The BIRTH of Batman's replacement! | Batman: Sword of Azrael

Buy Batman: Sword of Azrael! amzn.to/2m3L8G0 There’s a new hero in Batman’s world, whether the Dark Knight likes it or not! Jean-Paul Valley has just been told by his dying father that his family is part of an ancient secret society known as The Order of St. Dumas-and that he is the latest in a long line of deadly assassins! Now with his psychological conditioning complete, Valley has been transformed from a computer science major into the unstoppable weapon known as Azrael. But when he is forced to target the heroic Batman, he starts to question his life and duty. Never miss an episode by subscribing today! bit.ly/2WYvgkt #batman
ComicPop is a few friends talking about comic books. The ComicPop team brings a bunch of unique points of view to every single discussion about a comic book, graphic novel, character or story arc. You can find full conversations about your favorite titles from Marvel and DC Comics, plus a few pretty key independent comics. If you're looking for a long, funny conversation about Batman or a deep dive into why Spider-Man is so neurotic, check out the hours and hours of amusing, insightful and downright stupid conversations about some of your favorite comic books over the years. If you're a longtime comic book reader or just starting out, make sure to subscribe right now!
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[@thatnovoguy1378]

"...Straight up, there's a troll in this book..." - Sal

[@Grievousish]

Azrael falls into that category of "design made first, character came second"

[@thomaslugaric7672]

He’s a textbook “cool drawing” character lol

[@exquisitecorpse__]

From the McFarlane school of comicbooks

[@Benm701]

"You remember Spawn/Batman?" "I have five copies."

[@senorstyx3011]

Really 5 covers u must really like variant covers.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

_"The first appearance of Azrael!"_ Eh. _"The origins of The Order of St. Dumas revealed!"_ Eh. _"Batman nearly dies fighting a new enemy!"_ Eh. "Batman eats something Alfred cooked." OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-

[@adrianvelante8014]

That's real shit right there

[@ToonGal12]

Also, Ben's "I'm a tough guy now" song to the tune of the Pull Ups commercial is now my favorite Ben moment of the show. XD

[@K_Mcwa]

Batman: If I kill one person, I'll kill all the people. Nomoz: If you save one person, you'll save all the people.

[@Darthvegeta8000]

Sword of Azrael is one of my favourite comics of all time actually. Being an Azrael fan it's hard not to love this one.

[@spheremode3271]

I just read this and I love it. Jean Paul is so hot, he's so freaking cute. I love how Batman does actual detective work in this book, and I love the sick ass art. I love that Alfred is involved, and I love the wholesome moments between him and Bruce. It's such a phenomenal comic IMO, really underrated.

[@ChadBenjamin]

The League of Assassins and the Order of St. Dumas were both created by Denny O'Neil. He also created Arkham Asylum, Matches Malone and brought back the murderous Joker of the 40s.

[@mttylerdurden9]

I saw the video title, and I immediately thought about how Roger Craig Smith who was the voice of ezio the assassin in assassin's Creed 2 was also the voice of Batman in Arkham origins.

[@BBmetalhead04]

Sal talking about how DC changing the status quo with new characters replacing the old, made me think about DC’s 5G initiative. It’s like we’re repeating the past all over again.

[@leonardfabian8942]

Ethan : Never let yourself get shot cause you never know what is gonna come out of the gun. Me: Important safety tip thanks Ethan.

[@MrFillus]

Lol Ethan’s reaction to the first spoken troll “Nyeah”. 😂

[@dn22pkkdd476]

Joey Wheeler fell on hard times once he joined *The Order*

[@Depthcharge2030]

As an Azrael fan this put a huge smile on my face. Thanks ComicPop!

[@MugenNiFukuzatsuna]

Just barely squeaked this one into the day, lol. If I weren't obsessively refreshing your channel I might have missed it. Lucky for you, this is all I have... it's all I have..

[@TheFashionAssasin]

Blue Beetle was put in a one of his "multiple" comas during that period. Guy Gardner who had also been in a coma in the past told him "Who hasn't?"

[@marcushamner5994]

Azrael: "I'm the one true Batman"!! Batman: "Hold my beer".

[@ridge825]

"Assassins Creed Batman" Damn Sal you surely have a way with words 😂😂😂, What a great title

[@SuperMoshady]

Azreal led to knightfall which led to the best Batman vs Batman fight of all time. Azreal is a necessary character whether you like the no mercy, evil stomping, genetically enhanced warrior bishop or not

[@Scororo]

As someone who wasn't alive in the 90s, much less reading comics back then, azrael always seemed stupid but looked kinda cool

[@alexandrumarin8981]

Scoro I like the look and concept of Azrael, but I give the execution a 4/10

[@AAllen-br8it]

@@alexandrumarin8981 That's honestly very fair. His entire concept could have been done much better.

