Azrael

[hondobrode]

Didio says we'll see him again this summer. Probably not Jean-Paul but maybe previous Manhunter Mark Shaw. Awesome character long overdue to return. Can't wait to see who the creative team is.

[agentofthebat]

i hope its jean paul.

[AlistairCrane]

If it ain't Jean-Paul, I ain't interested.

[Doc Goblin]

Don't know what they meant or anything, but there were two notes on Rip Hunter's chalkboard about this in Johns' Booster Gold run. One saying that Jean Paul Valley Lives and another saying Azrael comes and goes or something like that.

[agentofthebat]

Didio says we'll see him again this summer. Probably not Jean-Paul but maybe previous Manhunter Mark Shaw. Awesome character long overdue to return. Can't wait to see who the creative team is.

where did u get this info?

[Batman was taken]

where did u get this info?

Didio's most recent 20 questions at Newsarama. He mentioned that alongside Battle for the Cowl, there would be an Azrael one shot (mini?), as well as an Oracle one, etc...

[Maxwell Edison]

I feel newbish for not reading Knightfall yet

[rwe1138]

I really hope it incorporates what Mark Andreyko did with the Order in Manhunter. Hell, I really hope Andreyko writes it himself.

[nepenthes]

Interested but I'm not really expecting too much. Never really liked Azrael but I can see how he could be cool if done a certain way. Who is this mark Shaw guy, what's his connection to Azrael /Dumas?

[rwe1138]

Who is this mark Shaw guy, what's his connection to Azrael /Dumas?

Shaw is one of several people to go by the name Manhunter. Read more here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhunter_(comics)#Mark_Shaw)

In the current Manhunter series, he was approached by an offshoot of the Order of St. Dumas in order to become their new Azrael.

[AlistairCrane]

Maybe Marc will write it and it will star Jean-Paul and Mark. Remember, Kate's gauntlets came from Jean-Paul's Batman costume.

[Captain Jim]

Maybe Marc will write it and it will star Jean-Paul and Mark. Remember, Kate's gauntlets came from Jean-Paul's Batman costume.

Really! If I ever knew that, I didn't remember it.

[AlistairCrane]

It was in the costume's "Secret Origin" issue...Manhunter #15 I think?

[rwe1138]

It was in the costume's "Secret Origin" issue...Manhunter #15 I think?

Indeed it was.

[hondobrode]

I really hope it incorporates what Mark Andreyko did with the Order in Manhunter. Hell, I really hope Andreyko writes it himself.

It'd be great if Andreyko wrote it with Mark Shaw and Jean-Paul both in the title. Maybe Manhunter could be there too. Looking forward to hearing how the art team will be.

[Desaad]

It's being written by Fabian Nicieza, with artwork by Fraser Irving.

The Oracle mini is being written by Kevin VanHook with artwork by Don Kramer

Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon is being written by Royal Mcgraw with art by Tom Mandrake.

[rwe1138]

It's being written by Fabian Nicieza, with artwork by Fraser Irving.


Damn, that's a pretty good team.

[agentofthebat]

Awesome Azrael Is Back!

[Batman Fan 31593]

Cover by Guillem March. IMO, this new costume rivals the original Quesada designed costume. It's definitely much better than any of the Agent of the Bat costumes that came later.

http://www.newsarama.com/preview_images/dcnew/march2009/2/azr_cv1-cv.jpg

[agentofthebat]

That looks like a Azbats cape. Isnt that kinda like the cover on Azrael 100? I hope that jean paul is back!

[HaroldAllnut]

If it ain't Jean-Paul, I ain't interested.In the current Manhunter series, he was approached by an offshoot of the Order of St. Dumas in order to become their new Azrael.

While the whole Knightfall saga is gospel to me, since it's what got me into comics back during elementary school, this could be an interesting idea. His new costume looks pretty sweet.

[HaroldAllnut]

It's definitely much better than any of the Agent of the Bat costumes that came later.

Oh good God. I forgot to mention those. They were absolutely atrocious.

[James Conniff]

It looks like whoever it is, they may be wearing the armor that Batman wore during Ressurection of Ra's.

[the-wolf]

It's not bad, but it doesn't equal Joe Q's. Not even close. That costume is classic.

[agentofthebat]

i cant wait!

[IronMagnus]

The new Az costume is ok, except for the combat boots.

I agree that the original Az costume is a classic.

[Jerry Fields]

Awesome, I really like the name, haven't ever read it though:frown:

[Libaax]

I hope to see Azrael again. I like both Shaw and Jean-Paul as Manhunter fan and fan Jean-Paul in his Batman/Azrael days.


I really hope to see more of the order too !

[AlistairCrane]

Skipping this. No Jean-Paul.

[Captain Jim]

Skipping this. No Jean-Paul.

You're jumping to conclusions. At this point, we don't know one way or another.

[Lew Moxon]

I don't really like Azrael to begin with, I read a really odd comic featuring him, or some kind of replacement Batman, and he had to deal with firefly and some kind of evil sun computer.

And yes it was made in the ninties.

Though it might not have been Azrael, because there was some implication that Batman had been sent into the future, and this was the future version of Batman sent back to take over while Bruce dealt with the problems in the future. Problems which included an evil computer at war with the sun.

What am I thinking of? Cookies for whoever tells me, I really don't know what this memory comes from, its been a long time since I read it.
It ended with Bruce coming back, and taking the mantle again.

