Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth

[@jrodriguez6]

Really good video, I like how you took time to give the great Len Wein props. I think this is an interesting work when considered on its own (and not necessarily as a Batman story), however it might be disappointing for regular readers and newcomers alike. Too disconnected from canon for the former, too obscure and non-comicbooky enough for the latter. All in all, a product of Morrison's style and obsessions to a fault, surely not for everyone and very much a product of its time and the postmodern, meta take on comics.

[@jaytheartman610]

im pretty sure batman being useless and a bystander is done on purpose showing how little control batman has over the madness of the inmates and the asylum itself. he wasn't poorly written. he was powerless

[@DARTH_COMiX]

Still, he lets a cop die.

[@DavidRPitt]

Yeah it's on purpose and it still sucks.

[@AsgersWeb]

I think the reason Batman is so out of character is because this story is a dream except the flashbacks. Morrison has said that this is a dream that Bruce is having, that is why everything looks so weird and unreal. Everything is a metafor, Batman letting Joker kill the cop is a metafor for Batman "letting" the Joker kill by letting him live. I like to view it as a dream he has right after the Killing Joke because Joker argues that Batman is crazy, so it makes sense for Batman to have a dream where he is afraid that "the Joker may be right about me" as Bruce puts it

[@johnolmos8670]

Bingo you hit the nail on the head. I also think Batman is just as insane as the people he captures

[@AsgersWeb]

@@johnolmos8670 He’s obviously a good person otherwise he wouldn’t be Batman, but he’s definently crazy at least in most of the Dark interpretations. Not as crazy as his villains tho, like Batman would be found sane in Court like no doubt but that’s another can of worms

[@AthEE_One]

This… is not apparent at all when you read the text, and even read into the subtext. It's a better way to interpret the story insofar as the story itself is better when you interpret it this way. But it's a retcon outside of any narrative, it's out-of-universe. To me it has no more value than J.K. Rowling claiming that x character is actually a submissive lesbian with a piẞ f€tish on Twitter - a guideline for interpretation.

[@AsgersWeb]

@@AthEE_One Morrison has himself said its a Dream soooo

[@AthEE_One]

@@AsgersWeb Yeah, and Rowling said Dumbledore is gay. So what if it doesn't play into the story, within the text, at all? How is that useful if we even need Morrison to retroactively say that because otherwise the story makes no sense?

[@trevorgoodman4110]

I always interpret the ending with harvey letting Batman go even though the coin landed scar side up as him gaining back some part of his decision making back

[@MikeCreepyPasta]

Funny enough this was the first Batman comic I ever read when I was like 12. I hated it, I didn't get it and wanted cool action and cool art. Looking back at it now 10 years later, I appreciate the book. It's definitely not my favourite but I appreciate the concepts they were going for. Great video.

[@Happylink75]

I remember when I first read death of the family I wanted to throw up when I first saw joker

[@josh.outcast969]

I have to disagree, this is a very good thought out book that people should read. Your issue with it seems to be that it isn't what batman has been portrayed to be, not liking a different take is entirely ok. But I have to disagree. The only reason I believe that long running series that get rebooted all the time should continue to be written is two things. 1) Using a relatively recent/modern character everyone knows, and twisting who they are is inherently interesting. Like reimagining or asking if a man who dresses as a bat and fights criminally insane super villains is entirely right in the head. Using almost universally known characters make surreal works that much easier to comprehend and write. 2) Some stories or forms of art can only really be done by twisting well known characters and seeing what they would be like. Almost like evolution, changing little things here and there to make new stories. Think pictorialism and Zdzisław Beksiński's photography. It's basically a different form of art that draws on something preexisting. Also, it didn't strike me as pretentious at all, but that is all my opinion.

[@MadmanHelldiver]

The artistic merit of the story is undeniable and the story itself is very intriguing, it brings up ideas that shake the very core of what superhero stories could even be. That being said, Batman's character is... a little flawed in this story, and not in a good way. To start, it's questionable why he allows Joker and the other inmates run free, and he exclaims "Jesus" when what he's seen is pretty tame compared to stuff he's seen before (or even the visuals of this novel). Chief among these degradations is his decision at the end to release the patients and leave his own fate with a man who pissed himself because he can't make decisions, it's absurd to think he could build enough rapport with the police force that they'd possibly consider sending in Batman if he made decisions like that.

[@MadmanHelldiver]

@@chroma4508 my counter argument is every other Batman comic

[@MadmanHelldiver]

@@chroma4508 uhh... well I'm sure there's gotta be at least one, but I really can't be bothered to look for it, so I concede, it is a bit fanciful the idea of a Batman and I suppose he could be written however the author envisions.

