What makes Azrael as a character work for me is how much the mask changes Jean Paul Valley. As a civilian he is a lovable dork and comes off as kind and compassionate. While under the mask he is initially still capable of empathy and kindness. The system and exposure to toxins turn him into a monster while wearing the mask. Watching him try to overcome this and become a genuine hero is an excellent arc.

Azrael is awesome. He should be used more.

The real reason batman doesn't kill is his comics would end incredibly fast

Amazing video!👍👏 I just began my comic book collection and found Toon Haven. They have an incredible range of digital comics for every genre, including the hard to find ones. Lifetime updates too!😁

"WHO... Who are you?" "I'm Batzrael" So, two batmans at the same time huh... selina couldn't be more happy

This is one of my favorite Batman series arcs. Jean-Paul is a fascinating character. He messed up real bad, but he is still pretty cool.

Knightfall was such a great story arc, I loved the art as well

No lie, Azrael is one of my all-time favorite comic book characters. I have all 100 issues of his solo comic, and almost all of his action figures. I loved the replacement heroes. Azrael, Eradicator, and Scarlet Spider.

"The Batman that kills" I thought that was my shitock.

I hope he makes it into injustice 2 dlc. I really like him.

My favorite character ever in DC was Jean-Paul Azrael.

RIP Benny. You and Rob helped me escape when I needed to. You’ll be missed

I love azrael and I hope they do more with him in the future.

"And take your precious daddy with you." I love Azrael so much. You want to save him so much while he's constantly doing shit that makes you "JP noooooooo". Knightfall are by far my favorite comics.

I have the knightfall comics as a kid. The suits is my favorite batman suit, flame thrower, shirikens and claws...

Azrael is still my favorite bat character. I used to call his costume "the suit to kill bane".

"Is Azrael just a product of the 90's and should stay away?" Me: **Looks down at right arm consisting of Knightfall Azrael in Red** Me: No...no I think he's pretty fuckin' great, and I reread the 3 graphic novels that make up the complete Knightfall story at LEAST once a year.

Love him he's my favourite comic book character got all the traits I love

I've always loved Jean-Paul Valley, he's so cool. Though since everyone says Bale's Batman doesn't count as a killer since he let Ra's die instead of killing him that must mean Jean-Paul isn't a killer either since he only ever just let someone die.

The Knightfall suit is making a comeback? SWEET! You should totally recap the original Knightfall story after World War Hulk!

Barry kitson did a great job on the art of the 90s series and his supporting characters were good too Brian and Lilhy

Hey man. Really love the fresh videos you're dishing out. The new vids are awesome. Thanks.

This channel and ComicsExplained are the only channels i look forward to seeing on youtube, keep doing what you guys are doing!🖒 You're all awesome and thank you soo much for being youtubers💖😁😁

Azrael in a nutshell: Wanna see an older Jason with blonde hair without getting captured and becoming the Red Hood?

Benny!!!!! I love your style. I feel the 90s Azrael Batman, Spider-Man 2099, etc were some of the coolest designs growing up in the 90s. I'm happy they finally brought him back with that suit.

I remember this character, I haven't seen this comic in a long time. thank you for doing this character this brings back some very good memories :)

Thanks for uploading this, I love this character.

Question: if batman doesn't want the joker to escape but can't kill him, why doesn't he put the joker in a medically induced coma? Or remove and/or detatch sertain nerves at the base of his skull, preventing him from moving ever again?

I grew up in the late 80's and was a teen in the 90's. Of course I loved Azbats... I also like Jared Stevens as Fate (The doctor is out), and the whole 2099 run from marvel. These older stories get talked down a lot, but there were some great gems in them. The idea of Azreal, fighting against his own 'nature' and the system trying to do the right thing but not always knowing what the right thing was, spoke to me.

Honestly Azrael and the Redhood need to have a comic where they share their ideals and struggle not to cross the line. Where they take on the order of saint dumas and capture joker and red hood does not kill him but delivers him to arkham.

I love Azrael and like you, I loved his '90s series. I am so glad he's back. Bruce, Tim, Dick, Barbara, Helena, Cassandra Cain and Alfred. That was MY Bat-family and Legends of The Dark 120 is my favorite comic featuring that version of the Bat-family. Too bad it didn't show Alfred as well.

Thanks for the awesome video Benny. This is one of my favorite versions of batman.

“I... might have had problems.” We all do, buddy. We all do.

Nice work on this video, Benny. Very well done!

Hey man i just want to say that i really appreciate your channel. You keep it focused on comicbooks you dont turn it into a giant political discussion. I wish some other comicbook channels did the same. Keep it up bro!

i really love the new format of the know your universes

Great video, seems to be a lot of hate for ol' Azy. Glad to see a video throwing some love his way.

The Batman comics now seems like its about topping a badass act with another one,endlessly?

