LEGO Arkham Asylum: A Story told through Vignettes and Music

For my birthday last week, my friends all chipped in and got me the amazing new LEGO Arkham Asylum set #10937. As I was putting it together, I snapped some pictures with my phone to document the process (known in the AFOL world as "vignettes"), which, for LEGO, is just as important, if not more so, as the end result. Then, based on the success of my Batman: The Animated Series Power Hour on YouTube (6,300 views and counting), I thought I'd present those pictures on this blog, accompanied by a corresponding narrative and some music from my favorite Batman stories. Just hit play on the embedded video before starting to read each section and enjoy Chapter 1 of my first ever LEGO multimedia project!

The Joker has just stood trial for his latest crime. What crime it might have been isn't important - whether it was flooding the Riverfront District with toxic laughing gas and going on a looting spree, or the attempted murder of a casino magnate as retaliation for modeling his latest establishment after the Joker, or the psychological torture of some poor sap who just found himself on the wrong freeway at the wrong time - the conclusion is always the same. Joker's court-appointed public defender, the only attorneys who will go near the clown, filed a standard cut-and-dry insanity plea, which the judge was all too eager to grant. This was not because his honor believed the eccentric supervillain would be better rehabilitated in a psychiatric facility, but because in Gotham, the criminally insane are taken to the most secure place in the city: Arkham Asylum.

The date and time of Joker's transfer from the courthouse holding cells to Arkham was kept a secret until the last minute to discourage media attention/breakout attempts, and when the time came, Arkham  guards Aaron Cash and Frank Boles were on the case. Cash had lost his hand in a scuffle with Killer Croc months ago, but fortunately he didn't lose any of the hard-nosed grit and instincts that made him one of the best officers in Arkham's security corps; and the grisly hook that took the place of his left hand made him an even more fearsome opponent to any inmates who attempt to escape. Boles came from a troubled past and had a reputation as a hard and irresponsible drinker, but no guard except Cash could match him for pure toughness.

As they secured Joker into his Hannibal Lecter-style restraints and loaded him into the back of the armored van, a smile crept across his twisted blood-red lips and a grim chuckle slowly built into a full-on gleeful cackle. Boles and Cash shared an uneasy glance, certain that this night had more in store for them than meets the eye.

An armored van bearing the "Arkham Asylum" insignia pulled up to a pair of intricately carved and heavily barred iron gates. A security camera swept over the vehicle, verifying its inhabitants, and the gates automatically started to swing inwards. On either side of the opening, menacing winged and hooded figures stood guard, each holding a symbolic key and a very real and intimidating polearm. As the van passed through, the driver beheld the magnificent gothic architecture of Arkham Asylum: floor-to-ceiling reinforced plate glass windows framed by ornate columns, gargoyle-dotted spires towering above ivy-covered walls, and a foreboding atmosphere like you wouldn't believe.

Dr. Harleen Quinzell watches from her second floor office window as the van approaches, returning her most dangerous and high profile patient into her care once more. Quinzell had been treating the Joker for months now, as he bounced in and out of Arkham's revolving door. During that time, she had developed quite the rapport with the Clown Prince of Crime - one that her some of her fellow doctors worry perhaps bordered on obsession. If they only knew how right they were...

Deep in the basement below the medical building, Dr. Quinzell had fashioned a makeshift shrine to the Joker. It was to here she ran when she saw her puddin' coming through the main gate. Taking a page out of his stylistic book, she plastered her face with white makeup, put on the harlequin-style hat she fashioned herself, and gathered up the makeshift weapons she had put together using only materials found inside the asylum and prepared to debut her very own supervillain persona.

Aaron Cash and Frank Boles wheeled the Joker into the main entrance of Arkham Asylum only to find the front desk completely unmanned. In the guard's place was a note that read "Went to tinkle, Ollie, XOXO."

"I never knew North to sign his letters in lipstick," remarked a curious Boles, upon reading the note. "Something doesn't seem right."

"I agree. But you'd better man the desk, though," said Cash. "The control system for the entire cell block is housed in there. I'll be fine taking this animal upstairs by myself. He hasn't made a peep all night."

"Sounds good to me," replied Boles, as he made himself comfortable at the desk. As he watched Cash take his prisoner into the secure elevator, he opened up his emergency whiskey stash and poured some into a regulation plastic polymer mug. "This is gonna be a long night," he muttered to himself.

Upstairs, Cash found the examination room empty as well. "Dr. Quinzell, I have your prisoner here!" he shouted into the office.

"Thank you, Guard Cash," replied the doctor's voice from the intercom. "You can transfer the patient to the chair. I have a strong sedative ready."

"Copy that, Dr. Quinzell," replied Cash as he began to remove the restraints. "But I'd be careful if I were you. Something doesn't seem right tonight...."

But before he could finish, Cash felt a sharp jab in the back of his neck. As the sedative began to take hold he was just able to catch a glimpse of Dr. Quinzell's face, which was hardly recognizable under the clownish makeup and domino mask that concealed the truly sinister visage of the Joker's newest minion, Harley Quinn!


Tune in next week to see what happens!