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tiamatq 's review for:
Batman: Arkham Asylum - A Serious House on Serious Earth
by Grant Morrison
To start with, I'm sorry I chose to read this during my lunch break - it's more than a little stomach-turning. I'm still working my way through the script at the back of the book, but I feel I have enough of the book to really review it. For me, this was a book that didn't live up to its description. The inmates at Arkham Asylum have taken over the building and, after a lengthy list of unusual demands, they want Batman in there with them. Batman struggles with his fear that he actually belongs in the asylum, while fighting with the criminals he put in Arkham. As the story unfolds, we read passages from Amadeus Arkham's diary, telling the horrific story behind the house and its family.
I appreciated the concept behind this story. Arkham is probably the ultimate haunted house, though Morrison turns the concept of haunter and hauntee (WTF kind of word is that?) on its head. Dave McKean's art has turned Batman into a silhouette, with only a mouth and teeth to express emotions. His style seems appropriate to me for this sort of comic, since so much of it exists in a semi-dream-state. However, it's really easy to miss the incredible amounts of detail Morrison and McKean crammed in. Really, it's almost a requirement to read through Morrison's script and notes. And I don't think it should be - I'd like to read through and not wonder who's talking, what I'm missing plot-wise, etc.
I know that an emphasis of this story was Batman's mental vulnerability... but this really takes him out of character. He's easily overwhelmed by other characters (not even supervillains... gasp!). I didn't think he'd be bothered by invasions of "personal space" and can't handle word association tests. Ummm... I will say, after reading partway through the script, I'm releaved that someone nixed the idea of Joker dressing up as Madonna. Whew!
Okay, so the summary: I liked the concept, was okay with how it was carried out, and overall didn't enjoy the finished product. The high points are learning some of Arkham's history (which I've heard Morrison didn't get right), the discussion of Joker's "super sanity," and the weaning of Two-Face onto a dice and tarot system.
I appreciated the concept behind this story. Arkham is probably the ultimate haunted house, though Morrison turns the concept of haunter and hauntee (WTF kind of word is that?) on its head. Dave McKean's art has turned Batman into a silhouette, with only a mouth and teeth to express emotions. His style seems appropriate to me for this sort of comic, since so much of it exists in a semi-dream-state. However, it's really easy to miss the incredible amounts of detail Morrison and McKean crammed in. Really, it's almost a requirement to read through Morrison's script and notes. And I don't think it should be - I'd like to read through and not wonder who's talking, what I'm missing plot-wise, etc.
I know that an emphasis of this story was Batman's mental vulnerability... but this really takes him out of character. He's easily overwhelmed by other characters (not even supervillains... gasp!). I didn't think he'd be bothered by invasions of "personal space" and can't handle word association tests. Ummm... I will say, after reading partway through the script, I'm releaved that someone nixed the idea of Joker dressing up as Madonna. Whew!
Okay, so the summary: I liked the concept, was okay with how it was carried out, and overall didn't enjoy the finished product. The high points are learning some of Arkham's history (which I've heard Morrison didn't get right), the discussion of Joker's "super sanity," and the weaning of Two-Face onto a dice and tarot system.