Azrael (DC Comics)
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Azrael | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | As Azrael: Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 (October 1992) As Batman: Batman #489 (February 1993) |
Created by | Jean-Paul Valley: Denny O'Neil Joe Quesada Michael Washington Lane: Grant Morrison |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Jean-Paul Valley Jr. Michael Washington Lane |
Team affiliations | The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas Batman Family |
Notable aliases | Batman |
Abilities | Master strategist and tactician Rigorous military and police training Peak physical conditioning Skilled hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist Artificially enhanced physiology, intelligence, combat skills, and metabolism Suit of Sorrows armor grants superhuman strength and reflexes Sword of Sin "burns with the souls of the damned" |
Azrael is the name of three fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. Azrael is a member of a group of assassins who were created by The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas to "enforce God's Will". The name is taken from the name for the traditional Angel of Death.[citation needed]
Publication history
The character first appeared in the series of Batman: Sword of Azrael,[1] as Jean-Paul Valley, in 1992.
He then became a supporting character in the monthly Batman titles, eventually taking over the role of Batman[2] through the "Knightfall", "Knightquest", and "KnightsEnd" story arcs. One of the creators, Denny O'Neil, admitted to difficulties with Azrael's transition from villain to hero: "If I'd known he was to become a monthly character, I might have set him up differently ... The problem is that I had to turn a bad guy into a real hero, not just an anti-hero or lead. It's possible to do that, but it's difficult to retain the original characterization. You almost have to change his personality."[3]
The subsequent Azrael series, chronicling Valley's battles against the Order of St. Dumas, ran for 100 issues between 1995 and 2003. Starting with issue #47, it was retitled to Azrael: Agent of the Bat in an attempt to boost sales by tying the series in with the rest of the Batman mythos, including Azrael as part of the team of Batman, Robin, and the new Batgirl (Cassandra Cain).
Michael Lane is the next series of Azrael, introduced as part of the Battle for the Cowl, telling storyline in a three-issue mini-series written by Fabian Nicieza.[4][5]
Fictional character biography
Jean-Paul Valley
Jean-Paul Valley, a university graduate student of computer science in Gotham City, is unaware that he is the latest in a line of assassin-enforcers for "The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas", a sinister religious secret society. For most of his life, he has been brainwashed with The System, a deep level of psychological conditioning.
Valley only learned of this upon the death of his father, who was also his predecessor, at which time his conditioning was activated and he was called upon to take up the mantle of Azrael.[6] When he was sent by the Order to kill a weapons dealer, a rogue member of the Order had turned against the others and killed his father, he crossed paths with Batman, who had been investigating the death of Valley's father. He worked with Alfred Pennyworth to find the weapons dealer after he had captured Bruce Wayne, using the Batman costume to kill the other Order members. As Valley worked with Alfred, demonstrating a detective's intuition in tracking Lehah's movements and later risking himself to rescue Bruce despite his traditional mission of vengeance, he was shown the error of his ways and decided to fight alongside Batman against the criminals of Gotham, rejecting his "birthright" and seeking Batman's help in breaking his conditioning to forge his own destiny.
His name is not revealed to Alfred and Bruce until the end of the story, at which point he claims it was his father's name too. However a later storyline in his solo series stated his father's name to be Ludovic Valley.[7]
Valley is given a job as a security guard at WayneTech headquarters, and also becomes an apprentice crimefighter alongside Batman and Robin, learning basic detective work.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/81/Detective_Comics_667.jpg/130px-Detective_Comics_667.jpg)
Valley plays a pivotal role in the "Knightfall" story arc (1993–1994), in which he stands in as Batman after Bruce Wayne is defeated and paralyzed at the hands of Bane. He decides that Bruce's tactics as Batman are obsolete and believes that he must fight criminals on their terms which makes him far more brutal and merciless, often even showing little regard for innocent bystanders. Against Bruce Wayne's orders, Valley fights and defeats Bane, wearing enhanced battle-armor he designed and built under the influence of the System after he was narrowly defeated by Bane in their first confrontation.[8] His performance as Batman is influenced by his Azrael conditioning. He grows increasingly violent and delusional, allowing the mass murderer Abattoir to fall to his death, thereby also allowing one of Abattoir's still-living hostages to die.[9] Valley also has control problems with Tim Drake's partnership, which climax when Valley almost strangles him to death and bans him from the Batcave. He seals off the Batcave from Wayne Manor and the Drake property, and eschews working with Commissioner Gordon and the Gotham police. Valley also suffers from continuous hallucinations of both his father and St. Dumas who tell him that he is the real Batman and that he must avenge his father's death.
