The Dark Ages Slayer Draws Inspiration from a Fearsome Batman

Here’s a fun fact for all the gaming enthusiasts out there: The Doom Slayer from “Doom: The Dark Ages” draws inspiration from none other than Batman, specifically Frank Miller’s iconic “The Dark Knight” comic series. Just yesterday, id Software announced that the game, along with its enticing achievements, will officially land on May 15, 2025, marking its exit from the Game Pass upcoming titles list.

In a recent Q&A session with id Software during our hands-off preview of “Doom: The Dark Ages,” creative director Hugo Martin shared that the medieval Slayer we’re about to see was heavily influenced by the Batman from “The Dark Knight” comics. The seeds for this unique iteration were actually planted way back when the team worked on “Doom” in 2016.

It turns out Frank Miller’s impactful storytelling significantly shaped the development of “Doom: The Dark Ages,” resulting in a Slayer who boasts a heavier and more intimidating presence. Interestingly, through leaked court documents during Microsoft’s acquisition battle with the FTC for Activision Blizzard, we found out about a project known as “Doom: Year One” being in the works at Bethesda.

Hugo Martin clarified that the codename was a nod to Batman’s “Year One” comic, which he and fellow developer Marty Stratton read in 2016. The entire “Dark Knight” saga served as a major source of inspiration. Martin commented, “My absolute favorite comic, unsurprisingly, is Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight. It presents Batman in such a larger-than-life manner—he’s powerful, almost tank-like. His entire arsenal screams power. I wanted to create a Slayer with that same awe-inspiring presence, one that’s heavier, yet immensely powerful.”

Elaborating further, Martin noted, “We’d exhausted the avenues of speed and agility in ‘Doom Eternal’ and its DLC. We’re proud of that chapter, just as with ‘Doom’ (2016), but exploring a different aspect of the Doom Slayer fantasy felt universally appealing. He’s no pushover, and we’re always adjusting his weighty presence. You can feel it in every step he takes. Everything about him is grand and intense, and it just feels incredible.”

Martin also expressed a desire to delve into a prequel, an idea that was initially touched upon in “Doom” (2016) through the Slayer’s Testaments and other backstory elements. “George Lucas set the precedent for this kind of narrative exploration back in the ’80s,” Martin remarked. “Characters should have a past, and if you play your cards right and capture the fans’ interest, you can revisit these origins in future installments.”

He added, “The Slayer’s history was part of our foundational work with the Testaments from the beginning. We were optimistically hoping for the opportunity to bring that story to life one day.”

Eager to dive into the demon-slaying action with a Doom Slayer channeling the spirit of the Dark Knight in this upcoming Xbox FPS? We’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below!