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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Better than The Killing Joke, in my opinion. The graphic art by Dave McKean is amazing, truly connected to the story. Sometimes you can barely see what is being pictured in a frame. The art is confusing, you keep wondering if you are seeing things straight, but isn't that what insanity does to people? We see Batman questioning his own sanity, fearing entering the house, as it would reveal a truth he preferred not to face. All the symbolism and references included in the text are very interesting, and this edition, with extra commentaries from Grant Morrison, helps a lot in grasping everything Morrison wanted to tell us.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
After this introspective exercise I determined I’m 5% Batman 95% Joker
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
spoiler warning: read on at your own risk.
"Batman: Arkham Asylum: a serious house on serious earth" (1989). For as big of a Batman fan as I became when the movie came out in 1989 when I was 11 - which is exactly the right time to become a fan of anything - it beggars belief that I've never read Morrison and McKean's "arkham asylum," which was published that fall.
This is exactly what I imagined Batman was just from watching that movie. This is less of a comic book and more of an art portfolio, a nightmare transcribed and given images straight from darkest thoughts. Morrison and McKean elevate even the graphic novel beyond the structure of panel-bound sequential storytelling into a kind of quilt of association, where your mind instinctively follows and strays and wanders the page in search of meanings.
As far as the comic book plot goes, there's nothing proverbial about it, the inmates have taken over the asylum. The Joker summons Batman to play a deadly game of hide and seek. The worst part, as any depressive can attest, is that Batman has been hiding from himself and seeking an escape means dealing with his own issues and confronting his own pain.
Of course, he also has to fight all his actual enemies at the same time he is battling his own inner demons.
There's also a parallel narrative arc, right from the start, detailing the founding of the asylum in the 1920s and all the horrors that created its sordid foundation.
This is a tough read, but wow, what a book, and a very British interpretation of the Batman mythos. An essential Batman book, almost certainly top 5 or top 3 on literary and artistic merits alone.
"Batman: Arkham Asylum: a serious house on serious earth" (1989). For as big of a Batman fan as I became when the movie came out in 1989 when I was 11 - which is exactly the right time to become a fan of anything - it beggars belief that I've never read Morrison and McKean's "arkham asylum," which was published that fall.
This is exactly what I imagined Batman was just from watching that movie. This is less of a comic book and more of an art portfolio, a nightmare transcribed and given images straight from darkest thoughts. Morrison and McKean elevate even the graphic novel beyond the structure of panel-bound sequential storytelling into a kind of quilt of association, where your mind instinctively follows and strays and wanders the page in search of meanings.
As far as the comic book plot goes, there's nothing proverbial about it, the inmates have taken over the asylum. The Joker summons Batman to play a deadly game of hide and seek. The worst part, as any depressive can attest, is that Batman has been hiding from himself and seeking an escape means dealing with his own issues and confronting his own pain.
Of course, he also has to fight all his actual enemies at the same time he is battling his own inner demons.
There's also a parallel narrative arc, right from the start, detailing the founding of the asylum in the 1920s and all the horrors that created its sordid foundation.
This is a tough read, but wow, what a book, and a very British interpretation of the Batman mythos. An essential Batman book, almost certainly top 5 or top 3 on literary and artistic merits alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Dysphoria
Minor: Child abuse
This is an example where the sum is less than its parts. I am a huge Grant Morrison fan and have enjoyed other Dave McKean Artwork, but wow, is Arkham Asylum a chore to read. This is easily my least favorite Morrison story ever; an artist better suited for the tale Morrison told could have helped to save this. I remember reading this for the first time and having a lot of trouble getting through the story, finding the artwork too distracting. I tried to read this again recently and couldn't get more than a few pages in. Brilliant idea but the execution falls flat, very flat. Pass.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Great art, mediocre story. Artwork reminds me of Bill Sienkiewicz and the Stray Toaster stuff, but I liked Stray Toaster better. Couldn't read Joker's dialogue. Not very interesting final act. Frank Miller has done better batmans.
This wasn’t my favorite Batman comic, not even close. I had high expectations for this, based on subject matter and the artwork. Nope. Good, not great. I would’ve loved more of the Joker poking at Batman’s mind like normal.
One heck of trip. Am I ever thankful for the full script at the end for as fascinating as the comic itself was some of it was near indecipherable visually.