Batman: Sword of Azrael#1(1992)

Jean-Paul Ludovic Valley, acting as Azrael, confronts Carleton LeHah. Lehah draws a modified firearm, which he uses to shoot Azrael multiple times, tearing through his bullet-proof vest. Azrael manages to escape, but not before injuring Lehah. Azrael falls into the street, landing in the middle of the Gotham City Founder's Day Parade. He lands on a horse, which he rides to safety, though he accidentally injures several people, killing four, and causes a riot in his escape. Ignoring offers of help, Azrael abandons his equipment and stumbles, bloody and bleeding, to the apartment of his son, Jean-Paul Valley. Ludovic manages to detail to his son the previous events, and give some parting instructions, before dying. Jean-Paul is distraught. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne is discussing the nature of the riot and its cause with his loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth. They examine a bullet riddled bullet-proof vest found near the scene of the incident, and Bruce notes that weapons dealer Carleton Lehah owns a penthouse near the scene of the incident. He dons a Batsuit, and resolves to get to the bottom of the strange incident, where some witnesses reported a falling angel. Elsewhere, Jean-Paul Valley finds instructions from his father, and follows them, after which a pair of mysterious men come to remove his father's body. Then he finds 40,000 dollars in various currencies, and further directions to fly to a small airfield in Switzerland. There he is picked up by a man who refuses to answer his questions, and is driven for almost six hours until they arrive at a small village deep in the Swiss Alps. There he is met by Nomoz, a short hairy man who tells him about his father's occupation as Azrael. He instructs his assistant, Heinreich, to strike Jean-Paul several times while explaining these things, and tells the timid Valley that he will instruct him in "the system", and by extension, how to become Azrael. Batman investigates Carleton Lehah's penthouse, and finds evidence of the altercation with Ludovic Valley. He plants a sophisticated laser microphone in a Wayne Enterprises office, aimed at LeHah’s window, and listens in on a conversation LeHah is having at the apartment, where the weapons dealer mentions that "old Dumas will be in for a surprise." While Nomoz continues to inform Jean-Paul about the system, and Azrael, Batman discusses the riot incident with Commissioner Gordon, where Gordon gives Batman more details. Batman investigates the area around where the incident took place, and discovers Ludovic's sword hidden in a cellar. It is emblazoned with the symbol of the Sacred Order of St. Dumas. Meanwhile, Nomoz uses hypnosis to activate "the system" in Jean-Paul, who immediately feels a change, and knocks over Heinreich. Jean-Paul is puzzled as to how he has suddenly become a "tough guy." Nomoz states that although Valley has a the skills and knowledge, he does not have the body, but that "the mountains will cure that." Back in Gotham City, Batman calls upon Oracle, who he mentions had her spine shattered by a madman’s bullet, to help him in his investigation, where she finds information on the Ancient Order of St. Dumas, and details it to Batman. The Order seemed to stop existing in the 15th Century after splitting from the Knights Templar. They fought in the Crusades, split off and started the Order named after their leader, Dumas, and got rich after pillaging and looting before disappearing. Oracle suggests that they may have moved to Switzerland, deposited the stolen money in banks, and lived off the riches. Batman believes that they still exist, based on the reports of the Angel and sword at the parade. Nomoz explains to Jean-Paul the purpose of Azrael and how the role was hereditary, with fathers passing the role to sons in Jean-Paul’s family for more than twenty generations. Bruce and Alfred travel by private jet to Lucerno, Switzerland. On the way Bruce fills Alfred in on the reputation of Renard Lescault, a thug who stole some arms research about a chemical explosive designed to work with compact launchers from a West German company. After making inquiries they find out LeHah’s already arrived and travelled North. The two set out in a helicopter to investigate the village that LeHah probably traveled to. As they approach they find that the shape of a chalet along with the surrounding trees and fence form the shape of the sigil of the Order of St. Dumas. Bruce decides to land next to the chalet. Meanwhile, Nomoz is giving Jean-Paul the Azrael costume for the first time, when he notices the sound of Bruce and Alfred's helicopter. Unknown to both parties, LeHah is observing the chalet from a ridge, where he seeks to test a new weapon on Nomoz's chalet, despite the objections of his accomplice. He fires the weapon at the chalet, which is struck by a pulsing beam of energy, which causes an explosion, which upsets Bruce's helicopter.