Arkham Asylum

{{Short description|Fictional psychiatric hospital in DC Comics}} {{About|the fictional psychiatric hospital|the video game|Batman: Arkham Asylum |the comic book|Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth|other uses}} {{All plot|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox fictional location | name = Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane | type = Forensic psychiatric hospital | image = Arkham Asylum Batman Vol 3 9.png | caption = Arkham Asylum in ''Batman'' (vol. 3) #9 (December 2016). Art by Mikel Janín. | alt_name = {{plainlist| * Arkham Asylum * Arkham State Hospital * Arkham Home for the Emotionally Troubled * Arkham Manor * Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane<ref name="Serious">{{Cite book|last=Morrison|first=Grant|title=Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth|title-link=Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth|date=October 1989|publisher=DC Comics|author-link=Grant Morrison}}</ref> }} | blank_label = Publisher | blank_data = DC Comics | first = ''Batman'' #258 (October 1974) | creator = Dennis O'Neil (writer) Irv Novick (artist) | genre = Superhero | people = Most of Batman's adversaries Hugo Strange Jeremiah Arkham Amadeus Arkham Aaron Cash | races = | locations = Gotham City }}

'''Arkham Asylum''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑr|k|ə|m}}) is a fictional psychiatric hospital appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in stories featuring Batman. It first appeared in ''Batman'' #258 (October 1974), written by Dennis O'Neil with art by Irv Novick. Located in Gotham City, the asylum houses patients who are criminally insane, as well as select prisoners with unusual medical requirements that are beyond a conventional prison's ability to accommodate. Its high-profile patients are often members of Batman's rogues gallery.

== History == Located in Gotham City, Arkham Asylum is where Batman's foes who are considered mentally ill are brought as patients (other foes are incarcerated at Blackgate Penitentiary). Although it has had numerous administrators, some comic books have featured Jeremiah Arkham. Inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft, and in particular his fictional city of Arkham, Massachusetts,<ref name="Unauthorised">{{cite book |title=Batman Unauthorized: Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City |first=Dennis |last=O'Neil |publisher=BenBella Books |year=2008 |page=[https://archive.org/details/batmanunauthoriz0000unse/page/111 111] |isbn=978-1-933771-30-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/batmanunauthoriz0000unse/page/111 }}</ref><ref name="Dark Age">{{cite book |title=The Dark Age: Grim, Great & Gimmicky Post-Modern Comics |first1=Mark |last1=Voger |first2=Kathy |last2=Voglesong |page=5 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |year=2006 |isbn=1-893905-53-5}}</ref> the asylum was introduced by Dennis O'Neil and Irv Novick and first appeared in ''Batman'' #258 (October 1974); much of its history was established by Len Wein during the 1980s.

Arkham Asylum has a poor security record and high recidivism rate, at least with regard to the high-profile cases—patients, such as the Joker, are frequently shown escaping at will—and those who are considered to no longer be mentally unwell and discharged tend to re-offend. Several of its staff are corrupt or insane.

Gotham criminals deemed "criminally insane" or "mentally unfit" by the court of law are sometimes treated at Williams Medical Center before being deemed dangerous enough to be sent to Arkham Asylum.<ref name=Laugh>{{Cite comic | writer= Brubaker, Ed |artist=Mahnke, Doug |colorist=Baron, David | letterer=Leigh, Rob |title=Batman: The Man Who Laughs| date=February 2005 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

== Origins == thumb|Arkham Asylum in ''Detective Comics'' (vol. 2) #14 (January 2013). Art by Jason Fabok. Serving as a Gotham City psychiatric hospital, Arkham Asylum has a long and brutal history, beginning when its own architect became mentally unwell and hacked his workers to death with an axe. He was convicted and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the same asylum he had been building.<ref name=Laugh /> The one-shot graphic novel ''Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth'' establishes that the asylum was named after Elizabeth Arkham, the mother of founder Amadeus Arkham. The original name of the asylum was "Arkham Hospital". Its dark history began in the early 1900s when Arkham's mother, having suffered from mental illness most of her life, committed suicide. However, it was later revealed that her son had actually euthanized her and repressed the memory. Amadeus then decided, as the sole heir to the Arkham estate, to remodel his family home to properly treat the mentally ill.

Prior to the period of the hospital's remodeling, Amadeus Arkham treated patients at the State Psychiatric Hospital in Metropolis, where he, his wife Constance, and his daughter Harriet had been living for quite some time. Upon his telling his family of his plans, they moved back to his family home to oversee the remodeling. While there, Amadeus Arkham received a call from the police notifying him that Martin Hawkins, a serial killer nicknamed "Mad Dog", had escaped from prison and sought his considered opinion on the murderer's state of mind. Shortly afterward, Amadeus Arkham returned to his home to find that Hawkins had raped Constance and Harriet before killing them. Despite these events, the Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane officially opened that November.

