Tonight at midnight the wait finally ends as one of the most anticipated movies of the year, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises arrives in theaters. Over the last seven years the filmmaker has created an incredible, expansive world for Batman to live in on screen, with detailed criminal undergrounds, political structures and a wide array of characters for the superhero to interact with. But because Nolan’s Gotham is such a rich, complex place, it’s understandable that some of you, particularly those who don’t read comics, might have forgotten some of the larger and smaller details of the trilogy. Well, that’s why I’m here to help.
After rewatching both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight this week, and seeing The Dark Knight Rises (expect my review later today), I’ve worked to put together a guide that will provide you with all of the background information you need to help you get the most out of the new movie. If you’re looking to go into the film knowing absolutely nothing about the story I recommend heading back now (why did you click on this article to begin with?), but I have worked to keep everything spoiler free. Check it out!
Harvey Two-Face
Who Is He? Born Harvey Dent, Harvey Two-Face used to be Gotham’s district attorney and was labeled as the city’s White Knight, the man who would finally clean up the streets for good and put the criminals behind bars. But then The Joker got to him. Dent was kidnapped along with his girlfriend, Rachel Dawes, in The Dark Knight and while Dent was able to make it out alive (albeit horrifically scarred), Rachel was killed. Believing life to be unfair and seeking revenge, Harvey Two-Face then went on a rampage working to take down all the people he felt were responsible for the death of his loved one.
How Does He Fit? In an effort to give the people of Gotham hope, Batman and Gordon made an agreement at the end of the last film to say that the district attorney actually died a hero and that it was actually Batman who killed all of the people that Dent murdered, as well as Dent himself. The backlash against the hero causes Bruce Wayne to give up the cape and cowl, and go into hiding for eight years.
Harvey Dent Day
What Is It? Because Batman was labeled as a murderer at the end of The Dark Knight, the actions of Harvey Dent were heralded as heroic and the man became a legend in Gotham. Every year on the anniversary of his death the city comes together to celebrate his legacy and celebrate The Dent Act, a new law that helped the GCPD crack down on organized crime and clean the streets.
How Does He Fit? The problem with Harvey Dent Day is that it’s a lie. As explained above, Dent actually lived long enough to see himself become the villain and his horrific actions have been kept from the people of Gotham since that very night. The Dark Knight Rises begins on the eighth annual Harvey Dent Day, a time when tensions are higher than normal, but you know that when there is work to be done the Batman will always respond.
The Batcave
What Is It? If you’ve even just heard of Batman, chances are you’ve heard of The Batcave. Established all the way back at the beginning of Caped Crusader lore and seen being built by Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins, it’s part secret headquarters, part armory, part garage and part crime lab. Hidden beneath Wayne Manor, The Batcave is where Bruce Wayne officially becomes Batman and gets geared up to take down the scum of Gotham
How Does It Fit? Some of you may remember that it’s been a little while since we’ve seen The Batcave in Nolan’s movie-universe, as the first version of the headquarters is completely destroyed when Ra’s Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) burns down Wayne Manor. This is why it’s completely absent during The Dark Knight, hence why Wayne lives in a penthouse and does all of his Batman-ing in an off-site, hidden location. But there are a good amount of years that happen in between the end of the first sequel and the start of The Dark Knight Rises, and you can do a hell of a lot of construction with enough time…
Wayne Enterprises Applied Sciences Division
What Is It? First established in Batman Begins, the Wayne Enterprises Applied Sciences Division is the area of Bruce Wayne’s business that specializes in developing prototypes for pieces of technology that were originally part of government contracts. Wayne discovers this area of the business in Nolan’s first Batman film and uses the technology provided by Lucius Fox to become the hero that Gotham needs. While Fox is eventually named the CEO of the entire company, he still keeps a very close eye on Applied Sciences and keeps it hidden from the public
How Does It Fit? Just because Batman decided to retire his costume at the end of The Dark Knight doesn’t mean that Applied Sciences just folded up and went away. In the time since the last sequel Fox has not only maintained the division, but expanded on it, waiting for the day that Batman would return and need some of what Wayne Enterprises had to offer. And boy does Fox have some wonderful toys this time around…
Catwoman
Who Is She? Selina Kyle may be new to the Christopher Nolan Batman universe, but she is one of the classic characters. Introduced back in 1940 – in Batman #1 – the character is a thief who has long preyed on the rich people of Gotham. She is part burglar, part con-artist, and has a long history of using her sexuality to her advantage so that she can seduce the most powerful men in the city to give her anything that she desires. Her relationship with Batman has long been a complicated one, with the hero experiencing a long running love/hate relationship with the seductress.
