If Rocksteady is truly developing a newBatmangame, particularly as an entry in its belovedArkhamfranchise, there are only so many narrative avenues it could take. Therumor of this upcoming game being an Arkhamverse iteration ofBatman Beyondis intriguing, too, and it’s not as if Rocksteady hasn’t left enough breadcrumbs throughout its trilogy that it could then wield as a catalyst for a Terrence “Terry” McGinnis origin story set in a dystopian future. However, with it being an ArkhamverseBatman Beyondafter all, it would be fascinating to see how certain characters or events are adapted into Rocksteady’s reimagining.
Terry being introduced and debuting as the Arkhamverse’s new playableBatmanwould be tremendously exciting, and yet such a game would be held accountable for disclosing what has happened to the Bat family in the meantime.Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueburned a lot of goodwill and it’s difficult to trust any narrative events the game proposed as a result; if Tim Drake’s Robin was actually murdered by Batman’s clone, for instance, that will hopefully be answered in a future game. That said, Barbara Gordon’s Oracle could potentially have the most captivating character development if she was to become Neo-Gotham’s Police Commissioner and fill her father’s shoes.
Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon is an Unwavering Staple of the Arkhamverse
Jim Gordon has been a stalwart companion of Batman’s since becoming Police Commissioner anderecting a Bat-Signal prior toBatman: Arkham Origins Blackgate. Acting primarily via his emotions, Gordon is a compelling counterpoint to Bruce as one tethers the other and the two working together is arguably what’s managed to preserve Gotham City in a way neither character could achieve alone.
Interestingly, Gordon didn’t know that his daughter was working for Batman until Bruce reveals that information to him inBatman: Arkham Knight, though an exchange between them in a lift shaft implies that Gordon has known Bruce was Batman for some time.
Barbara began working for Batman unofficially inBatman: Arkham Originsas she guided players to Penguin’s arms caches, but it wasn’t untilBatman: Arkham Shadowthat she is folded into the Bat family—begrudgingly on Bruce’s part—and gives herself the name ‘Oracle.’ The rest is history withKnightthankfully and finally shedding more light on how she wound up bound to a wheelchair in a hallucinated flashback sequence andwhat her fleeting active field duty as Batgirl was like inKnight’s “A Matter of Family” DLC Episode.
‘Police Commissioner’ Could Be a Natural Evolution for Barbara Gordon in a Batman Beyond Storyline
Barbara eventually inheriting her father’s role as Police Commissioner would not only befaithful toBatman Beyond’s source materialbut also empowering for her character’s Arkhamverse interpretation, who has been mired by tragedy and stuck behind a Batcomputer for most of her appearances—or lack thereof—in the series. It could be extraordinary seeing how an aged Barbara on the side of the law might respond to Terry McGinnis or Bruce Wayne’s actions, for example, after she’s devoted so much of her life to happily aiding Batman in his crime-fighting endeavors.
Being a Police Commissioner could grant Barbara a strength and resolve she hasn’t been able to fully express in the Arkhamverse, especially after having been kidnapped with her death faked for shock value inBatman: Arkham Knight. Barbara certainly can’t be a damsel in distress again, and having her run a precinct in the same vein as the GCPD inKnightwould be exceptional—plus, if theArkhamverse’s Aaron Cashis still around and on the force it would be poignant having him be Barbara’s right hand as he was for her father.
