Batgirl frequently appears throughout Batman mythos, usually as the secret identity of Barbara Gordon, but Gotham Knights and the Batman Arkham series handle the character very differently. As one of the first members of the Batfamily, Batgirl enjoyed a partnership with Batman alongside characters like Robin and Alfred Pennyworth. The Batgirl identity is shared by several characters but is most frequently occupied by Barabara Gordon until she endures her paralytic injury (sometimes at the hands of Joker). Thankfully, Batman Arkham fans aren't getting a carbon copy of Batgirl in Gotham Knights, which utilizes a significantly different universe and character iteration than the former.
Batgirl joins Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin as playable hero characters in Gotham Knights, charged with protecting Gotham following Bruce Wayne’s (and Batman’s) untimely death. Though WB Games Montreal has been relatively scarce on the details, various reveal trailers and the official Gotham Knights website unveiled vital information concerning the world and characters inhabiting it. The playable characters in Gotham Knights face off against the Court of Owls, alongside other unrevealed factions and villains. Gotham Knights allow players to engage in single-player or co-op gameplay, exploring an open world that evolves with story progression. Though Batman is not available as a character, his legacy influences the city (and the heroes left behind) as the battle for Gotham City continues.
Batgirl acted as Batman’s partner alongside the Robins, though the timeline changes between DC continuities. In the comics, Barbara Gordon’s storyline enjoys several quirky, heroic, and empowering arcs that redeem her character from past injustices. Recent comic continuities see Batgirl return to action thanks to the power of a Green Lantern ring or by inventions designed by Barbara Gordon herself. The Batman Arkham series and Gotham Knights enjoy creative freedoms within their respective universes, allowing WB Games to explore different options for Batgirl’s character and development in the future.
Batman Arkham’s Timeline Is Different
Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl identity was playable as a DLC hero in Arkham Origins, where she joined Batman shortly after his legacy began in Gotham City. Following the Christmas Eve incidents, Arkham Origin's Barbara Gordon trained alongside Batman to become Batgirl, assisting him in defending the city. Though players cannot enjoy Batgirl’s content for long, the Batgirl DLC content efficiently expresses her effectiveness in combat and the importance of her partnership with Batman. Unfortunately, Batman Arkham cuts Batgirl’s crime-fighting career short after a debilitating assault left her paralyzed. Though this event resulted at the end of Barbara’s fight on the frontlines, her determination to make Gotham a better place continued in the form of Oracle, who assisted Batman and his sidekicks in their crusade. The last time players interact with Barbara, she is still in a wheelchair and shows no sign of recovering from her injury. Barbara’s progression between secret identities and crime-fighting styles is one of the most significant differences between her character in the Batman Arkham series and Gotham Knights.
Like Batman Arkham, Gotham Knights’ Batgirl began her crime-fighting career inspired by the efforts of her father and Batman. Unfortunately, she also suffered a paralytic injury following a face-off with an unknown enemy. Though common interpretations of the character see Batgirl’s crime-fighting cut short at the hands of the Joker, Gotham Knights could change this origin story. It’s unknown how much time Barbara spent in her wheelchair, only that the injury didn’t hold the same amount of permanence within Gotham Knights as it did in Batman Arkham. Barbara returned to active duty as Batgirl through rehabilitation and training and rejoined the Batfamily’s crusades against crime. Though Batman Arkham appeared to utilize Oracle as a final step for Barbara’s crime-fighting career, Gotham Knights has given her another chance at protecting Gotham.
Gotham Knights’ Batgirl Has A Broken Family
Batman Arkham features Commissioner Gordon as a dynamic character working alongside Batman, who takes some time to fully trust the Caped Crusader before becoming a close friend and ally. Throughout the series, Gordon’s presence helps Batman conquer various challenges and grants him intel concerning the criminal activities of Gotham’s nightlife. Though the Commissioner rarely appears on the frontlines, his assistance is vital to Batman’s success in suppressing the various supervillains within Gotham. Despite the many significant dangers throughout the Batman Arkham series, Commissioner Gordon survives the franchise’s events to protect Gotham after the Knightfall incident. Though he leaves his post as Police Commissioner and becomes Gotham’s next Mayor, his actions are always motivated by justice and a drive for the common good. Mayor James Gordon’s fate following Batman: Arkham Knight’s DLCs is unknown.
While James Gordon is still acknowledged in the Gotham Knights universe, he perished before the game’s events. Bruce Wayne details in his farewell video that the Gotham City Police Department haven’t trusted the vigilantes since Gordon’s passing, though it’s unknown why. WB Games Montreal hasn’t revealed James Gordon’s manner of death or the circumstances surrounding the GCPD. Though Barbara Gordon’s father inspired her to embark on her crime-fighting crusade, his death didn’t bring about its end. Instead, Batgirl continues her path for justice in Gotham City. Like Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin, Batgirl suffers from a broken family and has few people to lean on now. With the losses of James Gordon and Batman, Gotham is more vulnerable than ever, though Gotham Knights’ website states Batgirl’s objective is to ensure their deaths “were not in vain.”
Batman Arkham Featured A Romance Between Batgirl And Robin
Batman: Arkham Knight featured a strange romance between Batgirl and Robin, whose secret identities were Barbara Gordon and Timothy Drake. Fans met this romance with mixed reactions and some skepticism given the discrepancy from other popular Barbara Gordon romances and the age gap. Additionally, it’s unknown when Robin and Oracle began their relationship, nor whether the latter engaged in romantic relations with any other members of the Batfamily prior. Though their interactions were cute and the pair enjoyed a (seemingly) happy marriage and honeymoon, it doesn’t appear the characters share a similar connection in the upcoming Batman game.
Gotham Knights has shown no evidence of Barbara and Tim being in a relationship or Batgirl having a relationship. Tim Drake’s Robin is confirmed to be the youngest member of the playable characters in Gotham Knights, which would be an odd detail to point out if WB Montreal planned on initiating a romance between Robin and Batgirl. Romance also seems an inappropriate plot to pursue given the dark nature of the game so far, with both Robin and Batgirl struggling with the losses of their father figures. Additionally, the nefarious schemes of Gotham Knights’ Court of Owls suggest a severe threat for Gotham City, with a potential romance between Tim Drake and Barbara Gordon distracting from the plotline.
Despite the differences between Gotham Knights and Batman Arkham, Batgirl's dynamic development appears in both titles. WB Montreal hasn’t released many specifics concerning characters’ backstories, nor has there been much information regarding plot details, meaning the Gotham Knights website and various trailers offer exclusive looks at each character’s legacy. Though Batman Arkham and Gotham Knights share similar aesthetics, each game takes place in an independent universe with different timelines, character iterations, and stories. Gotham Knights is scheduled for a 2022 release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC systems, with no specific release date announced.