Category Archives: 90s DC

90s Comics, 90s DC, DC Comics, Uncategorized

Behold the Blazing Angel (part 2 of 4)

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Greetings, Unspokenites and welcome back to the site. You know, it occurred to me that it’s been awhile since we sat down and chatted about what’s going on with me. You see, in a matter of weeks, my first grandchild will be born. Exciting, huh? The only problem is…..the stubborn child seems to be quite content with just living in the womb forever!!! Alas, I’m done venting…..for now. This article’s dedicated to you, Lillian Miller. You’re not even officially here yet, and I’d battle Thanos himself for you. (P.S. I know you don’t get my comic book reference yet, but I plan to remedy that A.S.A.P. as I teach you the ways of the nerd.) Anyway, hopefully when I write all of you next, I’ll be Grandpa Symbifan! But for now, back to Azrael…..

The blazing helicopter of Bruce Wayne plummeted uncontrollably into the cabin below! The result was explosive to say the least! What was left of the aircraft then rolled down a snowy hill, crashing into a large pine tree. This stopped the firey vehicle’s momentum. Bruce and Alfred both momentarily lost consciousness as they hung upside down by their safety belts. Alfred was the last to awaken. It had only been a few seconds, but in that amount of time, Bruce had deduced that the shimmer of light that he had spied and the ensuing explosion had been caused by a small rocket launcher. And if he didn’t miss his guess, LeHah was directly involved. Alfred asked about the cabin’s occupants. Bruce replied that their survival was next to impossible. (This is why I keep my feet firmly planted on the ground. With all of my enemies, this is all a definite possibility. What? Who’s exaggerating? Blogging is a dangerous biz, peeps!)

Meanwhile, below the very spot where the cabin once stood, the young man and his dwarven associate stand within a highly reinforced fallout shelter! (Wait a minute here! Let’s take a moment to reflect on the fact that Batman was just wrong! I now return you to the article, already in progress.) The new Azrael wonders aloud who might do this. But his thought is interrupted by a deafening sound from above. As he listens, so do Bruce and Alfred. The assassins look up and see the cause of the noise as they’re nearly buried alive by a massive avalanche! Bruce Wayne and Alfred escape their wreckage unscathed and Bruce fashions them snow shoes from odds and ends. As they walk away, they wonder about the attackers. They seemed to have reached their own helicopter in time, but whether or not they escaped the onslaught of snow was another story. But they did live. Just barely. One of the two, LeHah himself, now sits with his accomplice in the open air, looking at the smoking ruins of their aircraft. LeHah claims to the other man that he saw a face as they struggled to survive. He uttered a name as they were sure to die, Biis. And just like that, they leveled off enough for a crash landing.

LeHah continues to recount the tale, but the other man questions him as to why. He was there for every bit of it after all. But LeHah continues to speak until it becomes clear that he isn’t talking to the man at all. He speaks to this Biis. It seems that Biis would like LeHah to be his servant, but first he must prove himself. Before the other man can move to defend himself, LeHah uses a quickly drawn machete to sever his partner’s head! At that moment, Bruce and Alfred continue their slow trek through the snow. Alfred suddenly stops. He questions his employer and friend as to what they’re to do next. Civilization is too far off to reach before nightfall and surely they’ll freeze before they arrive. Bruce hands his own coat back to Alfred and instructs him to wear it over his own. He will wear only his Batman costume to combat the cold as it contains its own heating system. (What an ass! Alfred was freezing this whole time, and Batman’s warm and comfy in his coat and heated tights?! It just goes to show you what kind of hero the Dark Knight is. Damn!) That’s when the earth below their feet began to rumble once again! But this time, a literal wall of flames erupt from the snow before them!

Batman and Alfred barely have time to shield their eyes before a hovercraft bursts from the inferno! Batman leaps into the air without hesitation and grabs hold of the craft! Inside, Nomoz looks to Azrael and orders him to armor up and get rid of their little stowaway. The boy refuses at first, but Nomoz’s grim orders finally win out and Azrael completes his armor set by donning his mask! He then leaps outside through a hatch and attacks the Batman! Fists are thrown by both parties but to no avail! They seem evenly matched. They leap from the vehicle and continue their brawl in the snow. Batman attempts to talk sense into Azrael, but is instead met with a punch that sends the Dark Knight staggering! Batman vows that he won’t allow another strike to land. He begins to pummel the Avenging Angel! Seeing this, the dwarf bellows for Azrael to use his flaming sword! Without complaint, the weapon is drawn! He strikes, but Batman uses his cape to seize the blade and pull it from his attacker’s grasp! He then uses the momentum to hurl it far from both men! Alfred cries out for Batman to dodge quickly! The dark hero attempts to do this, but too slow. The hovercraft rams him in the spine from behind as it stops just long enough to pick up the stunned Azrael and then shoot off into the sky! (Bet you didn’t think you’d read about a dwarf flying a hovercraft when you woke up this morning! Surprised ya there, huh?)

After the hovercraft is far from sight, Batman rises from the snow. Though he’s a bit sore, he’s okay. His armor took the brunt of the attack. With Alfred at his side, he slides down into the fallout shelter to look for clues. Miles away, Nomoz grins. He tells Azrael that they have the Bat right where they want him. Confused, Azrael asks why it would be a good thing to have him in their lair. Nomoz replies as he lifts an explosive trigger that the place is wired to explode at the mere touch of a button! Elsewhere, LeHah grins as he applies facepaint in a mirror within his fancy hotel room. He then dons strange, medieval-looking armor. It is decided. He would now serve his dark lord, Biis, by eliminating Azrael once and for all! By this time, Nomoz and the young Azrael are settled into their own rooms within a rather old-looking mansion. Azrael has in this small amount of time constructed new, more high-tech armor. Blades now spring from gauntlets with the flick of the wrist and the armor itself is light and highly flexible for hand-to-hand combat. The dwarf looks pleased. (He created new armor in that short amount of time? Hell, it takes me longer in the bathroom. What? I’m old!)

Azrael asks more about the Order of Saint Dumas. Nomoz answers that those of the Order had become very wealthy by the end of the crusades. They would use this fortune for whatever good causes they found. But if they were betrayed, they would send Azrael to punish their enemies. One of these enemies was LeHah. LeHah had stolen money from the Order’s Swiss bank accounts and used the money to create an arms dealing operation for himself. That’s when Azrael’s father had been sent out. Unfortunately, LeHah had been ready and the former Azrael had perished. (The next scene was omitted because it served little point to the plot. It’s just LeHah standing naked, with facepaint on, vowing to serve the demon lord, Biis. But if you wanna see his old man buns for yourself, feel free to find this issue online. Ugh! Shudder…..) Meanwhile, Batman has discovered information in the hidden bomb shelter on the Order. That, and he has also discovered a loose wire dangling overhead. It was connected to the explosives all around them! It must’ve pulled loose when the hovercraft lifted off.

Nomoz looks to the new Angel of Vengeance and tells him that LeHah had been their treasurer and as such, knows the whereabouts of not only every single bank account, but every member themselves! The dwarf had called the nearest Order member to be ready for an attack. It turned out that he had been suffering from an illness in a nearby hospital. They should leave immediately. Nomoz had been correct. LeHah was in fact planning to assassinate all members of the Order of St. Dumas in tribute to the demon, Biis! Later, at the hospital in question, Azrael readies himself to protect this follower of the Order. Nomoz corrects the young man. Azrael is meant to avenge, not to protect. But this conversation is cut short as they enter the hospital room. Azrael hears screams within and kicks the door open. LeHah stands in full armor as he murders the nurse with a large rifle! Next is the Order member! He then turns his attention to Azrael and Nomoz! Nomoz orders Azrael to protect himself with his armor. But it’s all too late. Azrael can only clutch the duffle bag containing his armor. The gunshots hit him, knocking him through the glass window! Azrael lies in the alleyway below, smoke rising from his limp form!

To be continued…..

90s Comics, 90s DC, DC Comics, Uncategorized

Behold the Blazing Angel (part 1 of 4)

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I remember being really late to the party when it came to Azrael. By the time I learned about the character, he was already on his way to becoming the new Batman. This meant I’d missed his first appearance by quite a bit. So, rather than spending tons of my parents’ hard-earned cash on backissues, I did what any other cheap comic fan does, I bought the trade paperback. To say I was impressed with the character was an understatement! But you don’t want to read me droning on about the “Avenging Angel”. Let’s begin my look back at the miniseries that started it all with “Batman: Sword of Azrael” #1…..

The knight stood within the expensive Gotham City high-rise apartment. He had his flaming sword at the ready. His prey sat, clothed in nothing but a robe, in a leather chair. Considering the threat that stood before him, the man didn’t look afraid in the slightest. In fact, he looked mildly amused! The knight proclaimed that the man’s life was forfeit. He had been judged and the punishment was death by firey sword! The man smiled and replied that this wasn’t so. He pulled a handgun and aimed it at the knight. This was a shock. Surely he saw that the knight was armored. But shots were fired anyway in quick procession. To the knight’s surprise, the bullets passed straight through his chainmail and into the muscled flesh beneath! Blood sprayed the window behind him as he sank to the floor. He was mortally wounded. He knew it. The man rose and advanced with the weapon still drawn! He meant to finish the job! That’s when the knight swung upwards with his flaming sword and cut into the man’s arrogant face! Other men with automatic weapons burst into the room and fired! But rather than take further damage, the knight threw himself through the window, shattering the bloodied glass! (Wow! That was an action-packed beginning! I don’t blame the knight for not fearing the gun either. I was more afraid of that robe coming untied instead. Shudder!)

Controlling his fall as best as he could, the knight spied a large parade going on below him. It was for the city’s annual Founder’s Day if memory served him correctly. Seeing a banner hanging over the street, the knight grabbed hold and used it to swing onto the back of a horse marching in the parade. The horse nearly threw him as it reared up! People in the crowd panicked and began running. The scene was total chaos! The injured knight rode the animal a small distance before falling off near an alleyway. Gripping his bloody wounds, he entered the confined area as quietly as he could. He was seen by a homeless beggar that ran off, afraid of the knight’s flaming weapon most likely. (Yep. That’d do it for me. Man with a flaming sword spotted? Me walking hastily in the other direction. I’m way too pretty to die after all.) He continued along the alleyways, his blood flowing from his many wounds until he passed a concerned couple. They offered him their help when they saw the amount of blood. He waved them away with a blessing and continued along his path. The knight reached a door and knocked on it as he fell. He pulled off his helmet as the door was answered by a blonde youth in glasses. The boy exclaimed one word, “Father?!”

The young man stood vigil at his father’s side as he lie, very close to death, in the boy’s bed. The boy offered to fetch a doctor but his father refused. No-one must learn of the existence of Azrael. The boy will have to leave his corpse to be discovered by others. The knight’s son must find a package left for him and continue where he had failed. Before any more questions could be asked, the knight passed away. The youth cried out in horror and anguish as he was left alone in the room. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne’s butler, Alfred, questioned his employer and friend. Usually the Batman didn’t concern himself with riots. What was different this time? Bruce replied that fourteen people lie injured while four others had perished. Bruce approached the grandfather clock and turned the hands. This opened the entryway to the Batcave. He continued that an angel had been spotted dropping into the parade from above, inciting the ensuing madness. Alfred recanted his earlier statement. This was in fact very much a Batman case. Bruce ignored the butler’s sarcasm as he walked to his large computer setup. He brought an image of a bullet-riddled armor plate that a police officer had found in the streets. It was soaked in blood. The second fact that interested Bruce was that the apartment above was owned by Carleton LeHah, a little-known manufacturer of exotic weaponry and ammunition. Ammunition that could even penetrate an “angel’s” armor. Bruce began suiting up. (Yeah. Just drop your drawers in mid-sentence there, Bruce. Honestly, poor Alfred.)

The young man opened the package as he was instructed. There was a phone number within. Calling it, some men arrived and took his father’s body away. Next, there was around fourty thousand dollars in the different currencies of several nations. Lastly, was a note that instructed him to go to a small airfield in Switzerland. After taking a plane from there, he was picked up and taken to a secluded cabin nestled within snowy mountain peaks. He knocked, unsure of what was to happen next. A dwarven man answered. He was called Nomoz and he would be the boy’s new teacher. A teacher of something he called “The System”. (Is this a sex thing? This sounds like a sex thing.) The beastly man who drove him there then struck him. The boy recovered and demanded to know why he’d been assaulted. He was struck again. He was then answered. It was to show him how weak he was. His father had been a member of a secret order that dated back to the fourteenth century. He was called Azrael. And the boy would now take his place. Meanwhile, in Gotham City, Batman investigated the apartment that the “angel” had fallen from. He found new glass had been recently been installed. Outside, he found the clue he’d been hoping for, spent armor-piercing rounds. The Dark Knight then left a high-tech listening device behind in LeHah’s apartment to pick up anything else of interest. It didn’t take long. There were mumbling about someone or something named Dumas, an upcoming attack, and suitcase-sized warheads.

