The Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane is Marvel Comics' answer to Arkham Asylum. However, the location hasn't been given the same kind of play or importance in the comics - until now. Ravencroft is going to have a key role in Marvel Comics in 2020.

The Ravencroft Institute for the Criminal Insane first appeared in Spider-Man Unlimited #1 by Tom DeFalco and Ron Lim. As the name suggests, it's Marvel's home of the criminally insane and the baddest of the bad. The institute was put back in the spotlight in Ruins of Ravencroft: Carnage, where it was revealed a cannibalistic cult worshipping Knull was present in the 15th Century. After Carnage overtook the asylum and made it his base in the events of Absolute Carnage, the building was burned down by Deadpool and later rebuilt by Wilson Fisk.

Related: Batman: 15 Things You Didn't Know About Arkham Asylum

Marvel is serious about making the Ravencroft Institute as iconic as Arkham is in the DC Comics lore. After Ruins of Ravencroft: Carnage, Marvel will release more one-shots including the upcoming Ruins of Ravencroft: Sabretooth and Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula. Those books will lead into Ravencroft, a series exploring the mentally unstable villains of the Marvel Universe and John Jameson seeking redemption for his role in Carnage's takeover.

Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski said "when Frank [Tieri] pitched us his idea for Ravencroft, I instantly knew he had hit on something special. And the one-shots quickly grew to a mini, which in turn expanded to Ravencroft becoming an important part of Marvel’s overall story plans in 2020. There’s all kinds of craziness coming!”

Tieri himself said the past and present of Ravencroft will play into the five-issue series where the current institute will be explored. He said a "VERY SHOCKING" prisoner will occupy one of the cells.

These diabolical history lessons lead us to our five issue series, Ravencroft where we deal with Ravencroft’s PRESENT. Expect plenty of twists and turns and some really %^&*ed up surprises… and that’s not even me mentioning the VERY shocking prisoner who occupies Cell 616. And I’ll just let fans make of that what they will in the meantime…

Here's a look at Tieri and Stefano Landini's The Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula #1 and a preview of Ravencroft #4 from Kyle Hotz.

  • RAVENCROFT #1 (OF 5)
  • Written by Frank Tieri
  • Art by Angel Unzueta
  • Cover art by Kyle Holtz
  • Variant covers by Ryan Brown and Kim Jacinto.
  • RAVENCROFT REOPENED!
  • After the hellish horrors of ABSOLUTE CARNAGE, the Ravencroft Institute has received a much-needed facelift and is open for business with a new staff, including JOHN JAMESON, looking to atone for the part he played in ABSOLUTE CARNAGE. But will Ravencroft return the mentally unstable villains of the Marvel Universe to upstanding citizens and give John the redemption he’s looking for, or will they fall prey to the hospital’s seemingly sinister nature?
  • In comic shops January 29th, 2020.

Related: Venom & Carnage's Final Battle Just Killed [SPOILER]