One of Arkham's first patients was Mad Dog, whom Amadeus Arkham insisted on treating personally. After treating Mad Dog for six months, Amadeus strapped him to an electroshock couch, then electrocuted him to death. In 1929, Amadeus was taken into a patient in his own asylum after he tried to kill his stockbroker in 1929, where he died.<ref name="Serious" />

== Publication history == [[File:Arkham Asylum (Batman -258 (October 1974)).jpg|thumb|Arkham Hospital in ''Batman'' #258 (October 1974). Art by Irv Novick.]]

In ''Batman'' #258, it is named as Arkham Hospital, although it is not clear what kind of hospital it is. Arkham Asylum first appeared in another Dennis O'Neil story the following year, but it was not until 1979 that Arkham Asylum completely replaced Arkham Hospital, and the occasional Arkham Sanitarium, as the institution's name.

Arkham Asylum has been demolished or destroyed several times in its history, including the ''Knightfall'' storyline. In the ''Arkham Reborn'' miniseries, Arkham Asylum was rebuilt and financed by Jeremiah Arkham.<ref name="Reborn">{{Cite comic |writer=Hine, David |artist=Haun, Jeremy |colorist=Kalisz, John |letterer=Cipriano, Sal |title=Arkham Reborn |issue=#1–3 |date=October–December 2009 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

== Staff == {{expand section|date=October 2015}} === Wardens === * Dr. Amadeus Arkham{{spaced ndash}}The founder of the asylum, Amadeus named the institution after his deceased mother Elizabeth.<ref name="Serious" /> * Dr. Jeremiah Arkham{{spaced ndash}}The nephew of Amadeus Arkham. Jeremiah was the head of the asylum until he became mentally unwell and assumed the mantle of Black Mask. * Quincy Sharp{{spaced ndash}}Sharp is the warden of Arkham Asylum in the ''Batman: Arkham'' series. He possesses a murderous split personality and devoted himself to "curing" Gotham City. * Dr. Hugo Strange{{spaced ndash}}A psychiatrist who later came to Gotham City after deducing the true identity of Batman. He later became chief psychiatrist of Arkham.

=== Corrections Officers === * Aaron Cash{{spaced ndash}}One of Arkham's most respected security guards. His hand was bitten off by Killer Croc<ref name="Hell4">{{cite comic |writer=Slott, Dan |penciller=Sook, Ryan |inker=Von Grawbadger, Wade |colorist=Loughridge, Lee |letterer=Heisler, Michael |title=Arkham Asylum: Living Hell |volume= |issue=#4 |story=Tic Toc |date=October 2003 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> and he sports a prosthetic hook in its place. Unlike many of his colleagues, Cash is neither mentally unwell nor corrupt and is a trusted ally of Batman. * Frank Boles{{spaced ndash}}A security guard who patrolled near the cell of Solomon Grundy. He was killed by the Emerald Empress.<ref>''Supergirl'' (vol. 7) #12</ref> * Lyle Bolton{{spaced ndash}}A former decorated Arkham guard who was so ruthless in how he handled inmates that he was later fired and became Lock-Up to continue his agenda.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dixon, Chuck (w) |first= |author-link=Chuck Dixon |title=Detective Comics #697 |last2=Graham, Nolan (p) |date=June 1996 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

