Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is the latest game from Rocksteady Studios, the developers of the acclaimed Batman: Arkham series. The game features a team of supervillains who are forced to take on the Justice League, who have been corrupted by Brainiac. But is the game canon to the Arkham games, or is it a separate story? The answer is yes, the game is canon to the Arkhamverse, but it also introduces some new elements that may challenge the continuity and consistency of the previous games. In this article, we will explore the following aspects of the game’s relation to the Arkhamverse:
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League in the Same Canon as Arkham Games
- Pros and Cons of Suicide Squad Being Canon to Arkham
- Factors Supporting it Being Canon
- Factors Against it Being Canon
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League in the Same Canon as Arkham Games
Rocksteady Studios has confirmed that Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is set in the same universe as the Arkham games, taking place several years after the events of Batman: Arkham Knight. The game contains numerous references and Easter eggs to the previous games, such as a Batman museum that showcases the events of the Arkham trilogy, the return of familiar characters like Penguin, Riddler, and Officer Cash, and the appearance of the Batmobile and the Batwing. The game also follows up on the fate of Batman, who faked his death and became a vigilante known as the Demon Bat, using Scarecrow’s fear gas to terrorize criminals, before being persuaded by the Justice League to resume his role as Batman.
Pros and Cons of Suicide Squad Being Canon to Arkham
The decision to make Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League canon to the Arkham games has both advantages and disadvantages for the fans and the developers. On the one hand, it allows for a more expansive and interconnected universe, where the stories and characters of the Arkham games can be explored further and in different ways. It also gives the opportunity to see how the Arkhamverse reacts to the presence of other superheroes and villains, such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Brainiac. On the other hand, it also creates some limitations and contradictions for the storytelling, as the game has to adhere to the established canon and continuity of the Arkham games, while also introducing new elements that may not fit well with the tone and style of the previous games. For example, the game has to explain why certain characters, such as Poison Ivy and Deadshot, are alive and different from their Arkham counterparts, or why the Justice League was absent during the events of the Arkham games.
Factors Supporting it Being Canon
Despite the challenges and changes that Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League brings to the Arkhamverse, there are also some factors that support its canonicity and consistency with the previous games. One of them is the similarity in the gameplay and the characters, as the game retains the core mechanics of the Arkham games, such as stealth, combat, gadgets, and detective mode, while also adding new features, such as flying, shooting, and team-based abilities. The game also keeps the same voice actors and character designs for the returning characters, such as Kevin Conroy as Batman, Tara Strong as Harley Quinn, and Nolan North as Penguin. Another factor is the appearance of Arkham characters in the game, such as Scarecrow, Oracle, Alfred, and Robin, who play important roles in the story and provide connections to the Arkham games.
Factors Against it Being Canon
However, there are also some factors that go against the canonicity and consistency of Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League with the Arkham games. One of them is the difference in the tone and the style of the game, as the game has a more humorous, colorful, and over-the-top approach, compared to the darker, grittier, and more realistic approach of the Arkham games. The game also has a more comic book-inspired aesthetic, with more vibrant and varied environments, such as Metropolis, Smallville, and the Fortress of Solitude, compared to the more urban and Gothic settings of the Arkham games, such as Gotham City and Arkham Asylum. Another factor is the deviation from the established canon and continuity of the Arkham games, as the game introduces some new elements that may contradict or undermine the previous games. For example, the game reveals that the Arkhamverse is part of a multiverse, where there are alternate versions of characters and events, such as a black Deadshot, a living Poison Ivy, and a corrupted Justice League. The game also has the Suicide Squad kill the Justice League, including Batman, which may be seen as a disrespectful and shocking twist for the fans of the Arkham games.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is canon to the Arkham games, but it also introduces some new elements that may challenge the continuity and consistency of the previous games. The game has both pros and cons of being canon to the Arkham games, as it allows for a more expansive and interconnected universe, but also creates some limitations and contradictions for the storytelling. The game has some factors that support its canonicity and consistency with the previous games, such as the similarity in the gameplay and the characters, and the appearance of Arkham characters in the game. The game also has some factors that go against its canonicity and consistency with the previous games, such as the difference in the tone and the style of the game, and the deviation from the established canon and continuity of the Arkham games. Ultimately, the game is a bold and ambitious attempt to expand the Arkhamverse and explore new possibilities, but it may also divide the fans and the critics of the Arkham games.
