View source for Azrael (DC Comics)

{{Short description|Fictional superhero}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|character_name = Azrael
| image         = Swordazrael1.jpg
| caption       = The Jean-Paul Valley incarnation of Azrael as depicted in ''Batman: Sword of Azrael'' #1 (1992)<br>Art by [[Joe Quesada]] and [[Kevin Nowlan]].
| real_name     = 
* Jean-Paul Valley Jr.
* Michael Washington Lane
* Theo Galavan (''Gotham'')
| publisher     = [[DC Comics]]
| debut         = ''Batman: Sword of Azrael'' #1 (October 1992)
| creators      = {{Plainlist|
* [[Denny O'Neil]]
* [[Joe Quesada]]
}}
| species       = [[Metahuman]]
| alliances     = [[Order of St. Dumas|The Order of St. Dumas]]<br>[[Order of St. Dumas|The Order of Purity]] 
| powers        = The chief suit piece of Azrael, the arcane Suit of Sorrows, grants various abilities dependent on the continuity:
* Pre-''[[Flashpoint (comics)|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. 
| cat            = super
| subcat         = DC Comics
| sortkey        = Azrael (comics)
| partners       = {{Plainlist|
* '''Jean-Paul Valley:'''
* Sister Lily
* Nomoz
* Brian Bryan
* Batwing II
 }}
}}
'''Azrael''' is an alias used by multiple [[Character (arts)|fictional characters]] appearing in [[American comic books]] published by [[DC Comics]]. The original version, '''[[Jean-Paul Valley]]''', was created by [[Dennis O'Neil|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 Lane (character)|'''Michael Washington Lane''']], in ''Azrael: Death's Dark Knight'' #1 (May 2009). Both iterations are [[Christians|Christian]] vigilantes and assassins created by the [[Order of St. Dumas]] and 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 [[antihero|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.

Both Jean-Paul Valley and Michael Lane have appeared in associated DC media. Additionally, an original iteration, '''[[Theo Galavan]]''', appears in the [[Gotham season 2|second season]] of ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'', portrayed by [[James Frain]].

==Characters==
===Jean-Paul Valley===
{{Main|Jean-Paul Valley}}
Jean-Paul Valley  was introduced as the original Azrael in the 1992 four-issue miniseries ''Batman: Sword of Azrael''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Manning|first= Matthew K.|editor-last = Dolan|editor-first = Hannah|chapter= 1990s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 255 |quote = 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.}}</ref><ref>[http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/batman-sword-of-azrael-1992/batman-sword-of-azrael BATMAN: SWORD OF AZRAEL]</ref>

He later briefly assumed the identity of Batman in the "[[Batman: Knightfall|Knightfall]]" story arc (1993-1994), after Bruce Wayne was severely injured in a fight with [[Bane (DC Comics)|Bane]].<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Booker |editor1-first=M. Keith |title=Comics Through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas |date=2014 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9780313397516 |page=909}}</ref>

Then, he starred in the subsequent ''[[Azrael (comic book)|Azrael]]'' series.

===Michael Washington Lane===
{{Main|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 Azrael, as part of the ''[[Batman: Battle for the Cowl|Battle for the Cowl]]'' story arc.<ref>[http://comics.ign.com/articles/939/939673p1.html "Batman: Battle for the Cowl - Enter Azrael"], ''[[IGN]]'', December 18, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19314 "Fabian Nicieza Unleashes Azrael"], ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'', December 29, 2008</ref>

===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,<ref>''Azrael'' #4 (May 1995)</ref> only to resurface in Gotham City in ''[[Underworld Unleashed]]'' wearing one of Valley's 'Batman' armored costumes and engaging in illegal underground fights after having made a deal with [[Abra Kadabra (character)|Abra Kadabra]] (acting on behalf of [[Neron (character)|Neron]]) for his soul in return for his life.<ref>''Azrael'' #10 (November 1995)</ref>
* 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.

==In other media==
{{See also|Jean-Paul Valley #In other media|Michael Lane (character) #In other media}}

===Television===
An original incarnation of Azrael, '''[[Theo Galavan]]''', appears in the [[Gotham season 2|second season]] of ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'', portrayed by [[James Frain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/get-ready-for-azraels-gotham-debut-with-new-synopsis |title=Get Ready for Azrael's 'Gotham' Debut with New Synopsis |website=Comic Book Resources |date=2016-04-08 |access-date=2016-04-08 |archive-date=2016-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811051357/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/get-ready-for-azraels-gotham-debut-with-new-synopsis |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is a billionaire industrialist, heir apparent of the Order of St. Dumas, brother of [[Tigress (DC Comics)|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 (Gotham)|Oswald Cobblepot]] and [[Jim Gordon (Gotham)|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 [[Solomon Grundy (character)|Butch Gilzean]] via an [[rocket-propelled grenade|RPG]].<ref>[http://comicbook.com/2016/02/11/gotham-ep-promises-comics-accurate-azrael-in-second-half-of-seas/ Gotham EP Promises Comics-Accurate Azrael in Second Half of Season 2]</ref>

===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 incarnations 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}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://worldofblackheroes.com/2011/06/10/azrael-michael-washington-lane/ World of Black Heroes: Azrael (Michael Washington Lane) Biography]
* [[dcdatabase:wiki/Jean-Paul_Valley_(New_Earth)|Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley) at the DC Comics wiki]]
* [[dcdatabase:wiki/Jean-Paul_Ludovic_Valley_(New_Earth)|Azrael (Jean-Paul Ludovic Valley, the father) at the DC Comics wiki]]
* [[dcdatabase:wiki/Michael_Lane_(New_Earth)|Azrael (Michael Lane) at the DC Comics wiki]]
* [http://www.batmanytb.com/bios/heroes/azrael/index.php Azrael Biography] at Batman Myth.com
* {{comicbookdb|type=character|id=519|title=Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley)}}
* {{gcdb series|id=5221|title=''Azrael Annual''}}

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