=== Psychiatrists === * Dr. Achilles Milo{{spaced ndash}}He became the Administrator of Arkham Asylum for a time and tried to drive Batman mad after putting him into a straitjacket. He was later exposed to chemicals that drove him insane.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wein, Len (w) |first= |author-link=Len Wein |title=Batman #327 |last2=Novick, Irv (p) |date=September 1980 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Dr. Alyce Sinner{{spaced ndash}}Chosen by Jeremiah Arkham as his second-in-command and briefly committed under Arkham's orders. Sinner became head of the asylum after Arkham was revealed as Black Mask. She is secretly a member of Intergang's Church of Crime, working with Black Mask. * Dr. Anne Carver{{spaced ndash}}She was a psychiatrist who was murdered at the hands of Jane Doe. She stole her identity and took her role and hoped to extort Warren White out of millions and steal his identity.<ref>''Batman Arkham Asylum: Living Hell'' #1</ref> * Dr. Ant Carley{{spaced ndash}}He was a psychiatrist who was known for his dangerous testing with LSD and trying to get the patients to open their third eye. Carley was fired after a week due to his test being seen as unsafe. * Harleen Quinzel{{spaced ndash}}A former psychiatric intern who was seduced by the Joker and became his sidekick, Harley Quinn.<ref name="Mad Love">{{cite comic |date=February 1994 |title=Batman Adventures: Mad Love |publisher=DC Comics |writer=Dini, Paul |penciller=Timm, Bruce; Murakami, Glen |inker=Timm, Bruce |colorist=Timm, Bruce; Taylor, Rick |letterer=Harkins, Tim}}</ref> * Joan Leland{{spaced ndash}}Harleen's therapist and former colleague. She was created for ''Batman: The Animated Series''. *Jonathan Crane{{spaced ndash}} A former psychologist who performed fear-inducing experiments on his patients before becoming the supervillain Scarecrow. *Dr. Ruth Adams{{spaced ndash}} She was taken hostage after the patients of the facility, led by the Joker, took over in an attempt to get Batman to come to the Asylum. She attempted to cure Two-Face of his inability to make choices on his own by introducing him to other objects such as a six-sided die, and a tarot deck.<ref name="Serious" />

== Patients == Originally, Arkham Asylum was used only to house genuinely mentally ill patients having no connection to Batman, but over the course of the 1980s, a trend was established in having the majority of Batman's adversaries end up at Arkham.

