Gotham Knightsis set to release this coming September, and fans' excitement will hopefully soon be rewarded. It’s a story that’s set a while after thedeath of Batman and Jim Gordon, and follows the Bat Family as they aim to maintain control of the ever-chaotic Gotham City. With Bruce Wayne gone, Red Hood, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl are left to their own devices when taking down the famed Court of Owls, but with Batman out the way, there’s the ever-likely possibility that one of his most frightful foes could make an unexpected appearance.
Joker has been a thorn in Batman’s side since 1940, and has been the subject of some of The Dark Knight’s greatest feats, and most crushing defeats. From the moment Joker allegedly fell into the vat of acid at Ace Chemicals, he’s been a blight on Gotham with his sinister deeds and gleeful neglect of the law, all in a bid to make Batman come out to play. Now that the latter is gone, Joker has the opportunity to wreak havoc on Batman’s old stomping ground, butGotham Knightsshould instead focus on other villains, shining a light on how dangerous the city can be even when the Clown Prince of Crime is away.
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Joker and Batman are Two Sides of a Coin
While Joker may be the most famous villain in Batman lore, his place in so many stories is dependent on Batman’s willingness to facilitate his evil deeds. In stories like Alan Moore’sThe Killing Jokeor Scott Snyder’sDeath of the Family,Joker exists to get under Batman’s skin and even to make him see that their relationship is special, instead of Batman’s belief that he’s nothing more than a petty criminal and unapologetic psychopath. The twisted reliance on one another is so very important to Joker’s character, so shouldGotham Knightsinclude the Clown Prince of Crime, it wouldn’t be getting the full force of his wickedness.
In so many cases, Batman creates his own villains, and disputes between him and the likes of Harvey Dent, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy and the Riddler are unique to him, and him alone. Jason Todd (A.K.A Red Hood) may have along and storied history with Joker, and the latter has been particularly unkind to Batgirl, but it’s all been towards the end goal of having an impact on Batman. The Bat Family always seem to be collateral damage that Joker doesn’t much care for, andGotham Knightstrying to change him into a villain for all heroes wouldn’t serve the character’s true personality.
Joker is Overused Today
Batman stories are aplenty in 2022, from the continuing stories unfolding in the comics tothe Robert Pattinson-led filmthat saw the Caped Crusader face off against Paul Dano’s Riddler and even the new podcast series,Batman Unburied. He’s a character with so much narrative potential, and his impressive rogues' gallery is one of the reasons why. There are a plethora of fantastic villains that Batman has faced in his decades of existence, but with more avenues of storytelling like film, TV, and gaming capitalizing on Batman’s success, most always seem to reach one obstacle in the road.
That obstacle is the Joker. Be it Joaquin Phoenix' portrayal of the character in the aptly-titledJokerorBarry Keoghan’s brief cameo and deleted scene inThe Batman, Joker seems to be inescapable. He’s a great character, but when he pops up in what seems like every recent Batman story in one way or another, it’s easy to get bored of him.Gotham Knightshas to carry the weight of Batman lore without the man himself, and leaning on the Joker to push the story forward would be uncreative, especially in a time when fans can’t seem to get away from him.
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The Court of Owls Needs to Shine
While The Court of Owls is a relatively new villain to Batman lore, the organization has quickly made a name for itself as one of Gotham’s biggest looming threats. It’s a crime group consisting of the city’s elite and rules the street from the shadows, making it theperfect villain for the upcomingGotham Knights. Making its debut in the New 52 in 2011, the Court of Owls' overbearing nature and indoctrination of efficient assassins known as Talons makes it a tough enemy for any hero to overcome, as it pairs its immense power with relentless brawn. The Bat Family clearly has its hands full, and the Court of Owls' somewhat recent debut meansGotham Knightscan develop a villain that many still don’t know too much about.
Joker, however, is a character that has been portrayed by so many actors and interpreted by so many writers that it’s hard to make him feel fresh again. Furthermore, his strong links to Batman means his inclusion and The Dark Knights' absence would feel wrong. The Court of Owls fit more seamlessly with where Gotham is whenGotham Knightstakes place, asThe Court of Owls is a direct villain not just of Batman, but Gotham itself. Its influence is felt all around the city, and when facing the organization Batman always seems like the valiant hero taking down a new, unexpected villain. Joker is the opposite, being an enemy to Batman first, and Gotham second. Joker does what he does to get under Batman’s skin, so taking the latter out of the equation means that Joker wouldn’t be as compelling as he once was.
Gotham Knightshas the opportunity to prove that Gotham is as engaging as Batman himself within the Caped Crusader’s lore. Joker is so intertwined with Batman’s journey, proving to be one of the most psychologically traumatizing villains in his rogues' gallery.Rocksteady’sArkhamgames may have got the best out of the character, but forGotham Knightsit’s probably for the best to leave him on the sidelines now that Bruce Wayne isn’t around.
Gotham Knightsreleases October 25 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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