Batman: Sword of Azrael

Rating:
Summary: Actually, a full mini-series of comics in one
Review: Batman: Sword of Azrael was originally a four-part mini-series. Somehow I ended up with two copies of part four, but zero copies of one through three. This book was an easy way to get the rest of the comics, much less expensively than buying three back orders.

Rating:
Summary: Batman Saved
Review: Believe the 5 star reviews, this is an incredible book. The artwork is some of the best. So many comics have expressionistic style drawings, this one is drawn the way, as Joe Queseda says in his introduction, that makes a comic a collectible. The story is very good; Azrael is an interesting character, and this helps set the rest of the story. I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: The Batman That Never Was
Review: Honestly, I had no idea who Azrael was when I picked this book up. I knew who Joe Quesada & Kevin Nowlan (the artistic team)were. First of all, the artwork blew me away. Quesada's dynamic visuals & Nowlan's vast knowledge of shadows draw the reader in to every single detail on every single panel. But here's the kicker: They story also grabs you. O'Neil writes a tale of a troubled young man forced to pursue the life of Azrael due to his bloodline. His torment & tribulations are clear throughout the story, but Azrael comes through in the end. And to all the Batman fans out there, we know who took over the cape & cowl for a little while, don't we?

Rating:
Summary: Azrael does not read comics, Azrael Avenges!!!!
Review: I actually bought this book only because I listened to the excellent Knightfall audio tape and found that it didn't begin with Knightfall part I. This is an incredible story and the previous reviewer tells it well. The order of St. Dumas punishes evildoers and Batman briefly becomes a target. The whole story revolves around the demon enemy of St. Dumas recuiting a former member to destroy the brotherhood. It has some very gripping moments and excellent artwork. The end of the story when Azrael proves himself to be human and humane lays the groundwork to his assumption of the Mantle of the Bat. Azrael has become a large part of the Batman series today and seeing his origins will only enhance your understanding of Batmanese.

Rating:
Summary: One of Denny O'Neil's Finest
Review: THE SWORD OF AZRAEL really plays out more as an unintended prequel to the events of Batman's KNIGHTFALL, and it's a far superior work of art. Jean-Paul Valley is troubled by his inability to master the control over his superhero impulses to become an avenging angel, until Bruce Wayne enters his life. This four-issue collected trade paperback is a must for any serious fan of the Bat, and, even today, stands as an example of one of the best works of Batfiction available. (As well, there was a BBC adaptation of KNIGHTFALL that covered some of the events of AZRAEL that's absolutely breathtaking!)

Rating:
Summary: One of Denny O'Neil's Finest
Review: THE SWORD OF AZRAEL really plays out more as an unintended prequel to the events of Batman's KNIGHTFALL, and it's a far superior work of art. Jean-Paul Valley is troubled by his inability to master the control over his superhero impulses to become an avenging angel, until Bruce Wayne enters his life. This four-issue collected trade paperback is a must for any serious fan of the Bat, and, even today, stands as an example of one of the best works of Batfiction available. (As well, there was a BBC adaptation of KNIGHTFALL that covered some of the events of AZRAEL that's absolutely breathtaking!)

Rating:
Summary: Not great
Review: This book features the first appearance of Azrael, who later went on to be Batman for about a year. The story is slow and unintriguing, and Batman is way too slow-witted just to build up Azrael.

Rating:
Summary: Batman at his best.
Review: This is an excellent mini-series that intoduced Bruce Wayne's would-be successor to the mantle of the Bat. I have always loved Denny O'Neill's take on the exploits of the Batman family and the characters he has introduced in these pages are extremely well considered. This is a tale of a globe hopping adventuring Batman that very much brings to mind O'Neill and Neal Adams Ra's Al Ghul epics. The Azrael character and the order of St Dumas are also very interesting and mysterious. Some of the best Batman stuff of the last decade, and I didn't even mention the art which is breathtaking.