Nomoz dangled a medallion on a chain in font of the boy’s face. It was very intricately detailed. Nomoz told him that this was the crest of the ancient Order of Saint Dumas. His father and those that came before him had spent their lives in service to this order. But first, they must recall a type of training that had been implanted in the boy’s mind by his father since birth. (Can you imagine a baby pulling off extraordinary Kung-Fu moves while inside the womb? The poor mother! ) He would remember this only as odd dreams he’d had throughout his life. Back in Gotham, Batman spoke to Commissioner Gordon atop the police headquarters for information. This led him to the alleyways in search of this “angel’s” missing flaming sword. The vigilante discovered a grate that led to a stairway. Shining a small flashlight, the sword was discovered, crest of the Order of St. Dumas at the hilt! But even Batman knew nothing of this secretive order. For that, he’d need help. Back at the cabin, the boy was hypnotized by the swinging medallion. This would awaken The System inside of him and he would wake up transformed.

What happened next could only be described as Hell itself opened up inside the boy’s brain! His eyes then snapped open. The thug moved to strike him once more. But this time, he dodged instinctively and swept the goon’s legs out from under him! Nomoz told him that The System had done it’s job. Now he just needed to work his body to match his new skills. (If this was an 80’s movie, it’d be time for a montage scene. But this is my article, so hum the “Eye of the Tiger” on your own time.) Batman went to Oracle for the information he needed. Once she was a crimefighter like him, Batgirl. That was before the sadistic Joker severed her spine with a well-placed bullet. Now she operated as the “information person” with her high-tech computer system and uncanny intellect. Oracle had had trouble finding anything on the symbol that the Dark Knight had presented her with. But in typical Oracle fashion, she didn’t give up. She discovered that the Order of St. Dumas had began as part of the fabled Knights Templar and that they had splintered off of the main group after a disagreement. Their leader, Dumas, led them in the crusades where they acquired a vast wealth. The Order seemingly disappeared soon after. But maybe they weren’t gone after all, Batman mused.

The young man made his way up one of the snowy mountainside with Nomoz leading the way. They reached yet another building before dark. While Nomoz was presenting the boy with the garments he’d wear as the new Azrael, Batman had taken a private jet to the area. He’d overheard that known terrorists that were working with LeHah over a weaponry deal and were going to strike at this “Dumas”. The Dark Knight put two and two together and shot through the air at breathtaking speed to hopefully save a young man’s life. He and Alfred took a helicopter the rest of the way to the cabin. But too late! Terrorists appeared over the ridge, rocket launchers aimed at the small wooden building! Only seconds passed before the helicopter was caught in the intense explosion that decimated the entire cabin hideaway below!

To be continued…..

90s Comics, 90s DC, DC Comics, Uncategorized

Character Eradication (part 3 of 3)

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Well, here we are. The end of the Eradicator miniseries. I hope you’ve enjoyed his journey to discover himself as much as I have. Like I said in the first part of this series, the Eradicator character has been a creature of constant change from his very beginning. That used to annoy me truthfully. But now? I see him as a mirror for life. Aren’t we as human beings always recreating ourselves? Changing. Maybe that makes the Eradicator more human than I thought. Maybe. (Way too deep. I need a joke here. Please insert a fart noise at this point as you read. Thank you.) Now, sit back and enjoy my look back at “Eradicator” #3…..

The grotesque creature that thinks itself a type of reincarnation of the dead kryptonian scientist, Kem-L, bursts into our world over the freezing waters of the Antarctic! It delights in the sensations that its new form can feel. But suddenly, the creature feels intense pain! It is not yet complete. For that, it will need the full power of the one called the Eradicator. Kem-L knows where to go on this planet to get his attention too. He flies off with a sinister new purpose! Meanwhile, the Eradicator hovers over the vast Pacific Ocean. He is deep in thought when the person he’s been waiting for arrives at last. Superboy gives him a happy greeting, the small white dog, Krypto, held protectively in his arms. (Is it me, or does the bad guy somewhat resemble the trash after a night of chowing down on some delicious KFC? Ha! Just try and get that image out of your heads!)

The Eradicator asks if the rest of the Superman Family will be arriving soon. Superboy replies that the others were just too busy to come. It’d just be him. The Eradicator nods and the two super-beings fly off to speak more privately on land. They arrive quickly upon a tropical isle. After a moment, the Eradicator asks Superboy the question burning within him. He asks, since Superboy now knows himself to be a clone, does he still feel like a real person? Superboy is deeply offended by this question. Of course he does! What kind of a cruel question was that? The Eradicator attempts to apologize, but flees the uncomfortable scene instead. Moments later, Superboy joins him in the skies. Now calmed down, he answers that even though they weren’t born in the typical way, it’s their emotions that make them real. This gives them their soul. The Eradicator considers Superboy’s outlook later. Could he actually have a soul? (Try to sing the blues my kryptonian brother. Then you’ll know. God, that was a lame joke. Umm…..more fart noises? There! Saved it!)

