Which new villain threatens Gotham in Batman: Arkham Shadow?

The Rat King is the new villain who threatens Gotham in Batman: Arkham Shadow. This masked antagonist uses fear and unrest to build a movement against Gotham’s institutions, placing public officials and the city itself in danger.

Arkham Shadow is set in a younger Batman’s career, six months after Batman: Arkham Origins. The Rat King’s plot unfolds around the Fourth of July and targets figures including District Attorney Harvey Dent and Police Commissioner Jim Gordon. Batman investigates the attacks while dealing with the early development of relationships that become important later in the Arkham timeline.

The character is original to Arkham Shadow rather than a standard recurring Batman villain such as Professor Pyg, Calendar Man or Black Mask. Those characters appear elsewhere in the franchise, which makes them plausible but incorrect choices. The Rat King’s role also connects to the game’s themes of social anger, manipulation and Gotham’s distrust of authority.