"Batman: Arkham Asylum" Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

Discuss this dark Batman masterpiece!

BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM

http://www.dccomics.com/media/product/4/3/4353_180x270.jpg (http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/1228_400x600.jpg)

Written by: Grant Morrison; Art by: Dave McKean

The inmates of Arkham Asylum have taken over Gotham's mental illness detention center on April Fool's Day and demand Batman in exchange for their prisoners. Accepting their demented challenge, Batman is forced to live and endure the personal hells of the Joker, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Two Face and many other of his sworn enemies in order to save the innocents and retake the prison. During his run through this absurd gauntlet, the Darknight Detective's own sanity is in jeopardy.

Thoughts? What are your comments?

[Cortez2301]

Really good book.The first (17+) batman book.A change from the (14+) this one is more gruesome,serious and weird.I really liked the story and the villains cameos.It was really sick though.But nonetheless a classic.

[byron lomax]

I'm reading the 15th Anniversary Edition of this book right now and I agree, it's a masterpiece. It is definitely to an acquired taste - I'm not surprised some consider it pretentious - but one thing's for sure, it is unique.

I love the interpretations of the villains - they seem like more "realistic" versions of Batman's rogues gallery, which could serve as inspirations for Nolan's films. Morrison even managed to make Maxie Zeus seem threatening, reducing others to a drugged, zombie-like state (in a similar way to Poison Ivy) to become his slaves.

One thing in Morrison's notes I found interesting is the claim that one of his intentions of this story was to purge Batman of his "negative elements" (referring to the violent, driven and borderline psychotic personality he developed in the 80s) with this experience, and returning him to the sane, self-confident hero he was always meant to be. I wonder was that really his intention at the time, or is he just re-interpreting his own work in hindsight?

[James Harvey]

Just in time for The Dark Knight and cited as partial inspiration for the late Heath Ledger's performance in the movie, discuss this dark Batman masterpiece!

BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM

http://www.dccomics.com/media/product/4/3/4353_180x270.jpg (http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/1228_400x600.jpg)

Written by: Grant Morrison; Art by: Dave McKean

The inmates of Arkham Asylum have taken over Gotham's mental illness detention center on April Fool's Day and demand Batman in exchange for their prisoners. Accepting their demented challenge, Batman is forced to live and endure the personal hells of the Joker, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Two Face and many other of his sworn enemies in order to save the innocents and retake the prison. During his run through this absurd gauntlet, the Darknight Detective's own sanity is in jeopardy.

Thoughts? What are your comments?