There are two Arkham Asylums. There is A serious house on serious earth which is instant proof of Grant Morrison's genius, and one of the greatest comics (Batman or otherwise) ever written. The story is deep and if you miss the Morrison's symbolism, it may come off a bit boring. My first read through I thoght it was so overrated. But I kept hearing so much about it so I readthe annotated script (15th anniversary edition baby-- the version to own) and I started checking the script against the actual comic and I realized just how amazing it was. The second Arkham Asylum, which has nothing to do with the first one, Living Hell, by I think, Dan Slott, is pretty crappy, not really even a Batman story. If you read Batman OYL and you wonder where that Shark guyat the end (not Orca) comes from, then Living Hell is kinda like his origin story. But Living Hell is completely passable, but has critical praise on the back of the trade-- don't believe it. Believe this-- you can't have Batman books without Grant Morrison's Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.