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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I can see how this was considered groundbreaking in 1989, but by today's times, it is hardly a classic. I didn't enjoy the art work (I prefer to be able to see Batman's face) although for the overall mood of the comic, it was suitable. I had huge problems with the illustrations of the Joker's dialogue because the font they used was so unreadable.
Overall, the plot was boring, and I found Batman too out of character in some instances.
Overall, the plot was boring, and I found Batman too out of character in some instances.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Grant Morrison's art is really intriguing, but in the line of comic books, it's also confusing. Where your story is supposed to rely heavily on the pictures to tell the narrative, his are a little too vague for my tastes. Like, I LOVE Francis Bacon paintings, but that doesn't mean I think he'd make a good comic book artist. So I very much enjoyed these images, and I understand how their eerie quality fits with the storyline--Arkham is a madhouse, where all the focus lies in uncertainties. But there was so much meat to this story, I would've enjoyed having a better understanding of it.
Which readers do get, if they happen to get the edition of this comic that I have-which includes the script in it's entirety. I've never actually read one of these before, because usually it just tells you what happens frame by frame and the text, which, if the team has done their job convincingly, renders the shell of just the writing unnecessary. This was different, though. It was NOT written panel by panel, I couldn't even tell where pages were supposed to begin and end. It's more like a movie play by play, and it's PACKED with extras on symbolism and inspirations and sometimes, pure bizarre. Grant Morrison might be a type of genius in his own right, but gosh, he's also a strange one. Which is part of what makes this such an interesting read, though. It was fascinating, if still a tiny bit hard to grasp everything, it was much, much, much easier to get at what was really happening in the written version. I feel more like the way this was done would make sense to be a heavily illustrated novella, instead of a comic. It WOULD work like a comic, but the art needs to be a little bit more clear for everything to make as much sense as it does reading the text. I find myself wishing it might be remade with more traditional drawings or a cartoon.
Which readers do get, if they happen to get the edition of this comic that I have-which includes the script in it's entirety. I've never actually read one of these before, because usually it just tells you what happens frame by frame and the text, which, if the team has done their job convincingly, renders the shell of just the writing unnecessary. This was different, though. It was NOT written panel by panel, I couldn't even tell where pages were supposed to begin and end. It's more like a movie play by play, and it's PACKED with extras on symbolism and inspirations and sometimes, pure bizarre. Grant Morrison might be a type of genius in his own right, but gosh, he's also a strange one. Which is part of what makes this such an interesting read, though. It was fascinating, if still a tiny bit hard to grasp everything, it was much, much, much easier to get at what was really happening in the written version. I feel more like the way this was done would make sense to be a heavily illustrated novella, instead of a comic. It WOULD work like a comic, but the art needs to be a little bit more clear for everything to make as much sense as it does reading the text. I find myself wishing it might be remade with more traditional drawings or a cartoon.
A terrific story, not your typical Batman tale, but one that reads more like a dream that takes you through the psyche of Batman. Not being a frequent reader of graphic novels, I found that the inclusion of the original script written by Grant Morrison really helps explain the subtext and gives a much greater understanding of the novel. The artwork is beautiful, but more like paintings than typical comics styles, which, depending on your personal taste, can take away from the story.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this art is absolutely beautiful and unsettling, but unfortunately the story lacks substance or direction. everything felt too forced. batman was just shoved in a madhouse to what, show off the rogues gallery? and he leaves because of a coin flip? okay? plus all those pretentious references. and borderline unreadable text.
the elements here really appeal to my goth sensibilities and could’ve been so good but they fell flat. maybe my expectations were too high from going through the arkham games first. anyways i ended up skimming.
the elements here really appeal to my goth sensibilities and could’ve been so good but they fell flat. maybe my expectations were too high from going through the arkham games first. anyways i ended up skimming.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No