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jason_pym's review against another edition
4.0
Not a fan of Morrison or the story, but Dave McKean's art is amazing, worth it for that alone.
thestoryowl's review against another edition
4.0
Very hard to follow (the joker's dialogue in red was seriously hard to read)but fantastic in both material and graphics.
sandeeisreading's review against another edition
2.0
…
I'm trying to form words to describe how I felt about this because… I really have no words.
On one hand, I liked it how different it was from the typical comic book outline, but on another hand, I found the difference unnecessary at times.
I did get what the story was trying to accomplish. I really do. But the illustrations, the weird transition from past to present, took me out of the reading experience quite a lot of times. I started this a few months ago, and I only finished it now. While I appreciate their attempt to provide a unique storytelling technique, it just didn't work for me.
- The story was interesting enough that it got me reading. We, actually, follow two storylines here. One is in the present, with Batman, and the other one is set in the past, wherein we meet Amadeus Arhkam, the founder of Arkham Asylum, and there, we see how and why lost his marbles.
- The illustrations were atrocious. It was horrible. But that's because I have a particular taste in art, and this, was something that didn't appeal to me. For the story it was trying to tell, the weirdness or the illustrations draws you away from the story and not suck you in. It could work for some other story, but not for this. I don't care what their intent for this was. I really don't. It just didn't work.
- The Batman we see here, didn't interest me. I found he was a bit boring. Meeh. He made stupid and reckless decisions. That's all I can say.
I'm usually all for unique narrative styles, but the way this story was told was faaaar too much for me.
Trippy.
That would have do. I think it's the only word, right now, that I can use to describe it. The entire story, the illustrations feels like it's either or drugs or on marijuana. I can't really tell you, which is which, but you get what I mean. It's too artsy for my taste, and I consider myself an artsy person.
Could have been better, really.
I'm trying to form words to describe how I felt about this because… I really have no words.
On one hand, I liked it how different it was from the typical comic book outline, but on another hand, I found the difference unnecessary at times.
I did get what the story was trying to accomplish. I really do. But the illustrations, the weird transition from past to present, took me out of the reading experience quite a lot of times. I started this a few months ago, and I only finished it now. While I appreciate their attempt to provide a unique storytelling technique, it just didn't work for me.
- The story was interesting enough that it got me reading. We, actually, follow two storylines here. One is in the present, with Batman, and the other one is set in the past, wherein we meet Amadeus Arhkam, the founder of Arkham Asylum, and there, we see how and why lost his marbles.
- The illustrations were atrocious. It was horrible. But that's because I have a particular taste in art, and this, was something that didn't appeal to me. For the story it was trying to tell, the weirdness or the illustrations draws you away from the story and not suck you in. It could work for some other story, but not for this. I don't care what their intent for this was. I really don't. It just didn't work.
- The Batman we see here, didn't interest me. I found he was a bit boring. Meeh. He made stupid and reckless decisions. That's all I can say.
I'm usually all for unique narrative styles, but the way this story was told was faaaar too much for me.
Trippy.
That would have do. I think it's the only word, right now, that I can use to describe it. The entire story, the illustrations feels like it's either or drugs or on marijuana. I can't really tell you, which is which, but you get what I mean. It's too artsy for my taste, and I consider myself an artsy person.
Could have been better, really.
emmad861's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
The art in this is incredible. I feel like you could discuss the themes and symbols in this forever. MVP two face
mark_74's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my favourite Batman graphic novel to date. Dave McKean's artwork is fantastic and brings it's own level of horror, darkness, and atmosphere, to the story. The script by Grant Morrison is fascinating. I highly recommend reading the final draft script at the end of the books as it adds a whole other level to the story. It's also interesting to see what Dave McKean included and what he left out, and it also meant that I was able to enjoy some subtle touches that I may have missed without the script. Overall outstanding and a must have for Batman fans. Oh, and the lettering is also amazing, and the Joker, well I feel he's probably the most frightening that I've seen him...
kennisn's review against another edition
3.0
It's hard for me to say whether this is a good graphic novel or not. On one hand, the artwork was phenomenal and like nothing I've seen in any other graphic novel. I would "read" Arkham Asylum just for the artistry. At the same time, that's the only thing I found it had going for it. The story was really lacking depth. I did like how Grant Morrison combined Batman's present circumstances with the story of Amadeus Arkham, however, it just wasn't very meaty. It breezed through what I was really looking forward to reading about: Batman's encounters with his archenemies in the asylum. All in all, I enjoyed it, but it could have been so much more.
diogsis's review against another edition
5.0
TL;DR = 100% recommend, my favorite batman comic, mostly because of its art's uniqueness, it's chilling and moody atmosphere, and how thought provoking and mature the story is.
Let me set the scene: 10pm, dim the lights, silent hill 2 soundtrack, and binging this comic till 2am.
Truly an amazing and terrifying experience.
I don’t plan to spoil the story (which is actually pretty straightforward and not that complicated), but the little details and the analysis that is made of every character is the best part of this, even though it leaves much to the interpretation of the reader in this regard.
Probably the most surreal and dream-like comic I've read, but that just adds this (intended, I assume) eerie feeling of not knowing what is a delusion/hallucination and what is actually happening, and the gorgeous and unique art style only adds even more layers to this atmosphere.
I've never seen a more disturbing version of the joker, even Heath Ledger's interpretation of the character in 2008 wasn't as disturbing as this, and I think most of it is carried by the art style, most of the villains are truly horrifying, and other batman media don’t really give that same vibe as this comic does.
Let me set the scene: 10pm, dim the lights, silent hill 2 soundtrack, and binging this comic till 2am.
Truly an amazing and terrifying experience.
I don’t plan to spoil the story (which is actually pretty straightforward and not that complicated), but the little details and the analysis that is made of every character is the best part of this, even though it leaves much to the interpretation of the reader in this regard.
Probably the most surreal and dream-like comic I've read, but that just adds this (intended, I assume) eerie feeling of not knowing what is a delusion/hallucination and what is actually happening, and the gorgeous and unique art style only adds even more layers to this atmosphere.
I've never seen a more disturbing version of the joker, even Heath Ledger's interpretation of the character in 2008 wasn't as disturbing as this, and I think most of it is carried by the art style, most of the villains are truly horrifying, and other batman media don’t really give that same vibe as this comic does.
daileyxplanet's review against another edition
5.0
Arkham Asylum is art on a different level. This is Morrison at his mainstream peak. Morrison and McKean created a masterpiece that ends too soon. Very much Lovecraftian.
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.