The Darkest Batman Story Ever Written | Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth

[@Duskets]

I actually think the artwork being harder to follow works to this story’s benefit. It’s like the book itself is mad, and we - as readers - are tasked with piercing through the veil of lunacy in order to discern what is happening.

[@getwidtsawdiedtwying]

exactly what i was thinking

[@rachelmarmont7022]

That's exactly my take on this, it's an asylum! Nobody really knows the truth of it! I love this book! Read it over'n over...

[@Ultron-5]

Right. Conceptually I like it for that reason but if you're gonna ask me to read it or enjoy it as a story, I can't bring myself to do that but I'm glad others can.

[@acid_tongue_4315]

Enjoy it as a story? How would you serperate the story from the concept? The whole point is that things are unreliably narrated, and this is boosted when you consider that the artist and author were at war with their different perspectives they wanted to show

[@KaiserAfini]

Its what I thought as well. Dense with symbolism, with a art style that seems like you are seeing the ideas or emotional context of the scene rather than just the scene itself. It comes togethet in a chaotic, primal way that makes the most powerful moments all the more memorable.

[@gamblorrr]

The fact that the author and artist basically fought to tell their own perspective for the comic, adds to the story unintentionally lol.

[@rustyshackelford4224]

Sure does

[@ethancastillo9221]

Though I do wish they could’ve have worked together and got the store through better

[@Bffgjhyfffgg]

Agree, it gives it a sense of disjointed madness. Its jarring, much like what every single day in Arkham is for the patients.

[@lewisaino]

​@@BffgjhyfffggIs like thw Comic became self fulfilled

[@smileysatanson3404]

just makes it seem more maddened

[@MutantsInDisguise]

Arkham Asylum is a complete middlefinger to realism, and puts Batman at odds with himself and the very things he once thought were "logical".

[@IntotheDepths511]

Very good observation.

[@dream6562]

How so

[@speechless107]

Doesn’t help that Jason Blood locked a bunch of souls in the basement and essentially cursed what would become Arkham Manor

[@TotalDec]

Not, entirely

[@rayblack2004]

I think it shows how outdated Batman's tactics are

[@legocontrollerjr]

"Originally the Joker was gonna dress like Madonna and be in Stilettos" Honestly that is easily the most horrifying thing Joker could do. Reminds me of the comment from the game Arkham Asylum "What are you really afraid of? Failing to save this cesspool of a city? Not finding the commissioner in time? ME IN A THONG?" Honestly gets more horrifying the more I think about it.

[@TheVTable]

…………………………… Yeah, Yeah, No Argument

[@ShacotheLore]

I can fix him

[@jaygin6518]

@@ShacotheLoreit’s hard to fix degeneracy

[@stephenleong7373]

@@jaygin6518 shhh they can fix him

[@rjcorreia3788]

​@@ShacotheLorePYG...make her better

[@bloodrunsclear]

As a young kid I found this at a local library and I had nightmares after reading a handful of pages. I couldn't even bear to look at The Joker in ANY iteration without thinking on that image of Batman ramming a piece of glass into his hand...

[@IntotheDepths511]

There are definitely a lot of chilling moments, I couldn’t imagine being a child and reading this story.

[@andrewp505]

while you may not believe it, I too came across this when i was kid in my public library, if i can remember i didn’t really understand a lot of what was going on but yeah still disturbed me and i can see stills in my head

[@Scorecatron]

Crazy thing is, I also had a bad dream after going to sleep immediately after reading it. Although I took it from my school library.

[@doclouis4236]

Why the fuck did a public library carry around this specific nightmare fueled book?

[@M4G4M4N]

​@@doclouis4236most likely they didn't view or know the unique and dark artistic style and probably thought it was just another kid friendly book/comic. I would think in modern times libraries do their due diligence as I'm sure cases like this have come to light

[@KravenZoro]

I played Batman Arkham Asylum as a kid and I played the return to Arkham asylum again. Learning about Amadeus and Elizabeth is truly haunting but makes the game feel real.

[@TheMonkeygoneape]

literally just started reinstalling Arkham Asylum while watching this video

[@Oraoraoraorra]

Literally just got Return to Arkham on sale ​@@TheMonkeygoneape

[@nioc2971]

I think that two face let batman live because it was him who gave him a clear choice eliminating all other options leaving a clearer picture for him and therefore helping him pull himself together so letting him live is more of a thank you from his part,

[@HighTechPioneer]

I took it less as a thank you and more his final step of the therapy. With batman being understandably questioning of his previous treatment, giving him the coin was the catalyst for change, where as his decision to ignore its results was the final spark of growing past the neurosis. If he listened to the coin he'd be no different than where he started, thus making it so he really didn't have a choice, either live or die, and he chose to live. Batman was doing the Batman thing of putting his life on the line to quite literally force his patients into seeing things his way, and as a result growing because of it. To me if it really is Harvey's way of thanking Bruce, it undermines the whole point of the "therapy session"

[@crab-manSorghame]

@@HighTechPioneer Honestly re-reading it to myself, I'll find myself conflicted at the thought of Dents' state if he HAD killed batman. Perhaps it was the catharsis of giving up the duality, or even Batman forcing him to retrospect on his actions; but I believe it was a mixture of them all, its crazy to go even further but two-face always alludes to Batman being the other side of his waste-disposal coin, perhaps we saw Dent at his core, afraid, not necessarily raging by his own persona, but broken. Dent hates batman, but he is ALWAYS the side who spares him. To me its like how he entertains Jokers' need to be indulged, he drags the element of chaos into it, solely because he knows the Joker can't resist. It is a comic book, but a damn good one at that. Ill admit I have a soft spot for classic look scarecrow, but it chills my mind to recollect Maxie still believing himself to be Zeus, WITH a taste of the ancient elemental flair of comics, injected with realism and terror.

