Summary
Rocksteady’sArkhamverseis perhaps one ofthe most beloved superhero propertiesoutside of comics. Named after the first game in the series,Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Arkhamverse largely follows the adventures of Batman in Gotham City. But starting withSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, the series has begun to branch out into the wider DC universe, presenting new takes on familiar characters.
The franchise is beloved for its fun gameplay, unique and immersive take on the DC mythos, and its memorable and colorful characters. While a majority of these characters are male, the Arkhamverse has plenty of excellent female characters too. Whether they’re supporting characters or playable, these characters help make the Arkhamverse the beloved series that it has been known for since 2009.
10Amanda Waller
A Necessary Evil Against Impossible Odds
Any DC Comics fan knows thatAmanda Walleris a bit of a jerk in any adaptation, buther Arkhamverse appearancereally takes the cake. She is needlessly cruel to her assets in Task Force X, throwing them against impossible odds with only the bare minimum of support. But as heartless as she can be, it’s a good thing she’s on humanity’s side.
Even her cruelest actions, which include using a nuclear weapon in Metropolis, are done with the intent of protecting humanity from an alien invasion. And with an enemy as monstrous as Brainiac, Earth needs someone just as devious on its side. If it weren’t for Waller forming the Suicide Squad, Brainiac would have already won, as it’s with Waller’s dedication to serve her country that she can make decisions that would otherwise be seen as outright villainous and evil.
9Lois Lane
A Calming Voice In The Chaos
Making her Arkhamverse debut inSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice League,Lois Laneis arguably one of the most famous female characters in all of DC Comics. WithKill The Justice Leaguemoving the action to Metropolis, it was only natural for Metropolis’ most famous journalist to appear. While she’s not a fighter, Lois does what she does best: risk her life to keep people informed.
She frequently broadcasts the apocalyptic events of the game throughout the city, at great personal risk to herself. More than just a source of narration, Lois helps the Suicide Squad out of a jam and is one of the few characters who is not overtly hostile to the dubious villains that are tasked with taking out Brainiac and an evil Justice League.
8Hack
A Much-Needed Inside-Woman
Hackis a member of Task Force X’s support team inSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, and is a welcome friendly face. Not only is she responsible for upgrading the squad’s talents and abilities, butshe is able to hackinto Brainiac’s technology. This gives the Suicide Squad a sorely needed edge against an enemy that hopelessly outclasses them.
And while she can’t disable the Squad’s neck-bombs, she can provide them with a back-channel away from Waller in the form of the game’s contracts. It’s a small reprieve, but a welcome one in a game where verbal abuse is hurled at these anti-heroes and villains frequently. Hack is a charming addition to the squad.
7Lady Shiva
A Mysterious Assassin More Interesting Than The Rest
Any hardcore DC fan knows thatLady Shivais one of the strongest martial artists in the DC universe. So many were afraid when it was revealed she was one ofthe eight assassinshired to kill Batman inBatman: Arkham Origins. However, she seems to have a different goal than the others.
Rather than being there to kill Batman, Shiva states that she’s more interested in testing him for her mysterious master. Even in her boss fight, the player gets the impression that she’s deliberately holding back. Her different and mysterious motives make her far more interesting than any of the other assassins in the game.
6Poison Ivy
A Villain Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice For Good
Poison Ivyis one of the most iconic villains in Batman’s entire rogue gallery, so it’s not surprising she appeared in the Arkhamverse. However, the games play down her villainy somewhat, as she tries to stay uninvolved in the plots of other villains. This is especially true inBatman: Arkham Knight, which has her allying with Batman.
This turn to heroism sadly ends in her death, withIvy sacrificing herselfto save Gotham from Scarecrow’s fear toxin. This sacrifice has touched both characters and fans alike. Many people consider theArkhamversion of Poison Ivy to be their favorite take on the character and are curious to see where Rocksteady takes this character since her rebirth inSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
5Talia al Ghul
The Successor Of The League Of Assassins
Of the many women in Batman’s life,Talia al Ghulis one of the most famous. The two famously have a son together in the comics, and their romantic relationship carries over into the Arkhamverse. Aside from her relationship with The Dark Knight, she’s an incredible character in her own right.
As Ra’s al Ghul’s second-in-command in the League of Assassins, Talia is one of the best assassins in the world. While she’s sadly never fought as a boss, she’s able to defeat Harley Quinn offscreen and comes very close to killing the Joker. Unfortunately, she dies in the game she appears in, depriving fans of the chance to see more of her, and her fate with the Lazarus Pit, unconfirmed.
4Wonder Woman
The Only Justice League Member To Resist Brainiac’s Control
As one of the most iconic superheroes of all time, even non-DC fans needlittle introduction toWonder Woman. Her Arkhamverse variant fromSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leagueis just as impressive as her comic counterpart. While all her fellow Justice Leaguers are captured and brainwashed by Brainiac, Wonder Woman remains the sole hero to remain firmly on the side of good.
Not only is she able to elude capture, but she’s shown to effortlessly defeat enemies that the Suicide Squad struggles against. Her excellent battle prowess, heroic personality, incredible design, and excellent performance from Zehra Fazal make many fans wish they got more of this version of Wonder Woman.
3Harley Quinn
From Joker’s Girlfriend To Justice League-Killing Anti-Hero
With most of the Arkhamverse focusing on Batman’s corner of the DC universe, it’s no surprise that one of his more popular villains would be a big part of it.Harley Quinnis one of the few characters to appear in all major entries in the Arkhamverse, and her fans are grateful for that.
Harley adds some much-needed comic relief to the otherwise dark and dreary Arkhamverse but can be terrifying when she wants to be. Just like most versions, Harley goes from being a villain to a grudging anti-hero as part of the Suicide Squad. With her being such a big part of the franchise, she wasa popular choice amongSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leagueplayers.
2Oracle
An Invaluable Source Of Support For Batman
Also known as Barbara Gordon, also known as the first Batgirl,Oracleis one of Batman’s most critical supporting characters. With all the chaos Batman faces, Oracle is the constant reassuring voice of reason in his ear. From advice to objectives to just being a friendly voice, she provides crucial mission control that keeps Batman and the player grounded.
Batman is a serious, stoic character, he needs someone to counter-balance his darkness lest it overwhelm the narrative. While Oracle doesn’t exactly drop quips left and right, she provides a sense of normalcy that the audience and The Dark Knight both need. This helps her become many players’ favorite part of theArkhamgames, and that’s not to mention her appearance as Batgirl inBatman: Arkham Knight’s prequel DLC,A Matter of Family.
1Catwoman
An Anti-Hero Who’s Every Bit Batman’s Equal
While most female Arkhamverse characters are either supporting characters or enemies,Catwomanhas the distinct honor of being the first character other than Batman to be playable in a game’s story mode. With her combat abilities, stealth, and traversal, Catwoman is equally fun to play as Batman, while also providing a distinct experience.
More than just a fun character to play as, Catwoman is awelcome addition to the games’stories as well. Her more carefree attitude coupled with her less strict moral code make her a fascinating foil to Batman. Many fans would love to see Catwoman get a starring role in her own Arkhamverse game.
