This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS forBatman: Arkham Shadow.
A consistent highlight of theBatman: Arkhamseries has been its sense of scale. From even its humble beginnings inBatman: Arkham Asylum, the world ofArkhamhas felt like a full Batman universe, packed to the brim with not just the trademark archvillains, but a bevy of lesser-known rogues as well. Many of these more obscure villains were first referenced viaArkham Asylum’s Easter eggs and Riddles, and grew to become a larger part of the Arkhamverse in sequels and spinoffs.Batman: Arkham Shadowshines the spotlight on some of these characters.
Despite its VR exclusivity,Batman: Arkham Shadowis a fully-fledged, canonicalBatman: Arkhamgame, with its story fitting snugly in the timeline betweenArkham OriginsandAsylum. This spot allowsArkham Shadowto feature a cavalcade of returning heroes and villains, some of whom take center stage inShadow’s story.
Every Returning Character in Batman: Arkham Shadow
Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow
One of the most popular villains in Batman’s rogue’s gallery, Dr. Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow) plays a prominent role inBatman: Arkham Shadow’s story. In fact, the game acts almost as an origin story for the iconic villain. After going undercover as Irving “Matches” Malone, Bruce Wayne first encounters Dr. Crane during a group therapy session, where he condemns Dr. Quinzel’s lighter approach to Jungian theories.
Rather than get his patients to discuss their inner “Shadow,” Crane believes a chemical treatment is more effective, and decides to test his theory on unsuspecting “volunteers” from Blackgate. His chemical compound forces the patient to face their deepest fears, which causes the complete mental collapse of many in his care. Crane is eventually stopped by Batman, but not before accidentally inhaling some of his own fear-inducing chemicals.
Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn
Harleen Quinzel is a newly graduated therapist by the time Malone/Bruce arrives in Blackgate. She attempts to use group therapy to help her patients, but Dr. Crane tries to claim that she’s incompetent in a bid to steal her patients. Quinzel helps Batman to put a stop to Crane’s plans.
Harvey Dent/Two-Face
Even more so than Scarecrow,Batman: Arkham Shadowis a Two-Face origin story, with Harvey Dent’s backstory and rise to villainy taking up large portions of the VR game’s main narrative. It’s revealed early on that Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent spent a lot of time together as children following Bruce’s parents' death. A few flashback sequences dotted throughoutArkham Shadowshow Dent’s father abusing Harvey and Bruce during their childhood, with his violent outbursts being caused by a dissociative personality disorder.
Harvey Dent spends the majority ofBatman: Arkham Shadowas the District Attorney, hell-bent on tracking down the mysterious “Rat King” that threatens to enact a “Day of Wrath.” Towardsthe end ofArkham Shadow, Bruce Wayne (disguised as the criminal Malone) is put on trial for the murder of an undercover cop hiding in Blackgate. During the trial, a shaken Dr. Crane tries to administer his chemical compound, and Bruce knocks it out of his hand. The vial smashes into Harvey’s face, causing severe acid burns.
In the final moments ofBatman: Arkham Shadow, it’s revealed that Harvey Dent was the Rat King all along, albeit unknowingly, due to his dissociative identity disorder that’s now started to take form. As the Rat King, Harvey threatens to kill an inmate in front of Batman. In a last ditch attempt to save his childhood friend, Batman reveals his true identity, which causes Harvey to try and take his own life. Batman saves him, however, andBatman: Arkham Shadow’s endingsees Dent lose control of his good half and become Two-Face.
Carmine Falcone
While Carmine Falcone has been mentioned countless times intheBatman: Arkhamseries, he makes his first mainline debut inArkham Shadow, where he rules Blackgate prison’s criminal king. BeforeArkham Shadow, it was said that Two-Face’s scarring was the work of Falcone, and that’s still technically true, as Malone is believed to be working for the crime boss at the time of the tragic trial.
Jim Gordon
A Batman staple, Jim Gordon appears multiple times throughoutBatman: Arkham Shadow’s runtime, working alongside Batman and Harvey Dent to stop the Rat King’s army.
Barbara Gordon
Jim’s daughter, Barbara Gordon also makes an appearance inBatman: Arkham Shadow, where she provides vital information that helps to track down an important Rat King follower. Barbara also provides useful information to Batman during his investigation in Blackgate, foreshadowing her role as Oracle in futureArkhamentries.
It’s heavily implied that one of the Rats Batman subdues at the Monarch Theater is actually Dick Grayson, though this hasn’t been confirmed yet.
The Joker
While the Joker doesn’t make a physical appearance inBatman: Arkham Shadow, he does share a brief dialogue with Batman while he’s incarcerated in Blackgate solitary confinement. The Joker is the only one to see throughBatman’s “Malone” disguise.
Arnold Wesker/Ventriloquist
First mentioned inBatman: Arkham Asylum’s collectible tapes, Arnold Wesker gets a short origin story inBatman: Arkham Shadowas well. Wesker appears in group therapy, holding the wooden doll that his roommate, Donnegan, made from a tree near Death Row. After being subjected to Dr. Crane’s chemical experiments, Wesker becomes obssesed with the doll, believing that it talks to him. Wesker ends up murdering his cellmate for the doll, cementing his villainous mantle of Ventriloquist.
Joe Chill
Another character who’s mentioned several times throughout theArkhamseries, Joe Chill is the man whomurdered Bruce Wayne’s parents. Chill was first seen inArkham Asylumand the same model appears once again inBatman: Arkham Shadow. In charge of the prison commissary, Bruce (as Malone) speaks with Joe Chill a few times during the story, not knowing he’s the man that killed his parents. This bombshell is eventually dropped by Harvey Dent right at the end ofBatman: Arkham Shadow, but Batman decides to let Chill go.
Frank Boles
A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo, Frank Boles appears inBatman: Arkham Shadowas a Blackgate prison guard. Boles will go on to become a guard for Arkham Asylum, where he’ll join the Joker and eventually become one of the Clown Prince’s victims.
Batman: Arkham Shadow
Become Batman in this official new entry into the Arkham franchise.It’s the Fourth of July, and Gotham City is under attack by a new threat: the mysterious Rat King and his cultish devotees. As widespread rioting engulfs the city, Batman races to prevent this so-called “Day of Wrath” before it all goes wrong.Experience the World of Batman Like Never Before:Immerse yourself in all the grit of Gotham City with the power of VR, and take down its most notorious criminals.Hard-Hitting Arkham CombatRealized exclusively for VR—choose from fan favorite gadgets and bold fighting styles reimagined from the beloved Arkham franchise.Friends, Foes and Other Familiar Faces:Meet Dr.’s Quinzel and Crane before they became Harley Quinn and Scarecrow, as well as other iconic characters including Harvey Dent, Jim Gordon, and Ratcatcher.
