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A review by blanchebloom
Batman: Arkham Asylum New Edition by Grant Morrison
3.0
Honestly, if I had not read all the additional content at the back (prime amongst it Morrison’s final draft of the script/text) I would have liked this less. While I can see the value in such an innovative and unique art style, it ultimately muddled the story somewhat for me. I can appreciate how the style plays into the plot, and how the restoration and translation into digital has impacted the work as well, but again it was just too muddled for me. Frankly, it made it difficult to piece together the symbolism which was so richly laid in by Morrison at first brush. However, with the aid of the textual analysis, I can appreciate the art more.
In terms of character, I enjoyed seeing such a drastically different take on Batman than normal; a man who was entirely consumed by his trauma, who cannot function normally, who in many ways is similar indeed to the members of the asylum. I don’t like this version of the man, but it is interesting to see how he could turn out.
I do think Morrison is perhaps a bit Freudian in his heavy handed utilization of sexuality as a force that shapes Batman and the characters in his actual analysis, but I suppose if his mind goes there it is a valid imagining. Just not something that I feel is needed to get to the core of a person (though I understand he is fleshing out unnecessary details in the script area, so I get that too).
The plot itself was just fine. Much of it just seems like an excuse to make Batman run around and loose it and while that is certainly the Joker’s intention here, as an audience member it is somewhat stale in my opinion. Layering in the fact that this work seems to continue with the trend from the period in which it was written, wherein the mentally ill are shown as horrifying and scary, just for existing, my modern perspective, cringes at much of the plot.
Regardless, I can see how this was so popular and understand why it is a famous work in all the thousands of Batman pieces that are out there. If you do decide to read, be sure to get the version with the script and stuff like that, as otherwise, I really would not have enjoyed this. I appreciate it for what it was, but I would like to think that it would not have been as successful today as it was back then
In terms of character, I enjoyed seeing such a drastically different take on Batman than normal; a man who was entirely consumed by his trauma, who cannot function normally, who in many ways is similar indeed to the members of the asylum. I don’t like this version of the man, but it is interesting to see how he could turn out.
I do think Morrison is perhaps a bit Freudian in his heavy handed utilization of sexuality as a force that shapes Batman and the characters in his actual analysis, but I suppose if his mind goes there it is a valid imagining. Just not something that I feel is needed to get to the core of a person (though I understand he is fleshing out unnecessary details in the script area, so I get that too).
The plot itself was just fine. Much of it just seems like an excuse to make Batman run around and loose it and while that is certainly the Joker’s intention here, as an audience member it is somewhat stale in my opinion. Layering in the fact that this work seems to continue with the trend from the period in which it was written, wherein the mentally ill are shown as horrifying and scary, just for existing, my modern perspective, cringes at much of the plot.
Regardless, I can see how this was so popular and understand why it is a famous work in all the thousands of Batman pieces that are out there. If you do decide to read, be sure to get the version with the script and stuff like that, as otherwise, I really would not have enjoyed this. I appreciate it for what it was, but I would like to think that it would not have been as successful today as it was back then