Batman: Arkham Asylum Graphic Novel
I recently read Batman: Arkham Asylum written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by David McKean. I heard that the video game was based off this so I figured I'd give it a try and see how the original source material was. Well I have to say it was vastly different from what I was expecting and not the usual Batman takes down the villain in his typical kick ass manner. It became more of a psychoanalysis of the Dark Knight as he is locked in with the very people who he put there in the first place--and he doesn't necessarily disagree to their saying that he also belongs there with them.
The art is simply chaotic and erratic that it fits most accurately with the asylum type setting and the way McKean draws just has the reader soaking in every single page as they try to analyze what exactly they are looking at. I myself felt the grim dark setting suited it very well and some of the more anomalous scenes where you get a POV perspective just amazed me with how well McKean is able to captivate my imagination by using his art as a bridge to give me an idea of what he was trying to showcase.
As for the story itself I very much enjoyed the parallel between Batman's journey through the asylum and the tale of Amadeus Arkham and his venture into madness. You really feel his insanity and all the tragic events in his life that drove him towards it. Of course this is a lot darker and grim then what I have myself seen first hand during my exposure to abnormalities and insanity in my psychology classes (though my major focuses mostly on neurology) and the violence isn't held back whatsoever through the blood splattered pages.
As I read through from Batman's entrance into the asylum and his interactions with the many villains that he put in the place I understand what the author was trying to portray the difference between Batman and his many foes was their stance on their own dark secrets and troubled personalities. While Batman tends to suppress his demons deep within his conscious, the villains themselves let it all out and take over their characters.
I believe the Joker represents this the best when he tells Batman that they aren't the inmates since they are True to themselves while those in the outside world are the real inmates since they suppress their True nature and hide their real persona's--especially Batman who hides behind this masked identity. I really enjoyed this comic since it gave another side to Batman's story as you chip away at his strong held facet and being to see his fears.
This isn't your usual epic fight or emotional investing story but more of an intellectual breakdown of the self and psyche and definitely something I enjoyed since it expresses the consternation of the mind and parts that we rather not expose of ourselves and the brilliant analysis done by Morrison of the seemingly invincible Dark Knight really showcases that even the toughest of people are without insecurities and doubts. A truly fantastic tale that I'm surely going to put on my bookshelf.
The art is simply chaotic and erratic that it fits most accurately with the asylum type setting and the way McKean draws just has the reader soaking in every single page as they try to analyze what exactly they are looking at. I myself felt the grim dark setting suited it very well and some of the more anomalous scenes where you get a POV perspective just amazed me with how well McKean is able to captivate my imagination by using his art as a bridge to give me an idea of what he was trying to showcase.
As for the story itself I very much enjoyed the parallel between Batman's journey through the asylum and the tale of Amadeus Arkham and his venture into madness. You really feel his insanity and all the tragic events in his life that drove him towards it. Of course this is a lot darker and grim then what I have myself seen first hand during my exposure to abnormalities and insanity in my psychology classes (though my major focuses mostly on neurology) and the violence isn't held back whatsoever through the blood splattered pages.
As I read through from Batman's entrance into the asylum and his interactions with the many villains that he put in the place I understand what the author was trying to portray the difference between Batman and his many foes was their stance on their own dark secrets and troubled personalities. While Batman tends to suppress his demons deep within his conscious, the villains themselves let it all out and take over their characters.
I believe the Joker represents this the best when he tells Batman that they aren't the inmates since they are True to themselves while those in the outside world are the real inmates since they suppress their True nature and hide their real persona's--especially Batman who hides behind this masked identity. I really enjoyed this comic since it gave another side to Batman's story as you chip away at his strong held facet and being to see his fears.
This isn't your usual epic fight or emotional investing story but more of an intellectual breakdown of the self and psyche and definitely something I enjoyed since it expresses the consternation of the mind and parts that we rather not expose of ourselves and the brilliant analysis done by Morrison of the seemingly invincible Dark Knight really showcases that even the toughest of people are without insecurities and doubts. A truly fantastic tale that I'm surely going to put on my bookshelf.