Initially, Wayne is impressed enough with Valley's results to let him remain as Batman, but when Drake tells Wayne of Abattoir's death, he resolves to reclaim the Batman mantle. With his back repaired thanks to the sacrifice of Doctor Shondra Kinsolving, and his fighting instincts rehabilitated after lessons with Lady Shiva, Wayne goes after Valley to reclaim his identity. After a prolonged battle, stretching from a mobster's penthouse to Gotham Bridge before culminating in a final showdown in the Batcave. Bruce tricks Valley into removing his armor, excluding his helmet (with night-vision lenses engaged), and then exposes him to bright sunlight - the shock snaps Valley out of his delusional state. He apologizes and asks for his forgiveness, which Bruce accepts, recognizing his own role in Valley's descent into madness during his time as Batman, but tells him to leave immediately. Valley subsequently departs Wayne Manor after acknowledging Bruce Wayne as the true Batman.[7]
Valley lives among the homeless population of Gotham for several weeks, befriending an alcoholic former psychiatrist named Brian.
Valley is sought out by Bruce Wayne who feels responsible for his mental breakdown after attaining and losing the mantle of Batman. Bruce grants him a small fortune in money, information on the Order of St. Dumas' whereabouts and resources to explore his origins. Along with Brian, he discovers the evil conspiracies within the order of St. Dumas, and they help a nun named Sister Lilhy escape. With the help of Ra's al Ghul he discovers that he is a genetically engineered test tube baby, and his genes have been spliced with those of animals.
He returns to Gotham for several crossover events, including Underworld Unleashed, Contagion, Legacy, and Cataclysm. He also discovers that his father's killer, Carlton LeHah, is still alive. Valley attempts to regain Batman's trust after the events of KnightsEnd. Batman, who feels responsible for Valley, especially after realizing that he gave him very little training and support decides to give Azrael missions to carry out to test him and prove himself. The first of these missions is to defeat a resurfaced Bane, but it is not until Azrael saves the lives of a group of U.S. senators (one of which tries to plead to congress for the funds to rebuild Gotham City after its devastating earthquake) that Batman begins to fully trust him again. Prior to those events, Batman sent Azrael after Nicholas Scratch who was planning to kill another senator who wanted the federal money to save Gotham City. While pursuing Scratch, Azrael was framed for the senator's murder after he was strangled to death moments before Azrael arrived to save him.
After being framed, Azrael is given a new costume designed by Batman and uses it for a time, especially during the "No Man's Land" storyarc. Azrael helps Batman maintain a chaotic Gotham City, often with the assistance of the new Batgirl and protects Leslie Thompkins' medical clinic inside of No Man's Land. After foiling Scratch's plan of framing him for murder Azrael returns to his original costume and battles supposed hallucinations that are supposed to represent both his father and St. Dumas himself. Toward the end of the series, Azrael is plagued by apparently supernatural occurrences in the form of possible miracles.
Azrael is seemingly killed in the series' final issue, shot with two specially-coated bullets while battling Scratch and LeHah. Scratch was arrested, and LeHah falls into the river with Azrael. However, Azrael's body is never recovered.[7] His death went unconfirmed for several years. In Booster Gold (vol. 2) #10, a note can be seen written on time traveler Rip Hunter's chalk board reading "Jean-Paul Valley Lives!". In the following issue, another note says "Azrael comes and goes." Azrael appears in Blackest Night #4 (October 2009) as an undead member of the Black Lantern Corps; although at first it had not been confirmed whether it was Jean-Paul Valley or another Azrael (such as Ludovic Valley, who died in Gotham City). However, it was later revealed, in the index section of the Blackest Night tabloid vol.1, that it was in fact Jean-Paul.[10]
Jean-Paul Valley makes a cameo at Batman's funeral service in Neil Gaiman's 2009 story, Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?, he is seen stepping up to deliver his own version of Batman's death as a background event, however his story is unseen and he has no lines. The story is also metaphysical in nature, meaning that it did not affect the overall status of the canon or Azrael's fate.