[@TheArcKoopa]

I'm a tough guy now* *to the theme of the Huggie's pull up diapers jingle

[@yolanda8563]

Nothing is true, everything is permitted. DC Comics (2019)

[@SpiralSine6]

Nothing is canon, but everything is canon

[@senorstyx3011]

Azreal beyond .

[@TupocalypseShakur]

When everything is canon, nothing is

[@KiramidHead]

I read most of Knightfall before I read this, and Jean-Paul talking about being conditioned by St. Dumas conjured up a lot of really cool story potential. Then I read Sword of Azrael and it was nowhere near as cool as I imagined.

[@pbjoey703]

The return of batman!!! Let’s get bat issues back everybody!

[@priceyyeti4058]

Man, I never thought hyeh Azrael would be back on Back Issues hyeh again hyeh hyeh hyeh.

[@R.J.Godzilla81]

OMFG, this is an F-ing backdoor pilot for Azrael, isn't it.

[@hectordubon3487]

Ehhhh, I don't need sleep.

[@mrtable2861]

47:37 I can't stop repeating this moment. It's just too good.

[@michaelthethird702]

I've always been intrigued by this story, as I wanted to know more about Azrael. Especially after Tynion IV's Detective Comics run. But this is kinda nuts. LOL. That art though

[@mitchellregan21]

19:50-20:15 This was my favourite part.

[@jelio123456]

If my memory serves me from the 90's Azrael books its explained that Azraels mom was a gorilla kept in a labratory of St Dumas, and Nomoz was not the only "Troll", there were like 50 of them living in a Castle of St Dumas as underlings.

[@KWHere2]

1 year later, I gotta know if you're fucking with us.

[@barraki6706]

@@KWHere2 (Looks it all up) ..No. No, he is not. ...My God.

[@widdlewanwon]

@@barraki6706 lmao

[@blunteastwood]

I'm reading the run right now and this is not accurate.

[@jelio123456]

@@blunteastwood issue #7 page 12 is Azraels ape mom. And issue #25 on the cover you can see all the troll people living under the St. Dumas castle.

[@tatersalad76]

Oh God, is this the one where Azrael looks like he found his costume in a dumpster lol? Maybe I'm thinking of knightfall

[@senorstyx3011]

Azreal beyond yes

[@comixproviderftw_02]

Azrael is like that one older cousin you have and thought he was cool when you were a kid. But when you get older and you start to realize that he wasn't cool as you thought he was. He was just a loser and would've been a bad influence if he stuck around in your life more.

[@biggiejerseysTV]

Lol. That’s a great description there.

[@Darthvegeta8000]

Eh he's still one of my favourite DC characters ever. Tons of fun.

[@kordelshorgar122]

that's a kickass harbor patrol t-shirt

[@gigamantisman]

gotta say, Ben, love the green lantern vest-hoody you're wearing!

[@shezTime]

I need it.

[@vrajdesai3865]

Where can i buy this?

[@chisasa9509]

I want a Star Sapphire One. Love conquers all! In Violet Light!

[@thepanelbiter9915]

Nomos needs to be in every comic now

[@denniscousins1254]

Azrael has a lot of potential if done well he could have his own stories in my opinion.

[@r.babylon2885]

Can we have an episode where Ben hosts for the manga Berserk? Please, Sal? Pretty please?

[@jjrambles683]

If he did the new volume 40 and had to explain all the context that would be amazing

[@joeclarke7982]

Bens a Berserk fan?

[@Go0dTimes4fUnPro]

1 minute in and I learn Joe Quesada did art. Huh. Sorry I'm younger than I'd like to admit.

[@simonstoten4819]

The radio play of knight fall, takes this story and makes it awesome

[@deaconpaddock5753]

I just bought all of the individual issues today, I love this story!

[@thelittlehomie658]

7:47 Assassin's Creed Rogue: and I took that personally.

[@Newarksfinest05]

47:42 lol

[@Vamroc]

It's like when Bane "died" NO REALLY they called the final issue of a Bane miniseries The Death of Bane and he did actually die BUT Batman tells Robin "put him in the Lazarus Pit" and to paraphrase Robin "Batman, are you out of your goddamn mind", Batman's rational... Bane was insane at the moment of his death so if we heal him with the Lazarus Pit he'll come out the opposite of that state which would be a sane rational human being and Batman was RIGHT. Bane is even seen throwing away his mask at the end of the issue promising Batman that the Bane he knew is indeed dead.