Many characters who have been patients at Arkham Asylum are listed below. {{Columns-list|colwidth=30em| * Alberto Falcone<ref name="Halloween">{{Cite comic | writer = Loeb, Jeph | artist = Sale, Tim | editor = Kim, Chuck; Goodwin, Archie | letterer = Starkings, Richard | title = Batman: The Long Halloween |volume= | date = December 1996–December 1997 | publisher = DC Comics }}</ref> * Amadeus Arkham<ref name="Serious" /> * Amygdala<ref name="sb3">{{Cite comic | writer= Grant, Alan |artist=Greyfogle, Norm |colorist=Roy, Adrienne | letterer=Klein, Todd |title=Batman: Shadow of the Bat |story=The Last Arkham, Part III |volume=1 |issue=#3 | date=August 1992 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Baby-Doll<ref>{{cite book |last1= Dini |first1= Paul |last2= Cadigan |first2= Pat |date= November 2018 |title= Harley Quinn: Mad Love (A Batman Novel) |publisher= Titan Books |page=74 |isbn=978-1785658136}}</ref> * Black Mask * Blockbuster<ref name="bc21">{{Cite comic | writer = Nicieza, Fabian | artist = Maguire, Kevin | editor = Carlin, Mike; Palmer Jr, Tom | letterer = Cipriano, Sal | title = Batman Confidential | story= The Cat and the Bat |issue = #21 | date = November 2008 | publisher = DC Comics }}</ref> * Bane (DC Comics) * Catwoman * Calendar Man * Clayface (Basil Karlo, Matt Hagen, Preston Payne<ref name="Serious" /> & Sondra Fuller) * Cornelius Stirk * Crazy Quilt * Deadshot (shipped from Blackgate)<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = Ostrander, John; Yale, Kim | penciller = Snyder. John K | inker = Isherwood, Geof | colorist= Gafford, Carl | letterer = Klein, Todd | editor = Raspler, Dan | story = Armagetto | title = Suicide Squad | volume = | issue = #34 | date = October 1989 | publisher = DC Comics }}</ref> * Doctor Destiny<ref name="Serious" /><ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Conway, Gerry |penciller=Dillin, Dick |inker=McLaughlin, Frank |colorist=Serpe, Jerry | letterer=Oda, Ben |title=Justice League of America |story=But Can an Android Dream? |issue=#175 | date=February 1980 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Gaiman, Neil |penciller=Kieth, Sam |inker=James III, Malcolm |colorist=Busch, Robbie | letterer=Klein, Todd |title=The Sandman (vol. 2) |story=Passengers |issue=#5 | date=May 1989 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Doctor Double X * Doctor Phosphorus * Firefly * Great White Shark<ref name="Hell4" /> * Harley Quinn * Hugo Strange * Humpty Dumpty<ref name="Hell4" /> * Jane Doe<ref name="Hell4" /> * Jeremiah Arkham * Joker<ref name="Serious" /> * Joker's Daughter * Killer Croc<ref name="Serious" /> * King Tut * Lock-Up * Mad Hatter<ref name="Serious" /> * Magpie<ref name="Hell4" /> * March Harriet<ref>{{cite book |last1= Dini |first1= Paul |last2= Cadigan |first2= Pat |date= November 2018 |title= Harley Quinn: Mad Love (A Batman Novel) |publisher= Titan Books |page=72 |isbn=978-1785658136}}</ref> * Maxie Zeus<ref name="Serious" /> * Mr. Freeze * The Mortician<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = Hine, David | penciller = Haun, Jeremy | inker = Haun, Jeremy and Lucas, John | colorist = Baron, David | letterer = Klein, Todd | editor = Siglain, Michael | story = Batman:Beneath The Mask Part One | title= Detective Comics | issue = #864 | date = June 2010 | publisher= DC Comics }}</ref> * Music Meister * Nocturna<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = Daniel, Tony S. | artist= Daniel, Tony S. | colorist= Morey, Tomeu | letterer = Fletcher, Jared K. | editor = Marts, Mike; Richards, Harvey; Kubert, Katie | story = Night of the Owls: The Owls Take Arkham | title = Detective Comics Vol. 2 | issue = #9 | date = July 2012 | publisher = DC Comics }}</ref> * Poison Ivy * Professor Milo<ref name="Serious" /> * Professor Pyg<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = Morrison, Grant | artist= Quitely, Frank | colorist= Sinclair, Alex | letterer = Brosseau, Pat | editor = Marts, Mike | story = Mommy Made of Nails | title = Batman and Robin | issue = #3 | date = October 2009 | publisher = DC Comics }}</ref> * Prometheus * Ra's al Ghul (committed as "Terry Gene Kase")<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = Dini, Paul | artist= Nguyen, Dustin | coinkers = Fridolfs, Derek | colorist= Kalisz, John | letterer = Gentile, Randy | editor = Marts, Mike | story = The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul: Epilogue | title = Detective Comics | issue = #840 | date = March 2008 | publisher = DC Comics }}</ref> * Ratcatcher * Riddler * Scarecrow<ref name="Serious" /> * Signalman<ref name="bc21" /> * Tally Man<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = Robinson, James | penciller= Kramer, Don | inker = Faucer, Wayne | colorist= Kalisz, John | letterer = Lanham, Travis | editor = Thomasi, Peter | story = Face the Face | title = Batman | issue = #654 | date = August 2006 | publisher = DC Comics }}</ref> * Penguin * Ten-Eyed Man * Two-Face<ref name="Serious" /> * Vanity (Vera Klopis)<ref name="bldk205">{{Cite comic | writer = Gray, Justin | artist= Cummings, Steven | colorist= Sinclair, James | letterer = Lanham, Travis | editor = Cavalieri, Joey; Wright, Michael | story = The Madmen of Gotham | title = Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight | volume = | issue = #205 | date = July 2006 | publisher = DC Comics }}</ref> * Ventriloquist * Victor Zsasz *Vox<ref name="baatm1">{{Cite comic |writer=Grant, Alan |penciller=Taylor, Dave |inker=Sienkiewicz, Bill |colorist=Hansen, Bjarne |letterer= Oakley, Bill |title=Batman: Arkham Asylum – Tales of Madness |story=Democratic Conventions |issue=#1 |date=May 1998 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> *Witch (Samantha Voz)<ref name="baatm1">{{Cite comic |writer=Grant, Alan |penciller=Taylor, Dave |inker=Sienkiewicz, Bill |colorist=Hansen, Bjarne |letterer= Oakley, Bill |title=Batman: Arkham Asylum – Tales of Madness |story=Democratic Conventions |issue=#1 |date=May 1998 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> }}

