Book Review: Arkham Asylum

If you believe that comic books are for kids, you need look further than this one, to change your opinion. Arkham Aslum is a classic film-noir, psychological thriller, disguised as a Batman comic.

The art work and the writing transport the unsuspecting reader into a nightmarish journey into the depths of the human mind. This is unlike any other Batman tale you have read or seen.

It features two parallel plots, one from the past and one in the present. The past plot is the pitiable tale of Arkam, a humanitarian doctor who must make peace with his destiny, one in which his loved ones have been taken away by the most vicious of killers.

The asylum, his former mansion is now dedicated to imprisoning the most twisted specimen in society is where the second plot begins. It is these twisted psychopaths who now control this dark and morbid place, holding the staff hostage within. Their demand is simple. They want Batman.

If you're guessing that this is a classic hostage situation, you would be mistaken. This is not a tale of how Batman saves the day for innocent victims, but a tale where the dark knight must face his own fears, his past and all the deep dark secrets that lay buried in it.

The usual suspects are in this tale too, the Joker, Two Face, Clay Face and Scarecrow, all dealing with their own insanity and trying to breakdown Batman and his resolve. It is a story, that also tries to go into the murky depths of the criminal mind and tries to explain how some of them think.

Arkam Asylum is violent and gory and would get an R or NC17 rating if one was to rate graphic novels. I was simply amazed, that it was not as long as I thought it was. The past and present intermingle at the end of the book, to create one of the best and unexpected endings I've read in any Batman comic.

Arkam Asylum is hailed as the most successful graphic novel of all time. This is for good reason. Grant Morrison's story-telling and Dave Maclean's splendid artwork make this a must for comic book lovers. This is the 15th aniversary edition of the book also features an afterword by the editor and the complete script and annotations from the author.

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Movie Review: The Dark Knight

It took the genius of Alan Moore and Frank Miller to retell the Batman folklore and transform it from a child's comic book to a literary graphic novel art form that even the intellectual could enjoy. It took the skills of director Christopher Nolan and a stellar cast of Christian Bale, the late Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman and Maggie Gyllenhaal to create a Batman closer to the one envisioned by Moore and Miller.

Batman fans know that the Joker is by far the most twisted and complicated among all of the caped crusader's villains. The Heath Ledger incarnation of this fiend is perhaps the greatest villain to ever make a presence on the movie screen. What made playing the Joker an intimidating task was that Ledger had big shoes to fill. Ledger had to create a Joker at least as fearful as the one Jack Nicholson created more than a decade ago.

Ledger's Joker is by far more psychotic and terrorizing than his Nicholson counterpart. Many predict a posthumous Academy award for his role. It is indeed a big loss to the movie world that Ledger would meet an untimely death after this role.

Christian Bale is easily the best Batman ever. Christian Bale brings out the dark character of the Batman and all the inner conflicts that the dark knight must endure much better than anyone else.

Director Nolan deserves special kudos for bringing so many of the Batman complexities on the screen. Though Batman the Beginning did not succeed at the Box office, critics hailed it as the only Batman movie that had got it right until then. This story focused on the Batman rather than his colorful villains like other movies had done before.

Undeterred by his prior setback, Nolan has brought forth this masterpiece that begins where the last Batman left off. This time Batman must meet his deadly nemesis who has struck an unholy alliance with the local mob in Gotham city.

Batman has his allies too. There is inspector Gordon, played extremely well by Gary Oldman and the new DA, Harvey Dent played by Aaron Eckhart. The paradox of Harvey Dent is one of the most complicated of all Batman sub-plots. I did not expect any director or actor to explore this character. Nolan has succeeded in doing this beyond my expectations. Eckhart brings a charm to Dent's character that I have not seen in any of the Batman comics.

Finally, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman true to their reputation add more luster to this Batman saga. I am the least bit surprised that this movie shattered all box office records with its $155 million opening. This movie is a must-see.

Do I now believe that Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns' will ever make it to the big screen? Most probably not! The whole idea of a seventy year old batman coming out from retirement to save Gotham does not look appropriate for Batman movie. But then, who knows? Maybe Nolan and Bale can work their magic again!

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Book Review: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

This is another classic from the one and only Frank Miller. If you've read Batman as a kid, this is unlike any other Batman tale you've read. This is the story of Batman in his twilight years. He (and his fans) must deal with the fact that he has aged. The gristled warror must face a nemeis big and strong and much younger than himself. He must then battle an old foe, the joker. This time he cannot rely on his strength alone. He must use his wits. The final chapter of this tale narrates Batman's row with one of his old friends.
This book alonhg with 'Watchmen' by Alan Moore breathed new life into the Graphic Novel genre. If you have not rwad comic in a while you must begin with this one. Watchmen is a good substitute.

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