Supremely creepy, dark and visually arresting. I admit I checked it out at the library simply because Arkham was in the title; I thought it was a graphic rendering of a Lovecraft story, and was surprised to find I'd brought a Batman comic home. It was a fantastic read though; not at all what I expected from a "big name" comic hero. I tend to favor comics and graphic novels that don't have superheros in them, but I might have to re-think that stance. Batman as a flawed hero, conflicted and strange and dark, has been explored well in movies I think, but this was another great rendering of a man with serious problems and issues who somehow thrives in spite of, or because of, them. The artwork is amazing and feels multi-media and textural, and does a good job enhancing the dialogue and story. It was really just a great read; I would recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in comics. ( )

I found it falls into that classic comics trap: the story and the writing aren't as good as the artwork ( )

I would love to give this book a higher rating, but I quite frankly have no idea what's going on in it. Despite that, this helped form my idea of The Joker in my mind, this and The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns. I loved the hypothesis for his insanity, as off the cuff as it was. I enjoyed the look into Batman's psyche as well, ths book showed one of the few times where Batman is emotionally weakened. He gets better. ( )

Pitch-black Batman adventure. The standard by which other graphic novels measure themselves. Awesome artwork and twisted plotting. Definitely NOT for kids or adults with weak stomachs or mimsy tastes. Buy it! ( )

A dark Batman graphic novel from DC Comics. The inmates of Arkham Asylum have taken over the institution for the criminally insane and the Joker is threatening to blind one of the young female staff if Batman does not go and meet them inside. It is April 1st and they all want revenge on the man who put them in there, Batman.

The collection covers how the asylum came to being by the brilliant psychiatrist Amadeus Arkham. It was origianlly his ancestral home, but when his mentally ill mother kills herself he begin rennovations to turn into the asylum. It has a reputation for being cursed and the truth about Amedeus slowly comes out along with his journal revealing the truth behind the man.

Batman must face his own demons and possible madness to restore order and find out how the patients got free. A real look at the nature of madness and Batman's character. THere is a great line where the inmates want to remove his mask near the beginning and see who he really is to which the Joker replies that his real identity is in fact Batman. There are also some great scenes with Harvey Dent/Two Face and the nature of choice. The asylum is trying to open up his choices from the two sides of a coin to the 78 choices in a tarot deck.

Dak illustrations throughout. A disturbing and violent read, it stnads alone and you don't need to have much knowledge of Batman besides the basics. ( )