Gotham Knightsis Warner Bros. latest DC Comics-inspired video game, set in a world where Batman is dead and vigilantesBatgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin are left to defend the city. After revealing the game would only be available for next-gen consoles and releasing canon-diverging website biographies, Warner Bros. has been facing backlash from the community.
Theopen-world action-RPG is being praised for its released gameplay footage, but for others there are negatives that outweigh the positives. There are plenty of topics to debate, including elaborateBatman Beyond-themed uniforms, Red Hood’s ability to leap through the air via mystic energy, and Nightwing’sFortnite-esque Flying Trapeze glider. Perhaps the most controversial of them all is the developer’s decision to use post-paralysis Barbara Gordan as its iteration of Batgirl.
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Batgirl’s Controversial Recovery Through ‘Raw Willpower’
Barbara Gordan’s website biography reads, “Few people can match Barbara Gordan in terms of raw willpower and determination. Barbara has always been a person of action. In her mind, backing down is never an option… After a face-off that put Barbara in a wheelchair,she became Oracle, a powerful information and communications expert. But her father’s death spurred her to train and recover from her wounds, so she could return to active duty as Batgirl.”
As many comic readers may recall,in the graphic novel and animated filmThe Killing Joke, Barbara was shot through the spine by Joker. In other versions, such as in the animated showYoung Justice, she sacrifices herself to save Cassandra Wu-San and becomes paralyzed from the waist down. Throughout comics and media, Barbara’s paralysis and eventual evolution into Oracle are a prominent point in the history of the Batfamily. Many consider this just as vital and necessary as Jason Todd’s resurrection into Red Hood, as this leads Barbara to become a master hacker and vital communications lead for the vigilantes.
The idea that Barbara recovered from this debilitating injury simply through “raw willpower and determination” left many fans uneasy, as they felt it took away from her character’s progression as Oracle whileperpetuating damaging stereotypes of heroes simply getting over a disability. Creative director Patrick Redding acknowledged the comments in a recent Q&A, attempting to placate the criticism by arguing this version of Batgirl differs from the comics and “has been through multiple surgeries followed by a lot of physical therapy and pain management.”
Following these statements, Warner Bros. Montreal altered Batgirl’s website biography to say, “With extensive training and rehabilitation, she recovered from her wounds, and returned to active duty as Batgirl,” fully removing the bit about her willpower and determination leading to recovery. This also helps toexplain Batgirl’s newfound ability to walk. Additionally, it was revealed that the team is currently partnering with The AbleGamers Foundation, a disability charity. Redding added that players would be able to watch Barbara performing her rehabilitation exercises while in civilian clothing, and that her suit would include a back brace.
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Kate Kane or Stephanie Brown Would Have Offered a Perfect Solution
While these steps towards improvement have been good, fans still wonder why the decision was made to keep Batgirl’s paralysis as part of this universe’s canon. Having Batgirl in the story makes sense for those who are looking for a familiar name, and is a solid marketing strategy for the same reason. In a timeline where Bruce Wayne is no longer alive, Barbara Gordan would have long since been paralyzed and served a critical role as Oracle going by comic canon. However,there are plenty of other vigilantes who have made a name for themselvesalongside the Caped Crusader in past comics. Maintaining Barbara’s importance as Oracle while also bringing another of these superheroes into the spotlight could have been a better casting decision.
Kate Kane, a cousin of Bruce Wayne who is also known as Batwoman, has been rising in popularity following a CW show, appearances in the DC Universe Animated Originals, the WebtoonBatman: Wayne Family Adventures, and comics such asBatwoman: Rebirth. She is a logical choice to bring into theGotham Knightsuniverse if game developers want a playable heroine that can handle herself in a firefight.
Stephanie Brown, the first female Robinand daughter of the criminal Cluemaster, could have filled the part just as well - if not better - than post-paralysis Barbara Gordan. She was the fifth Batgirl in the comics after Cassandra Cain gave up the role following Bruce Wayne’s apparent death. A similar storyline could have been incorporated into the game, though with the alteration that Bruce Wayne is actually dead and Cassandra has moved on. If the devs were worried about confusing their audience with too many people taking up the name of Batgirl, they could have arranged Stephanie’s placement in the timeline differently. However, the amount of Robins that have come and gone has never stopped DC Comics from including Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, or Damian Wayne in other mediums.
Stephanie gains Barbara’s approval to don the mantle of Batgirl after displaying maturity in a fight against Scarecrow and Black Mask, and she was also known to be in a long-term on-again/off-again relationship withTim Drake, the Robin featured inGotham Knights. While the story doesn’t need to focus on romantic elements, having that established connection and seeing interactions between the two during a video game could have been interesting.
Gotham Knightsis scheduled to release on July 31, 2025, for PC, Playstation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
