Azrael

[hondobrode]

Sorry, I know this character hasn't been around for a year or two now, but I finally found a copy of Azrael # 100, the last issue. I have to say that this was the WORST sendoff for a character that I have ever seen. It was anti-climatic in the worst sense. It felt like it was slapped together and lacked cohesiveness, pacing, or even a more in-depth explanation of exactly what has gone before and what is going on, for those of us who sometimes pick up special issues without following the regular series.

If I could write one DC character, it would be Azrael. When I first heard the concept I was sickened. He was introduced roughly 12 years or so ago when the Big Two were introducing alternates of their marquee heroes (Artemis, Reign of the Supermen, Thunderstrike, USAgent, War Machine, Scarlet Spider, etc). I read the original mini-series and really loved the idea. The first issues of the regular series were great too. Kitson's art was great and it felt like Az was loosely affiliated with the Bat Family.

I am glad to see Denny O'Neil gone. He co-created Az along with current Marvel E-i-C Joe Quesada and, along with Neal Adams and Dick Giordano, wrote some of the best Batman stories ever, when he truly epitomized the Dark Night Detective.

I know Azrael is nowhere on DC's radar right now and probably won't be until Joe is no longer with Marvel (that could be a LONG time).

This is one of the freshest characters of the last 20 years or so and I'm really saddened that we won't be seeing him again for so long./

[Siythe]

Azraels book got progressivley worse as the title went on, in the end it was put down to end its suffering. Not worth bothering with once he loses the original costume IMO. If they had switched writters to someone who had some new Ideas it might have taken off but as it was it just repeated the same Az goes mad, Batman beats him up, Az gets sane story again and again.

Waste.

[jetter_cheeze]

From what i understand about issue 100, Oneal had a really good script and sendoff, but somehow it got deleted or destroyed, something to that nature. He needed to do a rewrite and fast, and that gave us the issue 100 that we all love to hate. While it might be terrible, it did leave the door open for others to use Az in the future, with a little explaination. Hopefully we will see his return if The Red Hood turns out to be Az, which some people, myself included, are really hoping for.

[Azrael52]

Either Azrael or some form of the name has been my screen name for pretty much everything ever since he took over the mantle of the bat. I get kidded a lot about it, saying things like "You actually liked AzBat", etc. That's ok, b/c the character was cool. The series sucked, though. As far as the conclusion, I thouhgt at the time they were setting it up for him to become the new Spectre as that series came to a close around that time.

[SUPERMAN PRIME]

the fact is that Jean Paul is not dead ! The AZRAEL just cannot die from a fall ! so he could return anytime ! and the question is...why is he still hiding ?

he could be a part of major future stories...

[noodleboy]

Another clue to that he might not be dead is the DC Encyclopedia does not list him as deceased and said his "apparent" demise fro the fall. More than likely the end story was written so that they could shelf Azrael until a later date.

[barbgrayson]

i never really liked the way he was handled except for the sword of azrael storyline

[hondobrode]

From what i understand about issue 100, Oneal had a really good script and sendoff, but somehow it got deleted or destroyed, something to that nature. He needed to do a rewrite and fast, and that gave us the issue 100 that we all love to hate. While it might be terrible, it did leave the door open for others to use Az in the future, with a little explaination. Hopefully we will see his return if The Red Hood turns out to be Az, which some people, myself included, are really hoping for.
Az is the Red Hood ? Great idea but I don't think they'll follow through on it. I really think DC is not going to use Az anymore until Joe Quesada is no longer the Main Man at Marvel.

I can see where he is not truly dead and they have left the door open, yes, but that was still the crappiest send off of a B level character I have ever seen !

Cariello is a good artist in the tradition of Jack Davis, but his style completely did NOT fight this title.

[jetter_cheeze]

Az is the Red Hood ? Great idea but I don't think they'll follow through on it. I really think DC is not going to use Az anymore until Joe Quesada is no longer the Main Man at Marvel.

I can see where he is not truly dead and they have left the door open, yes, but that was still the crappiest send off of a B level character I have ever seen !

Cariello is a good artist in the tradition of Jack Davis, but his style completely did NOT fight this title.


We'll find out Wed if it is true or not.

Cariello's style REALLY didn't match the character.

[sikkbones]

i could see AZ back as a major villian not just for bats for for all the DCU.
it would be intresting to see him team up or fight the spectre whoever that ends up being... whos gonna be the new spectre anyways.. any ideas?

[jclem]

This character had so much potential yet DC decided to deal him a cruel fate and misused him grossly. This is a character good for the Batman family as the sort of black sheep but somehow, they messed him up.

I also hope for his revival someday and be an intergral part of the Bat-books.

[Matches Malone]

There was a re-write of Az #100. Originally tptb demanded Az die unequivocally, and only changed their minds after the script was done. Hence the "apparent" demise with no body found.

Az's book suffered after Kitson left, but imo it was totally unreadable for about the last year. It just wasn't coherent at all.

[SUPERMAN PRIME]

how could az even manage to fight the Spectre?

[hondobrode]

It would make sense to me to have Az and Huntress kind of gravitate towards each other.

[dekard49]

I always thought that Azrael could work well as a Vertigo title, I, like the rest of you, was aghast of the last few arcs of the series, though I was never sure about a new writer. Though a lot of writers could have revived Azrael, for myself, as well as a lot of other people I'm sure, it was Jean Paul's continuing experiences and reflection, trials and errors that kept me coming back to the book.

Denny created a fragile, sometimes damaged, but infinetley charming young man that was very refreshing to read about..

[The Mirrorball Man]

For me Azrael was one of the coolest costumes of all time, and little else (little else that caught my interest, that is). I was extremely baffled by DC's decision to ditch the costume and keep everything else, and I quickly lost interest.

[Choppa]

I agree with most of what was said. Azrael is an awesome characters whose potential was squandered at the end and could have a potentially awesome comeback. Even when he was Azbats he was interesting.

But him being the Red Hood?? WTF? What kind of evidence could possible back that up? Their MO's are nothing at all alike.