Azrael
1995
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Jean-Paul Valley as AzRAEL
Batman: Sword Of Azrael (1992-1993)
Batman: Sword Of Azrael promotional poster
Batman: Sword Of Azrael features the first appearance of Jean-Paul Valley and his "awakening" as Azreal. It also shows the first meeting of Jean-Paul Valley and Batman.
This 4-issue mini-series was published from October 1992 to January 1993.
This 4-issue mini-series was published from October 1992 to January 1993.
Batman: Knightfall (1993-1994)
During Batman: Knightfall, Bruce Wayne is replaced as Batman by Azrael/Jean-Paul Valley, who becomes increasingly violent and unstable, tarnishing Batman's reputation. Eventually, Bruce reclaims his role as Batman.
Batman (Vol. 1) #489 (February 1993) (First appearance of Azrael as Batman)
Azrael (Vol. 1) promotional poster announcing the upcoming Azrael ongoing series
Azrael (Vol. 1)
Following the events of Batman: Sword Of Azrael (1992-1993) and Batman: Knightfall (1993-1994), the first Azrael ongoing series (Azrael, Vol. 1) ran for 100 issues (February 1995-May 2003).
Starting with #47 (December 1998), the book was re-titled Azrael: Agent Of The Bat, in an attempt to boost sales by tying the series in with the rest of the Batman family.
This run also includes:
NOTE: Azrael #1,000,000 has been collected in the DC One Million Omnibus.
Starting with #47 (December 1998), the book was re-titled Azrael: Agent Of The Bat, in an attempt to boost sales by tying the series in with the rest of the Batman family.
This run also includes:
- Azrael #1,000,000;
- Azrael Annual #1-3;
- Azrael/Ash (Intercompany Crossover between DC Comics and Event Comics);
- Azrael Plus The Question #1.
NOTE: Azrael #1,000,000 has been collected in the DC One Million Omnibus.
Collected Editions
A lot of issues from Azrael (Vol. 1) have not yet been collected, although some issues of this run have been collected in Batman titled trade paperbacks (see below). However, in 2016 DC Comics started publishing trade paperbacks collecting the complete series, (though only one trade has been published so far; see the slideshow above for the contents of Azrael, Volume 1: Fallen Angel).
The following issues of Azrael (Vol. 1) were part of Batman: No Man's Land. They were originally not collected in the Batman: No Man's Land trade paperback editions, but have been included in the newer, expanded editions.
- Batman: Contagion (Collects Azrael (Vol. 1) #15-16).
The following issues of Azrael (Vol. 1) were part of Batman: No Man's Land. They were originally not collected in the Batman: No Man's Land trade paperback editions, but have been included in the newer, expanded editions.
- Azrael: Agent Of The Bat #47-49 (Batman: Road to No Man's Land Vol. 2);
- Azrael: Agent Of The Bat #51-55 (Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 1);
- Azrael: Agent Of The Bat #56-57 (Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 2);
- Azrael: Agent Of The Bat #58 (Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 3);
- Azrael: Agent Of The Bat #59-61 (Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 4).
Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley) is seemingly killed in the series' final issue (#100, May 2003). His death went unconfirmed for several years.
In Booster Gold (Vol. 2) #10 (August 2008), a note can be seen written on time traveler Rip Hunter's chalk board reading "Jean-Paul Valley Lives!". In the following issue, another note says "Azrael comes and goes."
Azrael also appears in Blackest Night #4 (October 2009) as an undead member of the Black Lantern Corps; although at first it had not been confirmed whether it was Jean-Paul Valley or another Azrael. However, it was later revealed (in the index section of Blackest Night) that it was in fact Jean-Paul.
Jean-Paul Valley makes a cameo at Batman's funeral service in Neil Gaiman's 2009 story Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?, a story which is metaphysical in nature.
In The New 52, Jean-Paul Valley reappeared as Azrael in an arc of Batman & Robin: Eternal. His design was updated, with his main weapon being his sword rather than gauntlets (although he was later shown to still possess the gauntlet blades). His character, however, was essentially the same, working as an enforcer for the Order Of St. Dumas. In the comic, he defeats Bane and eventually turns on his handler and the Order to assist Red Hood and Tim Drake. This marked the first proper appearance of a living Jean-Paul Valley in the DCU in over 10 years, with previous appearances relegated to either minimal cameos or the aforementioned Black Lantern revival of the character.
