Azrael (DC Comics)

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)
For any other use, see Azrael (disambiguation).
Azrael
Jean-Paul Valley as Azrael on the cover to Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 (1992), art by Joe Quesada and Kevin Nowlan.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceBatman: Sword of Azrael #1
(October 1992)
Created byJean-Paul Valley:
Michael Lane:
In-story information
Alter ego
  • Jean-Paul Valley Jr.
  • Michael Washington Lane
  • Theo Galavan (Gotham)
Species
The Order of Purity
PartnershipsJean-Paul Valley:
Sister Lily
Nomoz
Brian Bryan
Batwing II
AbilitiesThe chief suit piece of Azrael, the arcane Suit of Sorrows, grants various abilities dependent on the continuity:
  • Pre-Flashpoint: Suit of Sorrows grants Azrael superhuman attributes, the skills of previous bearers, and the ability to revive the bearer akin to a Lazarus Pit should they die while having the armor on.
  • Post-Flashpoint: Suit of Sorrows possess an advanced artificial intelligence that enables Azrael to strike at the weak point of his targets. The suit itself is also protective, considered bulletproof.

Azrael is an alias used by multiple

Order of St. Dumas and/or its derivatives (i.e the Order of Purity), secretive religious organizations seeking to restore justice to Gotham City through religious extremism. They are typically portrayed as antiheroes and reluctant allies of the superhero Batman and the Batman Family
, battling forms of manipulations employed by their respective orders, violent tendencies shaped by tragedies in their life, and proving themselves trusted allies to Batman.

In media, the Michael Lane incarnation of Azrael has been featured in the

second season of the television series Gotham, portrayed by James Frain
.

Characters

Jean-Paul Valley

Main article: Jean-Paul Valley

Jean-Paul Valley was introduced as the original Azrael in the 1992 four-issue miniseries Batman: Sword of Azrael.[3][4]

He later briefly assumed the identity of Batman in the "Knightfall" story arc (1993-1994), after Bruce Wayne was severely injured in a fight with Bane.[5]

Then, he starred in the subsequent Azrael series.

Michael Washington Lane

Main article: Michael Lane (character)

Michael Lane was originally introduced in Batman #665 (June 2007) as the alter-ego of the supervillain Bat-Devil. In Azrael: Death's Dark Knight #1 (May 2009), the character was re-introduced as the current Azrael, as part of Battle for the Cowl, a storyline told in a three-issue miniseries format written by Fabian Nicieza.[6][7]

Others

A number of other characters besides Valley and Lane have assumed the identity of Azrael in the DC Universe:

Other versions

In The Multiversity: The Just, which takes place on the alternate Earth-16 (where the grown sidekicks and children of superheroes live on an Earth free of crime), Damian Wayne, the new Batman, has a variation of Jean Paul's Azrael suit in a glass display in the Batcave.

In other media

See also: Jean-Paul Valley in other media and Michael Lane in other media

Television

Video games

Lego

Main article: Lego Batman
  • The Jean-Paul Valley version of Azrael is a playable character in the Nintendo DS version of Lego Batman: The Videogame, unlocked after achieving "True Hero" on all levels. In the other versions, the player can unlock special LEGO pieces to build Azrael in the character creation feature.
  • The Michael Lane version of Azrael appears as a playable character in the handheld versions of Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes.

Batman: Arkham

Main article: Batman: Arkham

The Michael Washington Lane incarnation of Azrael appears in the Batman Arkham series, voiced by Khary Payton:

  • Azrael first appears in Batman: Arkham City, as the focus of the "Watcher in the Wings" side mission. After certain events in the game's main storyline, he can be seen on the rooftops of various buildings in Arkham City, watching over Batman. When approached, Azrael will disappear in a cloud of smoke, leaving a symbol for Batman to scan. After scanning all the symbols and combining them to reveal a location, Batman meets Azrael, who tells him about the Order of St. Dumas and warns him of their prophecy of future events and the Dark Knight's end. Though Batman doubts this, Azrael tells him that, regardless of his belief, there are parts of it that are becoming true and they will meet again, before disappearing into a cloud of smoke.
  • Azrael returns in Batman: Arkham Knight as the focus of the Most Wanted mission, "Heir to the Cowl", during which he is briefly playable. The character was later made fully playable in the game's challenge maps through an update. During Scarecrow's takeover of Gotham, Azrael contacts Batman to become his successor. Batman puts Azrael through several trials to test his abilities, during which he is unknowingly monitored by Alfred Pennyworth. After all the trials are completed, Alfred reveals that Azrael's fighting style is identical to Batman's, implying that he has been observing the Dark Knight for years. After discovering Azrael's true identity and that the Order of St. Dumas have implanted a microchip in his brain, Batman goes to the clock tower hideout to analyze the chip. The analysis reveals that the Order have been subtly controlling Azrael's actions, and that their ultimate plan for him is to kill Batman, whose moral code prevents criminals from facing "true justice", and become Gotham's sole protector. Azrael then appears behind Batman, revealing that he had been listening to Batman and Alfred's conversation. Now aware that the Order have manipulated him all along, he is torn between completing his mission to eliminate Batman, or regaining his free will.
    • If the player chooses to have Azrael attempt to kill Batman, he is quickly subdued and subsequently incarcerated at the GCPD Headquarters, where he vows to escape and complete his mission one day.
    • If the player chooses to have Azrael leave the clock tower or destroy his sword, he breaks free of the Order's brainwashing and vows to exact revenge on them.

BBC Audio Dramas

In 1994 the Knightfall Comics were adapted into an audio drama, Batman: Knightfall, played on BBC Radio 1, airing from April 11th to July 22nd. Both Jean-Paul Ludovic Valley and Jean-Paul Valley Jr. Azrael's are heard within this audio drama. Kerry Shale voices Jean-Paul Valley as well as his augmented voice while Azrael.

Collected editions

References

  1. ^ Sacks, Jason (October 14, 2014). "Interview: Peter Milligan: Rediscovering Nemo, Feeling X-Statix and More". Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014.
  2. ISBN 978-1-60549-084-7
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9
    . Azrael, one of the most important characters of the modern Batman mythos, was dropped right under the noses of an unsuspecting reading populace in the debut issue of Batman: Sword of Azrael by esteemed bat-scribe Denny O'Neil, talented young penciler Joe Quesada, and inker extraordinaire Kevin Nowlan.
  4. ^ BATMAN: SWORD OF AZRAEL
  5. ISBN 9780313397516
    .
  6. ^ "Batman: Battle for the Cowl - Enter Azrael", IGN, December 18, 2008
  7. ^ "Fabian Nicieza Unleashes Azrael", Comic Book Resources, December 29, 2008
  8. ^ Azrael #4 (May 1995)
  9. ^ Azrael #10 (November 1995)
  10. ^ "Get Ready for Azrael's 'Gotham' Debut with New Synopsis". Comic Book Resources. 2016-04-08. Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  11. ^ Gotham EP Promises Comics-Accurate Azrael in Second Half of Season 2
  12. ^ Couch, Aaron (May 11, 2020). "Batwoman Confirms Azrael Exists In The Arrowverse". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 13, 2020.

External links

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