It was so odd and strange, well, I kind of avoided the comics for about a decade.

[AlistairCrane]

You're jumping to conclusions. At this point, we don't know one way or another.

Yes we do. The character described in the solicit is not Jean Paul.

[hondobrode]

real Bat villains to tangle with.

Yes, this costume is the only one since the original that's any good. At first I didn't like the boots, but they're growing on me.

[PastePotPete]

The solicit reads:
"He was a husband and a father. A brother and a friend. A cop and a dark knight. But he had all that taken away. And in return, he was given a suit of sorrows, a quest for redemption and a new name. He is Azrael, avenging angel for the Order of Purity and a new protector for Gotham City's troubled times. But who will protect the citizens from him?"

Does that describe Mark Shaw? I don't really know the character.

Love the costume. Loved the character. Sword of Azrael was one of the first trades I ever owned. My brother got it for me for Christmas when we were kids. That Quesada artwork was suh-weeeeeet.

[Batman Fan 31593]

I don't really like Azrael to begin with, I read a really odd comic featuring him, or some kind of replacement Batman, and he had to deal with firefly and some kind of evil sun computer.

And yes it was made in the ninties.

Though it might not have been Azrael, because there was some implication that Batman had been sent into the future, and this was the future version of Batman sent back to take over while Bruce dealt with the problems in the future. Problems which included an evil computer at war with the sun.

What am I thinking of? Cookies for whoever tells me, I really don't know what this memory comes from, its been a long time since I read it.
It ended with Bruce coming back, and taking the mantle again.

It was so odd and strange, well, I kind of avoided the comics for about a decade.

Though I haven't read this issue in years, I'm pretty sure you are remembering Detective Comics #1,000,000, part of the DC One Million crossover in 1998.

Can I have chocolate chip cookies? :wink:

[agentofthebat]

Doesnt mean down the road if this isnt jean paul we get a real Azrael vs Azrael match up other then the crap we got around issues 73-75 i think.

[Captain Jim]

Yes we do. The character described in the solicit is not Jean Paul.

Are you sure? I confess that I don't remember all the details of his backstory, as far as family is concerned. Or maybe they're going to amend his backstory.

Who does the line, "He was a dark knight...but he had that taken away" fit besides Jean Paul?

[Lew Moxon]

Though I haven't read this issue in years, I'm pretty sure you are remembering Detective Comics #1,000,000, part of the DC One Million crossover in 1998.

Can I have chocolate chip cookies? :wink:

You get chocolate chip cookies:wink:

I am amazed that its an actual comic, and not something my mind just invented. So, what was the point of the evil sun computer?

[carabas]

Are you sure? I confess that I don't remember all the details of his backstory, as far as family is concerned. Or maybe they're going to amend his backstory.

Who does the line, "He was a dark knight...but he had that taken away" fit besides Jean Paul?
Jean Paul was a friend to some, but he definitely never was a brother, a father nor a cop.
Mark Shaw sort of was a dark knight in his Dumas persona, and he was not exactly a cop, but a public defender. I'm not too clear on his family situation beyond the point that at one time he did have one.

[Lupek]

I don't know Azrael at all but that costume is aces.

[Captain Jim]

Did anybody pick up Batman and the Outsiders this week? If so, did anybody else think that was the new Azrael depicted at the end of the storyline?

[Lester C.]

I have all one hundred issues of Azrael plus the annuals and all I can say was that it started with a bang and ended with a whimper.

[Red_Knight]

Over at the DC messageboards, a whole different possibility is being discussed at the moment: What if the new Azrael is Lane, the Third Man from Morrison's run?

Seems like a long shot to me, but the description would seem to fit him, and Lane is certainly a lot "closer" to the Bat Family than Mark Shaw. Then again, I don't know for sure whether the description also fits Shaw. Could be. AFAIK, he was a public defender, not a cop, however. I guess you could claim that he was "a dark knight" during his tenure as Manhunter, but that would be a bit misleading, IMO. Besides, Shaw turned down the offer to become Azrael...

Personally, I'm rooting for Lane. Him being Azrael would actually make me buy the book.

[FistofIron]

Can anyone recommend some Azrael reading for me?

[Lester C.]

Can anyone recommend some Azrael reading for me?

With the exception of the fist mini I don't think there are any trades of the ongoing. Plus he was rarely present in the big bat crossovers so you're only bet is to get the series on ebay. And I say the series because it's one big long story having all been written by Dennis O'neal.

[nixon]

I don't really like Azrael to begin with, I read a really odd comic featuring him, or some kind of replacement Batman, and he had to deal with firefly and some kind of evil sun computer.

And yes it was made in the ninties.

Though it might not have been Azrael, because there was some implication that Batman had been sent into the future, and this was the future version of Batman sent back to take over while Bruce dealt with the problems in the future. Problems which included an evil computer at war with the sun.

What am I thinking of? Cookies for whoever tells me, I really don't know what this memory comes from, its been a long time since I read it.
It ended with Bruce coming back, and taking the mantle again.

It was so odd and strange, well, I kind of avoided the comics for about a decade.

Was that Batman One Million by any chance? That's all I can think of.

[Lew Moxon]

Was that Batman One Million by any chance? That's all I can think of.

I no longer have the issue, and it having been a decade, I haven't got a clue what comic I remember. But its certainly possible, though previously I heard Detective One Million as a possible answer.

[Mat001]

It is the 1 Million storyline. Evil sun computer is Solaris.