History YMMV / ArkhamAsylumASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth

* OneSceneWonder:

** In the early sketches, the Joker was supposed to be dressed as Music/{{Madonna}}.

** In the early sketches, the Joker was supposed to be dressed as Madonna.

* {{Fanon}}: It's a very popular theory that the whole story is a nightmare that Bruce had, justifying the surreal artwork, the LeaningOnTheFourthWall elements, the barely coherent plot, the heavy influence of psychology and Batman being unusually weak.

* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: Justified. While Morrison is known as "that comic writer who does lots of drugs", they were actually straight-edge when writing this. They’ve mentioned most of the script was written after long, sleepless nights.

** The Joker's crack about Robin being old enough to shave yet was written before Jason Todd had died in the regular books (at the hands of the Joker, no less) but the book came after. Morrison noted all it did was add another layer to the Joker's audacity in saying it.

** The Joker's crack about Robin was written before Jason Todd had died in the regular books (at the hands of the Joker, no less) but the book came after. Morrison noted all it did was add another layer to the Joker's audacity in saying it.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: "I almost wish she need never grow up."
* HarsherInHindsight: The Joker's crack about Robin was written before Jason Todd had died in the regular books (at the hands of the Joker, no less) but the book came after. Morrison noted all it did was add another layer to the Joker's audacity in saying it.

* HilariousInHindsight: [[Film/TheDarkKnight This wouldn't be the last time Joker and pencils would cross paths.]]

** Most incarnations of Doctor Destiny have him as a 7-foot tall, muscular titan with a skull for a head. Morrison re-imagined him as an emaciated cripple, trapped in a wheelchair, wasted by his inability to dream. This incarnation was also used by Creator/NeilGaiman in ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', to good effect.

* HarsherInHindsight: The Joker's crack about Robin was written before Jason Todd had died in the regular books but the book came after. Morrison noted all it did was add another layer to the Joker's audacity in saying it.

** In the notes to the script included in the 15th anniversary edition, Morrison admits that this interpretation of the Batman (as an insecure, sexually repressed, infantile mama's boy) can only apply to this comic, that it's meant to be a death and rebirth for Batman. {{Invoked}} by Morrison in response to all the interpretations of Batman as [[ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns borderline sociopathic]], and partly because this was one of Grant and McKean's earliest professional projects.

** In the notes to the script included in the 15th anniversary edition, Morrison admits that this interpretation of the Batman (as an insecure, sexually repressed, infantile mama's boy) can only apply to this comic, that it's meant to be a death and rebirth for Batman. {{Invoked}} by Morrison in response to all the interpretations of Batman as [[ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns borderline sociopathic]], and partly because this was one of his and [=McKean=]'s earliest professional projects.

* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: Justified. While Morrison is known as "that comic writer who does lots of drugs", he was actually straight-edge when writing this. He's mentioned most of the script was written after long, sleepless nights.

** In the notes to the script included in the 15th anniversary edition, Morrison admits that this interpretation of the Batman (as an insecure, sexually repressed, infantile mama's boy) can only apply to this comic, that it's meant to be a death and rebirth for Batman. {{Invoked}} by Morrison in response to all the interpretations of Batman as [[ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns borderline sociopathic]], and partly because this was one of Morrison's and [=McKean=]'s earliest professional projects.

* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: Justified. While Morrison is known as "that comic writer who does lots of drugs", they were actually straight-edge when writing this. They wrote that most of the script was written after long, sleepless nights.

** Though the abstract storytelling makes it hard to know for sure, the story also leaves open the suggestion that Bruce Wayne may (or may not) really be either...
*** A) Possessed by an evil spirit that gives him a symbiotic connection with Arkham Asylum.
*** B) The latest reincarnation of the [[PsychoPsychologist deranged psychologist]] who founded the asylum.

*** "..and She is so very intelligent. And so very beautiful. I almost wish she need never grow up."
*** The panel where Amadeus is in the carnival and facing the "Tunnel of Love" was disturbing enough where it really wasn't a mystery what went on between him and his mother.

* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: {{Justified| Trope}}. While Morrison is known as "that comic writer who does lots of drugs", they were actually straight-edge when writing this. They wrote that most of the script was written after long, sleepless nights.
* TheWoobie: Two-Face and [[BodyHorror Clayface.]]

** Creator/GrantMorrison said that his mentor suggested a bearded Joker, symbolizing VaginaDentata.

* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: {{Justified| Trope}}. While Morrison is known as "that comic writer who does lots of drugs", he was actually straight-edge when writing this. He wrote that most of the script was written after long, sleepless nights.

* OneSceneWonder: Maxie Zeus only appears for one scene, but leaves a major impact. His only real role is to talk to Batman a little bit and not get any response, but his speech is chilling and sets the mood of the story perfectly.
* {{Sequelitis}}: A "spiritual sequel", written and illustrated by [[ComicBook/TheMaxx Sam]] [[OffModel Kieth]] and entitled ''Arkham Asylum: Madness'', was released [[SequelGap in 2006]].

* TheWoobie: Two-Face and [BodyHorror Clayface.]

* TheWoobie: Two-Face.

* AwesomeArt: Words cannot describe how horrifying and amazing the artwork looks.

** Most incarnations of Doctor Destiny have him as a 7-foot tall, muscular titan with a skull for a head. Morrison re-imagined him as an emaciated cripple, trapped in a wheelchair, wasted by his inability to dream. This incarnation was used by Creator/NeilGaiman in ComicBook/TheSandman, to good effect.