No Small Madness
Insanity in the Comics
I thought that I would say a few words about the portrayal of insanity in the comics. The title ‘no small madness’ sums up the usual view of insanity and metal illness in the comics. Characters in the comics are never ‘just a little crazy’, if insane, they are always in the full grip of madness. Examples of such characters are Dr. Doom and Lex Luthor (megalomania), the Joker (homicidal mania), the Comedian (sociopath), Sabretooth (psychopath) and Rose and Thorn (split personality). Madness abounds in the comics especially among the villains (indeed most of the Batman’s foes end up not in jail but in Arkham Asylum). After all why else would people dress up in crazy costumes, take weird names and risk their lives for money? Fame? Revenge? Doesn’t sound entirely sane to me.
