Friday, October 18, 2024

Book Review: Arkham Asylum: Madness

Sam Keith, Arkham Asylum: Madness. New York: DC Comics, 2010. ISBN: 9781401223373
 
Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: superheroes, villains, haunted asylum, art
Format: trade paperback
Source: UT Tyler Library. I had a note it was acquired via  a McNaughton plan. 

I picked this up this year, but I had a feeling I had read it before. I checked my Goodreads account, and sure enough, I had read it back in 2012, so it has been a while. For some reason, that review did not make it here, so I am posting it here now so I have it on the blog. What I wrote then still applies today, and I am still happy to have reread it. 

My 2012 review: 

First, what I need to say upfront: this is one of those books about peripheral characters in a series. It is the kind of story that you may or not like, and it is often a book just made to milk a franchise. With that out of the way, overall, it is a fairly good book, even though it does start very slow at first. However, once the pace picks up, it does hold on to you until the very end. In addition, the author does provide a pretty nice afterword with a dedication that is a bit of a twist. Worth a look for that.

The real strength in this book is the art. That is why I tagged it for my "art and photography" shelf as well as for my "graphic novels and comics shelf." Sure, there is a story in here: the story of one of the nurses working at Arkham Asylum, but you know the real interesting stuff are the inmates, and we do get a pretty good look at some of them. The nurse's story is kind of so-so. Now, the Joker as always steals the show and delivers a few twists and turns. However, as I said, the strength is really in the art and images of the book. The book is a pleasure to just look at and linger over. Definitely worth reading just for that. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

Qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenge: 


 

No comments: