Batman: Assault on Arkham (Olivia/Spaulding, 2014) – Movie Review

With the recent Suicide Squad game being released i have found myself wanting to dive back into the greater ArkhamVerse. After playing the old games and reading a comic or two, I found myself watching the animated tie in movie- Batman: Assault on Arkham.

Details of Batman: Assault on Arkham

Batman: Assault On Arkham's Take On Harley Quinn Is The Most Underrated
Image Source: Screen Rant

Distributor: Warner Home Video
Production Companies: Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment, MOI Animation

Director: Jay Olivia & Ethan Spaulding
Producers: James Tucker

Scriptwriters: Heath Corson
Main Cast: Kevin Conroy, Neal McDonough, Hynden Walch, Mathew Gray Gubler, Troy Baker, CCH Pounder, Greg Ellis, Giancarlo Esposito, John DiMaggio, Jennifer Hale, & Nolan North.

Released: 29th July 2014 
Running Time: 76 Minutes
Certificate: 15

Story of Batman: Assault on Arkham

Batman: Assault On Arkham REVIEW | GamesRadar+
Image Source: GamesRadar

Taking place after Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman Assault on Arkham sees Batman take on the Suicide Squad. Sent to Arkham Asylum by The Wall, aka Amanda Waller, the Squad are sent on a wild goose chase. A false mission fabricated solely so Waller can have a secret member intact her true mission. Something we see a lot in the comics and in the latest live-action adaption of the team- The Suicide Squad (Gunn,2021). The team have to fend of Arkham’s guards, prisoners, and of course the caped crusader- Batman!  

Analysis of Batman: Assault on Arkham

The Suicide Squad

Batman: Assault on Arkham Trailer Features Suicide Squad, Set in World of  Arkham Origins
Image Source: Comicbook.com

Iconic members are included such as the leader Deadshot, popular Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang and even King Shark. The later of which is voiced by the amazing John DiMaggio, who also voices Bender in Futurama. They even include a Killer Frost! So overall you have a very varied and diverse team. Filled with some A listers and a couple more to round it out such as Black Spider. That’s one positive of the DCAU and other animated movies from the publisher, they really showcase a vast range of the DC superhero roster. With many B, C, or even D list characters appearing frequently. Despite the Squad taking centre stage, some other villains do appear briefly but are all Batman villains. Which is fitting as it is an Arkham tie in movie, and the majority of the story takes place in Arkham Asylum.

Continuation of Batman: Arkham Origins

Batman: Assault on Arkham (Video 2014) - IMDb
Image Source: IMDb

The movie was planned as a sequel to Batman: Arkham Origins yet this just brings so many plot holes via the newest instalment into the AkrhamVerse. Suicide Squad: Kills the Justice League clearly shows an alive King Shark and Amanda Waller. Even though King died, and Waller was assumed to be dead. So what was once a fun addition to the most acclaimed Batman game series is now just the outsider that causes problems. If they continued the ArkhamVerse in another way after Suicide Squad panned this maybe brought back into canon but for now the movie is sadly closer to elseworlds.

Animation of Batman: Assault on Arkham

FILM REVIEW: 'Batman: Assault on Arkham' - Get Your Comic On
Image Source: Get Your Comic On

As always with DC animated movies, the animation is swift and vibrant. With enthralling animated fight scenes. The animators really went above and beyond when showcasing how spectacular everyone’s superpowers could look. Killer frosts ice attacks, the exploding head bombs, the vibrant costume design. The creative design team really went above and beyond. Choosing to showcase the characters in costumes similar to their comic accurate ones.

Summary of Batman: Assault on Arkham

Batman: Assault on Arkham: Available on HBO Max | Comics2Film
Image Source: Comics2Film

To summarize Batman: Assault on Arkham is a gripping, enthralling story. Which doesn’t wait long to get the tension and the action going. With it being a continuation of the Arkham Origins story, it is a great addition to the Arkham universe. Rammed pack with a talented group of performers such as the deceased Kevin Conroy as Batman. The animation holds up to WB animations high standards when it comes to the animated DC films and the twist has a big payoff within the story. It’s just a shame they can’t seem to do it in a live-action format.

Overall Rating: 8 – Very Good!

Recommendation: YES!

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