Batman: Sins of the Father is a tie-in limited series to Telltale Games' Batman video games. The story is set in the timeframe between Batman: The Telltale Series and Batman: The Enemy Within, following Batman as he investigates assassinations of former Arkham Asylum staff. The series was published from April to September 2018.
Plot[]
In the aftermath of the Children of Arkham's defeat, Batman works with the GCPD to minimize crime in Gotham. After breaking up a battle between the Maroni and Zucco crime families, Batman attends a party at Wayne Manor. During which, he learns that families of his father's victims are suing him for damage chargers. Against the advice of the Wayne Enterprises board, Bruce decides to investigate and help the victims.
During a meeting with former Arkham staff, one of the members is shot from an opposing building. After evacuating the others, Bruce discovers it to be purported by a lone gunman, who escapes before he can arrive. Taking the rifle left on the scene, Batman suspects one of his father's victims wants revenge and begins investigating.
Running into a series of dead ends, Batman eventually learns that another assassin called the Black Spider has been hired and the other assassin, whom he has dubbed "Deadshot", is the client. After they take another victim, Batman decides to investigate anyone related to a patient with links to his father. Breaking into Arkham, Batman bypasses the security measures and obtains the necessary files. With Black Spider sent after the same files, Batman subdues the assassin and leaves with the file, tipping the GCPD to arrest him.
With the information, Batman determines that Deadshot is not actually seeking revenge for someone imprisoned, but for someone his father released. Discovering links to the Lawton family, Batman learns that the couple were imprisoned for abusing their sons Eddie and Floyd, and had been released by his father to obtain land for a discount price. With Eddie dying in an apparent fall, he determines that Floyd is Deadshot, due to his expertise in shooting. Bruce also suspects Floyd might have murdered his parents, staging a murder suicide, and is targeting the Arkham staff for their alleged hand in his father's dealings.
After weeks of trying to draw him out as Batman by attacking his security company, Bruce decides to visit Lawton personally. During the meeting, Bruce learns that the allegations against the Lawtons were legitimate and that Eddie Lawton had reported their activities to the authorities. When their parents were released, Floyd's brother had died after attempting to stand up to his parents and he forced to lie. Bruce attempts to goad Lawton into killing him with flimsy evidence from his parents' deaths, though Lawton quickly sees through the deception and forces him to leave.
Believing Lawton will target Bruce Wayne and his allies, Batman arranges protection for Wayne Enterprises' employees with Gordon and the GCPD. However, when Lawton slips through his surveillance, Batman protects them before learning the attacks to be distractions. Meanwhile, Deadshot breaks into Wayne Manor and kidnaps Alfred.
Tracking him to a building acquired by his security firm, Batman learns that Lawton and other mercenaries have taken those complicit in his parents' release hostage and rigged explosives. After a failed attempt, Deadshot reveals that he simply planned to lure Batman out and test whether he would kill to save the others. Holding the group hostage, he attempts to force Batman to kill him to rescue the hostages, threatening to kill them unless he shoots him. Batman, however, shoots the detonator and subdues Lawton, leading to his arrest.
In the aftermath, Bruce manages to arrange a settlement with the victims' families, working with the board to settle the debt. Deciding to take a break, he and Alfred discuss his father's efforts and whether he can repair the damage done over time. Meanwhile, Lawton is committed to Arkham Asylum through a technicality, though an unseen figure arranges his release to for his help in a "suicidal [assignment]".
Issues[]
Chapter One
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Chapter Two
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Chapter Three
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Chapter Four
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Chapter Five
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Chapter Six
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Notes[]
- The series avoids canonizing optional events in The Telltale Series, such as Harvey Dent's disfigurement. However, the series indirectly confirms several events, including Batman confronting Two-Face and unmasking to Lady Arkham.
- There are several dependencies between the series and the games:
- Batman utilizes gadget-based batarangs, such as smokescreen, explosive and roped variants.
- The Grapple Gun's design resembles the Batclaw from the Arkham video game series as opposed to the games.
- The Batcave's design does not match the games, with stairs being seen in place of an elevator. Several trophies absent in the games appear in the cave, including the Giant Penny and the mechanical T-Rex.