[@mr.rodgers9891]

Grant Morrison stated that he viewed this story as a nightmare for Bruce Wayne. His worst fears in a dream. The atmosphere is akin to a horror story. How Batman is totally alone in the madhouse. The way the Mad Hatter also stated that it wasn't real. Which coincidently is the plot of a Batman The Animated Series episode. But I digress back to the comic. The Joker is a fully realized terrifying realization of the character to Bruce Wayne in his dream. The person who is playing Batman in the comic is Bruce Wayne. Totally different personalities. Which is also very much like The Joker theory of Super Sanity and how he is a jokester one minute and then a homicidal maniac the next. How he and Batman are prone to outbursts of aggression but Batman is only using his outbursts in positive ways. The entire comic is a nightmare. Down to the bleak ending yet hopeful ending. Bruce Wayne waking up.

[@jakfuki]

This was the first hardcover graphic novel I ever owned. I still have it.

[@SalazarKnight]

That's awesome!

[@georgioschaitidis1847]

@@SalazarKnight i am sorry but i don’t agree with you on what you say about it not being a good batman story

[@georgioschaitidis1847]

@@SalazarKnight but i do have a collection of detective comics batman and so on digitally from 1937 and 1940 up to 2022 so yes also new 52 and rebirth

[@reybladen3068]

Judging from the art style alone... This is one of those metaphoric stories. The copy I bought had the final draft included including some notes explaining the symbolism used, Morrison himself said that at the end of the story, batman could've been waking up from a dream

[@maniax7517]

I think of this comic as Bruce having a nightmare, yes that probably isn’t true but it’s how I have always seen it

[@aguuug5139]

Writer himself has said that it can be intepreted as Batmans nightmare 😃

[@maniax7517]

@@aguuug5139 yeah it always made sense to me especially because of Batman not being himself

[@LoKimLinProject]

I love your channel but disagree with your view on this. First of all, you didn't talk about magic, tarot cards being used as a device here. This is not a batman story it's a psychological device that puts the reader through a tarot card reading. Each character is a tarot card with it's own symbolism and meaning for the reader to over come. When joker shows batman the asylumn the tarot card that represents the universe is shown in the middle of the room which further ties in that you are entering the universe of tarot. The symbolism of the bat and early imagery of the dress being worn by amadeus, the mother and the killer. You also ignored the symbolism of the two towers in the beginning and the two towers of tarot that two face stairs at in the end. The moon being a powerful force behind the tarot is seen in the beginning and end of the book also two face his coin has been a metaphor for the moon. The fact that madhatter breaks the fourth wall and exposes this world to be a lie. the mushroom trip with overcoming the beasts within set to croc. Batman being a demon which haunts with a giant rogue gallery of mental issues which the reader needs to overcome to get back to the real world aka outside of arkham which is where batman is strong according to this story, his weakness was on purpose because it exposes the truth in arkham. Madness holds it all together it's all an experiment on us anyways right? PS:Joker's super sanity created heath ledger how is that bad for batman?!

[@SalazarKnight]

The super sanity didn't create Heath Ledger. That theory had nothing to do with his portrayal of the Joker. Heath's Joker was much more inspired from The Killing Joke than Arkham Asylum.

[@legotwoface]

@@SalazarKnight he was also inspired by Jack's Joker from Batman 1989

[@legotwoface]

Nick lo Kim I agree that this isn't a Batman story because Batman is not in it!

[@legotwoface]

@Boreeng Vajay it's not just the painting his personality and 99% of what makes him Batman is nowhere to be found in this comic!

[@legotwoface]

@Boreeng Vajay maybe a little but Batman (to me at least) fells like he's there only to move the plot along. But if you don't agree that's completely ok.

[@donaldallen7344]

Great video I learn something new I've never seen Grant Morrison with hair before what a shock

[@EnordAreven]

I think what you say about Batman and the Joker kind of misses the point about what they can actually be after existing this long. They've become so archetypal that tonnes of different versions of them can exist. Its actually fun and interesting that each time we get a new story, we get a different take on the batman mythos. Sometimes he punches darkseid wearing space armour, sometimes he's a hardened detective, sometimes, he's a sad terrified boy, playing out this fantasy of heroism long after he should have moved passed it.

[@KatoPlaysGames]

I like to think that this Differently portrayed Batman isn’t useless just mentally broken down, tired contemplating every decision so carefully that his mistakes are more than mistakes, failures disgraces I’d assume he’d regret letting them die but at Arkham the things he’d seen deep down he knows he’s Batman, but this Batman doesn’t have what it takes mentally, not yet anyway

[@anthonybruno3183]

Literally read it over quarantine lol - I was given it for Christmas- my cousin didn’t know it was dark but man I liked it - it reminded me of scary stories to tell in the dark 1-2-3 there is like 15/16 lol and they just turned it into a movie like a year or 2 ago - and it bring that back cause that scared the living hell out of me when I was young and these imagines are freaky - let just say when i saw 2 face - I new I was in for a crazy story lol- I love this stuff soo I liked it a lot - plus this was made In 1989 which is the year I was born and I grew up with all the Arkham games - this story is like that mixed with more deranged horror-- awesome 👏

[@johnlindsay7301]

Grant Morrison’s Batman run is not only my favorite Batman run but it is my favorite take on any superhero in comic format. So it was difficult to put this book down halfway thru due to the fact that the story has a lot of red text on black boarders. It makes is so difficult to read I had to take a picture of the text with my phone and then stretch the photo out so I could read it. Not ideal reading conditions. I’m sure I’ll get back to it one day. But I haven’t been inspired to do so yet.

