Batman: Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth: 15th Anniversary Edition

Stay away if you are not a fan of surreal art.

The art in this book only appeals to a very specific demographic. I, personally, didn't care for it at all. The story itself is not all that bad, but I just could not get past the visuals. They really don't add anything to the book for me, and I find they take away from it more then anything. This book is one of the few I have ever returned. I found it very difficult to tell what was actually going on in several of the pages and some of them are almost unreadable; especially when The Joker is talking. I also find that the way Batman is represented in this book is uncharacteristic; Not only in art, but also in the way he behaves and what he says.

I would stay away from this book. If you're looking for serious Batman, check out The Joker by Brian Azzarello & Lee Bermejo.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A remarkable story

but the art is atrocious. I seen past the art and looked at the story unlike most people. The art was original, but... it was eye straining. The story was one of the best I've read of batman's. If you are looking for a great [batman] story its right here, other than that beware

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good...I guess

The story line was very good as far as the origin of Arkham Asylum goes. It goes into very great detail and describes how the asylum came to be. The thing I disliked most about it was the art. It looked like someone was inspired to make a mess on a page and very poorly make the characters. It made everything really hard to understand and when there were fight scenes I couldn't tell what was going on. Aside from the bizarre, sloppy art it was a fairly good batman tale and something all batman fans should have in their collections.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Must-Read For Any Batman Fan

After reading this, you can really understand how far Batman has come from his camp origins. It's filled to the brim with symbolism, great character insights, and boldly surreal art. Turning away from the more action/fighting based comics, this particular graphic novel focuses more on the psychologic relationships between Batman and the villians than their battles. This is arguably more eye-opening towards Batman's true nature than any other Batman graphic novel ever. Arkham Asylam features innovative frame layout and illustration, making it one of the most influental Batman books of all time.

Plumb the depths of the Dark Knight's psyche

While you could read hundreds, potentially thousands of Batman comic books and get the same result, this graphic novel manages to thoroughly convey the Dark Knight's mental state and issues in a short space. Additionally, the story involves a look back at a center piece of Gotham's underworld, Arkham Asylum itself. The artwork may present a hurdle for many traditionalists, but the presentation fits with the story and aids the theme of the piece. I wouldn't recommend this book to the casual Batman fan or even a moderate reader of comic books, but for anyone looking for something with a bit more depth and some mind blowing art should be clicking the purchase button immediately.

awsome book

i was just a beginner with batman when i picked up this book. this book definatle got me hooked on batman. it is a short read but definatley worth it! this made me a batman addict and i hope it did to whoever else reads it.

p.s. does anybody know if there is a sequel to this book? just tell me in one of your reviews if there is.

Arkam/Batman

After reading it, it definitely sends a few thrills down the spine. The bad guys make the book and really mess with Batman's head. We loved it.

The Dark Knight is truely Dark

I've never really been a fan of DC comics. I always found the characters and storylines a bit one-dimensional. But this, this is one of the best, darkest, twisted story I've read. Wonderful art coupled with well-written dialogue. Also, I'd say if you haven't read any comics before, this is a great one to start with (if you enjoy dark, psychological things.) And if you enjoy the new Batman film series (especially the Dark Knight) this is the perfect comic.

The First Sign of the Dark Knight

This story was the first sign of what I would consider the modern, darker version of Batman. Great story. A must for all bat-fans.

Not For Kids.

Grant Morrison runs a current of Jung and Freud through what was the Batman legend of the 198os. Dave McKean paints (not draws, not doodles, not sketches--paints) a version of reality that none of us are ready for, unless of course, we're willing to let go of a nagging little problem known as sanity. Combine the two and you have the most adult and fantastic offspring from the tree of Gotham ever imagined. Also the closest you will ever come to seeing a dream captured between panel and page. Absolute magnificence.

A Masterpiece

This is one of the best Batman stories I've ever seen, and undoubtedly the most psychologically driven story in the Dark Knight's career. The story is extremely good, but what sets this one apart is the art. The way it is drawn makes the insanity of the Arkham prisoners tangible, and many times while reading it, I felt as though I myself were going mad as well. The sanity of Batman himself is even called into question at many points throughout the story, as he is tormented by the inmates, most especially the Joker. This TPB is disturbing, yet at the same time fascinating, and I highly reccomend it to anyone.

The Best Psychological Graphic Novel

This was an awesome graphic novel! It tells of the twisted past of Arkham Asylum and its disturbed builder, and tells of its even more mentally deranged inmates such as the Joker, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Black Mask, Croc, the Mad Hatter, Zeus, etc. It's not the traditionally violent mob-like Batman novel and that's what makes it unique.

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