How Does She Fit? In Nolan’s universe, Catwoman is recognizable as the character from the comics that we’ve known and loved, and finds herself trapped in Gotham’s underworld and unable to escape the lengthy record that has followed her for her whole life. Using her abilities to get what she wants, Selina hunts down the only thing that could change her life after years of robbing and conning: a clean slate.
Thomas and Martha Wayne Foundation
What Is It? Thomas and Martha Wayne were more than just the richest people in Gotham and Bruce Wayne’s parents - they were true humanitarians. When they were still alive they used every resource they had to try and help Gotham and its struggling citizens. In addition to creating Wayne Enterprises, which provided jobs for many of the city’s denizens, they also took up public works projects such as the efficient subway system what allowed people an inexpensive way to commute to work. The Thomas and Martha Wayne Foundation is a part of that philanthropic spirit, created not only to help the disenfranchised, but also as a means to help encourage educational and cultural activities.
How Does It Fit? Without giving too much away, The Thomas and Martha Wayne Foundation is still in Bruce Wayne’s control in The Dark Knight Rises, but because of distractions and events in Gotham some elements have managed to fall through the cracks. This not only has an impact on Bruce, who has always tried to work through channels other than Batman to help the city, but also on another supporting character.
League of Shadows
What Is It? Without the League of Shadows there would be no Dark Knight. In Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne is taken in by the shadowy organization, which is headed up by Ra’s Al Ghul. With them he hones his skills both in combat and learns how to become invisible. They teach him to embrace his fears – he happens to be afraid of bats – and when all of those elements are put together he finally becomes Batman.
How Does It Fit? While the League did help turn Bruce Wayne into Batman, you might also remember that things between them didn’t exactly end well. After refusing to kill in the name of “justice,” not wanting to lower himself to the level of the criminals he swore to fight against, Bruce burned down the League of Shadows lair and returned to Gotham to help protect the city against the organization’s fear toxin attack. But if you think that’s the last you’ve seen of them, you are mistaken…
Ra’s Al Ghul
Who Is He? The leader of the League of Shadows, Ra’s was Bruce Wayne’s personal mentor and teacher who took the hero every step of the way though his ninja training. Though the two grew close, their friendship broke when Bruce betrayed the order. Ra’s died at the end of Batman Begins when the train he was riding crashed before arriving at its final destination
How Does He Fit? As the head of the League of Shadows, and a former foe of Gotham as we saw in Batman Begins, Ra's al Ghul served as an example to the other members of the League, one of whom arrives in Gotham with his own plan for destruction. Time to see if the student can surpass the master.
Bane
Who Is He? Created in the mid-90s, Bane is actually a relatively new Batman villain, and also one of the most powerful. In addition to being one of the hero’s most physical foes, he also happens to be a master strategist with aspirations to defeat Batman and take control of Gotham. This actually happens in the run known as “Knightfall,” in which Bane freed all of the prisoners in Arkham Asylum and had Batman exhaust himself rounding them all up. When Batman finished the job and returns home, Bane was there waiting for him and broke the hero’s spine over his knee.
How Does He Fit? Unlike Joel Schumacher, who turned the character into a brainless meathead who lived to serves as Poison Ivy’s bodyguard, Nolan’s version of Bane stays much closer to the source material. He is a brilliant, strong mercenary who is an excommunicated member of the League of Shadows and student under Ra’s al Ghul, and in The Dark Knight Rises he is headed to Gotham with some destructive plans in mind…