[@turtleanton6539]

Entirely plausible

[@concept5631]

​@@HighTechPioneer I like this take on it.

[@karenferrara]

For those of us who grew up on the 1960's version of Batman and actually look forward each week to tuning in at the " same bat time"'same bat station" this arkham asylum comic you speak in great depth about , brought pictures of the original villains to me because at ages 6-8 those were that dark to me. Two coins has got to be the riddler and I pictured Frank Gorshin.

[@podomuss]

The 60s Batman is still good, very campy but fun to watch. I like both versions of The Bat. But I also feel like Batman is one of the few major ‘super’ heroes that does well with a gritty story, so I like when it leans into that more

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Imagine what the Arkham Asylum would look like in the Adam West Batman universe.

[@Ryzard]

​@@poweroffriendship2.0 bright white/orange walls, and big cartoony bars that are rubber and bendable

[@punkrocker4life9674]

I hope Pattinson’s Batman tackles this story at some point in some capacity. The tone fits his version so well

[@MrKing-771]

I don't think this story would work without the nightmarish art style that the comic uses.

[@RobocopStealerOfFridges]

​@@MrKing-771 They could make the character designs look like horror movie monsters instead of people. (Hell, the brief glimpse of Joker's design we get in the movie would fit perfectly in this comic.)

[@MrKing-771]

@robocopstealeroffridges.495 If they could stylize the entire production with Dave McKeans' nighmarish art style, it would be a killer movie.

[@lewis-da]

@@RobocopStealerOfFridges I believe that having the characters actually look like the ones in the comic would be a BIG mistake. The whole point of the comic is to see how Batman’s mental state deteriorates, and how reality gets distorted. Pattinson’ Batman is a relatively realistic Batman, so having them look like the ones in the comic would not fit the tone. What they’d need to do is to get a really artistic director that knows how to do horror, and let him give the movie the R-rating he needs.

[@lewis-da]

@@RobocopStealerOfFridges The director would have to put special detail into the characters, and how each others mentality and actions affect each other. Especially how Joker slowly kills Batman mentally. The reason the director would need to be artistic is because he would need to have a crazy amount of vision in order to make the movie feel like a nightmare, like the comic does. Having it have an R-rating would be key for this. Show as much blood, gore, deformation and degenerocity as needed for the movie to be truthful to the source material.

[@connorheath6997]

I saw the ending as Two Face thinking “should I let Batman live and live in hell of the madness of the world or kill him and free him from madness” the marked side was live in hell, the clean side was death and freedom.

[@Strongwomanthatcries]

Youre in my essay acknowledgements; this comment gave me my thesis abt this comic

[@connorheath6997]

@ oh wow that amazing! Thank you, would love to read it x

[@mikesantillanmx5530]

I can't even consider a sequel of Arkham Asylum without Dave McKean's art. Much of the success of this particular story comes from the unique visual style it have, and how it works with the script. I would read that sequel, but it's gonna be it's own thing, much like Joel Schumacher's Batman have really nothing to do with Tim Burton's films, even if they're supposedly the same.

[@jasongreene8728]

The only other artist I feel that could follow McKean on a follow up to this is Bill Sienkewicz. That I'd love to see.

[@idontknow13429]

Why? He was a crybaby that made changed he had no business making. They should find someone who doesn’t spend all day sniffing their own farts.

[@vulcan7307]

Arkham Asylum being based off of real life mental asylums from the 1920’s -60’s does a really good job at showing how terrifying they really were. All of these peoples minds isolated from the real world for years thinking they were getting help but we’re actually getting psychologically tested. So many people went to these asylums needing serious help but were instead mind fucked for years. The only difference between Arkham Asylum and the real life asylums was that Arkham Asylum had fictional characters, and some having supernatural powers. Arkham Asylum is the root for almost every Batman villain and it’s because mental asylums at one point in history were hell on earth. What better place to stem some of the most evil villains in comic book history than that.

[@idontknow13429]

Asylums were a necessary evil. Now that they’re gone, look how many absolute nut cases are out there, manipulating normal, sympathetic people into bowing to their delusions.

[@liamwatt4714]

I would never have guessed you were new to content creation. The quality and information is something I’d want from a more experienced creator doing a video essay like this, I truly mean that. I genuinely can’t wait to see what else you make, keep it up man

[@IntotheDepths511]

Dude that means the world to me. I am blown away by the reception and kind words I have received from so many people. I cant even comprehend it yet.

[@jose2D7735]

@@IntotheDepths511 ^ same thoughts as well, the flow of your video is smooth and never feels dragged on. Thought you’d have like like 200k subscribers at least by the quality of this vid.

[@onesaucynougat7471]

Still surprised to hear people say that in KZbin comment sections. Most of the time the best content creators are the ones with few subscribers and views.

[@t.a.hargrove1212]

Imagine uploading your first video to 300k views.

[@Mr.Capitalism]

​@@IntotheDepths511because they can tell you put heart in your work that's what makes it good, the format you use is perfect and never disappoint

[@LanceTuckerAPD]

That creepy picture from Psycho is actually a legit still of the movie, very iconic. It was Norman Bates mother overlayed over his face, signifying his split personality and him adopting her personality. Could be a good nod and inspiration to the character Mad Dog in this story, and the motif of Mothers too. Fascinating artwork and story.

