Azrael (comic book)
Encyclopedia
Azrael was an American
comic book
ongoing series
, published by DC Comics
based on the character Azrael
. The name, inspired by the Islam
ic Angel of Death
, is primarily associated with two characters: Jean-Paul Valley and Michael Lane. The latter is the star of a comics series which ran from 2009 to 2011.
, the first Azrael ongoing series
shows Azrael's (Jean-Paul Valley) battles against the Order of St. Dumas, and ran for 100 issues between 1995 and 2003. Starting with issue #47, it was retitled Azrael: Agent of the Bat in an attempt to boost sales by tying the series in with the rest of the Batman mythos
, including Azrael as part of the team of Batman
, Robin
, and the new Batgirl
(Cassandra Cain). He also changes his costume considerably for a time. Azrael returns to his original costume and battles supposed hallucination
s that are supposed to represent both his father and the creator of the order that spawned him, St. Dumas.
Toward the end of the series, Azrael is plagued by apparently supernatural
occurrences in the form of possible miracle
s.
Azrael is seemingly killed in the series' final issue, shot with two specially-coated bullets while battling archenemies Scratch and Carlton Lehah. However, his body is never recovered. He is seen during Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader, however, the story is out of continuity, or takes place on multiple different earths. The Blackest Night crossover features a resurrected Jean Paul Valley suggesting he did indeed die.
There were also published 3 annual editions of Azrael (Azrael Annual), depicting other stories, such as the one of his father in Azrael Annual #1 (Year One).
(written by Fabian Nicieza, with art by Frazer Irving
, May - July 2009), in which an African American ex-cop named Michael Washington Lane is approached by the Order of Purity to reclaim the mantle of Azrael after the Order of Dumas' new Azrael went mad and killed an undercover police officer. Lane is currently active in Gotham City working on an "eye for an eye" style of justice. The first issue is set to be released in October 2009. The background and narrative that is outlined in the Azrael: Death's Dark Knight is expanded further by Nicieza in a two-part story written that crossed because the Batman Annual #27 and Detective Comics Annual #11 . In this story, the character teams up with Batman and Robin in an attempt to thwart an ancient cult from sacrificing seven children in an effort to resurrect the embodiment of the eighth deadly sin.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
ongoing series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
, published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
based on the character Azrael
Azrael (comics)
Azrael is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are a group of assassins who were created by The Order of St. Dumas to "enforce god's will"...
. The name, inspired by the Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic Angel of Death
Azrael
Azrael is the name of the Archangel of Death in some extrabiblical traditions. He is also the angel of death in Islamic theology and Sikhism. It is an English form of the Arabic name ʿIzrāʾīl or Azra'eil , the name traditionally attributed to the angel of death in some sects of Islam and Sikhism,...
, is primarily associated with two characters: Jean-Paul Valley and Michael Lane. The latter is the star of a comics series which ran from 2009 to 2011.
Azrael
Following the events of Batman: Sword of Azrael and Batman: KnightfallBatman: Knightfall
"Knightfall" is the title given to a major Batman story arc published by DC Comics that dominated Batman-related serial comic books in the spring and summer of 1993...
, the first Azrael ongoing series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
shows Azrael's (Jean-Paul Valley) battles against the Order of St. Dumas, and ran for 100 issues between 1995 and 2003. Starting with issue #47, it was retitled Azrael: Agent of the Bat in an attempt to boost sales by tying the series in with the rest of the Batman mythos
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
, including Azrael as part of the team of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
, and the new Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
(Cassandra Cain). He also changes his costume considerably for a time. Azrael returns to his original costume and battles supposed hallucination
Hallucination
A hallucination, in the broadest sense of the word, is a perception in the absence of a stimulus. In a stricter sense, hallucinations are defined as perceptions in a conscious and awake state in the absence of external stimuli which have qualities of real perception, in that they are vivid,...
s that are supposed to represent both his father and the creator of the order that spawned him, St. Dumas.
Toward the end of the series, Azrael is plagued by apparently supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
occurrences in the form of possible miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s.
Azrael is seemingly killed in the series' final issue, shot with two specially-coated bullets while battling archenemies Scratch and Carlton Lehah. However, his body is never recovered. He is seen during Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader, however, the story is out of continuity, or takes place on multiple different earths. The Blackest Night crossover features a resurrected Jean Paul Valley suggesting he did indeed die.
There were also published 3 annual editions of Azrael (Azrael Annual), depicting other stories, such as the one of his father in Azrael Annual #1 (Year One).
Azrael: Death's Dark Knight
Azrael: Death's Dark Knight was a limited seriesLimited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
(written by Fabian Nicieza, with art by Frazer Irving
Frazer Irving
Frazer Irving is a British comic book artist known for the 2000 AD series Necronauts. Irving studied art at the University of Portsmouth, England, after which he took various temporary jobs in London...
, May - July 2009), in which an African American ex-cop named Michael Washington Lane is approached by the Order of Purity to reclaim the mantle of Azrael after the Order of Dumas' new Azrael went mad and killed an undercover police officer. Lane is currently active in Gotham City working on an "eye for an eye" style of justice. The first issue is set to be released in October 2009. The background and narrative that is outlined in the Azrael: Death's Dark Knight is expanded further by Nicieza in a two-part story written that crossed because the Batman Annual #27 and Detective Comics Annual #11 . In this story, the character teams up with Batman and Robin in an attempt to thwart an ancient cult from sacrificing seven children in an effort to resurrect the embodiment of the eighth deadly sin.
Azrael (Volume 2 / 2nd Series)
The first issue of the second ongoing series (Vol. 2) has a cover date of Dec '09 and was released on October 2009. The series ended at issue 18, though the character Azrael remains active.Collected Editions
- Azrael: Death's Dark Knight (Collects #1-3, Detective Comics Annual #11 and Batman Annual #27)
- Azrael: Angel in the Dark (Collects #1-6)
- Azrael: Killer of Saints (Collects 7-13) (Cancelled)