No time like Comic Con to show off a new character for a comic book based game. This was Warner Bros. Montreal's mindset at least, showing a new villain for the Batman Arkham prequel, Batman: Arkham Origins. It's a brand new villain to video games, and is a bit of a departure from its comic appearance as well. By now, you've likely noticed I'm playing the pronoun game. That's because the villain in question is actually a female version of the villain Copperhead.
This is the sort of thing I was hoping for, characters that can reach a new audience by putting them in a new medium, in this case, a video game.
Warner Bros. Montreal's Eric Holmes revealed the villain during a panel at the San Diego convention.
If you're an avid reader of DC comics, you're more than likely aware of the snake skinned contortionist, who used this skill as a thief to help him slip in and out of otherwise difficult to access areas, before going on to become a master assassin. Arkham Origins will be keeping this skill alive with its version of Copperhead. In fact, motion capture actually required three actors to pull off some of her twistier formations, one of whom is an acrobat with Cirque Du Soleil.
In fact, DC was actually inspired enough by the development team's version of Copperhead that it will be introducing her as a new character in the comics, according to Polygon.
Given the game's plot surrounding Black Mask's offer of a whole lotta money to whoever can take out the caped crusader, I wouldn't be surprised if we learn that Warner Bros. has completely abandoned the idea of the snake charmer as a thief entirely. One version of the character in the comics had him take on a far more serpentine appearance, using his tail to strangle targets. Based on the trailer, it doesn't look like WB is going this route. She is equipped with absurd acrobatics, fang like glaives, and some other snake like qualities (peep the eyes).
We've also learned that there will be two new skins coming for players to unlock in Origins - Batman One Million and Worst Nightmare Batman. No major details have been revealed about them, other than Worst Nightmare Batman will be just that to unlock, and only by "absolute masters" who have "drained the game" of achievements.
The trailer that Holmes showed off at Comic-Con can be seen below. Batman: Arkham Origins is out on PC, PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360 this October.