In The New 52 (a reboot of the DC Comics universe), Jean-Paul Valley reappeared as Azrael in an arc of Batman & Robin: Eternal. His design was updated, with his main weapon being his sword rather than gauntlets, although he was later shown to still possess the gauntlet blades. His character, however, was essentially the same, working as an enforcer for the Order of St. Dumas. In the comic, he defeated Bane and eventually turned on his handler and the order to assist Red Hood and Tim Drake. This marked the first proper appearance of a living Jean-Paul Valley in the DCU in over a dozen years, with previous appearances relegated to either minimal cameos or the aforementioned Black Lantern revival of the character.[11]
Michael Lane
In 2009, a mini-series titled Azrael: Death's Dark Knight[12] was produced as a tie-in to the Battle for the Cowl crossover event, with a later regular series.
The new Azrael is the Third "Ghost of Batman" to undergo Doctor Hurt's experiments; an ex-cop named Michael Washington Lane. He is approached by the Order of Purity to reclaim the mantle of Azrael after the Order's latest Azrael went mad and killed an undercover police officer. On his first night as Azrael he fights Talia al Ghul with her team of mercenaries led by Merlyn and later encounters Nightwing.[13] After convincing Nightwing that he was not responsible for the murdered police officer, Nightwing persuades Talia to allow Michael to keep the Suit of Sorrows. In Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2) #14, the character is displayed as a charming man who undergoes various purification rituals, overseen by the Order of Purity.[14]
Ra's al Ghul later attempts to manipulate Lane into destroying Gotham by having him commit suicide and be subsequently resurrected by the Suit, which was dipped in a Lazarus Pit. Lane worked with metahuman Crusader to 'judge' Batman, Catwoman and Red Robin for their past 'sins'- including the insane obsession of Selina's sister that Selina is 'possessed', Robin not showing due reverence when he destroyed a church window to save hostages, and a childhood incident where Dick let another circus performer get assaulted because he was jealous- and to determine if Gotham should be saved. Although Lane is manipulated into perceiving the Bat-Family as having failed his tests, Batman convinces Lane to use his swords to test himself, revealing Ra's' plan in time for Lane to stop the planned destruction of new metahuman Fireball. Ra's' intended for Azrael to detonate Fireball and make it appear as though Gotham had been destroyed by terrorists, inciting a wave of violence that would cleanse Earth and allow Ra's to take control.
Michael Lane has appeared in The New 52 (a reboot of the DC Comics universe). Michael Lane was originally featured in Batwoman issue #2 as a cameo, which was written before the relaunch but published after, however the art was edited in order to remove him.[15] Regardless, Michael Lane appeared in issue #10 of Batman, Inc. His absence from Batman's organization is explained by his choosing seclusion and daily prayer as a way of repenting for all that he did as a tool of Ra's Al Ghul and Doctor Hurt, believing himself to hold an important role in the apocalypse.[volume & issue needed]
Powers and abilities
As Azrael, Jean-Paul, has enhanced physical abilities. He has been shown to be able to still fight at heightened levels even when fatigued. This fact is exemplified when Azrael was able to defeat Bane when he was suffering from both extreme exhaustion and Venom withdrawal.[16] He has also been shown to be able to resist an even more potent version of the Venom drug, having been able to break its vast addiction in only one night. Azrael is also a superior fighter. Although he lacks technique and style in his fighting moves he makes up for it with his inhuman speed, reflexes and agility. Azrael has been able to match Deathstroke in a sword duel and has even defeated Batman in hand-to-hand combat.[17] This is not only due to his martial arts skills, but also due to his inhuman physical abilities.