[@NachiketNaik]

I honestly thought they did a video game crossover. Wouldn't put it past them

[@CrazyWildChris]

Nachiket Naik yo I would play the hell out of that!

[@luckysix1015]

It would be weird though since the modern brotherhood and templars aren’t good at fighting, though I haven’t read the AC comics so I could be wrong.

[@hapokas112]

Nice episode.

[@joelsittler6997]

This is a good episode

[@peacerevolver]

Ethan’s already at his limit lol 15:19

[@comicpop]

This episode has one of my favorite Ethan lines.

[@TevyaSmolka]

Yay Batman assassins creed with azrael

[@nicksmyth4050]

I like how Gotham references his armor by mentioning he thinks his armor is indestructible and sword is magic, and they fail immediately (Hugo Strange reveals he bought them on eBay)

[@majorsmind]

Head cannon is one of the best things about this show

[@JoeArnold333]

Just picked this paperback up today from my local comic shop for $10! Not an insane steal but to find it in the wild I was quite happy to add it to my collection.

[@bman184r]

Sal has got to be one of the most funniest people on earth haha.

[@Darthvegeta8000]

Nomos and Byss return in the 100 issue Azrael series. Nomos also pops up in the New 52 Azrael story.

[@Mattkeyz1]

I fucking lost it when they did the bit of Nomoz speaking in the third person. I remember reading the "Knight" trilogy in 7th grade and looking up stuff for Azrael and not questioning the troll man until my senior year when I reread it in prep for The Dark Knight Rises. Forgot about it again and was losing my shit because, there is straight up a troll man. Hyeh.

[@patricklawson]

Ben that jacket is warrior.

[@michaelthethird702]

Ben: how come Biis has so many pouches? Sal: because its 1993...

[@ToonGal12]

18:48 He falls into an abyss of dark visions, which yawn beneath him. He falls into the maelstrom---a David Lynch horror montage of spider world. (Anyone who gets this reference gets a cookie.)

[@milesupshur9869]

I do like in DC rebirth when Jean Paul attempts to defend the hospital against the victim syndicate. Prolly the best Azrael moment ever.

[@BurnedChiliMan]

Woot woot! Hell yeah!

[@alexnejako777]

this is classic Quesada. he was on Azrael fire in this series and in The Ray.

[@Vamroc]

The sword's blade could be made of phosphorus which combusts when exposed to air

[@chisasa9509]

But if you struck an object in space- with an oxygen rich atmosphere- the explosion would be enough to level a 12 story Brick building.

[@AV01]

19:24 I'm a tough guy now

[@fcm3d]

I so want that GL hoodie.

[@parachpbama4372]

I tape my ring and middle fingers together when I do combat sports to give me a stronger and more stable grip. That’s probably why Azrael’s gloves are like that.

[@jayrett]

12:45 in the morning? I'm game

[@regularguy5403]

Oh great Azrael, this is gonna be fun. 😂

[@blueseanewt2138]

I like the Jean Paul Valley of today where he is more at peace.

[@JoshMunroe]

Azrael: The patron saint of the comics industry playing Chicken with readers and losing.

[@mitchellregan21]

I wasn't even aware of this book before watching this episode. I'm a tough guy now.

[@elusivemindsstudios]

I missed the couch, I like the couch for the better issues, or the so bad they are good issues. It feels more intimate, maybe leave bat issues for the one off okay but nothing great issues?

[@chisasa9509]

I hate leather couches. Naked Butt farts Never come out of the Skin Stains.

[@WhelmedButReady]

Me: It's 12 midnight, better get to bed Comic Pop: New Back Issues Me: Well fuck a Psychology exam, it's a Batman episode

[@michealdarnell2623]

It might still be cool if you guys used the Bat Issues set for Batman books anyway. I like that set.

[@nathanielrambo3447]

Do Annnihilation and Annihilation Conquest. Just the whole reintroduction of the Guardians. Like, Annihilation through Thanos Imperative.

[@priceyyeti4058]

"He's very creative." Then a brief moment of silence as Sal remembers Danny O'Neil also wrote Batman Odyssey which they have and will do a Back Issues on one day. "... Anyway."

[@hix299]

Neal Adams wrote Batman Odyssey.

[@priceyyeti4058]

@@hix299 Welp, there I go mixing up creators again.

[@kingcoheed1208]

The very IDEA of Azrael is great, but the execution of the idea has almost always sucked

[@architeuthis3476]

There are a lot of great moments in _Knightfall_ but most of them are far between. One of these days, for my own amusement, I'm going to make a fan edit of _Knightfall_ that's under 100 pages (fewer than 5 of which would be from volume 2)

[@jjrambles683]

DC needs to release an Essential Knightfall with better coloring and just the best moments

[@chisasa9509]

Yeah Sal Dropping those 3 mega volumes on the table and saying; "That's Knightfall" was a terrible BACK ISSUES episode.

