shortened batman batman graphic novel written illustrated originally published united_states hardcover editions subtitle taken poem church going graphic novel batman story written morrison regular writer future batman titles inspired previous works like dark knight returns morrison conceived story different approach character heavy references iconic batman villains story follows batman called quell riot taking place infamous psychiatric hospital housing dangerous inside batman confronts enduring gallery face changed saw batman ventures deeper discovers origin asylum established history builder supernatural psychological mystery haunting area release graphic novel garnered commercial critical acclaim considered greatest batman stories time best works career graphic novel later definitive story critical batman critically acclaimed video game batman game batman series based graphic novel conception influences graphic novel writer work batman making earliest installment saga morrison later note script graphic novel start undertaking batman comics line poem church going subtitle original script printed 15th anniversary 25th anniversary editions morrison remarks details genesis work written short evocative history series learned poor hospital founder themes inspired quantum physics visual style eastern european brothers etc intention create like piece music experimental film typical adventure comic book wanted approach batman point view emotional hemisphere response literal realistic left brain treatment vogue time wake dark knight returns additional reference work response trends time later note armored uncertain sexually frozen bat man intended critique 80s interpretation batman violent driven borderline morrison goes explain symbolic conception character book work involving batman cast far different light explains construction story influenced architecture house past tale forms basement levels secret passages connect ideas segments book upper stories symbol metaphor referencing sacred geometry plan based journey book like moving floors house house head interview morrison stated dark knight returns huge influence development story morrison liked miller batman creating new different character driven obsessed morrison wanted different batman comics morrison added tried stay away original pulp influence batman seen american cinema adaptations instead use themes style european cinema morrison admitted preferred novel artist art doesn terrifying expressions real morrison liked art killing joke initially wanted drawn comic criticizing choice making novel abstract adding better concrete morrison assessment writing art styles clashed competed novel symbolic systems said greatest weakness 15th anniversary 25th anniversary recalls early version script passed people look thought psychological horror heavy symbolism failure batman story laughed idea release graphic novel morrison ends asking laughing hole morrison add people don read comics regularly enjoy book story commissioner gordon informs batman patients taken facility threatening murder staff batman agrees meet hostages administrator patients led kills guard spur batman obey wishes face mental condition deteriorated result adams therapy replaced face trademark coin sided die deck instance increasing number choices opposed choices original coin hope eventually leave choices chance instead treatment renders incapable making simple decisions going bathroom forces batman game hide seek giving hour escape adversaries sent hunt unbeknownst batman time hour pressured inmates batman subsequently encounters villains struggle thrown window grabbing statue angel michael statue bronze spear batman climbs inside throwing window sustaining severe wound spear process batman finally reaches secret room high towers asylum inside discovers dressed gown threatening adams razor revealed orchestrated riots questioned batman read passage diary asylum founder flashbacks revealed mentally ill mother elizabeth suffered supernatural bat seeing creature cut mother throat end suffering blocked memory return raped murdered wife daughter donned mother wedding dress razor evil spirit bat treats months finally killing means shock therapy session continues mission incarcerated asylum words binding spell cell death discovering diary razor dress came believe destined continue work april day date family murdered released patients lured batman asylum believing bat spoke accuses feeding evil asylum bringing insane souls batman proceed struggle ends adams throat razor seizing axe batman door asylum proclaiming inmates free offers misery batman face coin adams returns stating face decide batman fate face declares kill batman coin lands let appears face coin declares batman free bids batman good bye saying life asylum outside world place batman disappears night face stands looking coin revealed landed chose let batman free turns stack cards passage wonderland cares pack cards themes style story influenced previous superhero genre morrison wanted novel imagining batman morrison includes themes symbolism psychological horror depicting insanity works setting morrison references alice wonderland presenting psychologically different versions classic characters batman universe examples include electrified figure obsessed electric rapidly away lack feeding mad obsession alice wonderland overtones batman driven close breaking point asylum originally drawn suffering similar elephant man final incarnation mental condition described super day suit circumstances harmless moment portrayed somewhat homosexual element described indirectly love batman script morrison initially wanted wear black parody madonna editors removed believing readers assume portrayal character batman film portrayed unlike traditional superhero comics forms sexual references seen villains novel heavily mad said child described aids legs seen cross dressing setting plays large role inmates perceive insanity said mad think asylum head inside huge head dreams described asylum looking glass shows subject twisted morrison push story forward saying theory influence artwork drew principal art cover art graphic novel illustrating story blends paintings drawings photography mixed media come striking page designs dense symbols said trying book despite subject end day love batman comics probably best thing liking trying waste time came think lavish illustrations panel didn work storytelling uses symbolism imagery scenes involve use symbols denote particular psychological device example greek inscription seen doorway chamber translates discover symbolism later explained expanded release 15th anniversary edition containing morrison script praised distinctive lettering work giving characters practice giving characters lettering treatments widespread especially line marvel comics different speech bubbles characters batman black white lettering gets blue greek font speech bubble red ink script dialogue character critical reaction legacy graphic novel published october wake film batman release graphic novel commercial success morrison comic book industry editor revealed sold close half million copies making best selling original graphic novel american superhero comics according grant morrison website series sold copies worldwide praised story portrayal asylum saying unlike batman book read finest superhero books grace ranked list greatest batman graphic novels killing joke dark knight returns year rolling_stone praised book best works calling big commercial hit shot writing batman character spend great deal time course career ground breaking graphic novel featuring grim twisted artwork painter poetic psychologically rich tale batman faces face villains inside house insane called key art stories batman library describes psychologically visually book brings reader batman journeys world symbolism adding batman foes humanity greatly affected power symbolism story laying reader fictional characters stories ways stories praised comic describing art striking beautiful yes today secret word disturbing hand negative response praising artwork calling brilliant criticized morrison story psychology action result room fit decent action later add morrison work doesn stand rivals mixing history asylum famous dumping ground batman foes typical batman adventure interesting morrison throws hero small space makes batman journey finest appear easy haunted house old battle life coupled anti climatic ending little feeling impending disaster chronicled event probably appear batman morrison admitted symbolism ending accused batman book october 15th anniversary edition released new reprint contained morrison script breaks explains symbolic references series principal art step step samples story media film batman begins entrance asylum cellar mirrors entrance batman novel game batman loosely based comic follows similar premise shares comic additionally new warden believes makes frequent reference history outlined comic including mother murder wife daughter murder sharp mansion appear comic including cell inscribed floor point game calls batman graphic novel additionally beginning game says batman welcome sources early years masters medium isbn andy early years comic book resources july singer combining worlds isbn
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