Arkham Manor #1

CRITIC REVIEWS

• 9.0

  Comicosity - Aaron Long

  Oct 22, 2014

  Arkham Manor #1 is the Batman haunted house thriller you didn't know you wanted that is done so well you can't help but dive in. Duggan and Crystal set a unique tone with this first issue that I didn't expect and loved whole heartedly. Sign me up for a stay in the Manor… Read Full Review

• 9.0

  Doom Rocket - Andrew P. Stevens

  Oct 23, 2014

  By its end, Arkham Manor promises both a gritty and fresh take on Batman, while presenting a complex psychological portrait of a character who is presently enjoying his 75th year of limelight. Read Full Review

• 8.5

  Coming Up Comics - David Melton

  Oct 22, 2014

  Pick this title up. Not since Snyder and Capullo started their run have I been this excited for a Batman title with so much promise. Read Full Review

• 8.5

  Multiversity Comics - Keith Dooley

  Oct 23, 2014

  I didn't expect to be moved so deeply by "Arkham Manor". I didn't even expect Batman to play such a large role in the book. When you get to the ending, the premise of the entire series is laid bare before us and is rich with inventive possibilities for exploring not only the character of Batman, but the nemeses that comprise his rich rogue's gallery. In a visual nod to "Batman: Arkham Asylum " A Serious House On Serious Earth" by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean, Batman enters an asylum that promises to be just as haunting as the one in that classic book. Read Full Review

• 8.4

  ComicBook.com - Chase Magnett

  Oct 24, 2014

  Arkham Manor #1 is an exciting start to a series that is packed with potential. Duggan and Crystal have created a scenario that gets at the very heart of this 75 year old character, touching upon ideas that are rarely recognized in Batman comics. Just as important, here they show the skills to tell that story in a way that is visually striking and always engaging. This could be the beginning of a beautiful series. Read Full Review

• 8.0

  Rhymes With Geek - Nikki Sherman

  Oct 22, 2014

  This book delivers a powerful message about Batman, and it helps you get inside the character of Batman and history of Gotham in a unique way " right through the heart that is his home. I am excited to see what's coming up in this series, and hope that we get to see the villains and psychopaths that keep Gotham teeming with danger in the next issue. Based on those last few pages, I'd say we're about to get an awesome perspective on the new Arkham Manor. Read Full Review

• 8.0

  Comic Vine - Mat 'Inferiorego' Elfring

  Oct 22, 2014

  ARKHAM MANOR is surprisingly enjoyable. By way of the solicits, the idea did seem a tad silly, but the way Duggan sets everything up here makes this book feel like it's going to be a very fun ride. Obviously, the idea of Batman and "fun" in the same sentence may be a turn-off to most people, but this isn't DEADPOOL or NOVA. This isn't a funny or zany book. There is a lot of emotion here as we see how important Wayne Manor is to Bruce and the lengths he'll go to in order to keep it from becoming a complete mess. If you're a Batman fan, check this one out for sure. If the character is normally a bit too much for you, then this is really a Bat-series for you. Read Full Review

• 8.0

  Bloody Disgusting - Zac Thompson

  Oct 22, 2014

  Luckily billionaire Bruce Waynes home is just laying around empty waiting to be acquired by the city. Its bought up, its secrets are put to rest, and Arkham Manor is born. The gigantic home that gave birth to Gothams most twisted mind now houses an entire population of maniacs. Read Full Review

• 8.0

  The Batman Universe - Corbin Pool

  Oct 22, 2014

  A good solid beginning of a story, I look forward to seeing how this plays out. Duggan and Crystal do a great job of showing the emotional fallout Bruce and Alfred have of loosing the family home. It keeps hitting him in a way that they are constantly reminded of what they lost. All-in-all, it was a great read. I'm looking forward to this book. Read Full Review

• 8.0

  Geeked Out Nation - Jess Camacho

  Oct 23, 2014

  "Arkham Manor" is probably not a needed Bat-book but it does offer something new and fresh. Fans of horror or mystery should take notice. It's also one of the few $2.99 books at the Big Two so it's worth checking out for yourself. Read Full Review

• 8.0

  Comics: The Gathering - F-O-R-R-E-S-T

  Oct 23, 2014

  This book does little beside establish it's premise and that's both it's strength and weakness. I'm dying for the second issue, but I'm slightly worried I may be let down simply because there's not much going on besides the set up here and it's hard to tell the pace, tone and shape this story will take. Read Full Review

• 8.0

  All-Comic - Dan Leicht

  Oct 23, 2014

  This is a cool story to see compared to the usual Batman tales. He gives up the manor, but does he ever really leave? Read Full Review

• 8.0

  Dark Knight News - Ryan Lower

  Oct 24, 2014

  I really liked this issue. I think it adds plenty of intrigue, is a Batman-centric issue and is off to a great start with a good cliffhanger. The script, written by Gerry Duggan, puts a fresh twist on a 75-year-old character, and the art by Shawn Crystal only compliments it. I'm more than pleased with the start of this series, but the next few issues will decide if Arkham Manor is here to stay. Read Full Review

• 8.0

  Nerds Unchained - Michael Bowie

  Oct 26, 2014

  Release/continuity errors aside, this book really does have an interesting premise, and while it may be a touch cliche, Gerry Duggan does a good job of setting things up in this issue. I look forward to seeing where things go, I just hope DC can keep their releases in order from here on out so im not having to juggle issues of this book and Batman Eternal. Read Full Review

• 8.0

  Forces Of Geek - Atlee Greene

  Oct 27, 2014

  These are the questions presented in this debut issue and with Shawn Crystal's dark brooding imagery, things are only going to get more intriguing. Read Full Review

