We Saw the Opening for 'Batman: Knightfall' at SDCC; See First Impressions

Omelete watched the opening of SDCC's Batman: Knightfall this Saturday (25), the new animated film based on the classic DC comic book saga. Below, we break down what happens in these opening moments:

The scene begins in a green-tinted Gotham, where a human trafficking operation is underway. Apparently, the victims are being taken to some kind of ceremony.

A shadowy figure appears and terrifies the criminals. Is it the "Bat-Man"? His voice is deep, classic. But it’s not him! It’s Azazel. He tears the thugs apart and slices off arms, sending blood everywhere.

He impales one of the villains with his flaming sword, and the survivors try to escape by car. Azazel decapitates some of the remaining men and takes out the other goons. The boss, who has a red tattoo on his face, is struck in the mouth with a sword slash, and his head melts away, revealing his skull.

The last man left begs for his life, until a batarang catches Azazel’s wrist. Batman swoops in behind him, knocks him down, and a fight breaks out between them. Azazel escapes the hero and tries to finish off the thug. Batman stops him, and their brutal clash resumes. The last of the criminals is ultimately run over and killed by a truck, and Azazel snaps out of it from the shock, returning to his peaceful personality.

In the story, after the destruction of Arkham Asylum, Gotham’s most dangerous criminals escape, forcing Batman into a series of battles that push his physical and mental limits to the edge. The animated film adapts the Knightfall arc, known for depicting the hero’s confrontation with Bane, the villain behind one of the most iconic moments in the Dark Knight’s history.

Batman: Knightfall will be released in three parts. Part 1 arrives on August 25 on digital platforms.