He was briefly the chief replacement for Batman, now he's known as DC's violent holy warrior Azrael. The hand that once swung the sword for the Order of St Dumas is returning in an explosive new miniseries that will explore the man behind the mask, Jean-Paul Valley.
Fans may remember Jean-Paul from his dramatic experiences with Batman and his incredible range of costumes as Azrael. He first crossed paths with the Dark Knight when Valley took on the legacy role of Azrael, an assassin for a sinister sacred order. Though he had been the victim of a deep level of psychological conditioning, Bruce helped Valley overcome his past and turn Azrael into a force for good. When Batman was debilitated after his fight with Bane, it was Valley who first stepped up to replace him as Gotham's new Dark Knight. Though he wound up cracking under the pressure, Azrael has since tried to remain on the side of the angels. Unfortunately for Jean-Paul, the Order he once served is carrying on their work.
Now, GamesRadar+ revealed the vigilante's upcoming return in Sword of Azrael, a six-issue miniseries from Dan Watters and Nikola Čižmešija. The creative team had previously collaborated with Sword of Azrael: Dark Knight of the Soul, a three-part story that appeared in Batman: Urban Legends #8-10. The miniseries will follow a retired Jean-Paul Valley who lives in solitary and has sworn off the life of Azrael. However, he finds himself dragged back in when he meets a young woman claiming to have undergone the same conditioning that turned him into Azrael. Valley steps back into his old role as Azrael to protect her from those in the Order who wish to do her harm. To prepare readers for the upcoming series, DC will also release Sword of Azrael: Dark Knight of the Soul #1, a 40-page collection of Watters and Čižmešija's lead-in story.
While the descriptions don't go too far explaining who this new character is, there's a good chance that readers could see a potential new Azrael, or at the very least, a new family for Valley. The mantle has traditionally passed down a bloodline and the Order's insidious conditioning, known as the System, has generally only affected Jean-Paul's family. Of course, there have been others that have taken on the title, but this new series promises big things for the tormented hero.
Azrael's past was a controversial thing both in and out-universe. Many fans didn't believe Azrael was the right choice to replace Batman and he only proved them right by flagrantly violating Bruce's wishes when he was filling in. The former Azrael, Jean-Paul's, stint as Batman was a personal black mark for the hero and he's tried to redeem himself by walking a nobler path. Valley's new comic is a chance to show how far he's come since his days as a tool for the wicked order. He may not have been the right fit for Batman, but the DCU may need Azrael for a mission only he can see through.
Sword of Azrael #1 and Sword of Azrael: Dark Knight of the Soul #1 will be released on August 2nd, 2022.
Source: GamesRadar+