In the opening sequence for Batman: Arkham City Bruce Wayne is captured by Hugo Strange, and it seems like a huge leap from Batman stopping the Joker at the end of Batman: Arkham Asylum, but there are comics in between that explain what happened. Questions like how Strange discovers Batman's identity or how criminals built up their empires within the walls of Arkham City are answered in the five-issue comic series Batman Arkham City. The story picks up at the end of the first game and explains a lot of what seemed out of place at the start of the sequel.
Arkham City's story is enhanced by the limited series, unlike the comics that ruined Arkham Knight's big twist. The five issues of Batman Arkham City, written by Paul Dini, were released in 2011 from July to October, and the video game launched just after the final issue. Without knowing the setup provided by the limited series, the beginning of Arkham City seems a bit unbelievable or forced for the sake of the story. However, in the time between the fall of Titan Joker and Bruce Wayne's imprisonment, there's a lot that transpires between Batman and his foes.
Some of the more important details included in the comics convey how Batman initially infiltrated Arkham City, how Joker and other supervillains rose to power, and why Mayor Sharp, who wrote secret tablets in Arkham Asylum, had Arkham City built in the first place. Most importantly, the comics explain how Hugo Strange manipulated everyone around him to achieve his goals and trick the citizens of Gotham into unwittingly giving him absolute power over the lives of the inmates in his new facility.
Batman: Arkham City's Mayor Sharp Was Hugo Strange's Pawn
Following the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum, Quincy Sharp was elected mayor after receiving praise for his efforts in stopping the mayhem and subduing inmates during Joker's Titan stunt. Reporters like Vicki Vale questioned his involvement, and even his presence, at the asylum while the chaos was winding down. However, Sharp was fed lines by Hugo Strange, which helped him secure political power and the trust of Gotham's citizens. At first, Mayor Sharp promised more restrictions and harsher punishments, particularly for those who were costumed and running around in Gotham. He especially wanted to capture Batman for committing crimes before Arkham City's events.
The idea for Arkham City didn't emerge until after the incident that occurred during the unveiling of the new Town Hall. Under the instruction of Hugo Strange, two Titan-fueled siblings, Terry and Tracy Trask, attacked the mayor. Harvey Dent smuggled some of the Titan formula out of Arkham Asylum and ordered it to be locked up, but the Trask siblings injected themselves with small doses over time. When Strange ordered the attack, he also made sure they were prepared to die. Batman tried to stop the Trasks in the hopes of questioning them, but they followed orders without question and allowed Strange to detonate explosives inside them to destroy the new Town Hall.
Mayor Sharp, who believed himself to be the spirit of the asylum's founder and second inmate in Batman: Arkham Asylum, used Arkham City as a response to the sudden and extreme violence at the ceremony. With 300 citizens reported dead, and many more injured during the attack, it was easy for Sharp to convince Gotham's citizens that Arkham City was the only solution. Additionally, Sharp declared Gotham a warzone and implemented Martial Law, granting TYGER's private military forces complete authority. After the Town Hall attack and the announcement of Arkham City, Batman confirmed his suspicions that someone else was pulling the strings.
Joker & Harley Arrived In Arkham City First
Shortly after construction began on Arkham City, inmates were being transferred from Blackgate Prison and Arkham Asylum to the new facility's holding cells. Regardless of mental state, every criminal was scheduled to be moved. This caused some officers, like Aaron Cash, to question the morality of throwing truly ill patients and minor criminals in a walled-up section of the city with the likes of Joker, Two-Face, and other villains in the Batman: Arkham series.
While patients and inmates were quickly being transferred from the asylum and prison, one group of guards decided they'd get their revenge on Joker despite the terminal illness he contracted from the Titan formula. However, rumors spread through Arkham Asylum of the guards' plans to torture and kill Joker for murdering their friends. The night that Joker was to be transferred, Harley Quinn disguised herself as a guard and knocked out the others before freeing Joker.
