DC fans were treated to a new cinematic trailer for Batman: Arkham Shadow at Summer Game Fest, one that sheds new light on the tone and storyline fueling this latest Arkham-verse adventure. This time around, Batman battles for the very soul of Gotham as the enigmatic Rat King rallies his followers to tear the city to the ground.
You may have some questions after watching the new trailer. How does this game fit into the larger Arkham timeline? Who is the Rat King, anyway? And how do iconic Bat-villains like Harley Quinn and Scarecrow figure in this conflict? Let’s break down what the trailer reveals about the plot of Arkham Shadow.
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League!
Revealing the History of the Arkham Universe
At this point, Rocksteady has closed out the Arkham saga on a pretty definitive note. 2015’s Arkham Knight ended the main trilogy with Batman fully conquering his fears, vanquishing the ghost of the Joker and abandoning his life as Bruce Wayne. 2024’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League delivered what it promised by killing off that version of Batman, to much fan consternation.
Between that and the tragic passing of voice actor Kevin Conroy, you might be assuming the door has closed on the Arkham universe. Is Arkham Shadow actually part of that universe, or is it taking place in a separate version of the DCU like 2022’s Gotham Knights?
Camoflaj studio head Ryan Payton has confirmed to IGN that Arkham Shadow is indeed part of the Arkham-verse, specifically citing 2009’s Arkham Asylum as the game’s “North Star.” Arkham Shadow is a prequel to that game, taking place in between the events of 2013’s Arkham Origins and Arkham Asylum. Fittingly, Origins voice actor Roger Craig Smith is reprising the Batman role here. This is a younger Batman than the one seen in the main Arkham trilogy, but more seasoned than the relative rookie hero we saw in Arkham Origins.
As for the Batsuit, the design in Arkham Shadow seems to strike a happy medium between the costume from Arkham Origins and the more rugged, armored suit introduced in Arkham Knight. This is definitely a Batman who looks ready to brawl. As is the case in the other games, we’re sure players will have the option of switching to any number of unlockable bonus costumes if they choose, though the fact that Arkham Shadow is played in first-person may dampen the fun of changing costumes a bit.
Who Is the Rat King?
The previous Arkham games included a wide range of Bat-villains, but they tended to revolve mainly around a core group of heavy-hitters like Joker, Scarecrow, Bane and Ra’s al Ghul. Arkham Shadow is operating a little more outside the box. This time, Rat King is the villain threatening to bring Gotham City to its knees.
Who is the Rat King, exactly? This character appears to be the Arkham-verse’s take on Ratcatcher (though it should be noted that Ratcatcher himself previously appeared in some of the Arkham tie-in comics). In the core DC Universe comics, Ratcatcher is a villain named Otis Flannegan who once worked as an actual rat-catcher for Gotham City. After being imprisoned for murder, Flannegan develops a costumed persona and harnesses his talent for luring and controlling rats to punish the men responsible for his arrest.
While Ratcatcher has appeared in animated shows like Batman Beyond and Harley Quinn, the character is probably best known for playing a key role in 2021’s The Suicide Squad. In that film, Daniela Melchior plays Ratcatcher II, the daughter of the original (played in flashbacks by Taika Waititi).
As his revamped name suggests, Rat King has been given a major overhaul for the Arkham-verse. This version of the villain is unique in that he’s acquired a large cult following. Many Gothamites seem to identify as rats and respond to Rat King’s call to burn Gotham to its foundations. Based on all the graffiti seen in the trailer and the symbolism of rats fleeing a sinking ship, it seems many disillusioned Gothamites are taken in by Rat King’s vision of a better world.
We also know that the plot of Arkham Shadow involves Rat King abducting high-ranking city officials like Commissioner Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent (confirming the game takes place before Dent’s downfall as Two-Face). Some of the graffiti in the trailer references pigs, which we assume is Rat King’s slang for the police and others in power propping up the old system.
The Smashing Pumpkins Soundtrack
Like any good teaser trailer, the choice of music offers its own clues as to the plot and tone of Arkham Shadow. The trailer features an instrumental version of the Smashing Pumpkins song “Bullet With Butterfly Wings.”
That’s certainly a significant needle drop. “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” is a song all about frustration and hopelessness with the world at large. The lyrics of the song echo the emotions felt by these ordinary citizens of Gotham City as they take to the streets and even stand up to the mighty Batman himself.
And, of course, the song is iconic for the repeated refrain “Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage.” What better choice of song to represent the message this up-and-coming villain is selling to the downtrodden citizens of Gotham?
Harley Quinn and Scarecrow’s Origins
Rat King may be the main villain of Arkham Shadow, but he won’t be the only foe Batman clashes with here. Like the other Arkham games, the Dark Knight will face a gauntlet of opponents as he singlehanded battles to hold his city together. We see two of those villains in the trailer – Harley Quinn and Scarecrow.
Notably, however, neither villain is shown in their full supervillain costume. We know that Arkham Shadow is meant to chronicle the origin stories of both Harley and Scarecrow. That’s probably why we see Harley in her civilian guise as Dr. Harleen Quinzel. She’s shown looking on eagerly as a building burns, her inner madness bubbling to the surface. Later, we see Dr. Jonathan Crane leaving the city courthouse as it begins to burn, donning his signature Scarecrow mask.
Interestingly, the trailer suggests that both characters are inspired by Rat King in their evolution from civilians into costumed supervillains. Crane seems to recognize the power that comes from manipulating emotions, which feeds into his own obsession with spreading fear. As for Harley, the game may be distancing her from the Joker somewhat, suggesting that more than just her infatuation with the Clown Prince of Crime inspired her to become a deadly jester. It’s possible we’ll see Joker in the game in some form (likely voiced by Arkham Origins’ Troy Baker), but Harley’s origin story is clearly bigger than him.
The Gray Ghost and Monarch Theatre Cameos
The trailer features a pair of Easter eggs that Batman fans will find intriguing. The scene with Harley Quinn shows her in front of the Monarch Theatre, a location with deep significance for the franchise. Traditionally, the Monarch Theatre is where the Waynes travel to watch The Mark of Zorro on the night they’re murdered. It’s essentially the place where Batman was born.
Alongside the Monarch Theatre itself, we also see a movie poster advertising a film called The Ghost in Gray. The Ghost in Gray features a costumed hero called The Gray Ghost, as played by actor Simon Trent. As established in Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce used to idolize Trent and watch the Gray Ghost serials with his father. The Gray Ghost character wound up serving as a major source of inspiration as Bruce developed his Batman persona.
Is it just a coincidence that Arkham Shadow features two references to the origin of Batman in this trailer? Or are these Easter eggs a sign that the game will delve deeper into the circumstances that transformed Bruce Wayne into a costumed crimefighter? It would only be fitting that a game that reveals the origins of villains like Harley Quinn and Scarecrow also looks back to Bruce’s own formative years. We’ve seen glimpses of his origin in previous Arkham games, but there’s always room for a more in-deoth look back at the birth of Batman. Perhaps the prospect of battling ordinary civilians for the fate of Gotham has the Dark Knight in an introspective mood.
That’s everything we were able to glean from the trailer for Batman: Arkham Shadow. What do you think will happen in the game? Is Rat King truly the main villain, or is another Batman rogue lying in wait? Let us know what details have you most excited by voting in our poll, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below:
For more on the future of the Arkham-verse, find out the truth behind Suicide Squad’s troubled development, and learn why Rocksteady will only be offering “barebones support” for the game going forward.Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
