Batman: Arkham Asylum New Edition

Wonderfully illustrated in brutal exaggeration. Grant weaves a more cerebral Batman story brimming with darkness and introspection with an art style equal to the task. One of my favorite Batman stories.

A most read for any serious Batman fan, grant Morrison is a master storyteller and this is one of his best plus the art is just timeless.

I had a better review that was rejected by the dominant "culture". Basically, you have to appreciate the work as a product of its time and culture, art and 'flavor' influential to 90s art/music (NIN/Tool), and subtext absorbed the Crowley/Jung semiotic symbolism of the late 80s early 90s. This comic represents a change in the tide of comic culture, heralded by Watchmen and Dark Knight. Maybe you have do a bit of work before you read it , but well worth it.Why my first, more detailed review was rejected is a mystery (Edward Nygma) to me.I also could have done without the poetry.

I JUST BOUGHT "ARKHAM ASYLUM" ALONG W/ "THE LONG HALLOWEEN". I READ THE ARKHAM ASYLUM AND THOUGHT....WOW....THIS IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER BATMAN STORIES I'VE READ. FIRST OFF, BATMAN IS SHOWN TO BE VERY VULNERABLE AND HUMAN. HE IS STILL DARK BUT THERE IS STILL A BIT OF SELF-DOUBT IN HIM, I.E. "IT WILL BE LIKE COMING HOME", AS HE RELUCTANTLY DECIDES TO COMPLY W/ THE DEMANDS OF THE INMATES. SECOND, THE JOKER IS AT HIS DEVILISH BEST, HIS DEMENTIA FULL ON MATCHES HIS APPEARANCE. HE DOESN'T EVEN LOOK HUMAN ANYMORE, ADD TO THAT HE REALLY KNOWS WHAT BUTTONS TO PUSH ON BATMAN. AND FINALLY, THE JOURNAL OF AMADEUS ARKHAM. IT WAS A BIT CONFUSING AS TO HOW GRANT MORRISON KEEPS FOCUSING IN THE PAST AND IN THE PRESENT WHILE BATMAN IS RUNNING THE GAUNTLET AND AMADEUS' JOURNAL REMINISCES ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASYLUM. BUT READ IT CAREFULLY AND THAT CONFUSION WILL FIX ITSELF. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS THE ART WORK, KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS BOOK IS FULLY PAINTED...BUT ALEX ROSS STYLE IT'S NOT. MCKEAN'S WORK IN THIS BOOK PREFECTLY COMPLEMENTS THE STORY, IT IS DARK, GRAPHIC AND SOMETIMES GETS CONFUSING. BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT TOTALLY COMPLEMENTS THE ALMOST SUPERNATURAL STORY. BE AWARE THAT THIS IS NOT RUN OF THE MILL PUNCH AND SLASH COMIC BOOK STORIES, THE VIOLENCE IS THERE AND IS MOSTLY CONVEYED THROUGH MORRISON'S WORDS BUT THIS VIOLENCE IS MUCH DISTURBING THAN THE VIOLENCE CONVEYED IN THE REGULAR SERIES. THE STORY IS GOOD AND MOST WILL ENJOY IT BUT IT FALLS SHORT AND KIND OF FALLS APART AT THE END (BATMAN'S ESCAPE FROM ARKHAM ASYLUM). IT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED A LITTLE MORE TO GIVE A FULLY COMPREHENSIVE COMPLETION. BUT DESPITE ALL THAT THIS BOOK IS HIGLY RECOMMENDED AND HOPEFULLY THE OTHER READERS WILL ENJOY IT AS WELL.

This was for a gift and he loved it

Great book came in great condition

Art was the main thing I noticed at once, very abstract I think is the right word and if your looking for that usual batman story with great scenes and fights and all that it's just so different from anything I've seen in a Batman comic before. Story was a little hard to follow and stay with but I guess in ways that's supposed to be the case as you go on this journey. The whole "narrator" thing was nice but thought it could have been better. Just again very different, that doesn't mean IN MY MIND, that it's great cause you can't understand or horrible cause of that either. I will read it again, at another time and maybe I'll pick up more or see more that I missed this time I around. Give it a chance but be ready for a very different dark knight tale.

Prepare to not sleep for a few days. Creepy AF!!! Great artwork! A Grant Morrison classic!