The
final chapter in the epic series based on the video game Batman: Arkham City.
Volume One of Arkham Unhinged was an introduction into how and why the people
of Gotham created a town to house the vermin of Arkham Asylum. It also
explained why Batman and vigilante allies such as Catwoman were deemed enemies
of the “state.” Volume 2 gave the
backstory to many of the main players that Batman faces in the video game,
including the Mad Hatter, Penguin, and Harley Quinn. It’s this third volume
that offers a resolution to the storyline and includes an epilogue into what
transpires after the final credits of Arkham City roll.
I
thought the postscript which involves a final confrontation between the Dark
Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime was brilliantly crafted. I could honestly
see this as the last Joker story and be satisfied with it, should DC ever
decide to finalize the book on Batman’s greatest foe. If you’ve ever completed
Arkham City, then you know that the Joker bites the dust at game’s end.
However, this final chapter proves that the Joker is even more deadly when he’s
dead.
Volume
3 also includes a chapter on the backstory of Batman and Talia al Ghul. It
explores the doomed relationship between these two lovers. There’s also several
chapters that examine the Batman Family’s final assault on the social
experiment that is Arkham City. I enjoyed all of these parts very much with one
exception: the endings are all left open with the blurb “to be continued in the
Batman: Arkham City video game.” I think I would’ve been left much more disappointed
with this volume of Arkham Unhinged had the Joker/ Batman chapter not been
included at the end of this book. It at least offers some sort of resolution.
I
hate to see this series go. I though all three volumes were very good reads.
Maybe there will be another Arkham related video released soon which hopefully
lead to more great comic storytelling to look forward to. I’ve learned that
there is a collection of comics based on the Arkham City video game and hope to
make those a part of my collection real soon.
Worth
Consuming.
Rating:
8 out of 10 stars.
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