=== Others === {{Columns-list|colwidth=30em| * Adam Strange (only in the ''DC: New Frontier'' version of the DC Universe)<ref>{{Cite comic | cartoonist=Cooke, Darwin | colorist=Stewart, Dave | letterer=Fletcher, Jared K | editor= Chiarello, Mark; d'Orazio, Valerie | title=DC: The New Frontier | volume=1 | date=March–November 2004 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Ambush Bug<ref>{{Cite comic | writer=Kupperberg, Paul | penciller=Saviuk, Alex | inker=Hunt, Dave | colorist=D'Angelo, Gene | letterer=Oda, Ben | editor=Schwartz, Julius |story = Meet John Doe! |title=Action Comics |volume= |issue=#560 |date=October 1984 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Brainwave<ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Goyer, David S; Johns, Geoff |penciller=Saltares, Javier |inker=Kryssing, Ray |colorist=Kalisz, John | letterer=Lopez, Ken | editor= Thomasi, Peter | title=JSA: Secret Files |issue=#2 | volume=1 | date=September 2001 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Cheetah (Barbara Ann Minerva)<ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Pérez, George |penciller=Marrinan, Chris |inker=Montano, Steve |colorist=Gafford, Carl | letterer=Mas, Augustin | editor= Young, Art; Berger, Karen | title=Wonder Woman |Story=Journey's End |issue=#35 | volume=2 | date=October 1989 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Condiment King<ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Dixon, Chuck |penciller=Noto, Phil; Martin, Marcos |inker=Noto, Phil; Lopez, Alvaro |colorist=Wildstorm FX | letterer=De Guzman, Albert | editor= Idelson, Matt | title=Birds of Prey |story=Red, Black and Blue |issue=#37 | date=January 2002 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Doug Moench & Norm Breyfogle{{refn|Moench and Breyfogle were the writer and artist, respectively, of ''Batman'' #492, which started the ''Knightfall'' storyline; they can be seen on a list of escaped Arkham inmates on the Batcave computer.<ref name="B492">{{Cite comic | writer = Moench, Doug | artist = Breyfogle, Norm | colorist = Roy, Adrienne | story = Crossed Eyes and Dotty Teas | title = Batman | issue = #492 | date = May 1993 | publisher = DC Comics }}</ref>|group="nb"}} * Dummy<ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Kunkel, Bill |artist=Morrow, Gray |colorist=Serpe, Jerry | letterer=Oda, Ben |title=The World's Finest |story=Deathmaze |issue=#247 | date=November 1977 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Defenestrator<ref>{{Cite comic | writer=Ennis, Garth |penciller=McCrea, John |inker=McCrea, John |colorist=Feeny, Carla, Age, Heroic | letterer=Schubert, Willie |title=Hitman (DC Comics) |story=Ace Of Killers, Part 4 |volume=1 |issue=#18 | date=September 1997 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Egghead<ref name="sb4">{{Cite comic | writer= Grant, Alan |artist=Greyfogle, Norm |colorist=Roy, Adrienne | letterer=Klein, Todd |title=Batman: Shadow of the Bat |story=The Last Arkham, Part IV |volume= |issue=#4 | date=September 1992 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Floronic Man<ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Moore, Alan |penciller=Veitch, Rick |inker=Alcada, Alfredo |colorist=Wood, Tatjana | letterer=Costanza, John |title=Swamp Thing |story=Natural Consequences |volume=2 |issue=#52 | date=September 1986 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Jean Loring<ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Meltzer, Brad |penciller=Morales, Rags |inker=Bair, Michael |colorist=Sinclair, Alex | letterer=Lopez, Ken |title=Identity Crisis |story=Chapter Seven: The Hero's Life |issue=#7 | date=February 2005 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Key<ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Harras, Bob |penciller=Derenick, Bob |inker=Green, Dan |colorist=Baron, David | letterer=Fletcher, Jared K |title=JLA |story=Requiem for a League |issue=#120 | date=December 2005 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Kobra<ref>{{Cite comic | writer= Ostrander, John |penciller=Snyder, John K |inker=Isherwood, Geof |colorist=Gafford, Carl | letterer=Klein, Todd |title=Suicide Squad |story=Into the Angry Planet |issue=#33 | date=September 1989 | publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Nightwing (committed as "Pierrot Lunaire")<ref>{{Cite comic |writer=Morrison, Grant |penciller=Daniel, Tony |inker= Florea, Sandu |colorist= Major, Guy |letterer= Gentile, Randy |editor=Marts, Mike |title=Batman |story=Batman R.I.P: Zur En Arrh |issue=#678 |date= August 2008 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Professor Ivo<ref>{{Cite comic |writer=Burkett, Cary |penciller=Bender, Howard |inker= Giordana, Dick |colorist=Tollin, Anthony |letterer= Costanza, John |title=Justice League of America |story=The Price of Humanity? |issue=#218 |date=September 1983 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Psycho-Pirate<ref>{{Cite comic |writer=Wolfman, Marv |penciller=Pérez, George |inker=Ordway, Jerry |colorist=Tollin, Anthony |letterer= Costanza, John |title=Crisis on Infinite Earths |issue=#5 |date=August 1985 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Resurrection Man<ref>''Resurrection Man'' (vol. 2) #6</ref> * Toyman<ref>{{Cite comic |writer=Johns, Geoff |artist=Merino, Jesus |colorist=Hi-Fi Design |letterer=Leigh, Rob |title=Action Comics |story=The Terrible Toyman |issue=#865 |date=July 2008 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> * Zatanna<ref>{{Cite comic |writer=Diaz, Ruben; Smith, Sean |penciller=Saiz, Jesus |inker=Champagne, Keith |colorist=Wright, Gregory |letterer= Oakley, Bill |editor=Raspler, Dan |title=JLA: Black Baptism |story=Trials in Darkness |issue=#2 |date=June 2001 |publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> }}

