Every Batman: Arkham Reference In Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’s Trailers

As Rocksteady’s follow-up to the Batman: Arkham games, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has already provided a handful of references to its predecessors in its two trailers so far. Revealed in 2020, Suicide Squad: KTJL takes place in the Arkhamverse from the Batman: Arkham games and sees the titular villainous team attempting to defeat a Brainiac-controlled Justice League in Metropolis.

The DC FanDome 2021 story trailer for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League gave a closer look at many of its characters, including several members of the Justice League, and displayed some of the humor and banter expected of the squad. The only thing missing was Batman himself, but the Dark Knight’s presence was felt all throughout the trailer.

Related: Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League FanDome Trailer Breakdown

Both trailers include many nods to the Arkhamverse, beginning to flesh out SS:KTJL as a continuation of the series. The game sees the return of several Batman: Arkham characters, as well as evidence of Batman’s influence after his apparent death at the end of Batman: Arkham Knight.

Suicide Squad: KTJL References Batman: Arkham’s Harley Quinn

The most prominent Arkham reference in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a direct continuation of its story: Harley Quinn appeared in every Batman: Arkham game – even the prequel, Arkham Origins, as Harleen Quinzel, which led to her fateful first encounter with the Joker. Her dedication to Joker saw her working tirelessly against Batman, even following Joker’s death in Arkham City, joining forces with Scarecrow in Arkham Knight to avenge her lover’s death. Harley was arrested and transported back to Arkham Asylum following Batman’s Knightfall Protocol, where it’s assumed she remained in the years leading up to Amanda Waller recruiting her into the Suicide Squad.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League References Batman Via A Party Balloon

In the first Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League trailer, the four members of the squad are lounging around on a rooftop, preparing themselves for the fight against Brainiac’s forces. In one moment of the scene, the camera pans to Kill the Justice League’s King Shark, who pops a balloon with Batman’s logo on it. As casual and silly as this move is, it could be a subtle reference to Batman’s supposed death – or just reestablishing how much the Suicide Squad dislikes the Caped Crusader.

Suicide Squad: KTJL References Batman: Arkham’s Street Demonz Biker Gang

When the squad jumps into action against the invading aliens, a quick Easter egg can be seen on a water tower in the form of the logo of the Street Demonz, a notorious biker gang from Gotham City. The Street Demonz made an appearance in Batman: Arkham Knight after teaming up with Penguin when Gotham was under lockdown. Now knowing Penguin will feature in SS:KTJL, it seems that the Street Demonz reference was alluding to his involvement, but it could also be teasing the gang itself.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Includes Arkham Asylum

Leading off the newest Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League trailer is the return of Arkham Asylum, the location of the entirety of Batman: Arkham Asylum. Amanda Waller travels along the same road Batman took when bringing Joker into custody at the start of that game, passing through a now-worse-for-wear main gate. She interacts with the members of the Suicide Squad in a familiar containment room as well: the area where players learn Arkham Asylum’s often-mimicked Freeflow Combat system after the Joker breaks free.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Includes Batman: Arkham’s Grapple Gun

When preparing for the eventual trip into Metropolis to bring down Brainiac, the Suicide Squad meets up with inventor Gizmo, who provides the group with an arsenal of weaponry and gadgets. The trailer shows Harley Quinn using a grapple gun that looks very similar to the one Batman uses throughout the Batman: Arkham series. Harley fires the grapple gun into the distance and is promptly yanked offscreen, but she seems to get the hang of it eventually, as the original trailer shows her effortlessly swinging around Metropolis.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Includes Batman: Arkham’s Riddler Hat

During Gizmo’s analysis of the members of the Suicide Squad, a scene plays where King Shark picks up a green bowler hat and places it on his head. This hat looks exactly like the one worn by Edward Nigma, or the Riddler, in the Batman: Arkham games, where he caused the hero many headaches with his challenges and Riddler trophies.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Includes A Batman Statue

The Suicide Squad seems to visit the Hall of Justice during the FanDome 2021 trailer, and a host of statues in the background depict the heroic members of the League. Amidst Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern stands a statue of Batman, which indicates he was able to find time between the events of the Arkham games to work alongside them in a scenario worth commemorating.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Includes A New Batmobile

A Batmobile shows up in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League as well, though Batman’s ride looks significantly different in this game, with a massive Bat symbol on the front of the car that appears to be the signal from the top of GCPD in Arkham Knight. Nothing was shown of the character driving the Batmobile, but it would be fun if SS:KTJL allowed players to control the iconic car as one of Batman’s nemeses.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League References Batman: Arkham’s Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy seems to be in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, as the Suicide Squad’s members witness a plant of intimidating size burst through the ground and are eventually swept up by a moving vine. It would be a bit surprising if the character is actually in the game, as Ivy appeared to die in Batman’s arms during Arkham Knight after helping him rid Gotham of Scarecrow’s Fear Toxin. A small plant was seen growing where Poison Ivy passed, however, which may have led to the character’s rebirth. 

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Includes Batman: Arkham’s Penguin

Finally, Batman: Arkham’s Penguin makes an appearance near the end of the newest Suicide Squad: KTJL trailer. The squad tricks Amanda Waller into electrocuting the villain multiple times, convincing her he’s continually managing to escape. It’s not revealed where Penguin is escaping from exactly, but icicles hanging on the doorway facing of the structure and a blue-tinted sign suggest he may be kept in a branch of North Refrigeration (used by Penguin in Arkham Knight to store weapons) under Waller’s supervision. Penguin has the same implant in his neck as the rest of the Suicide Squad members, so Waller may have the Batman villain on a leash until she needs him for a specific assignment, like working with a second team to kill the Justice League.

Next: Could Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’s Batman Be Dick Grayson?

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is scheduled for a 2022 release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Wonder Woman Deflects Bullets in Epic Body Paint Cosplay Video

About The Author