Azrael - Done at #100

[Joe Wagner]

Well, it's official - Azrael's last issue will be #100. Tis a shame - I wish that DC wouldn't have jacked up the books price a while back and would have gotten someone like Kevin Smith and Scott McDaniel as the creative team on the book. Hopefully this won't be the last we see of a character that has incredible potential but very amazing stories to go with this.

Comments?

-Joe!

[Spider-Man]

I doubt DC would have ever put someone as big as Smith on that title. Big names to big characters is the current comic trend. Besides, the comic was on a downward spiral since issue #8. I won't miss this book, though it's a shame that all that potential and constant costume/direction changes just got in the way.

[kid_flash]

I would say something about how glad I am that this title's getting canned, but since two of my faves (IMPULSE and SUPERBOY) got the whack, I don't think I'm in that position :)

[Joe Wagner]

Personally I still believe that this title could have been a great one - it's just Jean-Paul never got far enough away from the Bat books to establish himself. Maybe DC should have let him have his own mini instead of the series until they could determine the best direction for the character. I hate to see almost any book cancelled, mainly because it always seems to be the books I read.

-Joe!

[FLIPMODE]

Honestly I hope Azreal Dies a Horrible Death.

Or is Beaten to Death by Nightwing. :D

[Samhaine]

I've seen so many great books cancelled, meanwhile this crap remained on the stands. Every once in awhile I'd read an issue, and it would be absolutely horrid. I'm sorry for the readers of this book, I truly am and I feel your pain, but I am sooooo glad it's gone. I can't believe they crossed this over into BW:F. Bad, DC, Bad.

[Sugar Daddy]

I never read any of Azrael, and am only gonna buy it for BW:F. Maybe I will pick of #100, just for the heck of it. But I have heard so many bad things about it.

[Gotham Knights '68]

Originally posted by Sugar Daddy
I never read any of Azrael, and am only gonna buy it for BW:F. Maybe I will pick of #100, just for the heck of it. But I have heard so many bad things about it.

Everyone is unique with their own opinions...I collect all things Batman and have Azrael's entire run, while not nearly the top of the Bat books, I enjoyed the read. I think Denny O'Neil is excellent and the art was pretty decent. There were some great storylines with the Joker, Bane, and come on, who doesn't like Lihly??? ;) It was cool having Harold around as well. There were some lame ones as well :mad:

I didn't get all wrapped up in the whole costume controversy thing and its true that they kinda went no-where with Jean-Paul for awhile, but recenty its been pretty good. Liked his involvement with Leslie and Babs. And the return to the "Az-bats" costume could be interesting - should be a good run to end at #100...Thanks Denny!

However, with Brave and the Bold & the new Superman & Batman team titles on the horizon, I could use one less monthly to buy!

P.S. The original costume was the best of course :D

[CadaverousEyes]

Poor Denny. For all the great things he's written, he just doesn't get any respect anymore. Are we truly that forgetful?!

If it's "big names on big characters" then explain the upcoming Black Cat miniseries. :)

And for those that complain that Azrael is crossing over into Fugitive, consider this: Remember the end of KnightsEnd? If you do, you'd know that Bruce admitted that Batman's fake, and that the person inside is the one that matters. Wouldn't you think that seeing Jean Paul in the AzBat armor will give him a shock about a certain change of lifestyle?

[FLIPMODE]

Exactly Cadaverous Eyes.

I was thinking earlier :HOW can he forget what he told Az?"

And now Bruce acts the opposite of this, what seems to be like no reason. He's lossed his mind. I bet it's a Clone. I would'nt mind a Batman Clone. Because they would think alike. And If Batman had a Clone, they would both agree to work together, because they both feel so strongly about Saving Gotham.

So They alternate, 6 months of Bat work for Bat-1 and the other 6 months for Bat-2.

The Idea Of Bruce Having a Clone excites me. It would make for a great period in Batman History.

[Sugar Daddy]

From what I have heard about the Spider-Man clone storyline, they don't work to well, but if this a Batman clone, hopefully it will be a good storyline. I hope it's not a clone, and that there is a good reason Bruce has been acting weird

[Gotham Knights '68]

Great call on Knights End! You guys are awesome!!! Absolutely agree with everything.

