NARRATOR: Our doctors here at Arkham hold your best interests in mind during your stay
here.
Many of our patients find this new environment strange at first, but we assure you, give
it time.
You’ll feel at home before long.
It’s natural to feel this way at first, but our promise to you is this: you won’t
be afraid for long.
CRANE: This is Dr. Jonathan Crane, head of research at Arkham Asylum.
The date is April 1st, 1993.
[chuckles]
April Fools, how fitting.
Today’s experiment will further my research into fear responses from the patients here.
Today’s volunteer is Gary.
How are you feeling today, Gary?
GARY: M-much better, Dr. Crane.
CRANE: That’s wonderful to hear.
Warden Strange has informed me that your progress here has been phenomenal.
GARY: Y-yes.
I’m feeling much more like myself lately.
CRANE: Excellent, excellent.
Tell me, Gary, what do you know about fear?
GARY: F-fear?
CRANE: Yes, fear.
The natural response to danger, harm, and other threats.
What has been your personal experience with fear?
GARY: I-I’m not sure I understand the question, Dr. Crane.
CRANE: [sighs] That’s alright, Gary.
Let me educate you.
In my experience here at Arkham, fear is… fear is power.
It ranks higher than you, higher than me; even higher than Warden Strange.
Fear doesn’t care who you are.
It is a driving force of the psyche - of nature even.
I can see by your silence that you’re still unsure of my meaning.
In my experimentation, Gary, I have found that fear is a pathway to places that the
mind cannot even comprehend.
Another dimension, a place of constant dread and terror.
This is what I’ve been trying to access, and you, my friend, will be instrumental in
aiding that today.
[shuffling sounds]
GARY: W-what is the mask for?
CRANE: Oh, you’ll see, Gary.
All I need you to do right now is sit back and breathe deeply.
GARY: N-no, I don’t want to!
I’m scared!
CRANE: Good.
That means we’re already halfway there.
Now, just breathe… [gas hisses] [Gary coughing and screaming]
CRANE: You’re performing wonderfully, Gary.
Back to it.
Let the fear take control.
What do you see, Gary?
Where is the fear taking you?
CRANE: Well done, Gary.
It’s all over now.
VICKI VALE: A doctor at Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane was arrested today for
gross misconduct and malpractice.
The culprit, Dr. Jonathan Crane is facing these and numerous other criminal charges
following unauthorized experiments conducted on his patients.
His most recent victim, Gary Anders, was found hysterical in his cell.
When questioned by police about Crane’s experiments, all that the police could glean
from the man was that Crane had allegedly sent him to hell.
Police are still trying to determine whether this is evidence or just the ramblings of
a man whose rational thought is devastated.
I’m Vicki Vale, and this is Gotham City News.