== Graphic novels featuring Arkham Asylum ==

=== ''Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth'' === {{Main|Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth}}

''Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth'' is a graphic novel written by Grant Morrison and painted by Dave McKean. It was published by DC in 1989. It made reference to the treatment of several of the patients, such as the attempt to wean Two-Face away from dependence on his coin for decision making, first with a die and then a deck of cards. It once again portrays the asylum as having been taken over by its patients.

''A Serious House on Serious Earth'' has been critically acclaimed, having been called "one of the finest superhero books to ever grace a bookshelf."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/626/626657p1.html |title=Batman: Arkham Asylum Review |author= Hilary Goldstein |work= IGN |date=17 June 2005 |access-date=11 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615071659/http://comics.ign.com/articles/626/626657p1.html| archive-date= 15 June 2011 | url-status= dead }}</ref> IGN ranked it as number four in a list of the 25 greatest Batman graphic novels, behind ''The Killing Joke'', ''The Dark Knight Returns'', and ''Year One'',<ref name="Top25">{{cite web |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html |title= The 25 Greatest Batman Graphic Novels |author= Hilary Goldstein |work=IGN |date=13 June 2005 |access-date=11 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615070336/http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html| archive-date= 15 June 2011 | url-status= dead }}</ref> whilst Forbidden Planet named it number eight in their "50 Best of the Best Graphic Novels" list.<ref name="FPlanet">{{cite web| url=http://forbiddenplanet.com/picks/50-best-graphic-novels/ |title=50 Best Of The Best Graphic Novels |publisher=Forbidden Planet |access-date=11 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110609212056/http://forbiddenplanet.com/picks/50-best-graphic-novels/| archive-date= 9 June 2011 | url-status= dead }}</ref>

upright|thumb|Batman's rogues at Arkham Asylum. Cover art of ''Batman: Shadow of the Bat'' #81 (September 1998 DC Comics). Art by Glen Orbik.

=== ''Batman: The Last Arkham'' === {{Main|Batman: The Last Arkham}}

''Batman: The Last Arkham'' was written by Alan Grant; pencils by Norm Breyfogle, originally a four-issue storyline that kicked off the ''Batman: Shadow of the Bat'' series. In it, the old Arkham Asylum is destroyed, to be replaced by a new and more modern facility. The story introduces Jeremiah Arkham, the asylum's director and nephew of Amadeus Arkham. In an attempt to discover how criminals, specifically Zsasz, keep escaping, Batman has himself committed to the asylum. Jeremiah uses various methods, such as unleashing many patients on Batman at once, in an attempt to gain psychological insight on the vigilante.

This story makes a few passing references to the events of ''A Serious House on Serious Earth'', such as Amadeus Arkham taping over the mirror, and his journal is shown early in the story. Jeremiah also mentions his relative's descent into mental illness.

=== ''Arkham Asylum: Living Hell'' === ''Arkham Asylum: Living Hell'' was written by Dan Slott, penciled by Ryan Sook with inks by Sook, Wade Von Grawbadger and Jim Royal. The series was edited by Valerie D'Orazio. Eric Powell created the painted cover art which appeared on both the original series and graphic novel compilation.

This six-issue miniseries and the subsequent trade paperback provided an intricate and multi-layered look at Arkham Asylum from several points of view: director Jeremiah Arkham; psychiatrist Dr. Anne Carver; the guards, chiefly Aaron Cash; and the patients. There is a particular focus on previously unknown residents: Jane Doe, a cypher who assumes the identities of those she kills; Junkyard Dog, a man obsessed with trash; Doodlebug, an artist who uses blood in his paintings; the hulking bruiser Lunkhead; Death Rattle, a cult leader who speaks to the dead; and Humpty Dumpty, a savant obsessed with taking apart and repairing various objects. The driving force is the recent admission of a ruthless investor, Warren White, as well as the demonic element suggested by the title. White, facing charges of massive fraud, pleads insanity to avoid being sent to prison, knowing he can bribe a Gotham jury. The judge sees through White's attempt to avoid prison and has White admitted to Arkham, which White himself had never even heard of up until that point. He soon realizes the horrors of the place and tries to survive. Ultimately, White is locked in Mr. Freeze's cell and loses his nose and his lips to frostbite. The demonic threat is nullified after the sacrifice of several patients, thanks to the joint effort of Etrigan the Demon and White tricking the demons into sending themselves back to the Underworld.