[@buccaneercat]

Regarding Joker’s flamboyant personality. I’ve personally always believed that labeling him as a homosexual takes away from the mystique and intrigue behind the character. He acts out and behaves in a way that he knows will make people squirm. It’s psychological warfare, and solidifies that nothing matters to him. In his eyes, life is nothing more than a giant stage performance. Calling him gay suddenly adds sense to his flamboyant behavior, and dissolves a big part of the mystery that makes the character so compelling. He’s just a crazy clown that only cares about understanding and relating to The Batman. He’s never wanted to literally hook up with Batman… unless we’re talking about the demented fan fiction writers from Tumblr/Twitter, then yes all the time he wants nothing more than Batman’s batarang… thank god they’re not employed at DC Comics… ok some might be… sadly..

[@IntotheDepths511]

I think a lot of people make the mistake of trying to humanize the Joker.

[@chexfan2000]

The Joker’s sexuality is “giving Batman the business” and poor harley quinn has trouble understanding that 😅 they shoulda gone with that madonna thing, that’s a hilarious bit and it definitely gives batman the business

[@buccaneercat]

@@chexfan2000 nah bro. His sexuality doesn’t matter, but if you want to go down that rabbit hole, he has shown legitimate interest in Harley Quinn a multitude of times. Obviously he’s not fit to be a loving boyfriend to her, as he doesn’t 100% love her as a soulmate… and is in fact just a crazy clown that only cares about causing chaos, and antagonizing Batman. If anything, Joker’s biggest fantasy is Gotham’s destruction… similar to how Batman’s biggest fantasy is Gotham’s salvation.

[@Parasolhyena]

I mean i'd throw out there are actually a few iterations of Joker who is infatuated in a sick and twisted way with Batman or it's implied. This comic is a perfect example of that. I'll also throw out there it was played pretty straight in early issues because gay = bad guy back then, not so much him being attracted to batman but more the "oh my lord he's queer, he's carries his own lipstick! Look how evil he is." I do like how it's developed over the years though to be like you said. Also I don't ship it and find it a weird pairing but I have no animosity towards those who do, who are they hurting bro, they just doing there own weird thing that makes em happy. Find any joy in life that doesn't hurt others, I say.

[@panonymousbloom5405]

​@@Parasolhyena thank you. ❤ Honestly, I was with the OG comment until that last part. That's just vitriol and for what? The most compelling and interesting conversation I had have been with BatJokes fans because they are open minded. If you squirm away so much from a certain interpretation, I'm sorry but you're not going to be objective in your analysis. Now to the point - He has expressed genuine sexual interest in Batman and saying he does that only as a "weapon" is making their relationship more shallow imo. He's OBSESSED with Batman. To the point he actively wants to die from Batman's hands. That's why he goes further and further. Yes, it's proving his philosophy but proving it against the one person that really matters to him because Bats is an exception to the rule. It's an all consuming obsession that can be easily confused with romantic feelings (which is an angle that has been shown a few times) and just because you can't see it doesn't mean everyone who does is just "crazy hormonal tumblr user". OP repeat after me - your interpretation is not the ultimate. My favorite monologue about this has been in Arkham Origins. Not only the Joker explains that Batman is the only person he can relate to (which is interesting by itself but also imagine living in a world where there's only one other person that's "real" to you. Imagine the bond you would develop with them), but the monologue by itself makes Harley think he's talking about her and makes her fall in love with him. That's just romantic, no matter if you interpret the feelings themselves as being such.

[@sethleoric2598]

That scene where he's calling for the doctor for help gave me the same chills as the panel where Superman started to cry when he learned he was going to die, all those media spending hours deconstructing or humanizing them and these two moments really just kinda telling you all you need to know, they fight monsters and lunatics and giant robots on a daily basis but at the end of the day they're still human just like us and they have their limits.

[@gohol_lywood4218]

It’s almost like the darkness of the story carried over into the clash of creative differences between artist and writer . Which makes the intrigue so much more heightened . The graphic novel is one of my all time favourites

[@Ntwadumela266]

I have never read a comic that evokes atmosphere like this one, it’s trippy, psychedelic, exactly what it would be like to step into arkham

[@bananatiergod]

This is your first video essay?? I wouldn't believe it. You've done an amazing work with this one, and got yourself a new subscriber!

[@IntotheDepths511]

Welcome aboard!

[@philrangel2785]

I remember having this comic as a kid. This was the ONLY Batman comic I owned. I had a lot of Spider-Man comics cause of my grandparents, and I loved them. I didn’t own any other comics at all. To this day, I’m not exactly sure where it came from, but I also had Batman: Arkham Asylum-A Serious House On Serious Earth The story, the environment, the artwork…especially the artwork…it was so fucking creepy. At that time, I saw Batman just like any other superhero, cheeky and comical (I clearly didn’t know much about Batman at the time, this was just my overall view of Superheroes) so reading this comic with that mindset made even more unsettling for me. It felt so otherworldly.

[@AP-jl3rs]

The picture of Norman bates I believe is taken at the end of Psycho when the last scene of Norman bates smiling transitions to the car being pulled out of the water. There is a very brief moment in that transition you can see a skull on Norman bates very briefly. I think that's a snap shot of that brief moment

[@IntotheDepths511]

You know what’s funny. I watched the movie for the first time a few days ago and you’re completely right. I just knew the one image.

