Review: Arkham Asylum- Madness

Welcome to Arkham Asylum, a home for both the Criminally Insane and the desperate and downtrodden fringe of society paid to house them. Where burned-out doctors walk the halls barring the Johnathan Cranes of the world to spread their own unique brands of madness. The walls have their own story to tell, however... Crafted deftly by the eccentric hand of writer/artist Sam Kieth, Arkham Asylum: Madness is an eerie 24-hour whirl through the famed haunted house of Batman lore.
Sam Kieth's artistic style, especially in his stellar Batman work, drew me to this book. But instead of the dark insanity that usually sprawls across the pages of a Keith-drawn Batman comic are replaced but a more fluid experimentation in the artist's technique. Still punctuated by trademark Joker close-ups we all come to expect from Sam, he has seen to evolve artistically. His characters are more clearly defined and the refinement really works. I particularly like his re imagining of Killer Croc. Aiding in his task is master colorist Dave Stewart, using his own deft touch to affect the book's tone. The story doesn't shed any new light on the psyche of this loony bin's inhabitants like Grant Morrison and Dave McKean's Arkham Asylum, Kieth instead focuses on how the house and its foreboding reputation play on the minds of its workers. The Joker doesn't help matters either as he unleashes a some new practical jokes on his caretakers.
Kieth's pacing and storytelling read like a great suspense filled horror movie rarely seen in the last ten years(at least). I've even mapped out this books creepy soundtrack in my head. Just think of the possibilities of using the Batman movie franchise on an idea of this magnitude: a horror movie set within the Batman universe, starring the Joker, with cameos from a long list of Batman's enemies, WITH NO BATMAN. I'll line up to see it twice. Will it ever happen? Doubtful. Perhaps as a sequel to an animated Arkham Asylum? Now I'm really nuts. But this book could pull it off, with a few small tweaks.
In name alone, AA:M will doubtlessly draw comparissons to the Morrison book of a similar name, they really have very little to do with each other. Same characters, new house, and a great read from the mind of my favorite Batman artist.