 |
| Title |
Batman: Sword
of Azrael |
| Format |
TPB |
| Binding |
TPB |
| Date |
1993
(collection), 1992 (issues) |
|
Writer(s) |
Dennis O'Neil |
|
Artist(s) |
Joe Quesada,
Kevin Nowlan |
| Collects |
Sword of Azrael 1-4 |
| Storyline |
Batman began
investigating a "fallen angel" seen during a festival in Gotham
City. The angel Azrael, an assassin of the Order of St. Dumas, had been
shot up and had fallen through a window. He had enough life left to get to
his son. He left his son with a package of directions for his life. He
followed his father's directions to Switzerland, where he learned the
truth about his father, and that he would succeed his father as Azrael.
He'd been receiving programming and teaching from his father since birth.
The "System" was in his subconscious. Oracle was able to trace a
sigil found by Batman on a sword. It was the mark of the Order of St.
Dumas, a cult-like organization that appeared to have vanished in the 15th
Century. Bruce and Alfred made for Switzerland. In the mountains, they
found a cottage located inside landmarks that resembled the sigil Batman
had found on Azrael's sword. The cottage exploded, taking Wayne's
helicopter with it. Nomoz, the trainer of Azrael, go them to safety in an
underground shelter. Bruce and Alfred escaped the helicopter wreckage to
be caught in the ensuing avalanche. Batman emerged with Alfred. He jumped
onto a hovercraft that rose from the snow and was met by Azrael. Their
fight was short; the avenging angel returned to the craft and escaped.
Numoz told Azrael about LeHah, the man who killed his father, and about
the demon Biis, the Order's enemy. Together they began searching out the
Order's other members to warn them about their rogue brother, LeHah. At
their first stop, they were met by Biis. Bruce and Alfred saw the boy who
was Azrael fall from a window, as his father had. Alfred stayed with the
boy, while Bruce went in to see what was happening. He was met by Biis,
who ambushed, drugged, and captured him. With Wayne taken, Alfred and
Nomoz took the injured Azrael and sought Biis. The demon (actually LeHah)
recognized Wayne, and the costume underneath his clothing, and plotted to
take his fortune. He murdered another member of the Order of St. Dumas.
Azrael, quickly recovered, found a pattern in the murders. They went to
meet him at the next stop. Azrael made short work of the guards; LeHah
killed again and escaped. They traveled west again to Houston, where LeHah
was torturing Wayne at an oil refinery he owned. Azrael burst in and
attacked LeHah, his flaming sword setting the refinery aflame. They
rescued Wayne as the plant exploded. Azrael remembered his name, and that
of his father: Jean Paul Valley. |
|