Top 10 people to take the mantle of batman 10.Batman 3000 9.Jason Todd (very briefly but was batman unofficially in battle for the cowl.) 8.Tim Drake (very very brief in battle of the cowl and was also batman Beyond for a bit but I'm not sure if it's in cannon.) 7.Bane (Forever evil the Arkham war one shot) 6.Damian Wayne (batman 666 and Damien son of batman version) 5.Jean Paul Valley 4.Jim Gordon 3.Terry Mugginess (Batman Beyond) 2.Dick Grayson 1.Bruce Wayne

Could you please do a story on Bryan Hitch's 'Justice League' especially the recent 'Legacy' arc. And love your work, great job mate 👍

Thank you for sharing, keep doing what you do!!!

I always thought Azrael was a dope character . When I was younger I was obsessed with him . They need to give him more shine , a cameo in a movie or something would be awesome if done right .

I honestly love Azrael Batman to be 100% honest like when I was a kid that's what brought me to wanting to learn more about comics and I mean yeah he went all psycho but what her hasn't bc I can't count how many times you will see a hero lose it but he was awesome and the series was awesome and I love this channel and eligible monster and also comics explained I think you guys are awesome especially since Im to broke to buy comics it's nice to have stories that I've wanted to read but to poor to by and also way to busy to read to see these things be brought to life by you guys ! Keep doin what you're doing bc it is freaking sweeeeet

Great video as always, keep up the great work

He was the shiznit! Vigilante was also 1 of my faves of the 90s. But then again it was a different time and we needed those characters to be what they were. Boy I miss those days

Great stuff. Thanks for sharing

Thanks for the incredible content

Super helpful, totally worth watching

Knowing more about him makes me excited for sure.

Cool series! Keep them coming

I'm so glad they brought him back and soooo hyped for the azbat suit!

Jean Paul Valley is my favorite Azrael and alternative Batman. I love how DC incorporated so many different things into the Rebirth continuity from the Pre New 52. It is a nice little wink and nod to the past that made them great for the fans. If they decided to go with Michael Lane's Azrael, I don't think I would have cared about his inclusion to the DC universe.

Your a cool guy with an incredible channel. You gotta stop putting yourself down. Jokes or not. Your dope dude .

I thought that Batman specifically requested for Jean Paul Valley to take the mantle. He did not want either of the Robins to face Bane. My memory of Knightend is probably off, but I remember Azrael nearly strangling Robin, and Batman's response was, "I want no part of that, I'm sure if you looked deep into your heart you would find that you share some of the blame."

That’s fantastic, thanks for sharing

Love the videos good work

Any good character can continue on with good writers and artists. I first read Knightfall and his first appearance Azrael Sword of Azrael, and loved them. He and Batman have similar issues, though Bruce is absolutely against murder, even to save his own life. I hope to see Jean Paul in the future, it’d be excellent to have Azrael fight with his red AzBats armor alongside the Bat Family, as he struggles to do the right thing, since nobody ever truly stays dead in comic books.

Even though i havent watch any of your recent thanks for the cool work

Dick didn't turn down being Batman. Bruce didn't ask him saying "he was his own man" or something like that. After Bruce came back and beat Azbats, he had Dick be Batman for a while. Also, Bruce left Gotham while Azbats was Bats to track down Robin's father and the doctor that was helping Bruce recover. Bruce kinda fell in love with her. I keep telling myself that this is an Azrael story and not a Knight fall/quest/end story but there's a lot of cool stuff to talk about. Like the time he faced Catwoman or the Joker, his 1st and 2nd fight with Bane. Azbats vs Nightwing.

Can they retcon Ben Aflecks Batman? Like just say he was Azrael theres no way Bruce Wayne would blow up buildings with his Batmobile with no regard for if there were people inside them

I would never have read this. Now, I'm intrigued. Thanks.:)

Great episode ⭐🔥💯

I loved him in the 90's. Glad he's back!!!

I LOVE AZREAL SO THANKS FOR DOING THIS

I love these videos !!!

Azbats!! I remember listening to the BBC audio drama adaptation of knightfall on the radio in the 90's. It was awesome!!

read this comic a few months back, so long didn't read it all. I remember reading this from the local library at a young age

Batman issue #500 where Azrael took down Bane was amazing. I kept that issue in a box for nearly 20 years until I sent it, and a few others incl. the full DC vs Marvel series, to my favorite YTers kid brother last Xmas.

He’s absolutely a product of the 90s. He served his purpose. I’m not opposed to him being re-examined

I loved the concept it was a great story which shows the importance of bat-man

Finally! Thanks! Could you do the complete intelligence storyline please?

I loved the knightfall story line in the 90's its when i really got into comics even though the 90's comics get put diwn alot i loved them death of superman, knightfall all these comics were great

I like this on how he explains this

I love this channel

Azrael Batman is AMAZING! Can you please do the knightfall Batman series?