[@Ryenyethescienceguy]

The fact that Dave McKean thought that doing this comic book cheapened his integrity goes to show how amazing he is as an artist

[@turtleanton6539]

😊yes

[@rclark777]

all it shows is that he's a pretentious jerk lol

[@WhenDevilsDuel]

He's a pretentious douche bag who got rich for being pretentious. He's an insult to humanity.

[@plasticweapon]

so you're impressed by pretentious snobs and don't like this book?

[@WhenDevilsDuel]

@@plasticweapon that isn't their point but I agree, it's extremely pretentious.

[@shawntherapidlyaginghipster]

As someone who grew up in the 80s, I can say a lot of people liked both Batman and Madonna's music (at the time).

[@skobywankenobi]

I was a small kid in the 80s but Madonna was my girlfriend (I used to sleep with the Material Girl record at night) and was a huge batman fan.

[@TreborPaulson]

Yea, that was pop music of the day. You couldn’t get away from it. So, you didn’t have to be a fan of either to have crossover But yea, that was a dumb idea to think that

[@podomuss]

Yeah, it’s like not recognizing Ariana Grande’s high pony tail or whatever other pop star today

[@darkoflight4938]

This masterpiece is just THE quintessential Batman graphic novel. Groundbreaking in it´s genre and for it´s time. The graphics alone are just pure art from page to page. Almost hard to follow the brilliant storyline when one just admires all the panels. Each unique, like paintings in a museum. Mesmerizing, confusing and distracting. If you haven´t read this book. Do it!

[@thisgoddamusernamestoodamnlong]

yeah, but Killing Joke edgelord bullshit sold better, soooooo...

[@DUKEHadToDoItToEm]

Sorry but Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns is the best, this is 2nd, killing joke places 3rd

[@whitealbum6821]

This was a very well informed video and has convinced me to check out this particular story i look forward to future content from this channel solid first video man

[@IntotheDepths511]

I highly recommend it, it’s an amazing story.

[@retr0_117-6]

Dave McKean is the greatest; his art is so earie and beatiful. It's just the kind of visuals I try to bring into my stories sometimes, and its perfect for Batman and Sandman. So gorgeous!

[@jnb756]

I got into Neil Gaiman's Sandman right before reading this so the artwork, while out of this world, was very comfortable to me and I didn't realize at the time how special both this and Sandman were.

[@mothiestman4995]

Finally, a horror video essay that acknowledges what a deeply weird person Crowley was. His romantic relationship with the inventor of the jet engine ruined said investor's life and sanity.

[@a.nobodys.nobody]

Oh snap, i didn't realize they were hooking up

[@kamikoto1558]

Aleister crowley is evil. 😊

[@SonGoku-TheJapaneseLion]

Wow you really went all in on this. Cutting, voice over, putting it all together, keeping it all in the zeitgeist, tell the story leading up to this comic and then closing it with the legacy of the whole thing. Great Work!! I would love this kind of Video with another Batman Comic. Maybe Dark Knight Returns? :)

[@IntotheDepths511]

My next video is going to be on the 1994 Crow graphic novel by James O’Barr. But I would absolutely love to do another Batman story. The Dark Knight Returns or the Long Halloween are two that I would love to cover.

[@SonGoku-TheJapaneseLion]

@@IntotheDepths511 Please forget everything what I said about DKR!! Because I have no Idea why I didn't think of The Long Halloween first! It would be Perfect to cover The Long Halloween, since The Dark Knight Returns has plenty of Videos already while Long Halloween doesn't get enough Love in comparison. I personally even prefer Long Halloween. Also it would be fitting to honor the late great Tim Sale who sadly past away not too long ago. The Eisner winning Graphic Novel of the Noir driven Master Piece by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale deserves a complete, detailed and fleshed out video only someone such as yourself, who obviously has the stamina and the Love for the source material, can put together. Into the Depths, listen to me and listen to me good. I'm telling you right now, that I am 100% sure that this time next year your subscribers will triple easily if not explode even more. You will be a very successful KZbin Content Creator. I see everything in you to achieve that. Your Content, the way you Cut things and put them together, your voice, your obvious enthusiasm in what you do and this very first and very high quality video of yours is only the tip of the ice berg of what I think will make you super successful. It'll be really amazing to watch your channel grow. And I'm gonna enjoy it in the front row seat :)

[@liamwatt4714]

@@SonGoku-TheJapaneseLion that’s what I’m saying. I’m genuinely shocked how this is his FIRST VIDEO. It’s so well put together

[@chuckliquor3663]

It's not unheard of for an artist to play a large roll in developing a comic book story. Jack Kirby usually had to do the bulk of the story in his Marvel comics because Stan Lee was a big picture guy and provided very thin story outlines.

[@holderrrrname]

That’s interesting

[@mountainman182]

Excellent video, thanks for the great content!

[@IntotheDepths511]

Thanks for the comment. There’s plenty more to come!

[@BaDAiR647]

The panels in this particular Batman entry are haunting. They stay with you. They are exquisite in their energy and terror. Beautiful madness. So well done and original. A must see for the true Batman lover.

[@MrNeenan]

I got this pretty close to its release. I'd only been collecting comics seriously for a couple of years, and I recognised Grant Morrison's name from 2000AD, on the strip Zenith... This was mind blowing. Coming from 2000AD, I was primed for more abstract art styles, where they had Steve Yeowell doing pure chiaroscuro on Zenith, Simon Harrison doing some strange distortions on Strontium Dog, and Bisley and Will Simpson doing full paints... I took it to school and showed everyone. I even lent it to my English teacher, along with Batman:The Cult. I dig the experimentation DC were doing at the time...which of course led to Vertigo... Anyway, this is a great vid. I'm surprised it's your first...and I've given you a sub...