[@MutantsInDisguise]

Very good video. To me, Arkham Asylum is not good; it's excellent, and my favorite Batman story ever, as it is more of character analysis for Batman and his enemies (even though I'm not an horror fan). Sure, they are different from other versions, but they worked prefectly on the story. The biggest complaint people have against this graphic novel is that Batman completely acts out of character; something I hugely disagree, since more recent comics and a certain film directed by Zack Snyder have made Batman act out of character with random victories and power-ups. In the book, Bruce Wayne had to endure his journey to the Asylum to fully become the Dark Knight we know and love. The artwork there is exceptional too. Dave McKean manages to combine different graphic techniques offering great moments. However, it's true the book it's not for everyone, and I would NEVER recommend it to a rookie reader because of its symbolisms and artwork. All in all, I loved this book.

[@nickniehaus1763]

TheDarkTicoKnight12 comment needs more likes

[@brucesmith2143]

So true

[@brucesmith2143]

@@nickniehaus1763 the batman in this story is a man fighting his sanity like in the episode dreams of darkness

[@nickniehaus1763]

Annie Wayne sanity or insanity?

[@brucesmith2143]

@@nickniehaus1763 insanity

[@dancinswords]

They gave Two-Face dice, and tarot cards... this sounds like a parody. The name of it... the whole thing sounds really dumb

[@PeaceKeeper-md2tr]

To me Grant Morrison is The G.O.A.T. Comic Writer & The Best Comic Writer Of All Time. That being said this story is a absolute masterpiece.

[@spacetacos7574]

The most disturbing part about this comic is that it’s probably the most realistic batman comic It was really hard to read first time

[@MutantsInDisguise]

Ironically, Arkham Asylum make fun of the while realism.

[@eggsystilleggsy45]

I loved this piece of madness and it was my first comic of my own instead of being a ‘hand me down’. I would definitely recommend for people who want a change of style or who are looking for something “horror-esque”

[@batfrat600]

I agree with what said about the book, but with joker I prefer the hypersanity angle it's not only fascinating. But also makes it so each writer is in then own way right about how to interpret the Joker. Kinda of like how every take on Batman is like that.

[@kennylunacy]

The hyoersanity has to do with Joker breaking the 4th wall occasionally since he knows he is a comic book character.

[@danielbautista9062]

I absolutely love the horror aspects in this graphic novel.

[@arcadeassassin7176]

i always felt that the best way to read this comic was to view it as the game is what actually happened but this comic is what joker thinks happened.

[@daniellevy8935]

I don't like the "Super-Sanity stuff even though it works perfectly and even provides a way to defete The Joker. It's a very ironic one and possibly an impossible one; In order to stop Joker, batman has to succeed in inspiring the people of Gotham. He has to rip the city (or maybe the world) of corruption and make it so that everyone will be pure or at least prove that everyone is good at heart. Only then will Joker's "super-sanity" kick in, making him adapt to the new world and creating his very last personallity; the sane one. The thing about Batman and Joker, and why I like them so much, is that they're like two lawyers arguing with each other at court, court over sanity vs. Insanity. Madness vs. Life. Running away vs. Making a choice.

[@sparkageddon3186]

i truly hated we didnt get the joel schumacher batman unchained film which was gonna be focused on arkham asylum wit all his previous villains returns from the first four films joker,penguin,catwoman,2face,the riddler,posion ivy,bane and mr.freeze while scarecrow n harley quinn (joker daughter) was the main 2 villains i think the book was the concept joel schumacher wanted to direct n make it more darker than his 1st 2 films now learnin about this from ya video makes me wish dc wouldve done it or atleast remake it but bring back the same characters and have keaton as a older batman in arkham asylum where scarecrow n harley quinn(still joker's daughter) get revenge on the bats where it took a former robin but now nightwing n batgirl to save batman dude i love ya channel

[@RadinV1]

I prefer the game a lot more.

[@SalazarKnight]

Absolutely. Arkham Asylum is a great game.

[@legotwoface]

@@SalazarKnight if killer crock is supposed to be a guy with skin that makes him look like a crock why does he have sharp teeth and claws?

[@unknown_rdr]

Tatjana Velickovic i think he sharpen them or or idk

[@christianchappell4193]

@@legotwoface croc isn't spelled with a k

[@jamesbarbour4341]

I think you misinterpret the ending. I think two face not choosing to kill Batman is showing that he’s finally breaking the cycle of madness that held him to make decisions based on chance. I think it shows that there’s still some Harvey left.