I loved Knightfall comic series and that version of Batman in the '90s and the BBC radio version was great as well (which combined Knightfall and Knightsend).

The jaw-less mask was too cool back in the 90s. And his suit was extreme as hell with crazy gadgets. It's like Batman went ham.

great content. ty

I thought Azrael had outstanding potential in the 90s which DC mostly squandered. I'm glad they brought him back. I'm late to the party though- hopefully they haven't killed him again by now.

I loved this when I was a kid too!!

Wait...Wait sooo is the know your universe back?!!!AWESOME

Amazing story.

I like seeing him back and I also loved him in Arkham knight

I always wished they did a 2 part movie where the first movie has the events of sword of azrael and bane's back story, with more time being given to sword of azrael since everyone already knows bane. The first movie could end on bane freeing the innmates of Arkham and the second movie can have batman taking care of the villains and then getting broken by bane for the first half of the movie. The later half of the second movie has Azrael's 2 confrontations with bane with the movie ending after Az beats bane in the train.

Thank you so much for saying that Batman used to be a fucking brute before you started this sortyline. Youcthe #GOAT comicstorian

flame throwers?! no training from bruce? hahahahahahaahahaha amazing stuff

The suit was cool and knightfall is such a great storyline. My brother loved that 90's costume

I loved Azrael Batman! I was 12 when Knightfall came out. It was so cool.

I LOVE seeing azrael again,he was awsome to me and i was very sad when died

I'M WITH YOU BENNY IM GLAD HE IS BACK !!!!

I always liked Jean Paul Valley and I'm thrilled that he's back.

Jean Paul Valley ain't everybody's flavor but the biggest thing that killed him was both during Knightfall and his own series, he kept getting tossed around different artists and writers, some of whom didn't care for him at all or want him to succeed (this is the part nobody really talks about). So you'd get one version of JPV as a total asshole in Knightfall in some issues, then this more psychologically disturbed struggling guy you could like and/or sympathize with in other issues, then when he got his own series, you'd sometimes get these really good issues with deep storylines, unique characters and an awesome Jean Paul Valley growing as a character....then you'd get this cut-and-dry, lame, dry issues that were gratefully forgotten. The Jean Paul Valley character is very much one that has to be followed a specific way and better off under more direct guidance creatively. In the right hands, he can be done well without becoming a different character other than JPV. In the wrong hands, he's crap. PROs: Kickass Batman suit that takes Batman to another level Excellent scrapper, beat Batman fair and square, went blow for blow against Deathstroke, took Bane out more than once even at a disadvantage a few times. Metahuman abilities make him a solid bruiser as well as scrapper for the Bat-Family. Dark psychological issues make for interesting storylines of fighting your inner psychopath and identity issues as well as the struggle to seperate religious faith from imagination-fueled/delusional superstition/mysticism. CONs: Wasn't Batman, so he rubbed the Bat-fanbase the wrong way and they'll never forgive him for being the Batman replacement they never asked for. Costume is often NOT the easiest for every artist to convey properly. Lacks detective work, has natural talent but he's at times impulsive and brutal, a bit of a loose cannon. Psychological issues are a weakness that can be exploited, whereas Batman and most of his Bat-Family are very mentally tough, makes him stand out in a negative way. This and his impulsive nature makes him go against the grain of other Bat-Family characters, so it's a challenge for writers. Psychological storylines are hard to do nowadays because everyone tries to pretend they're a psychology major and either get it wrong or over-define it. A challenge to dive into. Religious stuff ain't easy to do either. Remember, you got religious and non-religious readers. You gotta make sure to not preach to one whilst not offending the other. END RESULT: Azrael has EARNED his place in DC comics historically and belongs in the bat-family. The issue is, he's difficult to work with. In the right hands, he is a bad-az (pun intended) mofo that brings a lot to the Bat-Family and can have very interesting storylines. But he's probably best off not being a common character. I love him, he is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE OF ALL TIME but I'd like to see him used properly. He's better off in occassional mini-series and one-shots, or as a re-occuring character. Not a constant one. I question DC's ability to use him like that (But I'd love to be proven wrong).

I have been out of comics for some time except for Saga. But I picked up all of the "I am Bane" comics and now that I know that Azrael, A character I loved so much that I have his entire comic run is back... Well I am in!

I'm glad he's back, the Batfamily keeps growing 😈

Literally the best Batman ever!!!

I like this new style

Azrael defeated Bane. I think that's kind of a major aspect of his character that seems glossed over here.

the knight fall trilogy was my most incredibly favorite series in the older batman comics,when they made jean paul into the knightquest batman it was just fucking awesome.

His red and gold Knightfall suit was awesome. When that action figure became available I trolled the city trying to find it.

I love this comic series