Bane was completely absent from 2015’s Batman: Arkham Knight, and the reason why could suggest a new path for the character in future games. The monstrous South American crime boss is one of Batman's most infamous enemies, most known for the iconic moment when he breaks the Dark Knight's spine during the Knightfall arc of the early 90s. Since that pivotal storyline, Bane has made numerous appearances in Batman media, including most of Rocksteady’s excellent Batman: Arkham video games.
Bane has had a mixed reception in the Batman: Arkham series, however, as initially he is more of a mindless muscle head in Batman: Arkham Asylum, and in 2011’s Batman: Arkham City. Later in Arkham Origins, Bane redeems himself, becoming a major antagonist and the final boss of the game, having used a prototype version of the Titan formula from Asylum to transform himself into the colossal brute shown in the rest of the Batman: Arkham series.
Bane's Mask Can Be Found In Batman: Arkham Knight
Despite being a recurring threat throughout the previous Batman: Arkham games, Bane was nowhere to be found in Batman: Arkham Knight. While the rest of Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery was present and ed for in the final chapter of Rocksteady’s Batman saga, all that can be seen of Bane is a few small Easter eggs. Players can find a Titan tank tucked away in the GD Evidence room, and scanning it triggers an audio recording from Aaron Cash. He reveals that Bane disappeared after Arkham City was closed down and notes that he was suffering from a serious case of withdrawal from abusing Titan.
Bane Could Return In Suicide Squad: KTJL
Players can also find Bane's signature mask and Venom tank as part of the Riddler's Arkham Knight Side Mission. This unlocks a Gotham City Story that tells of how Bane returned to Santa Prisca to overcome his addiction to Venom/Titan - as well as overthrow the Venom-enhanced drug lords that were holding his homeland hostage. This desire to rid himself of the drug that gave him his superhuman strength mirrors one of Bane’s later comic story arcs, where he proved to be just as formidable without Venom. Bane was even recruited by Amanda Waller for Task Force X during this time, though he was eventually betrayed and sent to an alien prison planet.
This last storyline could set up another appearance from Bane in a future Rocksteady DC game. This year’s Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is set in the Batman: Arkham timeline, meaning that while he hasn’t been confirmed as a playable member of the team, Bane could show up as either a DLC character or set up for a possible sequel. In any case, The Man Who Broke The Bat has kept himself busy during his absence from Batman: Arkham Knight by ridding himself of his troubling Venom addiction.
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