Jpv - Blog Posts
Jean-Paul Valley & Azrael: Complete Reading Guide
Who is Jean-Paul Valley? / Who is Azrael?
Jean-Paul Valley first entered the post-Crisis DC Universe in the 1992 4-issue miniseries 'Batman: Sword of Azrael', written by Dennis O'Neil and penciled by Joe Quesada. A former graduate student at Gotham University, Jean-Paul's life would irreversibly change when his father would crawl to his door dying, dressed in the garb of Azrael, the Avenging Angel - an assassin for the Catholic cult Order of Saint Dumas. Thus began a series of events that would activate 'The System', conditioning that had been programmed into Jean-Paul since birth that allows he - as his father and his grandfathers before him - to give control over to the Order's personal punisher and access latent superhuman skills and abilities.
Jean-Paul and Azrael would go on to become Batman in the stead of Bruce Wayne as Bruce recovered from spinal trauma inflicted by Bane, star in their own 100-issue solo series, escape (and destroy) Jean-Paul’s father’s sect of the Order, and become members of the first iteration of what is most well known as the Bat Family until their death. They played a vital role in DC's Knightfall, Contagion, and No Man's Land story arcs.
After the New 52 reboot, they would go on to play big roles in Detective Comics: Rebirth, Justice League Odyssey, and star in a second solo miniseries. As part of the New 52 and Rebirth initiatives, Jean-Paul and Azrael's backstory and details would be changed, though as of 2022 it is implied that aspects of their New Earth origin have been re-established.
What does this guide include?
Linked below is a spreadsheet including most/all of Jean-Paul Valley and Azrael's comic appearances from their debut up to their most recent issues. Sorted chronologically and divided into sections based on arcs and events, each row features information such as title date and writer/penciller, which identity/mantle is most prominent in each appearance, personal notes on the contents of each issue, and a section for any content warnings that may need addressed.
This spreadsheet is continually updating/a perpetual WIP. New issues are added as they release.
Happy reading!
