While Batman appears to die at the end of Batman: Arkham Knight, the climactic superhero epic also hints at a different future for the Dark Knight. The 2015 open-world adventure concludes Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham trilogy by portraying the final night in the Caped Crusader's heroic career. The game ends with Batman activating the mysterious Knightfall Protocol after having his secret identity exposed, which seems to permanently close the book on Batman's story. However, Arkham Knight might not really be the end of the World's Greatest Detective.
The final game in Rocksteady's Arkham trilogy presents Batman with his greatest challenge yet as he faces Batman: Arkham Knight villains ranging from the psychological mastermind Scarecrow to the titular vengeful warrior Arkham Knight. The end of the game sees Bruce Wayne publicly remove his mask and reveal his secret identity to the entire world. This effectively ends his career as Batman, forcing him to trigger a mysterious system known as the Knightfall Protocol. After locking up every last supervillain in the city Batman returns to Wayne Manor before it violently explodes, presumably killing Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth before a shocked crowd. Batman: Arkham Knight briefly explores the aftermath of Batman's death through an epilogue and DLC campaigns, which hint at his true fate.
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Batman: Arkham Knight's Ending Reveals A Demonic New Hero
The full ending of Batman: Arkham Knight, and comments made by Batman before activating the Knightfall Protocol, suggest that his career as a superhero has transformed instead of ended. By completing most of the game's side missions players can view an extended ending to Batman: Arkham Knight, which involves a wealthy family being mugged by two criminals. The situation nearly repeats Batman's iconic origin story, but a demonic figure appears on a nearby rooftop to intimidate the thugs. The monstrous being floats into the air before flying at the muggers, terrifying them and proving itself to be a seemingly supernatural new defender of Gotham.
Many fans believe that the demonic figure seen at the end of Batman: Arkham Knight is actually Batman himself utilizing Scarecrow's signature fear gas to become a more ethereal protector. This is supported by the creature's appearance, which closely resembles Scarecrow's vision of the hero after being injected by his own fear toxin in the game's climax. Comments made by Batman throughout the game also tease a desire to shed the Batman persona and assume an evolved crimefighting form. For example, after completing all of the Batman: Arkham Knight Riddler challenges Batman tells Catwoman that Gotham needs "something more... something worse" to defend it. He expresses interest in becoming "a new myth," which could lead to him becoming the demon seen at the end of the game. After being captured Penguin may also recommend that Batman get a new costume and wonders what he will become, with the Caped Crusader cryptically responding, "You'll see."
Batman: Arkham Knight DLC References "The Ghost"
Bruce Wayne continuing his superhero career as a more ethereal figure after Batman: Arkham Knight is supported by the game's various DLC stories, too. Taking place after the main game, these downloadable epilogues follow Batman's supporting cast as they deal with the game's aftermath and the ramifications of his death. While its never appears in these missions, a figure known as "The Ghost" is alluded to throughout Batman: Arkham Knight DLC campaigns like Catwoman's Revenge and Robin's A Flip of a Coin quest. The heroes never comment on this rumored new vigilante, but thugs suggest that it is a terrifying new hero preying on Gotham's criminal underworld.
While it's never outright stated, it seems likely that the being known as The Ghost is actually Batman's demonic new persona seen in Batman: Arkham Knight's full ending. The title would fit the ethereal nature of Bruce Wayne's new superhero identity, with criminals likely assuming it to be a monster or mere myth. The name of The Ghost could also be an allusion to The Gray Ghost, a fictional character introduced in Batman: The Animated Series and voiced by beloved Batman alumnus Adam West. In the animated series The Gray Ghost inspired Bruce Wayne's Batman persona, and Batman:Arkham Knight references the iconic character with a poster found in Panessa Studios. If Bruce Wayne were to retire the Batman name and reinvent himself, it would be fitting for him to adopt a new moniker that pays tribute to The Gray Ghost.
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Arkhamverse Batman May Have A Future In Suicide Squad
While official Arkham canon has yet to acknowledge Batman's survival, a host of evidence suggests that Batman orchestrated the Knightfall Protocol and the ending of Batman: Arkham Knight to fake his death and assume a new superhero identity. This leaves the door open for future appearances by Rocksteady's incarnation of Batman, possibly in the studio's next game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The upcoming third-person shooter will see players hunt a corrupted Justice League across Metropolis as Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and King Shark. The cooperative superhero assassination simulator will feature iconic DC heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman and Flash, and an appearance by Batman in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League may be possible too.
If the Arkham version of Batman is still alive, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League would be the perfect venue for his return. The Caped Crusader is known for keeping plans to eliminate or neutralize his fellow Justice League heroes, making him an invaluable ally to the Suicide Squad as the League destroys Metropolis. Perhaps Batman could lend a hand to Task Force X during the events of the game, giving them tactics or tools to help them take down Brainiac's mind-controlled heroes. This could lead to Bruce Wayne's full return as Batman, or could leave the Dark Knight as a shadowy benefactor whose true identity remains secret to the Squad. However, the recent death of Batman: Arkham star Kevin Conroy could render a future appearance by Arkham's Batman impossible.
The ending of Batman: Arkham Knight leaves the Caped Crusader's fate ambiguous, but there is solid evidence that he faked his death to adopt a new superhero moniker. The game's full ending sees a demonic entity prey upon Gotham's criminals, and the game subtly hints that this may be a more terrifying alter ego for Bruce Wayne. Rocksteady has the opportunity to bring The Ghost back into the spotlight in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, though the ambiguous ending of Batman: Arkham Knight may also remain the final appearance of the Arkham version of Batman.
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