Dan Slott, whose name I associate with DC's titles for younger readers, certainly took me by surprise here, delivering a riveting and darkly suspenseful story that's anchored by not one but two strong character studies. Slott's not the only creator with a surprise up his sleeve, either. Ryan Sook breaks out of his usual Mignola-esque mode and delivers some sleek -- and even sometimes sexy -- artwork, drenched in colors that really capture the creepy setting.
Warren White's a slick dealmaker, so slick, in fact, that he's managed to avoid a conviction for stock fraud thanks to an insanity defence. The plan blows up in his face, though, when an irate judge remands him into the custody of the Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The white-collar criminal is suddenly immersed in insanity and violence. His only hope for release lies with Dr. Anne Carver, a resident therapist at the asylum who feels as much a prisoner of the institution as do her twisted, deranged patients.
Sook's always had a dark, gothic style, so he was an excellent choice as the person to bring Slott's story to life. While the influence of Mike (Hellboy) Mignola can still be found in his work here, it's not as prominent this time around. There's a new sleekness in his art that reminds one a little of Kevin Nowlan's style. Sook's Joker is particular creepy. I also like how Dr. Carver slowly transforms into a seductive figure. Loughridge's colors are what really bring an alien, unsettling atmosphere to the book. The asylum is bathed in unnatural greens and blues.
Warren White is the kind of guy you just have to hate. Being handsome and filthy rich isn't enough for him. He cheats to get richer and looks down on the rest of us with disdain. So it's a testament to the creators' success in bringing the horror of Arkham to life that the reader pities White not long after his arrival. We share his fear. I also enjoyed Slott's characterization as more of a prison, both in the way it operates and the way others -- specifically, the Batman -- view it as an ineffective, revolving-door measure in the justice system.
The most fascinating aspect of the book, though, is Dr. Carver. I love the notion that those working at the asylum bear the same stigma as those imprisoned there. Her frustration and desperation to escape is completely understandable. We empathize with Carver, and that's what makes the twist at the end of the book so powerful.