[@samirhall7530]

Can you do Batman gothic

[@bigblue207]

I read Morrison’s script in what I think was the 25th anniversary edition or something. The problem is the dude was on to some pretty interesting things but it required way too much literary knowledge the casual person wouldn’t have unless they really paid attention to a very thorough high school or college literature class. He references everything from Alice in wonderland to the Bible to tarot card and astrology like all the time. He explains these allusions a bit more clearly in his margin notes in the script. The problem is a lot of the symbolism lacks substance and almost just comes off like he’s trying to seem super smart or well read for no real contribution to the plot. The one that makes the most sense is croc as the “dragon”, like Satan vs st michael kind of? Batman uses the spear from the statue of st michael to fight croc and actually gets stabbed in the gut the same place as Jesus was speared in the side and the overlay from Arkham’s journal even mentions an allusion to Christ on the cross. But then croc falls out the window and assumes the Christ role because he assumes a similar role? I don’t know man. This is what I’m talking about, biblical references are cool and all but if they don’t really directly mean anything then they’re just they’re just to be there. All in all his notes make his vision a lot clearer and he had something going. All the villains and Arkham himself were meant to be fractional parts of Batman’s psyche, and the actual Batman in the story is repressed and shelters himself because of all the trauma he’s endured. Joker was supposed to prey on Batman’s sexual awkwardness (and it was more to do with Batman being so divorced from humanity he regarded that kind of essential human act with discomfort and borderline fear) and was even supposed to dress up like some kind of trans Madonna to make it even more clear (that’s also why he keeps calling Batman sweetheart and why he slaps his ass. It’s really very Freudian in concept with Batman being like the epitome of anal retention but in execution it’s lost on people who probably don’t even know who sigmund Freud is, and I certainly didn’t pick up on it until I read it explicitly laid out). I almost feel like if he spelled out the connections he was trying to make more explicitly and found a way to meaningfully integrate them rather than just almost providing literary fan service it would’ve delivered a lot better.

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

😆😆😆😆😂😂😂😂 when you said Joker fingering Batman in the ass I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe anyway I disagree about the Joker's super sanity Theory I think it doesn't suck it's interesting concept it allows the writers to rewrite the Joker's personality which makes him more interesting and unpredictable I like Grant Morrison art Style I'm okay with some of the characters that people don't remember that are obscure or not as popular I also agree that the story is not meant for everybody

[@ghostofdeath7388]

Joker is like those GTA characters you put them in there they just do things

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

@@ghostofdeath7388 so what that's not a bad thing

[@ghostofdeath7388]

@@dcmarvelcomicfans9458 never said it was bad but most of the part he's being used more of a plot device than a character

[@dcmarvelcomicfans9458]

@@ghostofdeath7388 yeah the Joker has been oversaturated in comics a lot same with movies and the Arkham video games. You kind of implied that it was a bad thing.

[@ghostofdeath7388]

@@dcmarvelcomicfans9458 if you overuse a good character it'll eventually end up being a crappy character, he's the same in every appearance I don't see how in hell he's unpredictable he does some kind of chaos only to get caught by bruce or jim then breaks out if arkham to do the same thing over and over again he's so repetitive that he became so predictable it's the same formula as eat sleep conquer and repeat if the joker was a punisher villain he would've been in a body bag but killing him wouldn't be such a good marketing move.

[@sixdollarman1362]

I was aware of this book when it came out,but I never got around to reading it until last year. For a long time thought that the art was by bill sienkiewicz. If you see his cover on Batman 400 it makes a little more sense why I thought that. I dislike the fact that Batman is always in silhouette. I do understand that the style is supposed to be creepy and nightmarish but there still could have been more detail in the hero of the book. I would like to have seen how Bernie Wrightson would have illustrated this story. Overall, I am happy to have it in my collection because it is interesting enough even though it is not a top 10 Batman book for me.

[@Anders010]

Never liked this one tbh.

[@unknown_rdr]

man i just finished it and loved although i thought jokers line was kinda hard to read lol but yeah it was real interesting

[@MatthewPrower]

honestly a lot of this makes sense when you look at the script included in most printings of said book, from Batman’s ‘tude (the culmination of all those frank miller-isms) to certain depictions of certain villains (you won’t believe what Clayface 3 is an allegory for)

[@renoskous.4425]

I have the gr.novel since the early 90s, i really like *GasPar's SalaDino's* lettering, the different coloring according to every character, including the particular graphic imagery, tending towards painting portrait instead of the usual comix gr.imagery👀💙.. Well some details that u mentioned bothered me like the scene that the wacko grabbed 🦇Man from his throat &asked help from the doc. &ended up with the doc. slicing the wacko's throat saving 🦇man.. My calculation is that 🦇man was in *scarecrow* toxin illusions *influence* resulting in his behavior.. A part that Ί like, is when the🦇 say's *He got what he deserved* due to the fact that *Nό kίlling atall* rule wasn't born yet.. The rule originally was *Never use a GUN to kill* use gadgets for the kill *Άs a lάst choice όnly* ~As a vigilantly &nόt cop with cuffs.. The *Archam* gr.novel is important for my 🦇collection🖤 &it makes the obvious 🦇difference🖤 of the Gothic Dark Age of the dark knight compared to the bright~colored smiling CapedCrusader from the golden~silver *Ages* ..

