Without a doubt, many fans are looking forward to DC FanDome. The event is set to begin on October 16th, or in about 2 weeks as of this writing. Already, a ton of content for the show has already been confirmed, from movies like Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom to animated DC shows. Perhaps the biggest standout is The Batman, which releases in theaters in March 2022.
Video games will also play a big role, with both Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League confirmed to be there. These are the two big DC games coming out next year, so on one hand, it’s no surprise. On the other hand, it’ll be interesting to see if super unlikely DC game projects will be there, something like Injustice 3. Surprises or no, however, it stands to reason that The Batman and Gotham Knights will go hand-in-hand at the show and after.
The Batman
Although the upcoming Batman film is separated from the DCEU and set on Earth-2 instead, it explores a time period that the DCEU hasn’t yet (or much media, for that matter). It’s set in Batman’s second year of fighting crime, where he comes face to face with the Riddler and corruption in Gotham City related to his own family. As far as the premise of The Batman film goes, it definitely seems interesting, and seeing a younger Batman opens up a ton of avenues for storytelling, even if it sticks to the classics.
Gotham Knights
In contrast, Gotham Knights is set after the death of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Seeing Gotham City in the early days of the titular character in The Batman, as well as another take on Gotham City post-Batman (and police commissioner James Gordon) in Gotham Knights creates a unique combination here. Now, some think that Batman will be alive somehow and serve a bigger role in the story than is currently apparent, but this shouldn’t be the case. While characters return all the time in comics, Batman’s death should be final in Gotham Knights.
Overall, the two takes on Batman and the two depictions of Gotham City are interesting enough on their own. Putting them side by side, as fans will indubitably see in both projects at DC FanDome, really puts the world of Batman at the fore.
The Bat Family and Villains
Furthermore, it’s not just the world of Batman, but the characters he’s inspired. In The Batman, fans see a younger version of the character, sure, but classic characters and allies like Catwoman and James Gordon appear. He will also face off with classic Batman villains like Riddler and Penguin, and that’s barring any undisclosed villains thus far. In other words, it’s a good look into the characters Batman interacts with and otherwise influences, even early in his career.
Once again, Gotham Knights shows the other end of that. Not many villains are confirmed yet, except for Mr. Freeze and the Court of Owls, but new villains could be at DC FanDome. Either way, classic villains are likely to showcase throughout the game and at the show. Not to mention the obvious, fans get to see and play as those directly influenced by Batman: Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Red Hood. These characters represent Batman’s career and impact in Gotham City, and the end of it.
Overall, it’s the ultimate one-two punch for Batman – the beginning of his career and the end of it. This ultimately means Batman fans should be eating good in 2022, with DC FanDome serving as a good appetizer for content.
Gotham Knights releases in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.