• 7.5

  AIPT - David Brooke

  Oct 22, 2014

  Most will cry foul when it comes to this issue due to it being mostly setup, but it nails the emotional tether Bruce has for his old home even if he keeps telling himself filling it with villains is the best thing to do. Read Full Review

• 7.3

  IGN - Mike Logsdon

  Oct 22, 2014

  If you are looking for another unique take on Gotham that has been presented in books like Batgirl and Gotham Academy, then you might be a bit disappointed with the writing as only the artistic stylings, offered by Crystal and McCaig, give off that indie vibe. However, if you are looking for another peek into the world of Gotham and a unique situation never before faced by Batman then this is the book for you, as Duggan convinces fans of this somewhat fantastic premise, but falters a bit with a generic opening plot. Read Full Review

• 7.0

  Comic Book Resources - Greg McElhatton

  Oct 22, 2014

  "Arkham Manor" #1 is a reasonable enough start to the series. With the setup presumably complete, the second issue will make or break the comic. For now, though, I'm pleased enough to want to see what happens next. If the pace picks up a bit, we'll have a real winner. For now, I'm optimistic. Not bad at all. Read Full Review

• 7.0

  Newsarama - Richard Gray

  Oct 22, 2014

  Like Gotham Academy, the aim of Arkham Manor is one of pointing a microscope at a specific building in Gotham City, and potentially exploring all the hidden elements within. Unlike that book, this new title has yet to determine how it will be differing itself from any other Batman title, as this first arc has a very familiar "Bruce Wayne undercover" vibe to it. Yet if Duggan can pull the book away from Batman and focus on the manor as a character instead, there is the potentially here for this to be an intriguing new entry to the Bat-verse. Read Full Review

• 7.0

  Weird Science - Eric Shea

  Oct 22, 2014

  Now I can't say that I'm really a fan of this art style, but for the most part I can get beyond it and have a good time.  Only real thing I can't get behind is the way Batman looks.  Hopefully that won't be a problem in the future because I really don't like not likely the way Batman looks.  Does that make sense?  For the most part though this story actually grabbed me and I'm intrigued to see where it goes.  Not a shabby first issue, I just would of liked a little more background for the beginning of the story.  Go check it out and have fun wrapping your mind around something that sounds as ludicrous as Arkham Manor. Read Full Review

• 7.0

  Batman-News - Elena Carrillo

  Oct 23, 2014

  If the current continuity is all you can muster energy for, if you're feeling a bit of Bat-fatigue, if you absolutely insist on house-style art-this may not be the time for you to pick up this book. If you're looking for a new adventure and love all the potential Arkham has to offer, gamble on a copy and let's see if it turns out to be a big winner! Read Full Review

• 7.0

  Newsarama - Aaron Duran

  Oct 23, 2014

  Arkham Manor isn't the instant breath of fresh air that was Gotham Academy, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. This is a title that wants the slow build and it has a creative team that should be able to get us there. Read Full Review

• 7.0

  Weekly Comic Book Review - Minhquan Nguyen

  Oct 26, 2014

  A solid introduction that could have punched itself up a little better with more substance. Read Full Review

• 7.0

  Comics Bulletin - Christine Manzione

  Oct 27, 2014

  Arkham Manor #1proved to be an entertaining pick-up this week and I will absolutely be following the series. From the beginning, seeing the transformation of Wayne Manor into a prison and to the end, a great twist on how Bruce plans to enter the ranks of Gotham's captives. Read Full Review

• 7.0

  Comic Spectrum - Shawn Hoklas

  Oct 28, 2014

  Overall this first issue does what it needs to do to hook a new reader, it just does so rather quickly, and if you haven't been reading Batman Eternal then these changes in Batman's life and location will seem even more abrupt. This first issue sets up a murder mystery that will have Batman working in a familiar, but drastically different locale and just how this will affect him and those he's closest too. The ending cliffhanger will be reminiscent of story lines that we've seen before in titles like Shadow of the Bat, but it's still a solid setup that has a premise much like the one that this series has been built on for future stories. Read Full Review

• 6.0

  DC Comics News - Max Eber

  Oct 23, 2014

  I'd say pick it up, it's sorta pulpy and grizzled in a way that's sort of different but sort of familiar but sort of retro and it better written than you'd think but I'm still really skeptical of the concept. This is actually a good score, since I had no expectations whatsoever. Give it a shot, this may be exactly what you're looking for. How this can drag on, though, I'm not sure. Read Full Review

• 5.0

  Geeks Unleashed - Chris Romero

  Oct 24, 2014

  If you're a serious Batman fan, then you may feel a sense of loyalty to this series, otherwise; Arkam Manor can be easily trumped by the current Batman series. Read Full Review

• 5.0

  Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills

  Oct 25, 2014

  I doubt I'll be picking up another issue of Arkham Manor. The premise is a little too insane for my tastes. I'm all for change, but something about Arkham invading the sanctity of Wayne Manor just rubs me the wrong way. And like I said, based on the first issue, there doesn't seem to be anything unique about this comic. It's sister title, Gotham Academy, introduced a whole new cast and premise to play with. Arkham Manor is just about Batman, and I've got plenty of other great Batman comics to read. Read Full Review

• 4.0

  Front Towards Gamer - Lido

  Oct 24, 2014

  At the end of the day,Arkham Manor doesn't feel bad so much as it feels wrong. Amistake somewhere in the assembly line process that produced it. Marked under the Batman bannerbarring the connective tissue that made this an actual story. Shipped away hoping wewouldn't notice. Even with all that said I can't bring myself to hate Arkham Manor, I just don't recommend it. Read Full Review