Inspired by a Badass Batman: The Dark Ages Slayer

Here’s an interesting tidbit for you: the Slayer in Doom: The Dark Ages has roots in Batman’s The Dark Knight series by Frank Miller. Just yesterday, id Software announced that players can start hunting for Doom: The Dark Ages achievements starting May 15, 2025, as the game exits the upcoming Game Pass lineup.

### Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Batman and the Influence on id Software

The creative director of Doom: The Dark Ages unveiled that this year’s version of the Doom Slayer draws inspiration from Batman in The Dark Knight comics. Mark your calendars, as the game is set to release on May 15, 2025, for both Xbox Series X|S and PC.

In a recent sneak peek at Doom: The Dark Ages, we had the chance to participate in a Q&A with id Software. We picked up some interesting insights during this session. Creative Director Hugo Martin shared that Frank Miller’s Dark Knight comics significantly influenced the new, medieval-themed Doom Slayer. In fact, plans for a prequel were already being considered during the development of Doom (2016).

It seems Frank Miller’s creations left quite their mark on Doom: The Dark Ages. This title presents a heftier, more robust Slayer than we’ve seen before. When Microsoft was busy with the FTC proceedings over the Activision Blizzard acquisition, documents surfaced revealing a project named Doom: Year One at Bethesda.

Hugo Martin clarified that this codename paid tribute to Batman’s Year One comic, which he and Marty Stratton were reading back in 2016. The Dark Knight, on the whole, served as a major inspiration.

“My all-time favorite comic, and I’m sure it’s a favorite for many, is Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight,” Martin remarked. “Batman was depicted as huge, incredible, and unstoppable. He looked like a tank… His entire arsenal was formidable. I thought, ‘It would be amazing to create a Slayer like that,’ a more substantial and powerful Slayer.”

He continued, “There wasn’t much speed or agility left to tap into after Doom Eternal. We’re proud of Doom Eternal and its DLCs; they stand strong, as does Doom (2016). But this was a new twist on the Doom Slayer power fantasy, something players would really enjoy. He’s not simple to master; we constantly tweak how weighty he feels. You can hear it when he moves—everything about him is big and impressive.”

Martin went on to explain that the team was keen on exploring a prequel, a concept they had embedded in Doom (2016) through the Slayer’s Testaments and other lore. They hoped circumstances would allow them to realize this vision in future games.

“Creators like George Lucas laid out the blueprint for doing this well back in the ’80s,” Martin explained. “Heroes should have a rich history, and, if managed properly with enough fan interest, sequels can explore those tales further.”

“We started designing the Slayer’s backstory from the very beginning with the Slayer’s Testaments: the legend of the Slayer. And fingers crossed, we’ve been hoping to tell that story someday.”

Are you excited about facing hordes of demons as a Dark Knight-inspired Doom Slayer in this upcoming first-person shooter for Xbox? We’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below!