Azrael is also an expert with computers. When he was first introduced in Batman: Sword of Azrael #1, it was revealed that Jean-Paul was studying computer programming in college and during Knightquest he frequently dealt with Tim Drake's (then newly appointed as Robin) attempts to hack the Batcave's computer system successfully, once stating that Tim was overconfident in his abilities and that a far more experienced hacker now inhabited the cave.
Equipment
The original Azrael costume worn by Jean-Paul Valley consists of special red and gold armor. After becoming an "Agent of the Bat", he dons silver and black armor with a red cape and a stylized red bat symbol on the chest. Later on, he dons red armor with golden gauntlets, boots, shoulder pads and a blue cape. He sometimes carries a flaming sword, and also uses two retractable daggers hidden in the gauntlets of his costume that can be charged with thermal energy to increase their destructive power. On page 71 of the updated edition of Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight, Scott Beatty implied that Azrael's changing costumes were reflections of the changes in Azrael's life from an agent of St. Dumas to an agent of the Batman to his own man.[7] The gauntlets were taken by Kate Spencer, the current Manhunter, and are used in her outfit. The New 52 version of Jean-Paul wears a similar costume and his weapon is a flaming knight sword called Murasame. However, he also possesses the familiar gauntlet blades as well.
As Azrael, Michael Lane wears the Suit of Sorrows, which was originally forged by the Order of Purity, a splinter sect of the Order of St. Dumas. The armor was crafted and forged from the melted blades and breastplates of several soldiers of the Order who had fallen in battle. The Suit imparts greatly enhanced levels of strength, speed, durability and endurance to its wearer, but can also drive them insane if they fail to maintain a purity of body and spirit. He also wields twin swords--The Sword of Sin and the Sword of Salvation.
The Sword of Sin can be ignited with the mind of the wielder, if the person is powerful enough. The sword has the ability to conjure in the mind its victims all of the sins for which they are guilty or have not atoned for. For this reason, it is Azrael's preferred blade to use. Like it's sister sword, the Sword of Salvation, it is capable of cleaving right through a target without leaving a mark. Used on a target at the same time as the Sword of Salvation, it can bring up both the sins and guilt and the reasons behind them in the mind of the target and the wielder. It is often surrounded in an aura of flaming energy.
The Sword of Salvation, when used on a target, can conjure the truth of a matter in both the mind of the target and the wielder. Being stabbed by the sword stimulates a neurological reaction, where the victims are overwhelmed by the burden of their past tragedies and their minds start seeking redemption. Used in conjuction with the Sword of Sin, it can bring up both the sins & guilt and the reasons behind them in the mind of the target and the wielder. Like it's sister sword, it is capable of cleaving through a target while doing no damage and it is said that it cannot harm anyone who is pure of heart. Its blade is often surrounded in a smoke-like aura of cool blue energy.
Other versions
Valley and Lane are not the only bearers of the name Azrael in the DC Universe:
- Valley's father (Jean-Paul/Ludovic Valley) was the previous Azrael, as seen in Batman: Sword of Azrael (referenced by his son as having the same name) and, with more detail, in Azrael Annual #1 (identified as just Ludovic Valley).
- A Chinese man, supposedly given the same training as Valley and an identical costume, is briefly under the control of the Order. Also, the position of the Order of St. Dumas' enforcer has been passed on since medieval times.
- Earlier on in the Azrael series, another man is supposedly selected and trained in the same way as Valley and the Chinese Azrael to be Valley's replacement. He is defeated by Valley and supposedly falls to his death only to resurface in Gotham at one point wearing one of Valley's 'Batman' armors and engaging in underground fights.
- There was a character Azrael who was briefly associated with the Teen Titans and who is otherwise unrelated to the character introduced in the Batman comics.[18]
- In The Multiversity: The Just, which takes place on the alternate Earth-16 where the grown sidekicks and children of superheroes live on an Earth free of crime due to the efforts of their parents years earlier, Damian Wayne, the new Batman has a variation of Jean Paul's Azrael suit in a glass display in the Batcave.
