Is Arkham Asylum Essential for Understanding Arkham City?

I mean does it help to play Arkham Asylum before playing Arkham City? Or can you jump right in Arkham City and not become or feel lost?Is Arkham Asylum Essential for Understanding Arkham City?
There are some parts of the story in Arkham City that reference back to Arkham Asylum, but not too many that you'd feel lost without playing Arkham Asylum. I would recommend you play Arkham Asylum anyway because it is an excellent game, but it's not necessary to understand the story of Arkham City.Is Arkham Asylum Essential for Understanding Arkham City?
I have arkham city and I never played asylum and I picked it up just fineIs Arkham Asylum Essential for Understanding Arkham City?
jump right in.. there's only a few ties to the game like bane and he's not even a majour part of arkham city