Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth | |
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![]() Cover of Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth. | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
Publication date | October 1989 |
Main character(s) | Batman Joker Amadeus Arkham Two-Face |
Creative team | |
Created by | Grant Morrison Dave McKean |
Written by | Grant Morrison |
Artist(s) | Dave McKean |
Letterer(s) | Gaspar Saladino |
Collected editions | |
Trade Paperback | ISBN 0930289560 |
Hardcover | ISBN 093028948X |
Trade Paperback (Warner Books) | ISBN 0446391891 |
Trade Paperback (Titan Books) | ISBN 1852862807 |
15th Anniversary Edition | ISBN 1401204244 |
25th Anniversary Edition | ISBN 1401251250 |
Absolute Edition | ISBN 1401294200 |
2020 Trade Paperback | ISBN 1779504330 |
Deluxe Edition | ISBN 1779513178 |
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (often shortened to Batman: Arkham Asylum) is a Batman graphic novel written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dave McKean. The story follows the vigilante Batman, who is called upon to quell a maddening riot taking place in the infamous Arkham Asylum, a psychiatric hospital housing the most dangerous supervillains in Gotham City. Inside, Batman confronts many of his enduring rogues gallery, such as the Joker, Two-Face, and Killer Croc. As Batman ventures deeper, he discovers the origin of how the asylum was established, the history of its founder Amadeus Arkham, and the supernatural and psychological mystery that has been haunting the mansion.
Upon its release, the graphic novel garnered commercial and wide critical acclaim and is considered by many to be one of the greatest Batman stories of all time, and one of the best works in Grant Morrison's career. Morrison's narrative and Dave McKean's artistic style were described as more mature, unique, psychologically-driven and horror-oriented take on the Batman mythos and the distinctiveness from other conventional superhero works.[1] The graphic novel would later become the definitive story of Arkham Asylum, a critical part of the Batman mythos. The critically acclaimed, similarly titled video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, the first game in the Batman: Arkham series, was partially influenced by the graphic novel.[2]