Gotham Knightsseems to have the perfect marriage between comics and created lore with the game being packed with famous names from the Batman universe, each with their own never-before-seen spin. From the new takes of some villains, like Harley Quinn, to the history of Gotham itself, which the developers built going back 400 years, the game has a lot to offer for gamers who love diving into lore. One of the most notable figures inGotham Knights, however, comes in the form of one of the most famous names in Batman comics, the Kane family.
Jacob Kane, the current head of the Kane family, runs Kane Industries inGotham Knightsand is married to Catherine Kane, the current Commissioner of the GCPD. While his comic version is most known as being the father of Batwoman, in the game, his role is slightly different. Jacob acts as a proud uncle to the now-dead Bruce Wayne and is a stellar member of the Gotham City community. Together with his wife, the pair causes a lot of grief to the Bat Family who are actively trying to keep Gotham safe, all while also attempting to solveBatman’s final case, The Court of Owls.
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Jacob Kane in The Comics
In the comics, Jacob Kane is a retired army veteran and father of Kate Kane, who eventually becomes Batwoman. He is a constant supporter of her daughter’s crime-fighting, often helping her with cases and even training her in the techniques that he learned during his time in the military. This is a stark contrast to how he is portrayed inGotham Knights, but his presence in the comics allows Batwoman to gain the confidence she neededto protect Gotham Cityby herself and transform into the character she eventually became.
Outside simply helping train Batwoman, Jacob also acts as Batwoman’s oracle for much of the comics, accessing classified information thanks to his military clearance, and maintaining a constant link with her while she is patrolling. He is also aware ofBatman’s true identity as Bruce Wayne, who is also his nephew, which could have played a part in trusting Kate to become Batwoman. UnlikeGotham Knights, Jacob Kane in the comics is often regarded as an excellent role model to one of the best crime fighters in Gotham City.
The Kane Family
The Kane family holds a significant place in the Batman universe, for starters, they are related to Bruce Wayne himself, with his mother, Martha, being a part of that family. The family also has three other notable figures in DC Comics, Kate Kane, the original Batwoman, her sister Elizabeth, also known as the villain Alice, and Bette Kane, another member of the Bat Family, Flamebird.The Kane Family inGotham Knightsare one of the city’s founding families and have amassed a large amount of wealth since their origins as weapons and shipbuilders.
While the three mentioned members of the family are a big part of the comics,Gotham Knightsfocus more of the attention on Jacob Kane and his wife Catherine, the latter of which is the new Commissioner of the GCPD following the death of Jim Gordon. Jacob continues to run the family business, Kane Industries, and is a notable figure in the community,even having a friendship with Alfredthat the player will encounter in the story. As a result, the Kanes inGotham Knightshave elevated themselves to the elite of Gotham City, placing them in the perfect position to mold the city into their ideal image.
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Jacob Kane’s Court of Owls
InGotham Knights, Jacob Kane is the head of one of the game’s factions, the Court of Owls, holding the title of Voice of the Court, and attempting to protect Gotham City from any and all threats. His wife is the commissioner of the GCPD,the same role that was held by Jim Gordon before his death, which gives Jacob a lot of power in the city. However, even with his wife in a position of power, he hides his secret role in the Court from everyone, including her, making it difficult for the Bat Family to pinpoint the leader until he is finally unmasked.
Jacob Kane is the uncle of Bruce Wayne, just like in the comics, and mourns the death of his nephew, yet understands that Bruce would never have accepted the motives of the Court. Kane uses a special chemical to create what are essentiallyundead soldiers, known as the Talons, and continues to pose a problem to the Bat Family and Gotham City until he is eliminated. While he may not be the final boss of the game, Jacob Kane is a character that perfectly fits the role of the leader of the Court of Owls.
Being one of the richest men in Gotham City, Jacob Kane was the perfect candidate to be the Voice of the Court since he has the resources to run such a powerful organization. Every part of his life seems to interfere with the Bat Family, giving him a vital role inGotham Knights’Court of Owls storyline, and while he is quickly replaced at the end of the game, it was his decisions and actions that got the Knights so heavily involved with the Court. Jacob Kane resonated throughoutthe story ofGotham Knights, whether through his involvement with the Court or from his wife’s goal of locking up the Bat Family, making him a memorable villain in an action-packed game.
Gotham Knightsis available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