[@batmanofsanantonio5331]

I think the confusion makes the novel a more compelling read. The artwork is beyond mind blowing and adds a beautifully macabre texture to an already compelling story, but I will say that if a reissue of this story was printed with Morrison approved artwork was released, I would buy it.

[@jorgeuresti8265]

I think having clashing creators act irrationally while creating this comic is exactly what leant it to to dreamy feeling of insanity in it

[@satrinala]

I really appreciate that you talked about not only the artist, but the techniques and materials he used. The way you talk about this comic makes it incredibly clear how much you love it and what it means to you.

[@shaiky1681]

This is my favorite Batman one shot comic, even if I often feel I don't understand it, that just adds to the feeling. Hearing other people talk about it always gives me more and more insight about it This is a beautiful, informative video, I'm beyond shocked it's your first upload to the channel

[@chexfan2000]

oh wow i didn’t realize shoving pencils into peoples eyes was an established Joker thing before The Dark Knight 😂 that’s cool that the “pencil trick” was another Batman deep cut much like the clown masks from the bank robbery were from an episode of the Adam West show in which the joker wears that same mask

[@IntotheDepths511]

Fun fact, Christopher Nolan actually told Heath Ledger to read this comic to study the joker.

[@marsaint]

Dude this comic is freaking amazing. I was never into comics that much but this one is so surreal and bold with its artistic and narrative choices. So cool, thanks for sharing this and leading me to this masterpiece.

[@christopherburns6403]

Dude. Beautiful video essay. I CANNOT wait to get this book and read it and goddamnit have I ALWAYS wished they would do an Arkham asylum inspired movie. I hope they do it down the line with the reeves Batman and take inspiration from this book

[@IntotheDepths511]

A film would be incredible.

[@magallanesagustin4952]

They are making a spin off show about Arkham that takes place in the Matt Reeves universe. They might get inspiration from the comic for it.

[@HunterShark300]

I think that's what they're building up to. The final movie taking place inside the Arkham Asylum.

[@christopherburns6403]

@@HunterShark300 I hope so

[@gin-san3456]

@@HunterShark300 maybe thats how it ends…locking up batman in Arkham asylum

[@stevenguitink5947]

I love Dave McKean's artwork. I love that surrealist style and his work on Hellblazer covers really made me a fan. Also minor note, but Crowley's philosophy was Thelema, not Thelma.

[@shiny1556]

I admit I am a very main stream Batman fan but I always love finding the really dark stories from back in the day compared to how it is now. I really need to read through this

[@alchemistofsteel8099]

Do you like the animated series

[@jimmyolsenblues]

i am 54 years old, and I bought this comic in college, i didn't understand the depth that you did. it was written over my head, very nice explanation and a memory I had long forgetten.

[@liamt6425]

I read some of this comic online while listening to Michael Giachinno's Soundtrack for "The Batman (2022)" and I highly recommend it! It amplified the read SO much! (At least for Me) Great video man!!!

[@Tkempwait]

"Sometimes we have to tear down in order to rebuild" thats basically the same thing my therapists used to tell me and all the other kids i was in placements with and they for sure tore us down but never tried to build us back up. Out of all the kids i was in that place with (about 30 over a years time) 25 of us are dead now and over half of them killed themselves and mentioned that place the last time i talked to them

[@jonsavage2587]

D.I.D., Schizophrenia or any other psychosis doesn't seem to fit the Joker as he never looses touch with reality. His actions are ALWAYS calculated, precise and aimed towards causing the most chaos and pain, born from his own traumas. In truth, he most likely would have multiple disorders; the least of which not being Narcissistic Personality. Then add ADHD, Manic-Depression type II, Schizotypal Personality, Sociopathy, and Psychopathy. None of these disorders are psychoses, where a person goes into a total fugue state and thinks they're Napoleon or being chased by the FBI, which the narrator implies. The Batman also could also fit into some of the same categories, possibly omitting Psychopath. Psychopaths don't always kill/murder. Many successful businessman, politician, research scientist, gov. assassins, etc. are psychopaths. Generally speaking, a psychopath derives some form of pleasure from the pain, either direct or indirectly, inflicted on their victim/targets. That doesn't seem to fit the Batman. All of this considered is what has drawn me to The Batman over any super-hero. He's a person, flawed, maybe even broken, but relatable on a human level. As a kid, I gravitated to having a "Batman" that would redress wrongs done to me also. As an adult, I admire his since of "justice" and controlled rage of a damaged soul bubbling just below the surface, always wanting the criminal to pay, but not entirely crossing the line to kill with his own hands; many times letting the "cosmic" meet out "karma". Perhaps, psychopath fits him after all...

[@thisgoddamusernamestoodamnlong]

yeah, I disagree with the writers there. Part of Jokers character is that he's Schrodinger's mad man. Either he's an irrevocably broken and nuanced character with a tragic backstory, and complicated relationship with his own identity, or he could be a huge ass who is hyper aware of how people perceive him and does all of it to fuck with people. One of my favorite batman scenes is from one of the animated shows(I wanna say brave and he bold?) where harley quinn has him tied up, and talks about how Joker told her his secret childhood memories that were super sad, only for batman to reveal he always tells people those stories and that they change every time. Even in the killing joke (imo the worst batman story) It's implied that at least SOME of the shit he says is just not true.