[@germaholic]

I like this book, but it's definitely not for everyone, and I agree it's not a good representation of Batman or any of the characters in that franchise. I do wonder, though, is this thing considered canon or is it just a bizarre acid-trip story?

[@SalazarKnight]

I'd say acid-trip story... as most of Grant's stories.

[@theangelproductions]

I think Morrison once said that he interpreted the story as a nightmare Bruce had when he was in a bad patch and on the verge of giving in to madness.

[@CCaster2000]

I felt like this Batman was mentally and slightly physically weaker than regular Batman.

[@CCaster2000]

@@theangelproductions I guess after Jason died and Barbara is paralyzed? That should be a good point.

[@KaipitainKai]

I love almost every single Salazar Knight video and have been a fan of the first batman history series and many other videos. But this is the one video that I almost entirely disagree with. I see your points and get where you're coming from. But I disagree with near every point you make in this video. (I don't want to sound like I'm stomping on your opinion - of corse you're allowed to not like it for whatever reasons feel right to you) I'd love to share my counter-points but I'm afraid that would blow the proportions of a KZbin comment.

[@bibbyboxx2219]

Great video! Arkham Asylum has some interesting concepts and ideas but I don’t think it’s anything fantastic. I agree with what you said about Joker’s super sanity being a double-edged sword. And Legends of the Dark Knight is next? Awesome, I can’t wait. Some of the best Batman stuff is in that series.

[@ClarksCreek]

Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is actually my favorite Grant Morrison comic. Usually the weirder elements of Morrison's work are off-putting to me, but in a horror comic like Arkham Asylum they really work for me. My second-favorite Morrison comic is All-Star #Superman, but even that has weird elements that don't work for me, which Dwayne McDuffie excised for the improvement that is the animated film adaptation. #Batman

[@RadinV1]

This is f*cked up.

[@nobody-wk6ej]

It's not good. It's ART.

[@rannynihilius8481]

Personally my favorite story out of the Batman catalogue with The Long Halloween. I think the surreal look, fractured story, hard to read nature of the book, use of tarot cards as metaphors for the plot aswell as the reader's journey through the pages and departure from usual character portrails is leaning more to this being not a real event happening and more a nightmare of Bruce. Batman isn't useless because of bad writing to me when it's established from the start that he doesn't want to go into the Asylum, that it takes him out of his element in a spiritual sense and that he's afraid of having to face the truth that he's just as insane as the other inmates. Bruce can't help himself or others in this deteriating state especially after the Joker basically breaks him with a simple therapy game. The designs for the rogues chasing him perfectly fit into the metaphorical journey we the readers are taking with Batman through some of his worst aspects (Zeus being a reflection of his own ego, Scarecrow being the fear he can't face yet (perhaps death?), Clayface the fear of se*ual intercourse and Croc being the destructive physicality his tasks demands of him every time he puts on the cape & cowl). I don't think that this story is for everyone but if one is willing to look into the symbolism of what's put on each page they can find a really rewarding experience about insanity and interesting questions like Batman's influence on the insanity of Gotham City or Two Face's decision at the end.

[@samuelstanley7738]

I think the concept of "super-sanity" is ridiculous, just pretentious pop-psychology disguised as a real diagnosis. But I don't think that hurts the story; rather, it helps to emphasize how useless Arkham's doctors actually are. It's simpler to just view the Joker's different personalities as "roles" he plays while putting on his "shows" for Batman.

[@afrocut]

Got hooked on your channel recently, watching everything, subscribed, and i must say this is the only video i disagree with so far. It's a nightmare, the tone, the way people act. it's about a man feeling powerless to stop the madness around him. Bruce waynes' biggest nightmare.

[@jamesbrown3239]

Great video. I actually like the story. It feels more dreamlike which would explain a lot. Though I agree that I’m not a fan of the art. I do enjoy the use of different typeface letting for characters and I enjoyed the overall theme and ideas but the art direction isn’t for me. I would’ve almost preferred a Bronze Age styled art direction with a new style joker and maybe leaned into it being a dream. But that’s my take Thanks again for a great video and all your hard work

[@Parker_Luck394]

Great video as always! I agree with you 100%. The first time I've reed this story it was a real let down, mostly because of how much Batman was written out of character, but luckily Morrison redeemed himself later, as we will see forward (can't wait for that). Here's my 2 cents about the super sanity theory about Joker: I can see why you think it sucks, but in my opinion it can be fixed. Let's just that Joker has to re-write his personality, but in the process he need some guide lines to be consistent. In this way he can be one day an harmless prankster and the next day a serial killer, being Joker without any doubt. The thing is, I really like this theory for the same reason why Morrison created it, because it can allow to all the stories of Batman, even the one who were left out of continuity with the Crisis, to exist and be coherent with themselves. As always: looking forward to the next video!

