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asimp16109's review against another edition
5.0
You'll either love this book or you're going to absolutely hate it. If you're one of those people that only read Batman because he trots around Gotham punching people in the throat, find another book. This is geared more towards the people that like the psychological aspect of Batman and the fact that he's just as psychotic as the criminals he fights.
Grant Morrison has discussed how the story in this book is essentially what Batman dreams every night. Someone as emotionally disturbed as Batman is going to have disturbing nightmares where he's not in control. I think the art of Dave McKean for this book accurately represents the nightmare to which Batman is experiencing.
Grant Morrison has discussed how the story in this book is essentially what Batman dreams every night. Someone as emotionally disturbed as Batman is going to have disturbing nightmares where he's not in control. I think the art of Dave McKean for this book accurately represents the nightmare to which Batman is experiencing.
emmalew1997's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
sebastiandabookreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Torture, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Death, Child death, Child abuse, Cursing, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Medical content, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Gore, Abandonment, Ableism, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Grief, Blood, Violence, Pedophilia, Self harm, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, and Incest
Minor: Miscarriage
It's pretty crazytrayeholland's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first real Batman experience (besides Holy Musical B@man, but I'll cast that aside, since it was a parody...) and it was a riveting ride. It explored many of his enemies in ways that I really didn't expect.
Not really knowing all about super heroes, I figured that they were simply supervillains. After getting into Marvel (yes, I know that Batman is DC), it came to my knowledge that supervillains were much more than just bad guys who want to take over the world. Arkham Asylum explored this very well.
All of the villains became much more menacing and realistic as their minds, and Batman's mind, were explored.
It really was wonderful.
Not really knowing all about super heroes, I figured that they were simply supervillains. After getting into Marvel (yes, I know that Batman is DC), it came to my knowledge that supervillains were much more than just bad guys who want to take over the world. Arkham Asylum explored this very well.
All of the villains became much more menacing and realistic as their minds, and Batman's mind, were explored.
It really was wonderful.
hider760's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
2.0
not nearly as deep as it thinks it is
lanternatomika's review against another edition
5.0
I think this might be my favorite Batman comic. That might be saying too much too soon, but it's definitely up there.
One of the things I love about DC compared to Marvel is that they're willing to loan out their mainstream characters for writers to do some crazy stuff for them. Long before Grant Morrison would embark on their iconic Batman run, they published this utterly bizarre and endlessly compelling book.
Was Grant the first one to write the 'what if Batman is as crazy as his villains' story? Probably not, but this is definitely one of the best ones, and a clear inspiration on other stories that have followed this trajectory, or have focused on Arkham Asylum in general.
The inmates are loose again, you see, and they've taken over the madhouse. Batman is summoned to Arkham by Joker, who has a night of nightmares planned for his 'ol buddy. Meanwhile, we explore the tragic backstory of the Arkham family and its founder, Amadeus. A storyline that Stephen King would've dreamt up, there are implications that the Arkham household, soon to become Gotham's madhouse, is haunted by a malevolent spirit - or it could be that the Arkhams were the malevolent spirits all along.
I won't talk about the story too much - it really must be seen to be believed. This is less your standard Batman comic and more of a horror movie, complete with the pacing, imagery and overall vibe of unease that horror movies usually have. One thing that you'll notice that everyone's characterization is off - Batman meets Gordon at the beginning and asks him 'what's up?' and he says things like 'JESUS' and 'shut up'. In any other book, that sort of stuff would be a criticism, but it actually contributes to the dreamlike nature of the story.
Now, Grant won't like me to say this, but Dave McKean's art is a huge part of what makes this book what it is. Sure, Morrison's preferred artist Brian Bolland could've delivered a good book, but McKean's art is what makes it iconic. These panels, this art style, the symbols and imagery on the background of the pages, it's all surreal and could only come from the hands of Neil Gaiman's favorite cover artist. It's also what could make you want to revisit this book and try to make sense of some of that imagery.