In other media
This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2012) |
Television
- Azrael made his debut in the second season of Gotham, portrayed by James Frain.[19] Originally a descendant of Dumas named Theodore "Theo" Galavan who was also the brother of Tabitha Galavan, he posed as a charismatic billionaire industrialist to master-mind the events of the first half of season 2 so his order could kill Bruce Wayne as part of his family's vendetta against the Waynes. After being beaten up by Oswald Cobblepot and shot by James Gordon, Galavan's body was then taken to the underground Indian Hill facility. In "Wrath of the Villains: Pinewood," Theo Galavan was eventually revived by Hugo Strange and Ethel Peabody with enhanced physical abilities; but his mind was warped as a consequence. In "Wrath of the Villains: Azrael," Strange took advantage of Galavan's need for a sense of self by giving him the identity of his ancestor's Warrior of Vengeance, Azrael, and directing him to kill Gordon. Hugo Strange even had a special outfit and a Sword of Sin replica made for him. After a brief suppressed memory, Azrael attacked the Gotham City Police Department where he killed the police officers present and stabbed Nathaniel Barnes who managed to break the fake Sword of Sin. Gordon arrived and managed to shoot Galavan off the roof where he safely landed on a van and then got away. The nearby press see Theo alive and the broadcast of this surprises Butch Gilzean, Tabitha, Oswald Cobblepot, Bruce Wayne, and Alfred Pennyworth. In "Wrath of the Villains: Unleashed," Gordon convinces Tabitha to help him and Bullock get Galavan and she directs them to where the real Sword of Sin is located. But Galavan followed them and took the sword, wounding Tabitha after she restored his memory and his intent to kill Bruce. Ultimately, surviving everything thrown at him by Bruce and Gordon, Galavan is finally killed by Butch Gilzean firing an RPG at their mutual enemy.[20] In "Wrath of the Villains: A Legion of Horribles," Harvey Bullock mentions to the press that they weren't able to verify if Azrael was actually a revived Theo Galavan because he was blown up by person(s) unknown before they can arrest Azrael.
Video games
- Azrael is a character that can be officially created after obtaining all the mini-kits for the hero chapters of the game in Lego Batman: The Videogame in the character customization feature. The Nintendo DS version also features him and can be unlocked and made available to purchase after all the levels have been completed and True Hero has been achieved on all of them.
- Azrael appears in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes.
- Jean-Paul Valley Azrael, Michael Lane Azrael and Azrael Batman are all playable characters in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
Arkham series
The Michael Lane incarnation of Azrael appears in the Batman Arkham series, where he is voiced by Khary Payton:
- Azrael first appears in Batman: Arkham City. This version's armor is an amalgamation of Jean-Paul Valley's and Michael Lane's, as he has the former's wrist-mounted flaming blades and the latter's crusader-esque look. At the beginning of the game, Azrael is seen watching Bruce Wayne's arrival in Arkham City from a rooftop. Throughout the game, Azrael can be seen stalking Batman at various locations. If Batman goes to confront him, Azrael will say something cryptic and leave a symbol on the floor before disappearing. After doing this multiple times, Batman combines the symbols left by Azrael to form a map leading to Gotham's church. Upon Batman's arrival, Azrael appears and reveals that he is a member of the Order of St. Dumas. Azrael speaks of a prophecy, stating that Batman will be the one to close the Gates of Hell, but from the ashes of Arkham, the fires will rage and Gotham will burn, taking Batman with it. After delivering this message, Azrael leaves and tells Batman that they will meet again.
- The PlayStation 3 edition of Batman: Arkham Origins features the Knightfall DLC pack containing an alternate Batman outfit based on Jean-Paul Valley's Batsuit as well as challenge maps based on Batman: Knightfall.[21]
- Azrael returns in Batman: Arkham Knight, where his outfit is now primarily white with red patches. He is the main character behind the "Heir to the Cowl" side quest. During Scarecrow's takeover of Gotham, the Order of St. Dumas sends Azrael to Gotham on a mission to become Batman's successor. After Azrael is put through several trials, Batman eventually discovers his secret identity of Michael Lane, a former police officer who was dismissed due to psychological issues who apparently disappeared for years without a trace. It is later revealed that the Order of St. Dumas had planted a microchip in Lane's brain that subtly controlled his actions. After Batman uncovers a secret message, he discovers Azrael's true intentions of killing him. After confronting Batman at the clock tower, Azrael is given two options by the player:
- Attempt to kill Batman with the "Sword of Sin" only to be subdued and incarcerated at the Gotham City Police Department with the other villains where Lane vows to escape and end the Dark Knight. During this time, Azrael will argue with Deacon Blackfire over who is the true champion of God.