[@tonydaza8504]

10:45 I really enjoy the background music

[@michaelolz]

Dave McKean, as usual, does an amazing job on the artwork. It's breathtaking. The real problem I have is Grant Morrison. I'm really tired of his trying to put his magic sigils all over every book he does. Some of us don't want those in our houses.

[@jpeg.600x2]

what are magic sigils?

[@fengusburnt]

Saying that someone pulling from continuity is not being original is pretty unfair. The whole idea of a continuity is to continue ideas from the past.

[@shadowstrike234]

I really really love this book. It's a complete deconstruction of the character of Batman, and I love how it parallels Amadeus Arkham's story. While there are some problems, such as the artwork being a double edged sword. I love how the art feels more demonic and ghostly, reflecting Arkham Asylum. But at the same time i couldn't tell what was happening in the scenery a lot of the time. For example, i couldn't tell the difference between Black Mask and Doctor Destiny (who just feels kinda out of place for me), or even Killer Croc and Clayface, since they looked so similar. Batman also seemed unusually talkative in the comic, but i guess that's just me. But it totally makes up for it. This story is one of the most detailed stories i have read from DC. Almost every page is like a double entendre for something else. The artwork is stunning for the most part, with the ghostly visuals, and sometimes when reading the story i felt like i was going mad with Batman in the asylum. The idea of Batman being just an insane as the people he fights on a daily basis is very interesting to me, and how he himself would be perfect in Arkham Asylum. The story also deviates from many comic book tropes. In the end, Batman's greatest enemy in the book was himself, and the ending reflects upon that. The story itself feels like you're journeying through a madhouse, losing bits of your mind as you get lost in the madness in both Batman and Amadeus Arkham's story. It feels more like a psychological thriller than a typical comic book. The book strives to be more than what a comic book should be, and by God does it achieve that in my eyes. 9/10.

[@fortheloveofgodlaugh2981]

An extremely bleak, cerebral, mind melting story with a depressing theme. Sounds about Morrison to me!

[@Captofthisship]

Holy crap, I remember that GD'd cereal and the toy that came with it. haha

[@georgioschaitidis1847]

excuse me but what do you mean not recommend it to anyone also batman being a fool means he has no power over what is going on in the story

[@LearningAboutComics]

Wonderful review. I'm in the camp that is not a fan of this book very much. Its pretentious existentialist bullshit is simply too much and heavy-handed. It doesn't fit the Batman mythos now nor did it back then. That's not to say there isn't a lot to get out of this book, like the chillingly macabre paintings that STILL give me nightmares and, as you so perfectly pointed out, the unique lettering to each character. Thoroughly enjoyed watching and I look forward to the next one. Godspeed, my friend.

[@josesarango3408]

I agree with your points SalazarKnight

[@Marc.c03]

I just got this and so far it’s good

[@ChaosAC24]

Its a Grant Morrison story, so batman being powerless is probably a metaphor. I do feel that in a lot of stories up until the modern age, and the stories at the begging of the modern age depicts batman getting beat or struggling against enemies he should easily take. So seeing him getting beaten by a doctor in a wedding dress fits in with those stories.

[@shandlohan2534]

"I'm gay for you batman... HAHAHAHAHHA" The reason batman doesn't do anything to stop the joker from killing the hostage and why he is over taken by the guy with the knife is because... Maddness has no logic...

[@AlpineerTrue]

I really don't like this comic. It does some interesting things and I think the idea of Joker not being insane is something I enjoy. But what I don't enjoy is Joker changing everyday in the same comic series, it's lazy. The versions of these characters are all worse than what they would become and I think the one good thing to come out of this comic is the fact that Batman Arkham Asylum the game is one of my favorite Batman stories ever.

[@thecatherinegriffin2610]

Grant morrison explained on fatman on batman that the reason batman is ineffective is because the story is a nightmare. "This is what bruce wayne dreams when he goes to bed.."

[@pop000690]

Good video but I do disagree with your points. Now I'll admit I used to be weary of this comic for a while because its so different but as times gone by I love it. The story is creepy and horrifying and the artwork by Mckean is god tier imo. I actually like Morrison's more human approach to Batman and not the typical "I am the Knight" Batman. It makes the reader realize he is a human being under that mask and that while Batman may not be afraid, Bruce Wayne certainly is. It's also important to note that Morrison's writing implies that this could just be one big dream happening in Bruce's mind which is more or less confirmed by his interaction with Mad Hatter. This is why for example Batman is acting somewhat out of character such as more or less killing Killer Croc and almost getting killed by Cavendish, in reality Batman would wipe the floor with him but in his mind he's rendered powerless by his own psyche. Just to note in the script for this comic Morrison's notes even acknowledge this. All in all I love this story but I understand why people are divided on it, also I do appreciate the fact that the story of Arkham didn't start within this book but I do make the argument Morrison took it further but obviously major credit to Len Wein (RIP) who came up with it.

