I just picked this comic up, Batman Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean, and realized this had to be a big influence on the story of the game Batman: Arkham Asylum because it has a very similar idea. The Joker takes over Arkham Asylum and draws Batman into it to be tormented by a variety of classic Batman villains. As Batman fights his way through the Asylum, he has to confront his most painful memory, that of the death of his parents.
The comic has a very surreal art style that combines photography and painting by Dave McKean. The whole feeling of the comic reminds me of the Scarecrow sequence in the game where Batman is forced, by Scarecrows drugs, to relive the moment of his parents death.
I really loved the story in the game written by Paul Dini, who wrote episodes of the now classic Batman: The Animated Series from the early 90s and many other projects. He had to have been thinking of this 1989 comic when writing the script for the game.
Only Batman graphic novel I have is Batman Noel, but I want more. This sounds like a good one to get along with others, and that way I can read the story even though I'm unable to play the game. Cool post.
I reread the story for the game the other night and there are some significant differences but the basic premise of putting Batman in the asylum and having him face a variety of classic foes is the same. A great idea for a game.
i love this story. I think that this story is whstart realized how awesome Dave mckean's artwork really is.
His art is very different from the traditional comic book drawing and inking. I think I first noticed him in reading Neil Gaiman's Sandman series where he did covers.
A friend of mine collects different Batman graphic novels and lends them to me, and I read this a few years ago. You're right about the art style, It's pretty out there but totally works, and the story by Grant Morrison is top notch.
In this 15th anniversary edition, there is included the complete script plus notes by Grant Morrison. He sites a ton of references to Alice in Wonderland and many other influences. His notes are really interesting. Also, reading the script helped me understand what Joker was saying in the comic since his text is written in a drippy blood font and hard to read.
I love Grant Morrison, but I'm not crazy about this one. I wish it was longer, and took its time with the story a little. Still, it's pretty damn awesome.
I agree. It whips through Batman's battles with the different villains a little too quickly.
I had this signed a couple years ago by both Grant and Dave, great people.
I bought this with my older Brother, he gave me ten ponds in a comics fair to spend back in the 90s and when i saw the Hardcover of AA i wanted, it was my first Graphic Novel I ever bought. Years later I discovered it was a First Print 
Nice. What a treasure that must be.
It really is :)
that is sweet
I have to get that. I want that one and the one I saw for Arkham City,too. Plus I want to get The Killing Joke as a hardcover. Saw that at the same store. Great artwork on a true classic.
I've read this or Arkham City on the psp comic "program" I absolutely loved it. I've seen the Arkham City collection but it's too expensive now. I'll have to go back and check out Asylum.
There's been a bunch of comics with the Arkham Asylum title. I think I have three comics called Arkham Asylum: something something now.