In 2016, Jean Paul made his post-Rebirth debut in the first issue of the Detective Comics line, starting with #934. Jean Paul made a few cameo appearances in the first two issues before joining the roster fully in issue #943.
In Booster Gold (Vol. 2) #10 (August 2008), a note can be seen written on time traveler Rip Hunter's chalk board reading "Jean-Paul Valley Lives!". In the following issue, another note says "Azrael comes and goes."
Azrael also appears in Blackest Night #4 (October 2009) as an undead member of the Black Lantern Corps; although at first it had not been confirmed whether it was Jean-Paul Valley or another Azrael. However, it was later revealed (in the index section of Blackest Night) that it was in fact Jean-Paul.
Jean-Paul Valley makes a cameo at Batman's funeral service in Neil Gaiman's 2009 story Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?, a story which is metaphysical in nature.
In The New 52, Jean-Paul Valley reappeared as Azrael in an arc of Batman & Robin: Eternal. His design was updated, with his main weapon being his sword rather than gauntlets (although he was later shown to still possess the gauntlet blades). His character, however, was essentially the same, working as an enforcer for the Order Of St. Dumas. In the comic, he defeats Bane and eventually turns on his handler and the Order to assist Red Hood and Tim Drake. This marked the first proper appearance of a living Jean-Paul Valley in the DCU in over 10 years, with previous appearances relegated to either minimal cameos or the aforementioned Black Lantern revival of the character.
In 2016, Jean Paul made his post-Rebirth debut in the first issue of the Detective Comics line, starting with #934. Jean Paul made a few cameo appearances in the first two issues before joining the roster fully in issue #943.
Michael Lane as Azrael
Azrael: Death's Dark Knight
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Azrael: The Eighth Deadly Sin
2009
Death's Dark Knight is a 3-issue Azrael story (May-July 2009) published as a tie-in to Batman: Battle For The Cowl. Here, Michael Lane is introduced as the Order Of Purity's new avenging angel, Azrael.
Death's Dark Knight was followed by The Eighth Deadly Sin, which was published as a two-part crossover in Batman Annual #27 and Detective Comics Annual #11 (in October 2009).
Azrael: Death's Dark Knight and The Eighth Deadly Sin have been collected in Azrael: Death's Dark Knight.
Azrael: Death's Dark Knight (TPB)
Azrael (Vol. 2)
Azrael (Vol. 2) ran for 18 issues, from December 2009 to May 2011, although the character Azrael remained active in other series such as Batman and Red Robin until October 2011, when The New 52 started.
Azrael (Vol. 2) #1 (December 2009)
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Azrael (Vol. 2) #18 (May 2011) (FINAL ISSUE)
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Collected editions
- Azrael: Angel In The Dark (#1-6);
- Azrael: Killer Of Saints (#7-13) (Canceled);
- Batman: Gotham Shall Be Judged (#14-18).
Azrael (Michael Lane) has appeared in the rebooted New 52 continuity.
He was originally featured in Batwoman #2 (November 2011) as a cameo, which was written before the relaunch but published after, however the art was edited in order to remove him.
Later, Michael Lane appeared in issue #10 (June 2013) of Batman: Incorporated (Vol. 2).
His absence from Batman's organization is explained by his choosing seclusion and daily prayer as a way of repenting for all that he did as a tool of Ra's Al Ghul and Doctor Hurt, believing himself to hold an important role in the apocalypse.
He was originally featured in Batwoman #2 (November 2011) as a cameo, which was written before the relaunch but published after, however the art was edited in order to remove him.
Later, Michael Lane appeared in issue #10 (June 2013) of Batman: Incorporated (Vol. 2).
His absence from Batman's organization is explained by his choosing seclusion and daily prayer as a way of repenting for all that he did as a tool of Ra's Al Ghul and Doctor Hurt, believing himself to hold an important role in the apocalypse.
