CBR: Nicieza Unleashes Azrael on Gotham

[CBR News]

Robin and Nightwing have their hands full in post-“Batman R.I.P.” and the return
of Azrael isn’t making things any easier on the heir-apparents. We spoke with
writer Fabian Nicieza about "Azrael: Death's Dark Knight."


Full article here.

[Harding Prime]

I appreciate that Fabian is letting readers know that this isn't Jean Paul instead of stringing them along. Fabian has always been an honest an up front guy, IMO.

[Alexx1]

I agree Harding Prime. I have a lot of respect for Fabian. He seems one of the few writer's who respect what other writers before him do. That's rare with DC writers, imo.

If I'm reading this article right, Fabian's Azrael is a 'new' character? It be nice to know who was guest starring in this book also. I suppose Robin and Nightwing. I'm hoping for some other Bat family characters. Robin and Nightwing are in everything. I'd like to see some other characters get some light.

[grphxkindaguy]

So no more creating new characters for the Batman mythos, just rehashing old one's (and one's that weren't that great to begin with)?

[batmansgirl]

Oooh, I hope DC makes a wallpaper for the Gotham Gazette one-shot. Or heck, even better, make it a poster (pleeeease, DC Direct! *begs*). I'm amazed at how pretty and sad that scene looks all at once.

I love what Fabian is doing to the Batbooks. He's taking such great care of them, I couldn't trust anyone else to handle the Batclan except him and Geoff Johns.

[Dr. Chaos]

The suit of sorrows?

Isn't that the thing Bruce locked up in the batcave awhile ago?

[Harding Prime]

So no more creating new characters for the Batman mythos, just rehashing old one's (and one's that weren't that great to begin with)?

I would agree with you if it was a character that didn't have a role as a customed character that didn't have a mantle, but was suppose to be one character. Valley was the last in a long line of Azrael's. So this actually makes since, and a new person holding this mantle comes as a undertone to the "Battle for the Cowl". I never liked Valley that much myself, a little over the top for me. But a new character in a tight new costume like that is fresh, and I like the religous aspect of it as well. It was before it's time with the blow up of the Da Vinci Code and things like that. For that I give O'Neil props.

[davepaton]

Before I thought that Jason Todd was going to be Azrael but from that article it sounds like it could be a new character which is interesting.

[Ratwedge]

The suit of sorrows?

Isn't that the thing Bruce locked up in the batcave awhile ago?

This.

Didnt Batman put that suit away in a trophy case?

[Captain Jim]

If I'm reading this article right, Fabian's Azrael is a 'new' character? It be nice to know who was guest starring in this book also.

More information can be found in the IGN interview.

Also, the solicitation information for the first issue says this:

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?

Guest-starring Robin, Nightwing, Talia and the League of Assassins, this miniseries runs alongside BATTLE FOR THE COWL and features the dramatic presence of a strangely familiar, troubled hero with two things on his mind: crazed vengeance for the wrongs he has suffered and salvation for the sins he continues to commit!

Also, some very interesting speculation about this character's identity can be found here.

[hondobrode]

I've been Jonesing for some kind of an Azrael return for years now.

The basis of the characters is solid. I've loved Fabian's writing since Acclaim / Valiant and the excellent Troublemakers. His observations in this interview are spot on. I'm hoping like heck this mini will be a success and we'll see an ongoing again.

Az has the potential to elevate to sort of a Daredevil status with his strongly held faith. The whole Order of St Dumas / Order of Purity thing now is just so ripe with storytelling potential and a holy crusade. What's cooler than that ?

I wish they'd rename the League of Assassins something that didn't sound kind so corny. Great concept and a great name if I were still 12 years old. The Secret Society of Super-Villains now goes by The Society. Much cooler. Something like Al Ghul (similar to Al Qaida) would be the group's name with Ra's Al Ghul being their leader.

Bring back Kobra too. That'd be a great fit for Azrael.

[the-wolf]

I've always thought that DC blew it by not capiatlizing on the whole "Da Vinci" craze. Other, far superior, books such as Blood of the Lamb, the Fraternity of the Stone and the Assassini pre-date even that. DC itself was ahead of the curve. And then, during a decade where stuff about secret religious orders and the Knights Templar and assassins who work for them were flying off the shelves, DC sits on Azrael and does nothing. Such shoddy business planning.

The same goes for a decade of the War on Terror, an awesome and successful mini-series by Garth Ennis and DC/Vertigo sitting on the Unknown Soldier. And the Blackhawks. Oh, such potential wasted. I'll never get it.

At last, both characters are back. Better late than never? We'll see. I have high expectations.

[the-wolf]

I've been Jonesing for some kind of an Azrael return for years now.

The basis of the characters is solid. I've loved Fabian's writing since Acclaim / Valiant and the excellent Troublemakers. His observations in this interview are spot on. I'm hoping like heck this mini will be a success and we'll see an ongoing again.

Az has the potential to elevate to sort of a Daredevil status with his strongly held faith. The whole Order of St Dumas / Order of Purity thing now is just so ripe with storytelling potential and a holy crusade. What's cooler than that ?

I wish they'd rename the League of Assassins something that didn't sound kind so corny. Great concept and a great name if I were still 12 years old. The Secret Society of Super-Villains now goes by The Society. Much cooler. Something like Al Ghul (similar to Al Qaida) would be the group's name with Ra's Al Ghul being their leader.

Bring back Kobra too. That'd be a great fit for Azrael.

Dude, you are bang-on. From the LoA to the Illuminati, Kobra, Brotherhood of Evil, the Black Dragon Society, SPIDER and HIVE. There's so much potential there to show a secret war among the various secret societies out there.

[nepenthes]

yep if it turns out to be Lane the ex cop devil batman.....I'm in. I never really got into Azrael before but this can definitely be interesting especially under Nicieza.

[Mia]

So no more creating new characters for the Batman mythos, just rehashing old one's (and one's that weren't that great to begin with)?

I think that I've posted how much I love Fabian Nicienza's writing. He's one of my top 7 favourite writers.

I'll be off loading my collection soon. But I decided that there was no way on earth, I will part with his X-Men run. Some of the best and most pleasurable comic book reading I have experienced in my life. Truly the penultimate of writing.

Oh and he truly understands how to write truly powerful women.