The Dark Ages Vigilante Takes Inspiration from a Fearless Batman

Here’s an interesting tidbit for gaming enthusiasts: the Slayer in “Doom: The Dark Ages” draws inspiration from Frank Miller’s iconic Batman in “The Dark Knight” comics. Recently, id Software announced that the game’s achievements will be attainable on May 15, 2025, coinciding with its release as part of the Game Pass lineup.

During a recent deep dive into “Doom: The Dark Ages,” I had the opportunity to attend a Q&A session with the developers at id Software. The creative director, Hugo Martin, shared an intriguing piece of insight with us: the medieval-themed Slayer in this chapter is very much influenced by the Batman we know from Frank Miller’s graphic novels. It turns out they already had a similar concept in mind back when “Doom (2016)” was in development.

Frank Miller’s influence is evidently strong in shaping this version of Doom Slayer, who is portrayed as more robust and menacing than ever. A while back, there was a leak during Microsoft’s legal battle with the FTC over the Activision Blizzard acquisition. The leaked documents hinted at a game in progress titled “Doom: Year One” at Bethesda.

Hugo Martin confirmed that this codename was indeed a nod to Batman’s “Year One” comic, which both he and executive producer Marty Stratton enjoyed back in 2016. “The Dark Knight,” overall, served as a significant muse for them.

Martin enthusiastically recalled, “My favorite comic of all time—which, not so surprisingly, is a favorite of many—is Frank Miller’s ‘The Dark Knight.’ The portrayal of Batman as an enormous, tank-like force was incredible. His weaponry was formidable, and everything about him screamed power. That model of a hero was exactly what we wanted for our Slayer—massive and commanding.”

He explained that following “Doom Eternal” and its DLCs, which stand as achievements in their own right, they had stretched the limits of speed and acrobatics. This time around, they wanted to explore a different facet of the power fantasy, one that would resonate well with players. As Martin put it, they are continually refining how the weight of this character is conveyed. “When he moves, you feel it. His every action is impactful and feels awesome,” he described.

In addition, Martin mentioned the team’s aspiration to delve into a prequel story, a narrative thread they’ve spun since “Doom (2016)” with the Slayer’s Testaments and other lore elements. They’ve always dreamed of reaching a point where crafting a game around this backstory was possible.

“Creators like George Lucas showed us how to do this well back in the 80s,” Martin mused. “Heroes should have well-established pasts. If executed right and the fans are intrigued, then you have a solid ground to explore such histories in future installments.”

The Slayer’s legend was constructed right from the start—the Testaments outlining his mythos. Martin concluded with hope, “We always wished for a chance to explore this story. Fingers crossed, we might just get to make it happen.”

Are you excited about diving into battle with a Slayer modelled after the Dark Knight in this upcoming Xbox shooter? Share your thoughts in the comments below!