Tamara Flores
The League of Shadows has always been a thorn in Batman’s side, but now they have returned with a new and more sinister incarnation. This time, they have rallied under the banner of one of Batman’s oldest enemies.
In the closing pages of Batman #138, by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez, and Tomeu Morey, the new League of Shadows is revealed. Scandal Savage, who was previously disguised as Selena Kyle’s right-hand, hands over command of Catwoman’s thieves’ guild to her father, Vandal Savage. Both Savages then declare their followers as the League of Shadows, with Vandal proclaiming their mission to “steal immortality from Gotham.”
The League of Shadows Explained
It’s important to differentiate the League of Shadows from the more well-known League of Assassins. The League of Assassins, established by Ra’s Al Ghul in the 1970s Batman comics, was a group of killers focused on achieving societal change through political assassinations.
In Batman: The Animated Series, the League of Assassins was renamed the League of Shadows due to restrictions on mentioning assassination in a children’s cartoon. Christopher Nolan also used the name League of Shadows for Ra’s Al Ghul’s organization in the film Batman Begins, keeping Bruce Wayne unaware of their sinister nature during his training.
In 2017, a group called the League of Shadows was introduced into the core DC Universe. This splinter group, led by Lady Shiva, emerged from the League of Assassins after discovering Ra’s Al Ghul’s deception. They formed their own team of disgruntled assassins.
With an immortal warlord and his sinister daughter at the helm, it’s evident that the League of Shadows has been established as a counterforce to the League of Assassins. However, their role in the Gotham War remains uncertain.
Batman #138 is now available in comic shops everywhere.