=== ''Black Orchid'' === ''Black Orchid'', written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean, also featured Arkham Asylum. The award-winning graphic novel introduced an updated version of the crimefighter Black Orchid, who dies, is reborn and starts a quest to find her identity. During this she encounters Batman, who directs her to Arkham Asylum, where she meets the Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, Two-Face and the Joker. Arkham is viewed as a desperate place where patients dwell in terror, much in the same fashion as in ''A Serious House on Serious Earth'', which was also illustrated by McKean.

=== ''Arkham Reborn'' === ''Arkham Reborn'' is a three-part miniseries written by David Hine and illustrated by Jeremy Haun. It tells the story of the rebuilding of the Asylum after having been destroyed by Black Mask during the events of "Battle for the Cowl".

In ''Batman'' #697, it is revealed that Dr. Jeremiah Arkham is the new Black Mask. More is revealed about Dr. Jeremiah Arkham in ''Detective Comics'' #864 and #865.

=== ''Batman: The Man Who Laughs'' === {{Main|Batman: The Man Who Laughs}}

''The Man Who Laughs'' is a one-shot prestige format comic book written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Doug Mahnke and Patrick Zircher, released in February 2005. The comic reveals some of the asylum's dark history. As a reporter reports on the asylum's renovation, the Joker poisons her and the crew, stealing the news van to broadcast whenever he wants. He later releases criminally insane patients at Williams Medical Center, who, in a short number of weeks, would have been transferred to Arkham Asylum. In the end, Joker is defeated and he himself is locked behind bars, in a straitjacket at Arkham.

{{anchor|Made of Wood}} The graphic novel was reprinted with ''Detective Comics'' #784-786–a storyline entitled "Made of Wood," also written by Brubaker with art by Zircher. In the storyline, Batman and Green Lantern track the "Made of Wood" serial killer, whose killing spree was cut short when he was admitted to Arkham Asylum. Ex-Commissioner James Gordon is also pursuing the killer and he narrows the search down to the two men admitted to Arkham in December 1948, the only living one hardly able to walk and ignorant of the killings. Gordon reaches the grandson of the other, who has taken up the "Made of Wood" killer's mantle.

== Other versions == * An alternate future version of Arkham Asylum appears in ''The Dark Knight Returns''. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''JLA: The Nail'', where it is destroyed during a battle between Batman and the Joker. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman: Crimson Mist'', where a vampiric Batman kills most of its inmates.

== In other media == === Television === ==== Live-action ====

* Arkham Asylum appears in ''Birds of Prey''. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Gotham''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vejvoda |first=Jim |date=July 21, 2014 |title=''Gotham'' Showrunner: Professor Hugo Strange and How Arkham Asylum Came to Be Part of Season One |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/21/gotham-showrunner-professor-hugo-strange-and-how-arkham-asylum-came-to-be-part-of-season-one |access-date=July 21, 2014 |work=IGN}}</ref> * Arkham Asylum appears in television series set in the Arrowverse. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Titans.'' * Arkham Asylum appears in ''The Sandman''. This version is located in Buffalo, New York. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''The Penguin''.

==== Animation ==== {{multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | header = | width = 200 | image1 = Batman Arkham Asylum Television Credits.jpg | caption1 = Arkham Asylum as it appeared on ''Batman: The Animated Series'' and ''The New Batman Adventures'' | image2 = Image-Arkham 10.PNG | caption2 = The alternate Arkham Asylum as it appeared in ''Justice League'' }} * Arkham Asylum appears in the DC Animated Universe series ''Batman: The Animated Series''. An alternate universe version of the Arkham Asylum overseen by the Justice Lords appears in the ''Justice League'' episode "A Better World". * Arkham Asylum appears in ''The Batman'' (2004). * Arkham Asylum appears in the ''Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' episode "Mayhem of the Music Meister!". * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Harley Quinn''. * Arkham Asylum appears in the ''Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?'' episode "What a Night, For a Dark Knight!". * Arkham Asylum appears in the ''DC Super Hero Girls'' episode "#NightmareInGotham".

