Our excitement for the next DC game got us thinking; what would be the best comics to read in anticipation of Gotham Knights? We decided to look back at three comics where Batman relied on the Bat Family he recruited over the years. It should also be noted that the entries in this list are not single issues, nor are they entire series. They are all available as trade paperbacks, which means they can easily be found for purchase on sites like Amazon.
Gotham Knights is an upcoming video game from WB Games Montreal. In the highly anticipated superhero title, players will have the chance to play as various members of the Bat Family. This list includes Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood. The game takes place after the death of Bruce Wayne, so Batman will not be a central character in the plot. As such, these are just three comics to read in anticipation of Gotham Knights…
dark victory
Batman: Dark Victory was the sequel to the iconic Long Halloween script. Like with The Long Halloween, the creative team of Jeph Loeb and the late Tim Sale were behind this limited series. Whereas dark victory is often forgotten in favor of its legendary predecessor, it’s also a phenomenal book that recounts a key piece of Batman lore.
Read also : The Long Halloween: Comics versus Movies
The key moment in question is that of the birth of the first Robin; Dick Grayson. To see the dawn of the Boy Wonder in Tim Sale’s distinctive style is glorious. Jeph Loeb also writes the more tender dialogue between Bruce and recently orphaned Dick, with an effortless level of affection rarely seen in mainstream comics.
Death of the family
Not to be confused with A death in the family(which is another iconic Bat-family book that could also be read in anticipation of Gotham Knights,) Death of the family focuses on the lengths Batman will go to protect his crime-fighting surrogate family.
This book is part of The New 52, a series of comics that featured one of the most brutally psychotic versions of the Joker ever in print. After reattaching his mangled face, Joker sets out to kill everyone The Dark Knight cares about. This list includes multiple iterations of Robin, Batgirl, Catwoman, Alfred, and Commissioner Gordon.
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Scott Snyder’s writing throughout this run does a phenomenal job of showing just how far Batman will go to protect his loved ones. It also does a good job of showing how Batman’s hubris can sometimes be detrimental. In Death of the familyit’s through Batman’s ego and superiority complex that Joker can decimate the crime-fighting family from within.
under the hood
under the hood is perhaps one of the most tragic Batman stories ever told. This is due to the fact that it depicts a brotherhood that has grown bitter over the years. The mystery of who was under the Red Hood was ultimately revealed to be none other than ex-Robin Jason Todd.
The last time Bruce saw Jason was right after Joker beat him to death with a crowbar. Now, after being resurrected via a Lazarus pit, he appears as an enemy of Batman. Not only that, but he dons a costume that pays homage to the Joker’s supposed origin story; the man responsible for her death.
under the hood is one of the most essential comics to read in anticipation of Gotham Knights, as Red Hood will be one of the playable characters in the game. Reading this run would help to fully understand his complicated relationship with The Dark Knight.
What do you think of our list of comics to read in anticipation of Gotham Knights? Have you read any or do you plan to read them before the game is released? Are there any other stories you think would tie into the upcoming game? Let us know in the comments section below.
