The Ultimate Showdown: Gotham Knights vs Suicide Squad - Unleashing the Dark Knight's Solo Rule

Highlights

Both Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League respect the classic Batman trope that Batman never dies.

Batman has met his demise on more than 20 occasions in DC comics, yet it is commonly either a ruse or he swiftly resurrects.

In Gotham Knights, there is a presumption of Batman's demise, only for him to be later revived using a Lazarus Pit, in accordance with the timeless tradition of bringing Batman back to life. Suicid Squad: Kill the Justice League likewise abides by this convention, as Batman's revival has been verified.

Superhero comics have been around for nearly a century, giving rise to various tropes over time. These tropes encompass character archetypes and recurring events found in the majority of superhero comics, with no comic publisher being exempt. As the longest-standing player in the game, DC naturally initiated many of these trends and possesses its own distinct set of tropes. One such trope pervades the majority of Batman media, including the recent Gotham Knights and the upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

Though Gotham Knights had its fair share of issues, it was far from a subpar superhero game. One of its standout features was its faithful representation of its source material, incorporating numerous Easter eggs, references, and opportunities for each member of the Bat-Family to shine. Similarly, despite a lukewarm reception thus far, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League appears to be honoring the source material just as effectively as Gotham Knights. This is evident in both games adhering to one of DC's core principles: Batman never dies.

Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Maintain the Batman Can Never Die Rule

Batman has "died" more than 20 times in DC comics, but the majority of these instances involve deception or his swift return to life. The true demise of Batman in the comic books only occurs when it involves an alternate version of the hero, such as Thomas Wayne's portrayal. Often, Batman endures severe injuries that would be fatal to an ordinary person, yet he manages to evade death through his own intricate plans or with the help of another hero. Occasionally, Batman pretends to die, as exemplified by his faking a heart attack and escaping underground during his confrontation with Superman in The Dark Knight Returns.

This is a prevalent theme in Batman media, even extending to films like The Dark Knight Rises. Now, this trope has permeated the realm of video games, as both Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League offer their own distinct interpretations of this rule.

Gotham Knights starts with a fierce confrontation between Batman and Ra's al Ghul in the Batcave. Despite sustaining fatal injuries, Batman chooses to sacrifice himself to defeat Ra's. This act leads to Batman's presumed death. However, in the conclusion of Gotham Knights, players learn that Talia al Ghul has taken Batman's body and revived him using a Lazarus Pit hidden beneath the Batcave, while also brainwashing him. Batman ultimately sacrifices himself once more to prevent the Court of Owls from exploiting the Lazarus Pit. Yet, in adherence to the familiar Batman phenomenon, Gotham Knights brings him back to life, if only briefly.

It appears that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will also adhere to this Batman tradition. Since Suicide Squad exists within the same universe as Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham series, Batman is expected to be deceased, having enacted the Knightfall Protocol, which causes an explosion at Wayne Manor that presumably engulfs Bruce Wayne. Nevertheless, in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Batman makes a return, once again voiced by the late Kevin Conroy. This seems to confirm that the game also adheres to the timeless Batman comic convention.

Gotham Knights is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.