This is the best Scarecrow episode, a brilliant, trippy ticking clock thriller that puts the Caped Crusader through some serious psychological torment.
Even though he's something of a one trick pony, all the Scarecrow's episodes manage to be very distinctive from each other. 'Nothing to Fear' made Bruce's daddy issues a waking nightmare. 'Fear of Victory' turned Robin's own acrobatic upbringing against him. This episode sees Bruce exposed again, but this time the effects are gradual and rapidly getting worse. The only cure will leave him out of action for too long, forcing him to race against time to foil the Scarecrow's plan before the effects get worse. If only he wasn't currently trapped in Arkham and classed as insane.
Even though he knows he's been affected and not at his best, Bruce stubbornly refuses to give himself the time he needs heal and pass responsibility on to someone else, like Robin or the police. I get not trusting the police, if they were capable of actually doing anything to help Gotham there wouldn't be a Batman in the first place. But why not Robin? Does he have no faith in the Boy Wonder to save the day on his own or is he simply afraid of losing someone so close to him? Unfortunately, Robin isn't in this episode so we can't really explore that idea in any depth.
Another possibility is that he's unwilling to put his faith in others, not because he doubts their abilities, but because it means relinquishing control. Bruce is such an obsessive workaholic because he is deathly afraid of losing control. If he's not in control of a situation then he's helpless, and the last thing this traumatised little boy ever wants to be again is helpless. That is his real fear, the one the toxin is feeding. It's no surprise that one of the worst visions is him unable to save his parents, who descend into a tunnel that turns into the barrel of a gun dripping blood. Apparently that last bit was unintentional, but still amazed it slipped past the censors.
So being put in a straitjacket and locked up in Arkham should be an absolute nightmare for him. It would be, if Arkham wasn't such a piss easy place to get out of. Naturally, the staff at Arkham don't think that, no way the Scarecrow could've escaped from their care, which only makes them more delusional than the inmates. Of course he's escaped. Everyone escapes Arkham. Batman's off his head on Scarecrow juice and even he managed to escape with ease. Hell, the Joker was able to smuggle in a rocket powered Christmas tree to escape. That's how useless Arkham security is.
The plot of this episode is likely based on 'The Last Arkham', a storyline that ran in the first four issues of Batman: Shadow of the Bat (Jun-Sept 1992). In the story, Batman commits himself to Arkham Asylum to investigate a series of grisly murders, only to be imprisoned by asylum administrator Jeremiah Arkham, who believes Batman to be truly insane. Arkham Asylum itself was created by Dennis O'Neil and Irv Novick and first appeared in Batman #258 (October 1974).
I Know That Voice
Dr. Bartholomew was voiced by Richard Dysart, best known as Leland McKenzie on L.A. Law. Dr. Wu was voiced by veteran voice actress Takayo Fischer.
Notes and Quotes
--With an idiot like Bartholomew in charge, it isn't a big surprise that Arkham is in such a mess. He finds Batman after a serious car crash and rather than call an ambulance to take him to a proper hospital, he decides that because he's delirious he must be insane and needs to institutionalised. He's a malpractice lawsuit waiting to happen.
--This episode claims the Joker's real name is Jack Napier, like in the Burton movie, but later episodes will retcon this and say his true identity is unknown.
--Loren Lester, who usually voices Robin, provided the Joker's laugh in this episode instead of Mark Hamill, probably because he was cheaper.
--Considering the sort of people they house in there, this seems especially careless, but that's Arkham for ya.
Scarecrow: "An entire city screaming in fear. I wonder if we'll be able to hear it."
Batman: "Some thought I'd gone mad. Others thought I always had been. And so they put me where they thought I belonged."
Dr. Bartholomew: "He can't possibly have left the grounds. Our security is absolute, completely..."
Batman: "No security is absolute. The Scarecrow's already proved that!"
Dr. Bartholomew: "I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Batman: "Isn't that why I'm here? Because I'm... disturbed?"
Batman: "Robin. Alfred. You've got to help me."
Robin: "It's too late for that, Bruce. You've lived in darkness too long."
Alfred: "Yes, do come along, Master Bruce. It's time to come home."
Four out of four guns dripping blood.
Mark Greig has been writing for Doux Reviews since 2011. More Mark Greig.
I legitimately don't remember this one? "Arkham's security is flawless" oh wow in what universe? Seems like a revolving door to me.
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