[@Sergio-nb4hj]

​@@thisgoddamusernamestoodamnlongagreed with you up until the Killing Joke being the worst Batman story??

[@Saboteur4]

I wish more people would bring up Animal Man. One of Morrison's best work. Besides this and All Star Superman.

[@proudspartan313]

One aspect I like about the comic is how even the extremely minor characters leave an unsettling feeling. Black Mask barely has a few lines yet the complete etching out of his face and that his character bio after the ending is just a frame of pure darkness. Doctor Destiny's also barely says and does anything , but the one frame of his victims frozen in a dream stasis is chilling. His bio is also sad but foreboding. It is only a smokey white smudge admis darkness, the only description saying: "In dreams, I walk with you."

[@jamielishbrook2384]

This was the comic that actually got me into Batman.

[@21palica]

Thank you for making this in depth look at "A Serious House...". This is one of, if not the most memorable and definitely most surreal Batman comic I ever read. I recommended it to so many people, but found that most of them just couldn't finish it. Either because they were put off by the art style, or because they just weren't able to follow the story because of it's unusual (to say the least) arrangements of the pages. I love it and go back to it every couple of years, just because I find something new in it every time I do. Thanks again!

[@aryan7767]

i like it caue it makes batman so vulnerable and human (he bleeds, hes fucking terrified (who wouldnt be in that situation lmao), hes injured af, he runs away) but he also exhibits that enver give up, perseverance attitude. and the ending is just birlliant. it really shows why the no kill rule is not a weakness.

[@whodis5444]

That artwork is insanely gorgeous. Each panel looks like it could be put up on the wall of an art gallery for a pretty penny. So much style and emotion poured into the pages. Definitely captures that dream-like quality he was going for.

[@SampathWijesinghe]

I understand that it's quite challenging to go through this comic compared to many other comics due to the artwork and how the panels are organized but i realized that it is fun and exciting to take on that challenge and I'm a huge fan of art and expressionism and Dave Mackean's work was eye catching and memorable and just like you said, Arkham Asylum stands because of that. I personally thin that this collaboration is one of the best I've ever seen in comics

[@genericsidecharacter8915]

Wow, this was an absolutely incredible video. It’s impossible to believe that this is the first video on the channel. With this level of quality, I feel like it would be a crime if this channel does not blow up and become a big hitter in the future.

[@JohnDWJ]

McKean elevated this to a level that touches and haunts the subconscious. Shame to hear they clashed. But the art really makes this story special.

[@AR-pb2zh]

Yep! I agree! My brother and I collected comic books and we have two of these original graphic novels. One that we opened to read and the other still in it's plastic wrap. Really disturbing story. Incredible art work too. Great post and discussion here.

[@halloweenfriday]

I get the feeling that Barry Keoghan’s Joker from The Batman is somewhat inspired by this iteration of the character. The blurry imagery, the grotesque face, etc.

[@dilloncoop2500]

Mckeans art immortalized the story beyond a normal batman story in a way to be admired beyond the story but by just the striking imagery and techniques alone.

[@slavenin6496]

I never really understood why Joker is considered insane. He is not, he understands his actions and consequences that will follow him. He is a psychopath, not an insane person. Maybe I'm wrong.

[@MikeMozzaro]

It's because insanity is a broad spectrum diagnosis. Technically speaking "insanity" is defined as "a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct her/his affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior." Notice that at no point does it specify 'awareness of consequence'. If someone suffered from severe hallucinations and committed a mass murder, they would still be tried as insane even if they were aware they were committing a crime while doing so. In the case of Joker, the fact he sees his actions as a joke would be defined being unable to distinguish fantasy from reality.

[@Lee-of4gt]

a psychopath IS insane by definition

[@samspurgeon4222]

I think it's because nobody on jury duty in Gotham City could believe a sane person would make smiling fish😂

[@ianpygott]

@@Lee-of4gt nope

[@Lee-of4gt]

@@ianpygott no?

[@ArcboundX]

A couple notes; the scarecrow is not part of the madhatter's "visions", you can picture batman lurking in the shadows, out of the sight of the scarecrow, until he stumbles into first, the room with the scribbling, and later, the madhatter through the looking glass, where he is contained alongside his smoke. Also iirc when amadeus arkham mentions hearing maniacal laughter, he mentions it originating from " a cell he knows to be empty", i always interpreted this as the laughter originating from mad dog's cell, as arkham, having fried him, would know his cell to be empty.

[@atomrockerrrr]

Very in depth review and commentary on this masterpiece. I love Arkham Asylum too. It's one of my all-time favourite graphic novels, originally gor the unique and haunting artwork. However, your commentary on it has given me a newfound appreciation for how much depth the is to the story. I want to go read it again right now! Great job, thank you mate.

[@KaiserAfini]

I think it was a good call, its one of the most unique and fitting art styles I have ever seen. You don't feel like you are seeing the scene itself, rather you perceive the ideas and the emotional context, which let you piece together the raw zeitgeist into a scene.

[@ericdeutsch6079]

I read it and still couldn't help sitting through till the end of your video. Thanks for covering such a great title. You broke it down superbly

[@mattfischer7267]

As an eleven-year-old kid when it first came out I was able to follow the story without too much of a problem. I may had to have gone back and reread a page or two but it made sense to me at the time .I was too young to pick up on a lot of the symbolism.

