Batman’s relationship with each member of the Bat Family in Gotham Knights is important and will surely affect how Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Red Hood are developed throughout the narrative. It will be interesting to learn how close Batman was to each of them and what their experiences were together, but it would also be interesting to see how the relationships established with each of Batman’s antagonists affect the Bat Family as well.
It is clear that a lot of history exists between characters in Gotham Knights. Implications determine that certain characters have had certain experiences pertinent to their original lore, such as Nightwing and Red Hood having previously been Robin in different generations. It is unknown how many antagonists will be part of Gotham Knights, but it is obvious that many of them will have a storied history with Batman. However, there is ample reason to believe that Gotham Knights has already been alluding to the presence of Batman’s most prolific and maniacal antagonist.
Proof that Joker May Already Be Part of Gotham Knights Canon
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It has already been officially and publicly declared that Barbara Gordon suffered a spinal injury in Gotham Knights without any other particulars depicted. Likewise, it has also been shared that Jason Todd was resurrected by “an assassin cult,” inferring that he was once dead. In the Batman mythology, Joker is responsible for both Barbara’s paralysis and Jason’s death, and so it is an easy assumption to make that he would be responsible for the fates of Batgirl and Red Hood once more in Gotham Knights.
That said, these details around what had happened to Barbara and Jason are still being kept purposefully vague in order to not spoil who is indeed canon to Gotham Knights. Of course, there is always a chance that Joker has been omitted from the backstories of these characters, perhaps being substituted with another antagonist, or having had a different circumstance befall them both.
However, it does not seem as though enough details have been changed about Batgirl and Red Hood’s individual fates, and the details themselves are perhaps too particular and iconic to have Gotham Knights make such drastic changes to them. But until actual confirmation reveals whether Joker is an established character in Gotham Knights or not, it seems safe to presume that he is based on the information that has been shared about Batgirl and Red Hood.
Batgirl and Red Hood’s Grievances with Joker Would Be Interesting to See in Gotham Knights
Whether in Gotham Knights itself, a DLC, or a sequel, it would be a perfect storyline for Batgirl and Red Hood to encounter Joker once again. Having him appear would continue the development of their long histories together, especially when it comes to revenge for what happened to Barbara and Jason.
In Gotham Knights, Barbara is recovering from her spinal injury and is able to go out on active duty once more with the Batgirl alias. WB Games Montreal has marginally altered Batgirl’s backstory in Gotham Knights in an attempt to rectify issues fans had with its inadvertent ableism, and her recovery will be in progress still as shown with back braces implemented into her costume and civilian attire in the Belfry.
Barbara’s past as Oracle should remain a significant part of her character development in Gotham Knights, and it would be incredible to see how she interacts with Joker for the first time since she was confined to a wheelchair. Likewise, it would be exciting to see Jason interact with his murderer and to see Joker’s reaction to seeing Jason revived and adopting a much more violent persona as Red Hood.
This dichotomy would be much more interesting between Batgirl, Red Hood, and Joker due to its narrative importance as well as Gotham Knights’ emphasis on the Bat Family. Even if Joker does not appear, it would be fantastic to see Barbara and Jason reflect on what had happened to one another together in a cutscene similar to the one fans were shown with Jason and Dick Grayson. Barbara and Jason have an intriguing connection through Joker that would be excellent to portray in order to have these characters bond together in the Bat Family.
Gotham Knights May Need to Spend Time on Other Antagonists
Further, it may be WB Games Montreal’s intention to overlook the particulars of their backstories in an effort to concentrate on other antagonists instead. Joker could be an established character in Gotham Knights and never make an appearance. Joker is highly saturated in all modern DC media, and Gotham Knights is seemingly centered on the Court of Owls and Batman’s alleged death already.
Therefore, throwing Joker into this mixture could be unsatisfactory and take away from other rogues’ gallery antagonists who could sorely use the spotlight. Penguin and Mr. Freeze are the only other antagonists players know to anticipate in Gotham Knights, but it is certain that others will be occupying side quests and neighboring boroughs in its open-world Gotham City. The open world will be full of different faction gangs that players can tackle in random crimes throughout the city, and may be affiliated with antagonists that may be revealed later on.
These side antagonists may or may not have an influence on the narrative or its characters, but the implications of a few would be interesting either. If the Court was responsible for Jim Gordon’s death, Barbara has yet another stamp on her tragic backstory. If the Court is responsible for Bruce Wayne’s death, then all four of Gotham Knights’ playable protagonists have a stake in the matter.
It would be exciting to see Nightwing and Robin have their own personal antagonists to rival against, where an intimate backstory could explain why their nemeses are so important to their own journeys. Gotham Knights could try to take from existing comic book storylines for such subplots, or it could create its own antagonist histories as it is a new DC canon. The latter would undoubtedly be more entertaining and demonstrate how creative WB Games Montreal can be with its characters and narrative.
Gotham Knights is scheduled to release on October 25 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.