who's Azrael

Mini bio shamelessly stolen from DCU Guide for Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley). (Who is so totally in my mental marshmallow squad.)

It was only when his father died that Jean-Paul discovered that he had been the avenging angel of St Dumas, the agent of a strange religious sect. He also discovered that the mantle passed automatically to him, and was initiated into the Order of St. Dumas. However, aided by Batman, he resisted his mental programming and became a more moral vigilante. For a time he filled in Batman's shows, to disastruous effect as he had not yet shaken off the Order's programming, but he continues to try and make up for this, helping out his former mentor when he can.

I finished NML. I read it all in one day, basically. Quite a ride. Sarah's death was a shocker. But it made Joker scary, and that was good. Incidentally, I'm one of the few who liked Batman Forever, and I like it a little less now comparing Tommy Lee Jones' Two-Face with NML Two-Face. Now I wonder how Scarecrow will come off onscreen.

I loved the courtroom scene, especially Harvey questioning Two-Face. Bane didn't do much for me, though.

I was surprised to discover Lex Luthor's involvement. Were there any clues in the Supes title, like random scenes of Lex making suspicious phone calls? I'm still not sure I entirely understand the whole plan with Harding and whatnot, but I figured it made sense in some way. Although I don't get the deal with Catwoman and the disc.

My hands are numb.

Quite a ride. Sarah's death was a shocker.

I *so* didn't expect that. It's like the Jossverse, you know? They're not afraid to bring the pain. I love it.

It was very Jossian, and I felt out of practice falling for it so hard.

JLU: Did you notice that The Question has an analogue of Fox Mulder's poster?

ita, I noticed that in LJU immediately. It made me miss the good old days of when XF didn't suck.

They're not afraid to bring the pain. I love it.

I saw the BLAM!, and I thought, No, no, it's a fakeout, right, just like with what he did with the Joker a few pages back, he didn't just shoot her, and then I turned the page and the pain sunk in. And then to have Joker walk out and surrender killed me more. Cause her death meant nothing to him. It was merely a statement. It was so chilling to see what little respect he had for human life.

I was glad I was unspoiled for that, at least. People who haven't read NML? Don't read the whitefont! Trust me.

ita, what did the poster look like and say?

P-C, it was behind a desk and said I KNOW and the O was an alien's head. I don't know if you could see the rest of it.

God, spotting that makes me feel like I should get out more.

Polter Cow, There was no real reflection of Luthor's involvement in Superman that I'm aware of--although NML was of course reflected and referenced all over the place, and crossed over with JLA and Young Justice, although those chapters aren't in the anthologies. The Batman/Luthor animosity, however, was presaged quite a bit in JLA, where Grant Morrisson insinuated that Luthor had figured out who Batman is, owing in part to the fact that Bruce Wayne would be familiar with the hostile corporate takeover tecniques that Lex used against the JLA. Don't laugh, it was a pretty rocking story.

Of course, later writers later said that Lex doesn't know who either Bats or Superman are, but then, the same writers have also had Lex had his own memory selectively wiped so he could pass a mindscan from the Martian Manhunter, so there you are.

Aren't comic books so wonderfully weird.

And Hec, It's OK. Sometimes I feel I should be a wackier libertarian.

Funny hats might help, Victor. See if your wife can do one.

Thessaly's gargoyle overlooks the nerdhole. Nilly's blessing hand overlooks the kitchen (a wedding present to us). The iron cameo I got in New Orleans is over the front door.

Not the right thread, but folks here will understand...Watched The Avengers (Steed/Peel) tonight, episode was "The Superlative Seven." Now, I am all for young Charlotte Rampling in cowgirl drag, and Donald Sutherland as evil genius. That part's good. But the seven were all supposed to be experts in combat and one of them was a bullfighter. Which is certainly lethal against bulls, I suppose, but seemed like the ultimate in What The Fuck? in this context. Especially when said bullfighter was run over by a cart and tried to deceive the cart with his cape. Also he stabbed bushes. For fuck's sake - an English bullfighter is one of the seven most dangerous people in England?

Hec, not one fight scene in the Avengers (so far in my rewatching) makes any sense at all. Period. Did people not fight in those days? What's the what?