[@architeuthis3476]

@@chisasa9509 The episode was great (that's actually how I found this channel, I happened to be reading _Knightfall_ the same time the video came out). I just want to be able to read the story again and be able to enjoy it and not waste countless hours in so doing or have the skip around trying to find the good parts.

[@chisasa9509]

@@architeuthis3476 that's awesome. I love Knightfall for its Bruce Wayne Recovery period to mend his broken back. And retraining with Lady Shiva. Sal couldn't fit all of it into 1 Back Issues and I wish they could just revist the good parts. Not make fun of how long and unnecessary the thread is. Bruce Retraining his body is an awesome part of Batman.

[@architeuthis3476]

@@chisasa9509 Seriously! Bruce Wayne training with Lady Shiva is the best part. The part where he gets chased off an overpass by a group of ninja only to land between lanes of 60mph traffic where a boss is waiting to duel him might be the coolest fight in any Batman comic I've read!

[@kanborne]

I’m a tough guy now

[@JL-VA]

So… not to sound like a total nerd but Wally did have some replacement in the 90’s. They created “Walter West”, who was an alternate reality version of Wally that was supposedly from “our world” and he switched places with Wally. He was totally radical, not lame, and killed his villains… except he didn’t end up killing anyone, just severely scarring Abra Kadabra. It was lame and they got rid of him pretty quick.

[@glauciogonzales]

First came Azrael, then came Assassin´s Creed... That´s the True!

[@brianadkins3880]

12:51 -12:58 I feel attacked. lol Seriously though,speaking of heroes for "once in a generation,any chance of doing a BUFFY comic on the show? Also,Thanksgiving is coming up and the only story right off I can think of is the JSA/JLA VIRTUE & VICE get together. That would be fun.

[@dead0ntime]

Finally squeezed this video in to my day. That troll son of a bitch cracked me up. I might pick this up just for the art because like you guys said it’s kick ass, and it’s peak Joe Quesada. Great episode!

[@flywheelshyster6549]

whenever you do the troll all i can see is the troll from Best of the Worst classic Deathstalker...and all his dialogue is in that character's troll voice

[@senorstyx3011]

Is Ben suppose to be guy gardner with that vest (if so cool, if not why not)?

[@thetizic]

Waking up at 1:25 am thinking "Why did I wake up? Is it because my family hasn't gotten back yet?" Checks texts. All good. Then "Wait a minute, where's Back Issues?!?" *Sees upload time after falling asleep. "AHA!"

[@harley_yelrah9429]

KZbin just come on fix the algorithm

[@just4commentsable]

Honestly tho, comicpop has consistent quality content, regularly uploads, etc. But they haven't even broke 100k yet. wtf!!! These guys are probably the best comic book channel on KZbin

[@jjrambles683]

I doubt KZbin even completely knows how the algorithm works

[@travispagan3824]

Ok comic idea a war between league of shadows court of owls and saint dumas bat family is in the middle of it.

[@sethstrattan7380]

Please do Batman damned

[@glauciogonzales]

Azrael come first... Assassin´s Creed come later... Only this.

[@frankm8699]

"Case closed"

[@uncannyhumantorch3704]

17:31 you’re welcome

[@chisasa9509]

Azreal should have just been A Batman Villain. But I love the Cathedral Saint idea trying to purge Magical Evil from The world. "Azzi" should be a vampire werewolf hunter that Fights Van Helsing.

[@vrajdesai3865]

@comicpop where do I get bens green lantern hoodie?

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

I think Ben made it himself.

[@nemqueteba21]

I want Assassins Creed / Batman crossover now

[@dlvnmedia]

Didn’t someone put Alfred and Jarvis together in the same comic once? Where was that?

[@Yoshimitsu4prez]

I always read new Azrael content when DC puts it out. Last week they dropped two Azrael issues at once which I thought was hilarious. I read them because of that, like who the hell is asking for new Azrael content? When was anybody? BUT I think Dan watters can actually do something interesting with the material. He works well on those kinda creepy religion vibes

[@FanNaf-tt6xi]

What was that at 49:56?

[@comicpop]

A mistake. They happen.

[@AVC-qd8lr]

#longlivebatissues ✊🏻🦇🦇✊🏻

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

Azbat seemed awesome back then, now not so much...

[@comicsmisexplained]

*_HYEH_*

[@davidreyna7410]

He was handled perfectly in Arkham City. Arkham Knight, however...