7 Comic Settings That Would be Perfect for a Batman Arkham Game

[[{“value”:”

With the potential future of Rocksteady Studios hanging on what could be a new Batman Arkham game after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, it might be time to look back to some of the best Batman comics to find a setting that works for a new format within the Arkhamverse’s setting, whether that be based on a comic’s story, themes, or characters.

The Batman comics are brimming with potential, and considering Batman: Arkham Asylum started in 2009 thanks to the inspiration of Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth back in 1989, it might be a good time to look at different settings from the DC Comics to find something that would make for a great game.

7

No Man’s Land

Gotham is Annexed from the United States and Becomes a Lawless Wasteland

Created by: Bob Gale, Alex Maleev

Released: March, 1999

Gotham is not the safest place to live. Brimming with villains, it can only be made worse by natural disasters, which is exactly what forces the US Government to claim Gotham City as a No Man’s Land, separated from the United States. With the city walled off, Batman and his allies must work together to keep Gotham from falling into the hands of greedy villains so that innocent people can get the aid they need. This story brims with potential inspiration for stories and villains.

With No Man’s Land, Rocksteady could potentially usher in a new and fractured take on Gotham City, while further fleshing out the Bat-Family characters that they seemingly begrudgingly introduced in Batman: Arkham Knight. Having Batman work as a team with his allies to save Gotham again makes for a great time, whether as a prequel or sequel to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

6

The Dark Knight Returns

A Grizzled and Outlawed Vigilante Returns for His City

Created by: Frank Miller

Released: June, 1986

One of the easiest ways for Rocksteady to bring Batman back is to let the character retire post-Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, before bringing him back to a Gotham that has further descended into the chaos of Mutants. A Gotham that doesn’t want Batman, but needs him, opens potential avenues for more stories against futuristic and unique takes on different villains.

With Gotham Police no longer on Batman’s side, there could be fun mechanics involved in how Batman stalks Gotham City as an outlawed vigilante, and it also opens up the potential for a crossover with Superman. Imagine that, an Arkham boss fight where players need to suit up against Superman himself.

5

Zero Year

A Gotham That is Swallowed by Nature in the Wake of No Electricity

Created by: Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo

Released: August, 2013

Zero Year could serve as a great prequel to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Batman: Arkham Asylum, harking back to Batman’s earliest days in the cowl where he was an outlawed vigilante against the police, and someone who was pretty ruthless against a growing list of Rogues. With Zero Year, players could also get access to new vehicles like the Bat-Bike for different ways to traverse an early Gotham.

The concept of an overrun Gotham City, filled with plant life and people in need of help at every turn, would make for a great setting, especially when The Riddler is the central antagonist of this story that would allow players to see him past his collectibles.

4

Second Chances

Jason Todd’s Origins as Robin Are Explored Before His Death

Created by: Max Allan Collins, Jim Starlin

Released: December, 1986

Second Chances is a collection of Batman’s comics from 1986 from #402-403, and #408-416, which helps to detail Batman’s first encounter with Jason Todd, who would go on to become his second Robin. After Jason’s involvement in the Arkham games as the Arkham Knight and then the Red Hood, it would be great to see the duo together in a game that combines their abilities and frustrations into a co-op formula.

Jason’s kidnap and manipulation by the Joker is heartbreaking, and that pain can be made even greater for a replay of Batman: Arkham Knight after a game where players actually get to experience the hopeful nature of Jason Todd as Batman’s second Robin, and the son that he failed in Death in the Family.

Prime-Earth is Invaded by Evil Batmen From the Dark Multiverse

Created by: Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo

Released: October, 2017

Considering Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League presents a Justice League inverted and made sinister by Brainiac, another invasion would be fun to see in the future where Batman actually has more to do than just subvert expectations by being the villain. Playing Batman as he battles against evil counterparts from the Dark Multiverse could provide amazing boss fights, especially with the Devastator and Red Death.

It’s also an opportunity for more Justice League stories, except one where Batman is the central protagonist of it all. It’s a great way to showcase the wider world of DC to those who have just played the Arkham games, as seeing Batman grapple with guilt and trauma against identical and powerful copies of himself would make for an interesting interpretation.

2

Batman Noel

Batman Battles Past, Present, and Future in His Own Christmas Carol

Created by: Lee Bermejo

Released: November, 2011

This one-shot was inspired by Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, and while that premise makes for an interesting story involving Batman, it could also make for an interesting game. Batman is presented as far more brooding and violent than before, and the stories that blend the camp of the 1960s with the modern-day broodiness of the hero could be the perfect opportunity to be a character study of Batman throughout a winter Gotham.

Not only would Gotham look great in the snow, but an opportunity for Batman to have a confrontation with his villains in the Holiday Season, as well as a confrontation with the bright Superman himself, leaves pathways for a great story that deconstructs what Batman’s idea of a hero really is.

1

DC: The New Frontier

Why Have a Batman Game When There Can Be a Justice League Game?

Created by: Darwyn Cooke

Released: March, 2004

The New Frontier comes from the legendary and late Darwyn Cooke, who brought the DC heroes back to the Golden Age to tell a story of their first adventures as a team. With Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League establishing the famed superhero team, a sequel could instead feature a co-op where players embrace the Justice League as the protagonists rather than as the antagonists.

It would be a far more hopeful game, where the combination of abilities from Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and Green Lantern would make for some great combat experiences and traversals. It’s quite the undertaking considering their unique abilities, but DC: The New Frontier serves as a hopeful point in DC as the team battles against the likes of Starro, together.

“}]] There is an endless supply of great Batman comics that serve as the perfect inspiration for prequels and sequels for the Arkhamverse to follow next.  Read More