Is Arkham Asylum a Serious House Canon?
No, the specific events within the Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth graphic novel are not considered official canon within the core Batman continuity. However, the backstory crafted for the Arkham family and asylum has been widely integrated into the mainstream Batman mythos across comic books, movies and games.
The Fluid Definition of Canon in Batman Media
What constitutes canon in the Batman universe has always been complex, as core story elements and characters evolve across various comic eras and creative teams. While movies and games are typically considered non-canon, popular adaptations can influences the source material in turn.
Christopher Nolan‘s Batman Begins was a seminal reimagining of Batman‘s origins that went on to inform aspects of the comics, including bringing back elements of the League of Shadows. The famous Arkham game series is now considered by many fans to be the quintessential contemporary Batman experience.
So where do the events specifically shown in Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth fall in this fluid definition of Batman canon?
The Lasting Legacy of Arkham Asylum‘s Backstory
The Arkham family history crafted in Grant Morrison‘s graphic novel provides a twisted explanation for the asylum‘s horrific atmosphere. With roots going back to the 1700s, the Arkhams owned the land the Elizabeth Arkham Asylum was built on. The story implies they had sinister occult motivations behind its construction.
This memorable backstory has informed Arkham‘s portrayal across Batman media, even appearing explicitly in the opening sequence of the Batman: Arkham Asylum game. So while the exact storyline of A Serious House isn‘t canon, its role in enriching Arkham Asylum‘s legacy certainly is.
The Runaway Success of the Arkham Series
While technically non-canon, the acclaimed Batman: Arkham series has defined Batman for a generation of video game fans since 2009‘s Arkham Asylum kicked it off. Developed by Rocksteady Studios and later WB Games Montreal, the quadrilogy has sold over [insert sales data] copies worldwide.
The games have consistently received critical acclaim for their smooth combat, dark atmospheric world, stealth action set pieces, and faithfulness to the spirit of Batman characters. Arkham City in particular is considered one of the greatest superhero games ever made.
| Game | Metacritic Score |
|---|---|
| Arkham Asylum | 91% |
| Arkham City | 94% |
| Arkham Origins | 76% |
| Arkham Knight | 87% |
This mainstream success speaks to how compelling the Arkham interpretation of Batman became, eclipsing the static idea of canon.
Lasting Influence on the Batman Brand
The Arkham series‘ impact goes beyond just video games. Comic spin-offs like Arkham Unhinged continue its stories with key characters. Elements of the games even made their way back into the main DC continuity, like the Joker‘s altered skinned appearance caused by Titan.
Batman films and shows borrow imagery and locations from these games, like the prominent Arkham tower in Gotham‘s skyline. And WB Montreal is developing a new Suicide Squad game directly in the Arkhamverse.
This indicates the creative influence the games wield. Fans should expect the Arkham version of Batman to continue leaving lasting marks on the mainstream canon.
So in summary, the Arkham interpretation has essentially become an iconic cornerstone of the Batman mythos in its own right at this point. The settings and character backgrounds crafted in titles like A Serious House have been permanently engraved into the public‘s vision of the dark crusader‘s world.