[@rocfour]

Another great review.

[@fitnessabcvideo]

Ahhh grant Morrison, I used to think his stories were complicated, then I worked out that he loves being existential with his work, as clearly defined in animal man run. Once you work that out then you work that it's all just commentary to question your life and understanding of how life works or you think it does, it's all on the table, fun at times, but at times smacks of lazyness as all can or cannot be all at once, a bit wishy washy.

[@kforcer]

I agree with you completely. This comic is awful. Incredibly pretentious, just as you say. Croc-Batman is kinda interesting, although I prefer the original version of Croc, of course. I think this comic played well to the edgy, alternative-rock sensibility of the 90's. When I was in late elementary-middle school, I remember how kids my age loved it. It's interesting how some of the most pretentious comics are the ones most loved by children; kids, understandably, can be taken by things that seem new, edgy and even dangerous based on their limited experiences. Me...? I never liked it.

[@bigblue207]

Morrison really put a lot of thought into it but it just comes off disconnected. If you research the literary background behind it there are pretty major allusions and motifs to classic literature - the women in Amadeus’s life are supposed to be reminiscent of the Greek tropes, Christ imagery abounds and the fish and Pisces were supposed to be a big theme as well. Ultimately the entire story was supposed to be a Batman traumatized by the evil of the worlds who seeks self preservation does so to the point of anal retention and discomfort with his own humanity. It’s a striking concept but it was not very well executed, including the fact that most of those impressive allusions and background literary knowledge are impressive but flimsy at best and even if they were convincing they aren’t framed in the Batman context. They’re taken as absolutes, as in you need to directly compare this story to the Bible or Alice in wonderland or whatever he’s trying to reference. And when you do at most all it is is a rip off or alignment- “Look! x happens in both these stories.” It’s not something that makes intuitive sense - “oh! Batman is a Christ figure here because he’s redeeming Gotham” or something. I think the dude just really got caught up in trying to make a literary classic out of Batman and honestly might have but he was too scatterbrained and didn’t bring it all together nearly as neatly as he needed to. But I do think part of the appeal of the comic is you can still kind of see where he was heading if you read it enough and his core message is interesting enough in itself.

[@kennylunacy]

For those of you who don't know, Joker having hypersanity is due to him knowing that he is a comic book character. Joker even breaks the 4th wall occasionally letting us know that. He even talked to Spiderman in a Marvel/DC crossover about this and how they met in a different crossover story. Spiderman just shrugged it off as Joker being crazy.

[@cosettekonzelman9518]

Here's a fun fact about this graphic novel, this was originally going to be a nightmare that Batman's having. And also Batman: Arkham Asylum game was deeply inspired by the story, this is the birth of the Arkhamverse.

[@runespar]

The weakened, broken state that Batman endures in this story is incredibly akin to classic noir, one of the Dark Knight's most defining genres.

[@rogerjustice2922]

I have always loved this story the artwork though very unusual is absolutely extraordinary. There is no other comic book artist like Dave McLean his work on Sandman is also extraordinary. Thank for reviewing this book its uniqueness makes it my all-time favorite

[@geek8555]

The reason why Bruce was overpowered by the doctor at the end is because he was wounded in his fight with Croc

[@josesarango3408]

Agreed not being a fan of Grant Morrison. I guess he works well with weird characters like Sandman, but since his run on X-men on the early 2000s, one of my favorite franchises went downhill

[@plasticweapon]

it was published four months after the movie's premiere.

[@chrisf8147]

In Batman’s defence croc would have taken a lot out of him. Great video I really enjoyed this story I remember not being too sure about the art work at first but reading it thought it went perfectly with the tone

[@markshulusky6680]

Grant Morrison as a writer is unable to turn his ideas into stories, they remain IDEAS (or, atleast, Morrison seems to see them that way); big, grand, important IDEAS that supersede story. They aren't and they don't.

[@jacavanheesch4593]

love how the joker pinches batmans butt in this comic

[@smokingdan2520]