Don't like the clone idea ... The reason I love Batman is that he is Human, no "special" powers, he deals with his life and world from a human perspective. With his life over the past few years...everyone has a breaking point. I hope he snaps out of this with the help of his teammates and true friends and goes forward on his own - with no help. This whole storyline is gonna wrap up very similar to KnightsEnd. Remember how drained Bruce was after re-claiming the Mantle of the Bat and Dick took over during Prodigal. Keep it real!!!

[FLIPMODE]

I dont know how drained he was.

It was just a gesture to say sorry to Dick, and us fans, when Batman put Azreal in the suit, and Not Nightwing. Besides Bruce did something secretive, which Im not Sure they ever explained what he did. Perhaps he cloned himself. Makes sense, it's exactly the point in time where he probably realized, 2 Batmen will get the Job Done.
But in reality he was probably just setting up all those extra Batcaves across Gotham, before Cataclysm hit.

Besides if he had a Clone, the Clone wont have Powers. It's just thought. It just seems he's Truely out of his mind right now, with no rhyme or reason, and he has'nt done anything yet to address the obvious problems. So his the problem right now is his mind, and whatever's wrong with it, it must be fixed.

[Gotham Knights '68]

Originally posted by FLIPMODE
I dont know how drained he was.

It was just a gesture to say sorry to Dick, and us fans, when Batman put Azreal in the suit, and Not Nightwing. Besides Bruce did something secretive, which Im not Sure they ever explained what he did. Perhaps he cloned himself. Makes sense, it's exactly the point in time where he probably realized, 2 Batmen will get the Job Done.
But in reality he was probably just setting up all those extra Batcaves across Gotham, before Cataclysm hit.

Besides if he had a Clone, the Clone wont have Powers. It's just thought. It just seems he's Truely out of his mind right now, with no rhyme or reason, and he has'nt done anything yet to address the obvious problems. So his the problem right now is his mind, and whatever's wrong with it, it must be fixed.

I remember during one storyline recently where they alluded to the fact that Batman had spent that time away setting up the various caves around Gotham.

Bruce is definately out of his mind. I love the whole human, psychological aspect of all the characters involved in these Bat books...It's what makes Gotham so interesting. I personally would really hate to see a cloning story. Besides, I think deep down Bruce knows he already has the next best thing to a clone....His adopted son, Dick ;)

[Spider-Man]

Does anyone honestly care that this series is finally falling under the axe? Personally, I am glad to see it go. I'm not a big Batman fan, but I read Knightfall/Quest and enjoyed the AzBats character a bit. But when he was spun into this title it just got extremely ridiculous. I'm glad to finally see this bad title go...finally...

[Dub]

I've never picked up Azreal....I've looked at it, but honestly it rather bores me -____-

I came into the comics scene too late to know who Denny O Neil is or what he did (which is probably sacrilege to most people), but it doesnt look that great. **shrugs**

[Samhaine]

Originally posted by Jon "WB" Gray
I came into the comics scene too late to know who Denny O Neil is or what he did (which is probably sacrilege to most people), but it doesnt look that great. **shrugs**
He took a dying series, Green Lantern, added the character of Green Arrow, and took the two on a trip that had them deal with social problems of the time. His run (along with Neal Adams drawing) reinvigorated the characters, and was a great story to boot.

He also worked on Batman with Neal Adams. He took Batman from the goofy, 60s Batman (think the Adam West show here) and turned him closer to the Bats we have today. He made him darker, more street-level. O'Neil introduced Ra's Al Ghul (he also wrote The Demon's Quest for BtAS, if you've seen it).

He was a great writer back then. He was then promoted to editor, and then again to Group Editor of the Bat-books when they boomed out. He's since resigned as editor.

Azrael has been nothing but a mess. I can't believe this is the same writer. Although, we've seen the same thing with John Byrne and Chris Claremont... :(

[Joe Wagner]

I agree - esp. with John Bryne. While I have to respect some of the stuff he's done over his long career it doesn't seem that his most recent stuff can even come close to comparing to his X-Men of days long past. Hopefully Azrael will stay hidden for a while and be dusted off by someone that can finally due justice to the character.

-Joe!