Arkham Asylum Question

[ajkarp]

This question pertains to the old Morrison / Mckean psychodrama. Batman is having a stressful day in the Asylum. So to alleviate stress, or to maybe focus?
Batman slowly stabs himself with a sharp piece of glass. Through his hand!
Does anyone know the benefits to such a thing? Or maybe somebody knows of pop reference where this was done with and explanation?

[malachimanson]

i haven't read that book in such a long time. What is the context of the scene is he falling asleep is he under some sort of toxin where he needs to get his shit straight? Cause if not he's acting like a classic cutter which is you use physical pain to relive emotional pain/stress.

[jdmakescomics]

Morrison, in the back of the trade paperback, said something about batman trying to bring himself back to reality with a prick to the hand. The artist interpreted this as shoving a shard of glass straight through in a manner that would probably leave his hand useless for life. Go figure.

Mckean was the absolute best and worst part of that comic at once somehow. He muddled scenes and ran completely counter to the script in places, but also provided the hazy, dreamlike quality that made it sing.

[Jel]

What didn't you like about McKean, and how do you know he went against the script?

Arkham Asylum is one of the first comics I bought (actually, maybe it was THE first), and that was on the art alone. I knew nothing of Morrisson nor McKean at the time, just that this book seemed magnetic. I remember my 9 or 10 year old self being deeply disturbed after finishing reading it haha. As for the shard of glass, I interpreted it as yeah, coming back to reality/ focusing in the only way his twisted, tortured self could, in that den of madness.

[PTX40]

In the edition I picked up, it had notes from Morrison in the back, where he personally commented on how McKean went against the script and several rejected layouts and such.