[@MrKing-771]

My favorite interpretation of this comic is that it is all a nightmare that Batman is having.

[@mywifesboyfriend5558]

Always thought that too. Batman in reality would be far, far more capable.

[@arthurcosta1657]

​@@mywifesboyfriend5558 that can be explained because its a diferent version

[@hydrocritical2268]

@@mywifesboyfriend5558 This is a guy who fights people like Killer Croc and Maxie Zeus on the regular. He should not be this weak.

[@Chiefteeth1]

@@hydrocritical2268 It’s an alternate universe.

[@hydrocritical2268]

@@Chiefteeth1 He still fights them. He had to have fought to put them away.

[@mr.otakubaka4169]

The mushroom thing you mentioned is what Mario eats in the game to grow tall, or so he thinks

[@HUSHMONEYBAND]

Dave mckean is a genius. His work on this and Sandman comics shaped my tastes growing up. He’s criminally underrated. My favorite Batman comic

[@Yomoyin]

3:03 my man this is where you tell people to pause and go read for themselves. I can’t believe you really hit us with the “then you should stick around”

[@kevinsieg2076]

Thank you very much for this video. I owned a comic bookstore when Arkham Asylum was released and ordered thirty copies from my distributor. They all sold out in a week--except for the copy I kept for myself. Of course, this was the original edition and didn't include the script you mentioned. This led to many discussions over many beers and bong-hits. I remember that we all felt that the artwork made the book--that its unique visual style and layout transcended the more conventional comic art.

[@PICFL1]

This got me into comics. I was a huge batman fan. Film, games, tv, animation but never got into comics I loved Arkham Asylum so I bought this. It legit changed my life. I finished it twice in one sitting

[@HalfLight333]

Man, seeing the snippets of Batman TAS now makes me want an animated version of Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth. I wonder if it’s been done, I loved the comic.

[@IntotheDepths511]

If I’m not mistaken I think they did talk about animated it recently

[@mywifesboyfriend5558]

You should see Mirrormask, a Dave McKean styled movie to get a sense of what that would be like.

[@Sergio-nb4hj]

I don't think they'd be able to pull it off. The art style is integral to this comic's appeal

[@RememberTheDead]

One of my favorite comics and I'm a huge fan of Morrison's. The mckean-morrison clash is incredibly fitting given the book's themes of magic spells gone awry due april fools. In a sense Morrison and McKean are like Amadeus and Cavendish trying to exorcise the bat through their own methods but only succeeding in strenghtening. Keep up the great work.

[@JoshSweetvale]

This is one of those things that usually go wrong, or nothing interesting happens. But having the storyteller's neurosis improve the story is how you get high art.

[@bertdawarrior7106]

I prefer most of the time for stories to be easily followed, but when it comes to horror, it actually helps to be a little obscurantist here and there. Dave McKean’s artwork truly made this story memorable a little more so than Grant’s writing. The journey felt like a scary acid trip, and when you got the chance to make out what you were looking at, you tended to be in for quite a shock. I really can’t imagine a sequel the same way without Dave McKean’s style. The story being up for interpretation is a nice touch too. It’s the way classic Silent Hill games would go about delivering horror. On the subject of the ending. Optimistically it could taken as a sign that the psychiatrists’ methods were working, and that Two-face was getting better, and making his own decisions. However, classically as in most stories, when the coin lands scratch-side up, Two-Face makes an evil decision. The backstory revolved around Amadeus Arkham evoking what he thought to be a bat demon monster. He believed that the ground was supernaturally cursed by such a thing. In this story, Batman is artistically portrayed as a spooky dark monster whose face and super heroic emblem you can’t see. He is also far more unforgiving and vindictive in this story than in other stories. It is brought up that Batman’s methods( punching crazy people in the face and throwing them in slammer) may not be as practical/ethical compared to treating them with psychotherapy. Joker even hints that Batman may be as crazy as his enemies and that he belongs in the asylum as everybody else. And perhaps if Amadeus’ bat demon visions were not delusions, and Batman really is an incarnation of the Bat demon… …Then maybe Two-Face made an evil decision by letting by letting Batman go.

[@LapisLazuliVA]

While I am more of a story man personally, I’m honestly infatuated with the art of this book. I love how open-ended and mind bending it makes the story, as if we’re seeing all of this from the perspective of Batman himself, losing his mind in a place that directly challenges him as a individual, challenges his ideals, his morals. How far is one willing to go for the greater good. The asylum then, in return, becomes a reality of jokers making- one giant crowbar to pry away the bat’s exterior until there’s nothing left. Unnerving, unique, tragic, unreal, this style has it all man.

[@mr.joedirt8583]

McKean's artwork was incredible. It was like looking through the eyes of a mad man or living a nightmare. And the part about Batman being afraid he would feel at home amongst the inmates makes sense. Batman belongs in Arkham just as much as the Joker or Killer Croc.

[@WeerdWulf]

One of the best Batman tales ever told. Grant Morrison and Dave McKean were on top of their game with this one 👌 And Morrison did some incredible work for 2000AD before his jump to DC and his serial Zenith with Steve Yowell is recommended.

[@KelsaRavenlock]

On your Allister Crowley list you forgot head of multiple hermetic secret societies and alchemist.

