TheBatman: Arkhamversion of the Dark Knight has returned at long last, at least in the pages of the ongoingBatmancomics. Rocksteady’sBatman: Arkhamtitles are considered by many to be the greatest video games to highlight DC Comics’s legendary detective thanks to their emotional plots, gripping gameplay, and superb voice acting that allowed players to step into the role of Batman as few games did before. This is especially true for the Caped Crusader himself, with the late Kevin Conroy turning ina defining performance as Batmanas he defended Gotham across three dark, action-packed adventures.
Warning: This article has MAJOR SPOILERS for Batman: Arkham Knight and Batman #135
This journey came to a head in 2015’sBatman: Arkham Knight, where Batman was forced to confront both his past and present while facing the dual threat of Scarecrow and the Arkham Knight. After being haunted by his memories of the deceased Joker and faced with the return of a vengeful Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne is eventually forced to unmask himself to the world. With his greatest secret out in the open,Batman Arkham Knightends with Bruce apparently being killed by a bomb exploding in Wayne Manner, but a secret ending hints that he might have faked his death to continue his crusade against crime under a new, more threatening persona.
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Eight years afterBatman: Arkham Knight’s cryptic ending, the Dark Knight of Rocksteady’s superhero gaming universe has returned in the pages ofBatman#135, as noted by Reddit userAgadhAgadh. In this issue (which marks the 900thBatmancomic overall), the mainline Caped Crusader visits various sections of the DC multiverse, including the world of theArkhamgames. There, he finds that universe’s version of Batman processing the Joker’s final death inArkham Knightalone in the Batcave.
This is the first mainstream appearance of the ArkhamverseBatman sinceArkham Knight, but it won’t be the last. Rocksteady is continuing its DC-based game series innext year’sSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, in which Task Force X is charged with eliminating Earth’s greatest heroes after they go rogue. One of these heroes is Batman himself, with Kevin Conroy returning to voice the iconic Dark Knight one final time. There had previously been speculation that Dick Grayson or another Bat-Family member would take up Batman’s mantle following Bruce’s “death,” but Conroy’s signature tone leaves little doubt that this is the same Caped Crusader from the previous Arkhamversegames.
Players will likely have to wait untilthe delayedSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguelaunches next February to find out how Batman is still alive in theBatman: Arkhamuniverse, but comic readers can see the return of this beloved version of the character ahead of time in the latestBatmancomic. There, the defender of Gotham appears in the flesh once more, still haunted by the events of his last video game outing and preparing himself for his eventual return.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguereleases on July 27, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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