In preparation, Harley had gathered supplies and secured a boat for their escape. Thanks to cameras and security measures, Batman was made aware of Batman: Arkham City's Harley and Joker's departure almost immediately. Batman attempted to stop them, but in the chaos, their boat exploded, and Harley and Joker escaped. The pair headed for Arkham City to gain a foothold and start recruiting members to the Joker's gang.
With other criminals still in holding cells, Joker was able to take over the old Sionis metal factory, light the furnaces, and set up some of his signature over-the-top death traps. With an early power move, Joker obtained weapons and secured his stronghold. While building his empire, Joker also forced a doctor to isolate the toxin in his blood before killing him. The sample was given to Mr. Freeze, who was working on a cure before being captured by the monstrous Penguin in Batman: Arkham City.
Batman Infiltrated Arkham City Before It Officially Opened
In an attempt to gather intel and limit early acts of violence in Arkham City, Batman infiltrated the facility disguised as Lester Kurtz, a thug with an extensive rap sheet created by Oracle. To get inside, Batman traveled in the Batboat and hid the vehicle in the empty shell of an old tugboat at an abandoned dock. As Lester Kurtz, Batman joined Joker's gang first. He was put through a few trials to test his capabilities, including fighting a group of thugs that were already recruited. However, after beating up his would-be crewmates, Lester snuck out of the old Sionis factory and sought out Penguin.
As one of the best Batman: Arkham villains, Penguin had already amassed a crew and hatched a plan to obtain guns despite arriving after Joker. Unlike his competition, Penguin didn't test Lester, but he did display his power by dropping a traitor into a pit to die. Immediately after joining, Lester was sent with a small crew to steal guns from a TYGER armory. Unfortunately, even though Penguin's thugs arrived early, Joker's crew was ready for them.
A fight ensued attracting the attention of nearby TYGER forces. Ultimately, Lester destroyed the guns to ensure no gang got their hands on more weapons. As punishment, Lester was tasked with leading an assault on Joker's hideout, but before the counterattack in Arkham City could happen, Batman escaped. Unfortunately, thanks to Hugo Strange's extensive camera network, Batman's secret way into the facility was revealed. When Batman returned as Lester Kurtz, Strange's trap triggered and caused the tugboat to explode. TYGER forces quickly closed in on Batman, but Catwoman helped him get away using a car she stole after freeing Poison Ivy. In response, Batman attacked a group of TYGER agents and threatened one until he revealed Hugo Strange's name.
Hugo Strange Discovered Batman's Identity & His Arkham City Plan Succeeded
Batman had been trying to identify the man behind Arkham City since he suspected that Mayor Sharp was a puppet, but by the time he found out Strange had already deduced his secret identity. Finding out that Strange had been pulling the strings the whole time since Batman: Arkham Asylum didn't help much, because even when Bruce Wayne confronted him, he couldn't stop him. Batman recruited Robin to dig up intel on Strange, but by the time they had solid evidence of his abusive treatment of patients, it was too late. Strange stepped out into the light with the intention of reassuring Gotham citizens that a highly qualified professional was in charge of Arkham City.
At the press conference revealing Strange's involvement in creating Arkham City, Bruce Wayne brought forth his evidence contradicting the doctor's kind and caring nature and proving his sudden, inexplicable departure from the asylum. However, Strange claimed he was framed by corrupt physicians and fled Arkham Asylum to avoid falling victim to their lies. With minimal effort, Strange was able to silence Batman: Arkham's Bruce Wayne and win over the crowd.
As the final issue in the Batman Arkham City comic series comes to an end, Strange commits one final act to solidify his absolute power in Gotham. Strange indirectly delivered a map with an escape route to Victor Zsasz before quickly sending his TYGER guards after him. The quick capture quelled the fears of Gotham citizens, so Strange was free to do anything he pleased.
Just before the start of the video game sequel, Strange uses his cameras to learn how his inmates think and tediously study every major criminal's fighting style. Strange also prepares for Batman's return by giving his forces the means to capture him. The doctor's intel and relentless efforts lead to Bruce Wayne being tied up and confronted by Strange at the start of Batman: Arkham City.