InGotham Knights, players will take to the streets of the crime-ridden Gotham City as either Batgirl, Robin, Red Hood, or Nightwing. According to the game’s premise,Batmanand Commissioner Gordon are dead, leaving the fate of the city in the hands of the Dark Knight’s most experienced protégés. Their combined skills will certainly be needed to halt the threat of the reemergent Court of Owls.
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WithGotham Knightsreleasing next year, it’s never been a better time to brush up on one’s comic book knowledge. Comic book storylines and character histories can get pretty complicated, so taking the time to familiarize oneself with the key players isn’t a bad idea. Both new and longtimeDC Comicsreaders can’t go wrong with this selection.
10The Court Of Owls
The Court of Owls is set to be the principal antagonists ofGotham Knights. However, for those who missed out on DC’s New 52 reboot in 2011, the Court of Owls are likely unfamiliar villains. Put simply, they’re a secret cabal of influential Gotham citizens who clandestinely rule the city from the shadows.
To get the most out of the Court’s backstory, it’s essential that one read Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’sThe Court of Owlsstoryline. It’s one of the finest Batman stories in recent memory, and serves as a great primer for explaining what the Court of Owls is all about.
9Night Of The Owls
Of course, after readingThe Court of Owls, fans will likely want to know how the storyline ends. For that, it’s recommended to readNight of the Owls. InNight of the Owls, Batman’s principal allies, including the primary protagonists ofGotham Knights, square off against agents of the court sent to kill them, known as the Talons.
This chapter also represents the conclusion to the saga, with plenty of the focus shifting back to Batman. In the end, Batman learns even more about the Court’s history, as well as more personal revelations that hit close to home.
8Batman: Endgame
The main premise behindGotham Knightsis that Batman, for reasons that haven’t yet been explained, has recently died.DC has toyed with this idea on several occasions, but perhaps the most dramatic example of it can be witnessed inBatman: Endgame.
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In this storyline, Batman seemingly perishes in a climactic battle with the Joker. Presumed dead by his loved ones,Batman’s allies are understandably devastatedby the loss. It’s a similar type of situation that sets the stage forGotham Knights, so fans may want to giveEndgamesome consideration before playing.
7Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader?
Neil Gaiman’sWhatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?is certainly one of the more unique Batman tales one will ever read. The story takes place during Batman’s funeral. Both his allies and enemies attend, who each give a eulogy stating their own version of events as to how Batman died.
Batman observes all of this, seemingly from beyond the grave. Listening to the eulogies of his friends and foes, he ruminates on what it meant to be Batman. Bruce eventually comes to realize that his crusade was always going to end in death. The determination that he showed in life, however, is what counted the most. It’s a poignant tale, one that definitely shouldn’t be overlooked.
6Batgirl: The New 52
Jumping into the thick of an ongoing comic series is a messy affair. As one of the heroes ofGotham Knights, fans must know a little about Batgirl and her story before diving into the game. For as chaotic as the New 52 reboot was, a good starting point for Barbara’s story is Gail Simone’s run on theBatgirlseries.
Here, readers will learn everything they need to know about what kind of crime fighter Batgirl is in the more modern continuity. After perusing a few of these issues, fans will be more than ready to suit up asone of Batman’s most dependable allies.
5Batman: Under The Hood
Jason Todd, better known as Red Hood, is also set to be one ofGotham Knights' playable characters. This member of the Bat-family, for those who don’t know, possesses quite a tumultuous history. Todd was originallythe second Robin before he was murderedby the Joker inBatman: Death in the Family.
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Todd’s character, however, received a dramatic transformation inBatman: Under The Hood. In this story, Jason Todd returns as a vengeful anti-hero known as the Red Hood, a vigilante with no qualms about using lethal force. Anyone confused about the Red Hood character should start with this comic.
4Robin: Reborn
The third playable character inGotham Knightsalso happens to bethe third Robin, Tim Drake. Keeping all of Batman’s sidekicks straight is a bit of a hassle, so fans may be forgiven if Tim Drake’s backstory doesn’t immediately jump into mind.
Luckily, theRobin: Rebornstory arc is a simple place to start when trying to get to know Tim Drake. In this comic book, fans will know how Drake came to take his place at Batman’s side as the third Robin, offering a great crash course into how this hero operates.
3Batman & Robin (Grant Morrison)
Dick Grayson was the original Robin, a character who eventually stepped out of Batman’s shadow and becamea solo hero in his own rightby adopting the Nightwing persona. However, in addition to his duties as the protector of Bludhaven, Nightwing has also been known to fill the role of Batman from time to time.
This scenario played out after Batman’s apparent death inFinal Crisis. With Bruce presumed dead, Dick Grayson fulfilled the role of Batman and named Damian Wayne as Robin. This new iteration of the Dynamic Duo was formed in 2009, with Grant Morrison serving as the lead writer. SinceBatman & Robintakes place in a world without Bruce, it serves as an apt read before experiencingGotham Knights.
2Nightwing: Rebirth
Speaking of Nightwing, fans would be remiss if they were to ignore the final protagonist ofGotham Knights. Once again, similar to Batgirl, deciding where to dive into an ongoing comic book series can be messy. In Nightwing’s case, it may be beneficial to start with the character’s reboot as part of DC’sRebirthevent.
Some of Nightwing’s storylines in theRebirthsaga include connections to the Court of Owls. For fans who are unaware, one of Dick Grayson’s ancestors was a Talon for the Court. Brushing up on some of these story arcs may not be a bad idea beforeGotham Knightshits the shelves.
1Dark Nights: Metal
Dark Nights: Metalis included on this list since it expands upon the originalCourt of Owlsstoryline discussed earlier. It adds yet another facet to the crooked organization’s history that readers may find interesting. Be prepared, however, to take a deep dive into DC’s multiverse.
In this series, readers learn that the Court of Owls worships a primordial being known as Barbatos, a demon bent on conquering the entire multiverse. It’s unclear how big of a role this detail will play for the Court of Owls inGotham Knights, but fans may want to be aware of it nonetheless. Besides,Dark Nights: Metalmakes for an intriguing read, so it’s a win-win for fans.
Gotham Knightsis set to release on PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2022.
