Batman is likely to be not only one of the most popular DC Characters to be imagined but one of the most popular comic creations in history, with over eight decades in a public medium. As Comic Book notes, “The character [Batman] has arguably dominated superhero comics (and the various tie-in media around superhero comics) since his original debut in 1939.” He continues to be a favorite among creators, as an eternal muse for newly inspired content.

Batman was the brainchild of Bob Kane, a creative who drew his inspiration from the forever boy scout, an alien from Krypton named Superman. According to History Today, “Kane was an artist and writer aiming to find a new hero to rival Superman, who had appeared the previous year.” Thus, Batman was born chiseled from imagination and inspiration. And the world loved him.

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The story of Bruce Wayne has provided a plethora of rich content to entertain the masses. Cold Wire notes that the current count of Batman movies sits at 66, with the first dating back to 1966. The feature film entitled Batman: The Movie featured a dashing Adam West as the iconic figure and Cesar Romero as The Joker. But that was only the beginning.

Batman would be immortalized in comics, films, and on the small screen. As of 2019, there were 33 television series that featured the crusader. One of the most recent series was the 2014 Gotham, which ran for five years. Indeed, it’s nothing creators like more than developing content fans crave. It is now 2022, 83 years since Bruce Wayne’s first introduction, and another Batman series Gotham Knights, is on the way.

The CW officially ordered Gotham Knights and the project went into development in 2021, approximately two years after the finale of Gotham. While Gotham wrapped up its story in 2019 for many fans, it wasn’t the end of the story. They wanted more. The announcement of the new series in name alone may make some wonder if there is a tie between the two. Sadly there is not. While they both center on Gotham City, the story starkly differs as it correlates to the cape crusader, and here’s how.

Gotham Was An Origin Story

     Warner Bros.

Gotham found its home on Fox. Bruno Heller produced the successful series, and his offering was stellar. It excelled in the story it told. The key to its riveting success was the fantastic characters it featured and story arcs that were bar none. Comic book lovers and fans of Batman understand that Gotham City bears great relevance in Bruce Wayne’s life. The feature series, similarly named, was developed to add context to how Batman came to take on his heroic mantle.

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This angle made Gotham an origin story. Each season intently shone a light on the rise of the various nefarious elements and other pivotal characters in Gotham City, with an instrumental impact on Wayne’s growth, development, and transformation into Batman. As noted by The Central Trend, the highlights of season five were Bruce Wayne’s departure from Gotham to become Batman and, in the finale returning as Batman.

A Different Timeline

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While similarly named, Gotham Knights will be different from its predecessor. Most noticeably, the series will air on The CW, not on Fox. Furthermore, while the new series will also take place in Gotham City, the timelines are different. The events in Gotham take place while Wayne is very much alive and yet to become the caped hero. But Gotham Knights will take place after Batman has met his demise. According to IGN, the official synopsis reads, “Batman is dead, and a powder keg has ignited Gotham City without The Dark Knight to protect it.”

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This leads many, especially those not ardent followers, to ponder one vital point. If Batman is expired, then what could Gotham Knights be about?

What Will Gotham Knights Be About?

The plot of Gotham Knights centers around a group of young people who have been brought together by misfortune. One with a direct link to the crusader and others with a link to the fallen hero’s villains are framed for his murder. So, Turner Hayes, Batman’s charge, a particularly gray character, and the lead make alliances to help him out of the precarious situation. As IGN notes, “this team of mismatched fugitives must band together to become its next generation of saviors known as the GOTHAM KNIGHTS.” So, in a nutshell, it is more so about the spirit of Batman and the legacy that he leaves.

How Do They Compare?

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Both the 2014 and 2022 series bare similar names and narratives that branch from the life of Batman. However, one is a prequel of sorts, and the other an afterword, an epilogue in Batman’s narrative. And while neither features Bruce Wayne as a character of primacy, there would be no story without him. So, by all intent and purposes, they bare equal importance in the story of the beloved hero. It is believed that with a robust approach and proper execution, Eric Seaton’s Gotham Knights, like Gotham, is likely to win the hearts of many and turn the guise of potential fans.

Gotham Knights is set to debut in 2023 on The CW. For those who wish to catch up on Gotham, all seasons can be found streaming on HBO Max.