The Dark Ages Slayer Draws Inspiration from a Fierce Batman

Here’s a fascinating tidbit for gaming enthusiasts: the Doom: The Dark Ages’ Slayer draws inspiration from Batman’s iconic portrayal in Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight comic series. Just yesterday, id Software announced that Doom: The Dark Ages will be added to the list of Game Pass titles on May 15, 2025, at which point players can start unlocking achievements.

In a recent hands-off preview of Doom: The Dark Ages, we participated in a Q&A session with id Software, where creative director Hugo Martin shared insights into the game’s development. According to Martin, the new medieval Doom Slayer was heavily influenced by Frank Miller’s gritty depiction of Batman, an idea that started brewing when the team was working on Doom (2016).

Martin explains that Frank Miller’s comics were instrumental in shaping the heavier and more imposing version of the Slayer we’re about to experience. Interestingly, leaked documents during Microsoft’s legal proceedings with the FTC, related to their attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard, hinted at a project titled Doom: Year One, under development at Bethesda.

Hugo Martin elaborated that “Doom: Year One” was actually a nod to Batman: Year One, a comic he and fellow developer Marty Stratton admired back in 2016. He said, “Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight has long been my favorite comic. It portrayed Batman as this larger-than-life, almost tank-like figure with immense power and an incredible arsenal. That depiction sparked the idea of creating a Doom Slayer who embodied similar traits—a broader, more powerful presence.

“As much as we loved the fast-paced, acrobatic action of Doom Eternal and its DLCs, which stand firmly on their own, we felt there was room to explore a different kind of Doom Slayer power fantasy. This new concept is all about size and strength, and it resonates well with players. Every move he makes is weighty and impactful, and that’s very exciting.”

Martin further hinted at their ambition to delve into a prequel, setting it up back with Doom (2016) through the Slayer’s Testaments and other lore components. He remarked, “Think about what George Lucas achieved with storytelling back in the ’80s; he showed that heroes with rich backstories could captivate audiences, paving the way for future explorations if there is enough interest.

“With the Slayer’s Testaments, we laid the groundwork for his history early on, hoping someday to tell that story. We’ve been eager to give players the chance to explore the Slayer’s past.”

Are you excited to dive into this new Doom adventure and confront demons as a Slayer inspired by The Dark Knight? We can’t wait to hear your thoughts, so let us know in the comments!