WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Detective Comics #1001 from Peter J. Tomasi, Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, Nathan Fairbarn and Rob Leigh, in stores at present.

When fans learned the Arkham Knight was coming to DC comics, conspiracy theorists immediately began scouring for clues every bit to who the villain would exist. In the Batman: Arkham Knight video game, information technology was Jason Todd beneath the armor, merely because he's pulling double duty equally Ruby-red Hood and the new kingpin Penguin's empire, we can safely rule him out.

As the speculation continues, still, Batman has a lot more to worry about than who'due south under the mask. That'southward considering Detective Comics #1001 introduces the Arkham Knight's biggest weapon: a new league of assassins called the Knights of the Dominicus.

When the Arkham Knight debuted in Issue m, information technology became articulate the comic realm was fashioning a very different path for him. He isn't bitter like Jason, but instead more cerebral, and adheres to the belief that Batman is an musical instrument of detest, violence and oppression. And as we discover out, the Arkham Knight has created the legion as the antithesis to the symbol of the Dark Knight. The Caped Crusader operates in the shadows, using the night as a weapon of destruction, and that'southward why these Knights must function in the calorie-free.

When the initial phase of the assaults begins to unfold, the Arkham Knight has been killing bats in Gotham as a distraction while he builds a devices meant to create a mini-sun above the urban center. He intends to take away Batman's greatest ally, the shadows. As he tells his coiffure, they must "burn bright and burn the nighttime back," so they tin take dorsum Gotham. It'southward no surprise we don't find out who Arkham Knight is so early on on, just when Batman comes to investigate the device exploding near Gotham Zoo, he gets upward close and personal with his coiffure as they ambush the hero.

They're clad in special suits that deflect all of Batman'south weapons, and shockingly, with their unique swords and arrows, they somehow penetrate Bruce Wayne's armor. It appears they have intimate knowledge of Bruce, something we've seen Hush betrayal in the past; they know his weak points. Or it could only exist impaired luck. Simply by the way they dissect him, clearly there'south an X-factor the creative team is keeping shut to the vest.

This new development will certainly examination Batman mentally and physically. Afterward all, Bruce has gone upwardly against and so many societies and cults, from Ra's al Ghul'southward League of Shadows to the Court of Owls to Kobra to Azrael's Sacred Social club of Saint Dumas. Just none has always put him down in such a dominating way. By the end of the event the Arkham Knight himself enters the fray, incapacitates Batman, and ends upward holding up his sword and shield victoriously.

It'south interesting he and his army aren't using high-powered guns similar Jason did in the game, opting instead for something more medieval and intimidating. ell, when it comes to the Arkham Knight and his minions, hopefully clues come up Batman's way sooner rather than subsequently, considering every bit information technology stands, this foe knows the Caped Crusader well, and is prepare to burn down to the ground everything he stands for.

Detective Comics #1002 goes on sale April 24.