Behind Arkham.

Hey again. Hope you lot have been ok. I’m dusting off the week long cobwebs for yet another review and it’s going to be another Bat-related post.

It’s fair to say that Arkham Asylum did wonders for Batman. The game was released off the back of the Dark Knight. I’m pretty sure there was confusion amongst fans whether it would be an adaptation of the graphic novel by Grant Morrison and Dave Mc Kean but because of the success, it also made DC re-release the book, and not only that DC comic's parent company, Warner Bros bought the company, Rocksteady Studios who created the game. The design of the caped crusader’s costume in AA has also influenced the new look of Batman as part of DC’s new 52 line.

When I first played Batman AA, I was amazed how faithful the game was to the character, not to mention how frustrated I got during the challenges. I really think the Rocksteady developers really delved deep into the Dark Knight unlike the 89 game slash based on the Tim Burton film which was truly terrible.

With Batman Arkham City which was being released today on various consoles, I decided to fork out the cash on the tie in graphic novel. It’s by the same team who were behind the Arkham Asylum game, Paul Dini and artist Carlos D’Anda. It’s a collection of the mini-series which came out a few months ago and now it’s out to co-incide the game’s release.

The game offers gamers a new concept, what if Gotham’s most notorious criminal had their own city? Arhkam City is cut off from the rest of the city and it allows criminals to run amok, criminals like Two Face and the Penguin are soon fighting for turf. Batman ends up incarcerated within the city and has to deal with Dr Hugo Strange, the brains behind Arkham City.

I don’t buy many comics based on games but because it’s not my thing but as it’s Batman, I decided to give it a go. Writer Dini and artist D’Anda are there to make sure there’s a good transition for fans who are going to buy Arkham City. Dini’s storyline is basically a simple primer; the tale is focusing on events after the last game and Batman investigation into who’s behind Arkham City.

The book’s also got the exclusive digital chapters which were drawn by various artists. One tale that sticks out like a sore thumb is the introduction of the Arkham City Robin who is highly reminiscent of Chris O’Donnell’s boy wonder.

I’m quite glad that DC managed to grab D’Anda on the book. It’s tailor made for a book like this and I bought the AA guidebook for his illustrations alone and help on some of the challenges I got stuck on.

Now if you’re wondering if I’m going to get the follow up. Well yeah, I am.

Posted: 21/10/2011
Categories: Comics / Games

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