=== Films === ==== Live-action ====

* Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman Forever'' and ''Batman & Robin''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=David |date=2021-12-30 |title=Batman Forever: Every Deleted Scene & Why They Were Cut |url=https://screenrant.com/batman-forever-deleted-cut-scenes/ |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McNeill |first1=Dustin |title=Review: Batman & Robin (US - DVD R1) |url=http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/batman-and-robin.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119185341/http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/batman-and-robin.html |archive-date=Jan 19, 2012 |access-date=2010-12-30 |publisher=DVDActive}}</ref>

* Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman Begins'', portrayed by the National Institute for Medical Research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/606532.0/?utag=8269|title=From leafy suburbs to silver screen|website=Times Series |first1=Alex |last1=Kasriel |date=16 June 2005 }}</ref> * Arkham Asylum appears in films set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ayer |first1=David |date=Mar 27, 2015 |title=Set dec. Every detail matters #SuicideSquad |url=https://twitter.com/DavidAyerMovies/status/581602129615405056 |website=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Begley |first=Chris |date=January 4, 2017 |title=Lex Luthor in 'Justice League' means we're taking a trip to Arkham Asylum |url=http://batman-news.com/2017/01/04/lex-luthor-justice-league-arkham-asylum/ |publisher=Batman on Film}}</ref> * Arkham Asylum, renamed '''Arkham State Hospital''', appears in ''Joker'' and ''Joker: Folie à Deux''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://screenrant.com/joker-joaquin-phoenix-arkham-asylum-theory/ | title=Joker Theory: Arthur Never Left Arkham Asylum (The Movie is His Fantasy) | website=Screen Rant | date=16 December 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Ben |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Joker Won't Be Gotham's Clown Prince Of Crime In Folie À Deux: 'Arthur's Not A Criminal Mastermind' |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/joker-wont-be-gotham-clown-prince-of-crime-in-folie-a-deux-exclusive/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726144006/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/joker-wont-be-gotham-clown-prince-of-crime-in-folie-a-deux-exclusive/ |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=Empire }}</ref>

* Arkham Asylum appears in ''The Batman'' (2022).

==== Animation ==== * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker''. * Arkham Asylum appears in the ''Batman: Gotham Knight'' segment "Crossfire". * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman: Assault on Arkham''. * Arkham Asylum appears in the ''Batman: Unlimited'' film series. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''The Lego Batman Movie''. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold''. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Justice League vs. the Fatal Five''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vilas-Boas |first=Eric |date=April 1, 2019 |title=''Justice League Vs. The Fatal Five'' is A Love Letter To The Classic ''Justice League Unlimited'' Cartoon |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/565368/justice-league-vs-the-fatal-five-review/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |website=SlashFilm |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Video games === * Arkham Asylum appears as a stage in the ''Batman Forever'' tie-in game. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman: Toxic Chill''. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu''. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman: Dark Tomorrow''. * Arkham Asylum appears in the ''Batman Begins'' tie-in game. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''DC Universe Online''. * Arkham Asylum appears in the ''Lego Batman'' series and ''Lego DC Super-Villains''. * Arkham Asylum appears in the ''Batman: Arkham'' series. This version is an island-based prison akin to Alcatraz. After Arkham is badly damaged during the events of the first game, its prisoners are moved to the mainland and placed in Arkham City, a massive prison-city. * Arkham Asylum appears as a stage in the ''Injustice'' series. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Batman: The Telltale Series''. * Arkham Asylum appears in ''Gotham Knights''. This version is a mansion that was later converted into a hospital. Years prior to the game's events, Arkham was condemned due to structural integrity flaws and its inmates were transferred to Blackgate Penitentiary.

== See also == * Blackgate Penitentiary – a correctional facility located near Blackgate Prison in Gotham City, used to retain custody of non-metahuman supervillains such as crime lords and mob bosses. * Iron Heights Penitentiary – a maximum-security prison in the DC Universe in a vein similar to Arkham, used to house deranged criminals operating in Keystone City and Central City. * Stryker's Island – another penitentiary in the DC Universe similar to Arkham located in Metropolis * Ravencroft – a similar institute for the mentally insane used to house various supervillains in the Marvel Universe, typically appearing in stories associated with the character Spider-Man.

== Notes == <references group="nb" />

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110302220120/http://arkhamcare.com/ Arkham Care] * [http://www.batman-on-film.com/comics_arkham-asylum_review_jett_2007.html Batman-On-Film.com] BOF's review of Arkham Asylum, A Serious House on a Serious Earth * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090629085913/http://www.batmanarkhamasylum.com/ Official Videogame Website]

Category:Arkham Asylum Category:Batman Category:DC Comics locations Category:Fictional story elements introduced in 1974 Category:Fictional buildings and structures originating in comic books Category:Fictional hospitals Category:Fictional prisons Category:Gotham City Category:Psychiatric hospitals in fiction Category:Psychiatry in the United States in fiction