The anticipated superhero game this year is Gotham Knights, and it is telling a story that takes inspiration from multiple comics. The game tells the story of the Bat-Family dealing with the aftermath of Batman's death as the Court Of Owls rises as the newest threat to Gotham City. This RPG has the players take control of Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, and Red Hood as they live up to Batman's legacy.
Many DC fans are excited to see what WB Games Montréal has in store, but they still have to wait until October 25th to get their hands on the game. However, there are plenty of comics out there to read in order to get to know Batman's family, how they view him, and how they manage to stand out from Batman's shadow.
Batman: Under The Red Hood (2004)
It shows the legacy of this storyline when the identity of Red Hood being Jason Todd is now nearly as iconic as Bruce Wayne as Batman. It all started with Batman: Under The Red Hood in which Jason Todd was not the anti-hero that he is today; he was a gun-toting crime lord on a path of vengeance.
This storyline explores the complex and tragic relationship between Bruce Wayne and Jason Todd. Both show that they love each other as father and son but their moral codes are so vastly different that their paths have turned them into enemies. The reader is sorry for both sides which makes it hard to side with anyone but that shows how well-written the story is.
Batman: Gotham Knights #43 (2003)
After spending many years as Oracle, fans got to see Barbara Gordon return to being Batgirl in a flashback thanks to Gotham Knights #43. This comic is also a character-driven story, focusing on Bruce Wayne and Barbara reflecting on Jason Todd as the second Robin.
Little did the fans know at the time that this would end up being a prelude to Jason's return in Under The Red Hood. The developers of Gotham Knights directly alluded to Gotham Knights #43 during the viral marketing before the game even had a title, hinting at Batgirl as a playable character and the title of the game.
Detective Comics - Rise Of The Batmen (2018)
Batman creates a new team led by Batwoman that consists of Tim Drake AKA the third Robin, Cassandra Cain AKA Orphan, Stephanie Brown AKA Spoiler, and a newly reformed Basil Karlo AKA Clayface. This would be protectors of Gotham as a new threat rises in the city while also giving a unique and refreshing team for new readers.
This new team was not only effective, but they had their own distinct dynamic that kept it from feeling like a B-grade Bat-Family. They even had a standout superhero lair known as the Belfry, a headquarters that will be seen in the Gotham Knights game since the Batcave has been destroyed.
Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection (2011)
This run of Batgirl focuses on Barbara Gordon's return to Batgirl after spinal surgery and physical therapy has brought her back on her feet. Comic book writer Gail Simone nails the character of Batgirl by showcasing her rebuilding herself up in both lives on her own.
Barbara is never Batman or Nightwing's sidekick, she is a hero on her own and the reader sees her become a Gotham Knight once again to fight villains like The Mirror. At the same time, Gail Simone also focuses on Barbara's personal life with things such as her friendship with her roommate and hiding a secret from her father Commissioner James Gordon.
Nightwing: A Knight In Blüdhaven (1998)
Chuck Dixon is one of the best writers for Robin characters which made him perfect for writing a Nightwing graphic novel. A Knight In Blüdhaven is the showcase of Nightwing and his mission to protect Blüdhaven and prove that he's more than Batman's sidekick; he's his own man and can be a protector of justice as well.
Blüdhaven is one of the most iconic cities of the DC universe and not necessarily for good reasons. It is the sister of Gotham City, but it is considered even worse than Gotham with Blüdhaven having shockingly more crime and corruption to the point that people can't even walk home. Nightwing wants to bring hope to the city and fix it the way Batman fixed Gotham.
Batman: R.I.P. (2008)
A prelude to his death in Final Crisis, Batman R.I.P. showcases the talented writing of Grant Morrison. There is everything needed for an epic Batman event here from the action to the intrigue with plenty of character moments from Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Damian Wayne.
However, Grant Morrison also includes his love for the strange and delightfully macabre with The Club Of Villains, Bat-Mite, and the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. It's a very different Batman story but one that sets up his death which is what leads into Battle For The Cowl and is a big focus of Gotham Knights.
Batman: Battle For The Cowl (2009)
Where Gotham Knights is all about the of the Bat-Family coming together to carry on the legacy of Batman, Batman: Battle For The Cowl is about the division his death causes. Dick Grayson is told in Bruce Wayne's will to never become Batman, but Gotham is plunged into chaos without the Caped Crusader.
Villains are running wild and all of Batman's closest friends and partners are all fighting about who becomes the newest Batman. Tim tries to pick up the mantle, but then Jason turns into a gun-toting murderous version of Batman, and it's all one big wild ride that explores the aftermath of Batman, much like the new game.
Red Robin: The Grail (2010)
This is the sequel to Battle For The Cowl that shows how Tim Drake is handling Bruce's death and the answer is: not very well. He has ditched the Robin uniform for a new Red Robin moniker that is one of many costumes confirmed for Gotham Knights as he obsessively searches for his adoptive father, determined to prove that he's alive.
The new Red Robin ends up going on a journey that puts the usually light-hearted teen in a darker disposition, almost acting like Bruce Wayne. Even the Red Robin suit even resembles a Batman suit but without the pointy ears, which further adds to the idea that DC was grooming Tim to become the next Batman.
Night Of The Owls (2012)
Taking place during The Court Of Owls storyline, Night Of The Owls is an anthology of stories about the Bat-Family and other Gotham-based characters dealing with the Court Of Owls. Since Gotham Knights is about the four Bat-Family , this is a perfect comic to read.
There is a story about why Jason Todd returns to Batman after all this time, Nightwing learns of a connection he has to the Court, and Batgirl has to protect her father from being assassinated by Talons. Add in a few other characters such as Catwoman and Jonah Hex and it makes for an interesting spin-off of The Court Of Owls storyline.
The Court Of Owls (2012)
As good as Night Of The Owls is, it doesn't hold a candle to the original storyline it stems from which is the biggest inspiration for Gotham Knights. The Court Of Owls is the three-volume saga about Batman discovering and battling the secret organization of Gotham's elite running the city from behind closed doors.
This story from Scott Snyder became so iconic that not only did the Court Of Owls become one of Batman's most iconic villains almost immediately but Snyder was even brought in to help with the writing for the Gotham Knights game. The Court is the main threat of Gotham Knight, so that makes reading the Court Of Owls not just recommended but essential.