- Resist the orders to kill Batman, then break the "Sword of Sin" before leaving the clock tower to get revenge on the Order of St. Dumas. Batman declares that Azrael has made the right choice.
Collected-editions
- Batman: Contagion (Azrael #15)
- Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 1 (Azrael: Agent of the Bat #51-55)
- Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 2 (Azrael: Agent of the Bat #56)
- Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 3 (Azrael: Agent of the Bat #58)
- Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 4 (Azrael: Agent of the Bat #59-61)
- Batman: Sword of Azrael (#1-#4) [1993] - ISBN 1-56389-100-X
- Knightfall
- Azrael: Angel in the Dark (Azrael vol2 #1-#6) [2010] - ISBN 978-1-4012-2874-3
- Batman: Gotham Shall Be Judged (Azrael vol2 #14-#18) [2012] - ISBN 978-1-4012-3378-5
- Azrael: Death's Dark Knight (#1-#3)
- Azrael vol. 1: Fallen Angel (Batman: Sword of Azrael #1-4, Showcase '94 #10, Azrael vol 1 #1-7)
References
- ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1990s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
Azrael, one of the most important characters of the modern Batman mythos, was dropped right under the noses of an unsuspecting reading populace in the debut issue of Batman: Sword of Azrael by esteemed bat-scribe Denny O'Neil, talented young penciler Joe Quesada, and inker extraordinaire Kevin Nowlan.
{{cite book}}
:|first2=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 260: "By Batman #500, the last chapter of the 'Knightfall' saga by writer Doug Moench and artist Jim Aparo and Mike Manley, Azrael was truly his own [version of] Batman."
- ^ Shutt, Craig (August 1997). "Villain Turned Hero: Azrael". Wizard. No. 72. p. 39.
- ^ Batman: Battle for the Cowl - Enter Azrael, IGN, December 18, 2008
- ^ Fabian Nicieza Unleashes Azrael, Comic Book Resources, December 29, 2008
- ^ batman: Sword of Azrael # 1
- ^ a b c d Wallace, Dan (2008). "Azrael". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 33. ISBN 0-7566-4119-5.
- ^ Batman # 500
- ^ Batman # 508
- ^ Johns, Geoff (w). Blackest Night, vol. 1, no. 4 (October 2009). DC Comics.
- ^ Batman and Robin: Eternal #9
- ^ Newsarama.com : Dan DiDio: 20 Answers, 1 Question - Batman and More, Newsarama
- ^ Azrael: Death's Dark Knight #1-#3 (May 2009 - July 2009)
- ^ Tieri, Frank (w), Benjamin, Ryan (p), Crawford, Saleem (i). "A Family Affair" Batman and the Outsiders, vol. 2, no. 14 (February 2009). DC Comics.
- ^ Johnston, Rich. "Batwoman #2 Deletes Azrael And Lady Blackhawk From The DC Universe". Bleeding Cool.
- ^ Azrael # 39
- ^ Azrael # 99
- ^ "Azrael (DC) (03 - Alien, Teen Titans)". Comic Book DB. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
- ^ "Get Ready for Azrael's "Gotham" Debut with New Synopsis". Comic Book Resources. 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
- ^ Gotham EP Promises Comics-Accurate Azrael in Second Half of Season 2
- ^ Kubba, Sinan (June 11, 2013). "Batman: Arkham Origins PS3 'Knightfall' content detailed". Joystiq. AOL. Archived from the original on June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
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External links
- World of Black Heroes: Azrael Michael Washington Lane Biography
- Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley) at the DC Database Project
- Azrael (Jean-Paul Ludovic Valley, the father) at the DC Database Project
- Azrael (Michael Lane) at the DC Database Project
- Azrael Biography at Batman Myth.com
- Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Azrael Annual at the Grand Comics Database
- Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from April 2016
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