Jean-Paul Valley

Azrael
Jean-Paul Valley as Azrael. Art by Joe Quesada.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	As Azrael: Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 (October 1992) As Batman: Batman #489 (February 1993)
Created by	Denny O'Neil Joe Quesada
In-story information
Alter ego	Jean-Paul Valley Jr.
Species	Metahuman
Team affiliations	The Order of St. Dumas Batman Family Gotham Knights Justice League Odyssey Justice League Task Force Justice League The Colony
Partnerships	Tim Drake Batman Cassandra Cain Batwing Kate Kane
Notable aliases	Johnny Valli Batman The Avenging Angel Saint Batman Knightfall AzBats
Abilities	Enhanced physiology that grants him enhanced speed, strength, and stamina. Also has empathic powers to induce visions through touch. Expert assassin, hand-to-hand combatant, and sword fighter through a arcane-scientific physiological conditioning known as "The System". Proficiency in computer operation, medicine & investigation. Access to St. Duma technology and armor known as Suit of Sorrows, making him bulletproof and possess an advanced AI that can detect the weaknesses within an opponent. Also wields a flaming sword and wrist gauntlets.

Jean-Paul Valley Jr. is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Denny O'Neil and Joe Quesada and debuted in Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 (October 1992) as an ally of the superhero Batman, after which he would go on to make appearances in several Batman titles. He is the first character to assume the identity of Azrael, a member of a group of assassins who were created by the Order of St. Dumas to bring justice to Gotham City. He is also the second character to take the Batman name for a short time during the Knightfall storyline, known to be a more brutal incarnation.

In the DC Universe, Jean-Paul Valley Jr. is a member of a long family line of assassin-enforcers of the Order of St. Dumas, which was once a faction of the Knights Templar and as a child, was artificially raised and brainwashed by the Order through a method only known as "The System", causing him to develop split personality between his Jean-Paul identity and Azrael, the latter personality more violent and dangerous; believing itself to be an incarnation of the actual angel Azrael. As an adult, he would learn of his heritage through his father, the Azrael before him. Over time, Valley would overcome his brainwashing and fight alongside Batman and his associates. The character is typically portrayed as a vigilante with good intentions, though he and Batman have also been at odds.

After the events of Flashpoint, a new main incarnation of Jean-Paul Valley would appear during Batman and Robin Eternal with a similar history to his previous counterpart although he is instead a clone of Jean-Paul Valley Sr. molded by Batman villain, Mother, into the ways of the Order of St. Dumas. The character once again realizes the corruptive ways of the Order and defects from them thanks to the intervention of Red Hood, Red Robin, and Dick Grayson. The character later becomes a member of the Batman Family, most notably under the Gotham Knights team led by both Batman and Batwoman. He would also join Justice League Odyssey.