Azrael (DC Comics)

Azrael is an alias used by multiple fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original version, Jean-Paul Valley, was created by Denny O'Neil, Joe Quesada, and Peter Milligan, and debuted in Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 (October 1992). The second character to assume the alias was Michael Washington Lane, in Azrael: Death's Dark Knight #1 (May 2009). Both iterations are Christian vigilantes and assassins created by the 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 Batman: Arkham series of video games, voiced by Khary Payton, while an original iteration of Azrael, Theo Galavan, appeared in the second season of the television series Gotham, portrayed by James Frain.

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

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.

Then, he starred in the subsequent Azrael series.

Michael Washington Lane
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.

Others
A number of other characters besides Valley and Lane have assumed the identity of Azrael in the DC Universe:
 * Valley's father was the previous Azrael, as seen in Batman: Sword of Azrael (in which he was identified as Jean-Paul Valley Sr.). In Azrael Annual #1, the character's role as Azrael is depicted in more depth, and he is now identified as just Ludovic Valley.
 * A Chinese man, supposedly given the same training as Valley and an identical costume, is briefly under the control of the Order. Also, the position of the Order of St. Dumas' enforcer has been passed on since medieval times.
 * Early in the Azrael series, another man is supposedly selected and trained in the same way as Valley and the Chinese man to be Valley's replacement. He is defeated by Valley and supposedly falls to his death, only to resurface in Gotham City early on in the Underworld Unleashed crossover event wearing one of Valley's 'Batman' armored costumes and engaging in illegal underground fights after having made a deal with Abra Kadabra (acting on behalf of Neron) for his soul in return for his life.
 * An unrelated character also named Azrael was created by Marv Wolfman and José Luis García-López and debuted in Tales of the Teen Titans #52 in 1985. This version, whose origins remained a mystery, appeared as a supporting character in the Titans stories in the late 1980s.

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.

Television
An original incarnation of Azrael, Theo Galavan, appears in the second season of Gotham, portrayed by James Frain. He is a billionaire industrialist, heir apparent of the Order of St. Dumas, brother of Tabitha Galavan, uncle of Silver St. Cloud, benefactor of a criminal group called the "Maniax", and later mayor of Gotham City. After being exposed and killed by Oswald Cobblepot and Jim Gordon, Theo is later revived by Hugo Strange, but is rendered insane and amnesiac. Under the belief that he is Azrael, an ancient immortal warrior who vanquished the Order's enemies, Strange gives Theo armor, a mask, and sword and tasks him with killing Gordon, only for Theo to be killed by Cobblepot and Butch Gilzean via an RPG.

Video games

 * The Jean-Paul Valley incarnation of Azrael appears as an unlockable playable character in the Nintendo DS version of Lego Batman: The Videogame.
 * The Jean-Paul Valley and Michael Lane versions of Azrael appear as character summons in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
 * The Michael Lane incarnation of Azrael appears as a playable character in the handheld versions of Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes.
 * The Michael Lane incarnation of Azrael appears in the Batman: Arkham franchise, voiced by Khary Payton.

Miscellaneous
The Jean-Paul Ludovic Valley and Jean-Paul Valley Jr. incarnations of Azrael appear in the Batman: Knightfall audio drama.

Collected editions

 * Batman: Sword of Azrael (#1-4) [1993] - ISBN 1-56389-100-X
 * Azrael Vol. 1: Fallen Angel (Batman: Sword of Azrael #1-4, Showcase '94 #10, Azrael #1-7)
 * Batman: Contagion (Azrael #15)
 * Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 1 (Azrael: Agent of the Bat #51-55)
 * Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 2 (Azrael: Agent of the Bat #56)
 * Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 3 (Azrael: Agent of the Bat #58)
 * Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 4 (Azrael: Agent of the Bat #59-61)
 * Azrael: Death's Dark Knight (#1-3, Detective Comics Annual #11, Batman Annual #27)
 * Azrael: Angel in the Dark (Azrael (vol. 2) #1-6) [2010] - ISBN 978-1-4012-2874-3
 * Azrael: Killer of Saints (Azrael (vol. 2) #7-13) (cancelled)
 * Batman: Gotham Shall Be Judged (Azrael (vol. 2) #14-18) [2012] - ISBN 978-1-4012-3378-5