her hostage by Scarecrow and stage her death. This move primarily reduced her character to a damsel in distress, though it attempted to rectify this by featuring a playable Batgirl in the challenge mode of Batman: Arkham Knight and an exclusive DLC episode dedicated to her.

In the Arkhamverse, Batman: Arkham Origins showcased the initial meeting between Batman and Barbara, while her gradual integration into Bruce Wayne’s, Alfred Pennyworth’s, and Dr. Leslie Thompkins’ Bat-family was skillfully incorporated into the narrative of Batman: Arkham Shadow. Furthermore, she assumed the role of Oracle in that story. Among the Bat-family members, Barbara could arguably be worthy of her own Arkham game, and Shadow certainly strengthens this argument.

From my gaming perspective, Dick Grayson, the Nightwing, didn’t make much of an appearance in the Arkhamverse before Batman: Arkham Shadow. He was barely relevant in Batman: Arkham Knight, popping up only during Penguin’s “Gunrunner” side quest and Killer Croc’s Season of Infamy DLC. But if I were to pick between Dick Grayson or Barbara Gordon as the lead for a potential Batman: Arkham Shadow sequel, it seems like Dick would be the top choice.

Dick Grayson’s Theatrical Reveal in Batman: Arkham Shadow Can’t Be for Nothing

One aspect of the Arkhamverse that has not been explored is how each member of Batman’s family was brought into Bruce Wayne’s life. In an effort to fill this gap, particularly for Batman’s first Robin, Dick Grayson, the game Batman: Arkham Shadow provides a unique perspective. The game creatively depicts Batman initially encountering Dick as a member of a cult disguised as a Rat, who are under the influence of the Rat King and are at odds with “the police, the courts, and the prison” in Gotham City.

In this scenario, Dick Grayson finds himself in a captivating predicament, being an orphan who can’t quite determine the direction of his moral compass. As the story unfolds and the credits conclude, players will witness Bruce Wayne offering Dick a truce via Dr. Leslie Thompkins to meet the young man. Remarkably, despite Dick donning the Haly’s Circus jacket and exhibiting a distinctive fighting style—and considering the game’s timeline—it doesn’t take long for players to recognize him as Dick. However, the creators of “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” Camouflaj, were tight-lipped about this revelation.

In the 1.3 update of Batman: Arkham Knight, a new post-credits scene has been added where players witness Bruce meeting Dick, relocating him from the Beacon Hotel to Wayne Manor. Given the significant unveiling in this scene, it’s plausible that a future Batman: Arkham Knight sequel might focus on Robin within its storyline while maintaining Batgirl as a secondary character.

Moreover, the possibility of Dick Grayson’s return provides an excellent opportunity to bring back Josh Keaton not just because he played the character, but also due to his exceptional acting skills.

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2025-02-03 00:54