[@hendersonr235]

Just paused this halfway through to go buy the graphic novel - you’ve convinced me! Will come back and finish the video essay once I’ve read the story. Great work

[@77_hands]

Such a cool genuine comment, I gotta buy it now

[@AverageAwesomeDude]

I gotta be honest i do think the main thing that makes this as memorable as it is comes down to McKeans art, the story is fantastic and theres definitely a lot of moments where the art clashes with the clarity of storytelling, but the haunting depictions of the villains, the incredibly unique artstyle and the nightmarish feel to everything the eye perceives including batman himself is what cements this as a one of a kind unforgettable piece of batman mythos/lore/ethos/psyche/lens im not even sure which word to use. it is just too unique

[@Muteki_REN]

great video man, I do think the artwork for AA is the selling point as comics are a visual medium but he definitely shouldn't have overrode the original vision from the author

[@ntnrocket1]

This book was so amazing. I loved the artwork. The story was cool too, they went back, literally 100 years.

[@loganhurley4764]

This is the comic that got Christian Bale interested in Batman.

[@john_dillermand]

Finally something interesting and entertaining on KZbin. Thank you.

[@skeletonshorror5184]

That book changed my life - comics, literature and fine art collided into a masterpiece. 💀🔥🦇

[@callmeoak311]

I wish there was mention of the final moments of the comic. Two Face referencing Alice in Wonderline with the closing line of “Who cares for you? You're nothing but a pack of cards” always stuck with me.

[@cyborghyena]

Despite the disagreements between the artist and writer, I wouldn't want this book any other way- It changed my perspective on linear storytelling and how comics could look, and while it wasn't easy to follow the first few reads, it felt completely appropriate for the story at hand and complemented the style of writing already on the table.

[@ProjectC28Channel]

This is so crazy because i was just talking about The Arkham Asylum comic!!! This answered all my questions and gave me new insights. Thanks so much man. PLEEASE, keep them coming !!!

[@PosthumanHeresy]

I honestly can't find myself an opinion on whether Dave was right or wrong. It's like trying to choose between your pet cat and your pet dog, but they're both smarter and cooler than you.

[@IntotheDepths511]

There’s a couple ways to look at it. Dave Mckeans art transcended this comic to a new height where as otherwise it may have gotten lost in the mix, but it wasn’t for to Morrison to change their original vision without telling them.

[@sims8717]

Grant Morrison has been a polarising figure in the comic book industry for years. I love his work. I can't love everything he does the same way as Arkham Asylum or Final Crisis. I just love reading his work regardless because I just love what he brings to the table. He's crazy, and I enjoy it when it's on a comic page.

[@bigblue207]

Polarizing is right, I guess. He just says shit he knows will sound good to people. Personally it feels like he puts no thought into the meaning behind his writing, he lets the audience put something together for him. There’s something to be said for that for sure but it feels like he’s a massive hack. He just likes to confuse people into solving the deeper meaning when there never was one to begin with.

[@jayt9608]

I may be wrong, but I believe that Two-Face is the one who actually decides which side of the coin presents which option. In this moment, they have attempted to remove the choice, which he then rejects, though never in stated fashion. Additionally he knows that the true keeper of Arkham is not the various doctors or administrators, but Batman, therefore killing Batman man is essentially killing themselves, and it would be a mercy to Batman. Rather he now assigns the scarred face to life so that Batman must ever endure the affliction of the inhabitants of Gotham with no peace or release. By losing this toss, Batman is doomed to life shackled to Arkham.

[@Hersendood]

It honestly seems like an ego thing. The art is in my opinion actually incredible and unique. But! If the artist thinks changes could make it better they should’ve discussed it rather than just push it through. Writer are writers for a reason. Great video, thank you! The comment on the sex-magic guy made me laugh. Take care!

[@myuniversecomics]

Your channel is so unrated keep up the good work this video is amazing. I love the art from this story and how they depict the Joker and Batman.

[@RobocopStealerOfFridges]

I was honestly surprised to see that you have only one video up on the channel. For a first timer, this is REALLY well made.

[@MrPooleish]

Arkham Asylum was published the same year I was born, but I first saw it in a public library in their Comic Books section. I was ten at the time, but I read every Batman comic I could get my hands on. Not sure if that was a good thing or not.

[@VoiceInTheDarkness]

Usually an author of a story should be able to have it's visual representation reflect how he sees the story in his own mind. Having said this, and despite the conflict between the author and illustraor, this piece became much more than the sum of it's parts. For this moment in time, its presentation is superb and, I believe, presents the story to its best effect. I had not seen this comic until viewing this video, and I am very glad that I found it and watched. Thank you for this great presentation!

[@thelaborpeasant]

Ruth Adams is also a nod to the Ruth Adams from the classic movie This Island Earth where Ruth acts as a kind of double agent, aiding the protagonist Cal while working both with and against the aliens searching for the best ultimate outcome

[@rustyshackelford4224]

Thanks for the reference

[@Inervals]

this channel deserves so much more attention

[@skin_lizard]

Incredibly underrated video woah

[@davidkosach3095]

Honestly the 60’s Batman along with the 89 Batman each served a different purpose. Which it needed to become more than a comic book for kids. Both these Batman characters are perfect examples of a Batman character who can change with the times, while being true to his roots, while capturing the imagination of people of all ages, of all backgrounds and from all types of interests of the humans unlimited mind of possibilities…..

[@numa_kai]

i bought this comic when BvS movie came out. To me, its special, because I have never seen such a unique medium and it blew my mind at the time and to this day, i dont see anything coming close to it in comparison

[@thomasfowkes4596]

"If it's the scarred face, he dies here." Not "now," but "here." Batman is going to die in Arkham. Maybe not that day, but that's where he's destined to end up.