I'll point out one thing: you could probably tell by looking that this is a slender volume, but the actual story is even shorter than that. About half of this book is the comic, and then you have bonus material. Really, this 'graphic novel' doesn't even qualify as a novella - it's a thing you can read with your coffee. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
The bonus material isn't completely optional. Many readers will be interested in Grant Morrison's full annotated script of the comic, which explains a lot of the symbolism and imagery that can be found in these pages. I've read some reviews that say the script helped them make sense of the story.
Full disclosure, though, I didn't read that script.
Do you understand every nightmare you have? Probably not, right? Sometimes you wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, and you want to know what it was your brain conjured up, but you can't always have the answers. I don't want someone to explain this book to me - if there are things I don't understand, that adds to the mystique of the story. Perhaps I'll decide, as time goes on, to have this nightmare over and over again (I'll definitely have it once more once I hunt down the Absolute Edition), and at some point, I'll understand it fully. For now, though? I'll let the mystery be a mystery.
One of the things I love about DC compared to Marvel is that they're willing to loan out their mainstream characters for writers to do some crazy stuff for them. Long before Grant Morrison would embark on their iconic Batman run, they published this utterly bizarre and endlessly compelling book.
Was Grant the first one to write the 'what if Batman is as crazy as his villains' story? Probably not, but this is definitely one of the best ones, and a clear inspiration on other stories that have followed this trajectory, or have focused on Arkham Asylum in general.
The inmates are loose again, you see, and they've taken over the madhouse. Batman is summoned to Arkham by Joker, who has a night of nightmares planned for his 'ol buddy. Meanwhile, we explore the tragic backstory of the Arkham family and its founder, Amadeus. A storyline that Stephen King would've dreamt up, there are implications that the Arkham household, soon to become Gotham's madhouse, is haunted by a malevolent spirit - or it could be that the Arkhams were the malevolent spirits all along.
I won't talk about the story too much - it really must be seen to be believed. This is less your standard Batman comic and more of a horror movie, complete with the pacing, imagery and overall vibe of unease that horror movies usually have. One thing that you'll notice that everyone's characterization is off - Batman meets Gordon at the beginning and asks him 'what's up?' and he says things like 'JESUS' and 'shut up'. In any other book, that sort of stuff would be a criticism, but it actually contributes to the dreamlike nature of the story.
Now, Grant won't like me to say this, but Dave McKean's art is a huge part of what makes this book what it is. Sure, Morrison's preferred artist Brian Bolland could've delivered a good book, but McKean's art is what makes it iconic. These panels, this art style, the symbols and imagery on the background of the pages, it's all surreal and could only come from the hands of Neil Gaiman's favorite cover artist. It's also what could make you want to revisit this book and try to make sense of some of that imagery.
I'll point out one thing: you could probably tell by looking that this is a slender volume, but the actual story is even shorter than that. About half of this book is the comic, and then you have bonus material. Really, this 'graphic novel' doesn't even qualify as a novella - it's a thing you can read with your coffee. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
The bonus material isn't completely optional. Many readers will be interested in Grant Morrison's full annotated script of the comic, which explains a lot of the symbolism and imagery that can be found in these pages. I've read some reviews that say the script helped them make sense of the story.
Full disclosure, though, I didn't read that script.
Do you understand every nightmare you have? Probably not, right? Sometimes you wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, and you want to know what it was your brain conjured up, but you can't always have the answers. I don't want someone to explain this book to me - if there are things I don't understand, that adds to the mystique of the story. Perhaps I'll decide, as time goes on, to have this nightmare over and over again (I'll definitely have it once more once I hunt down the Absolute Edition), and at some point, I'll understand it fully. For now, though? I'll let the mystery be a mystery.
arieschaos's review against another edition
5.0
The art itself is breath taking with the use of lace and paints. Would highly recommend to any Batman/Joker fan, and anyone who adores dark twisty stories and art - I'd love some panels as canvases, they're just so breathtaking.