My personal batman favorit if its about story, charakterprogress and of course the amazing art style in one (and that is important) short cycle. Wish this was the standard tone for the Batman franchise and the standard art for the Batman-comics. I´d also wish for a Sandman Version with this kind of art, story untouched. Than again, Preacher should stay as it is. Hope I made my point clear, Arkham Assylum is just as disturbing as I want most of the Batman-themes to be. Cause Batman represents to me more of the Antihero from the realy famous franchises, not like Superman oder Spiderman or etc. etc. Edith for the germans: Mit The Dark Night Returns mein Favorit unter den Batman Romanen. Die Kunst ist absolut genial, wünschte ich mir für so einige andere Comics durchgängig (z.B. Sandman). Was die Story angeht... es spielt wie kein zweiter Roman dieses Franchises mit den Lesererwartungen. Ist das denn nun ein Batman-Roman? Warum ist er nicht so stark wie gewohnt? Andererseits, wäre dies kein Batman-Roman... wo würde man dann den Reiz aus der allgemeinen Thematik um das Arkham-Assylum und die Bösewichte ziehen? Und dann merke ich: In beiden Fällen würde ich das Teil ganz abgesehen von der verdammt beeindruckenden Grafik storytechnisch einfach nur topp finden. Batman agiert hier nicht als so tough wie gewohnt, aber für den Franchise eröfnette dies (vor über 30 Jahren) sehr interessante Optionen, würde sagen dass dieses Comic das Franchise sehr stark in Richtung erwachsen und anspruchsvoll geprägt hat. Und wäre es erst heute herausgekommen, mit einem Detektiv in der Hauptrolle der eben nicht Batman ist: Es wäre genauso verstörend/beeindruckend. Von mir eine klare Empfehlung an alle, die bei der Watchmen-Umsetzung im Kino nicht nach einer halben Stunde den Saal verlassen haben (habe ich erlebt), mit der Beschwerde es wäre langweilig und es gäbe nicht genug Action wie im Trailer (wo die Leute ja auch Recht hatten).

[@christianchappell4193]

The handwriting was really bad it looked like they colored on the paper and i didn't like the art

[@MrJohnffrey87]

Yeah I'm not the biggest fan of this story, it's kind of difficult to follow and it's kind of hard to tell with the strange art what's going on at times.

[@soljwf5664]

I had that same Joker shirt back in the day 1:18

[@louiesoto7374]

It was all a dream, I use to read Batman magazine

[@Funhaus_Ryan]

Just discovered your channel, and I absolutely love it! Keep up the awesome work!

[@SalazarKnight]

Welcome and thank you very much!

[@georgioschaitidis1847]

@@SalazarKnight yeah keep doing your thing man but i wanted to ask you though if you know mr rogues from youtube

[@georgioschaitidis1847]

@@SalazarKnight because he also makes videos on batman like top ten 5 stories of the villains forgotten supervillains and even patient sessions with the joker and scarecrow and riddler and so on… you know like voice acting the whole thing

[@georgioschaitidis1847]

@@SalazarKnight because he also makes videos on batman like top ten 5 stories of the villains forgotten supervillains and even patient sessions with the joker and scarecrow and riddler and so on… you know like voice acting the whole thing

[@georgioschaitidis1847]

@@SalazarKnight oh i am sorry i just saw that at your channels section mr rogues was there so you know him i am sorry i didn’t see it

[@rockyronin318]

joker did what to batmans what??

[@samirhall7530]

The Batman in this story just like the one in the justice league live film utter useless.

[@MutantsInDisguise]

The film that traumatized edgebabies. At least he didn't poop his pants like a baby when hearing his mom's name lol.

[@gudgel5307]

This is Bruce's nightmare.

[@DonJuanDecepticon]

The book really good 🤣

[@johnolmos8670]

My favorite Batman story. I’ve always thought Batman is just as insane as the criminals he fights. You can’t see your parents murdered in front of you and not be extremely traumatized and scarred from the experience

[@MutantsInDisguise]

😅

[@joegahan7055]

Opinions may vary.

[@silloweet]

Super underrated book

[@giuseppepapaleo3030]

This comic is a masterpiece.

[@rohanilame7236]

I think it's one of best pieces of art out there.

[@geert574]

This artstyle is garbage to me pass

[@lilfriedchicken9920]

There’s some good shots and visual depictions and some that look like I was in 2nd grade and tried to emulate a disgusting hybrid between the Yoji Shinkawa (MGS artist) and Alex Ross styles in Art class.

[@captainbeastwinger4940]

9:40 the man was being held hostage what was batman supposed to do if he tried anything he'd get shot in the face either way

[@SalazarKnight]

Or would he? We'll never know.

[@legotwoface]

Batman is as blind as a bat! But really this comic is LAME! Rainbow Batman is a better story then this!😠 When I was drawing killer crock I made him look like that even though I didn't even know about that comic.😯😮

[@jaytheartman610]

and this comic is lame because?...

[@legotwoface]

@@jaytheartman610 it doesn't make sense! It looks bad! It gets boring after a while! The redesigns are awful!

[@jaytheartman610]

@@legotwoface 1: it makes sense if you properly understood the themes and symbolism of the comic 2: its supposed to look disgusting on purpose it fits the tone of a gothic horror 3: how is it boring? its short and has an interesting story so you must be half goldfish 4: refer to number two now please hand me your clown license i need to make sure you're official

[@legotwoface]

@@jaytheartman610 what clown license? What are you talking about?

[@christianchappell4193]

Why is the handwriting so messy i can't even read the words

[@FireRising86]

This comic sucked hard. Only good thing was it being inspirational for the game Arkham Asylum