At that moment in the Bronx, Sarah Conner lies awake, troubled by recent events in her life. Could the monster that destroyed her apartment actually be her husband reborn? How would that even be possible? Suddenly, she becomes aware of a bright light coming from outside the bedroom window. Sensing trouble, she protects her children as best as she can. That’s when an energy blast explodes through the wall and the demonic-looking Kem-L steps through! Meanwhile, the Eradicator makes up his mind in the planet’s orbit. He will leave the Earth behind and explore deepest space. But first, he must at least see his human side’s family one last time. He flies off immediately to do so. Kem-L looks to the human family before him, breathing in the scent of their rage and fear. He finds it intoxicating. (Probably a bit of poo stink too. I know if that horrific thing burst through my apartment wall, he’d smell more than rage and fear. Just sayin’.) He demands that they tell him where they have the Eradicator hidden!

Sarah’s brother, Mike, leaps off of his sleeping place on the floor and puts his arms out in a protective manner towards his sister and nephews. He would protect them with his life if need be! But this scene is interrupted by gunshots hitting the creature’s exposed back from the hole in the wall! It turns to see police officers as they open fire once again. More amused than anything else, Kem-L blasts his energy towards the police! After a parked car explodes and the officers run for safety, he turns his attention back to the family once more. Only they’re no longer there! But alas, the family is quickly located once again, nearly free of the building before Kem-L blasts a hole in the floor above their heads! Sarah pleads for her children’s lives as the descending Kem-L slowly hovers towards them! He grabs Sarah by her throat and lifts her menacingly into the air! Her boys look on helpless as their uncle lies on the ground unconscious! (Is there another way to choke someone besides menacingly? Don’t answer that! Perverts.) But before the monster can hurt her, the Eradicator arrives, eyes and fists glowing with power! He orders Kem-L to drop the woman now!

Kem-L seems genuinely confused. Are they both not superior lifeforms? Better in every way than these frail humans? The Eradicator replies that he shares their core weakness. He cares. He continues that he can drain him of his energies, just leave the human family alone. The monster replies that this will not do. No. They must die to free the Eradicator of his weakness. The Eradicator answers that he will not fight Kem-L. Kill the humans then. He cares not! And with that, he flies through the apartment’s roof! Leaving Sarah, Mike, and the two young boys to perish at the hands of this nightmare from Krypton’s dark past! Kem-L cackles maniacally as he readies himself to snap poor Sarah Conner’s neck! Just then, the Eradicator smashes through the roof above the creature, severing it’s right arm with the force of his blow! (Psych! You thought he was gonna leave too, didn’t you? Ha! He showed you. This guy should sell medical insurance over the phone with his uncanny skill to lie without remorse.)

The beast roars in pain as Sarah and the children escape! It then begins to shapeshift into it’s female form. It talks calmly to the Eradicator as it slowly approaches. The dark hero seems transfixed by these words and the beautiful face until Kem-L strikes with a mighty uppercut! This sends the Eradicator crashing into a brick wall with such force, even he is stunned! Kem-L follows this by throwing the other being through wall after wall! The blows begin to take their toll after awhile. At last, the Eradicator seems defeated! He replies that he will fight no more. He will give his energy over freely. His eyes glow as he says the last words. Suddenly, the building explodes into rubble as the Eradicator unleashes the fury of his full power! Sarah cries out that Mike is still inside! She runs to save him! But moments after she enters the inferno, the Eradicator comes crashing through a wall to the outside, Mike held safely in his powerful arms! (I hope these people have renter’s insurance and that it covers “Acts of Krypton”!)

Eradicator slowly and carefully lies the man in the street near the children. One of them pulls insistently upon the superhero’s cape. He turns to see terror in the boy’s face as he explains that his mother went back into the building! The Eradicator loses no time as he speeds back into the blaze! He calls out frantically for Sarah to say something so he can locate her. He hears a low groan. Turning, he sees her. She’s trapped under some flaming wreckage! He rushes forward and throws it off of her at lightning speed! He tries to console her. She’ll be okay. Sarah caresses his face and whispers that he’s lying with a gentle smile. That’s when the unthinkable happens. For the briefest of moments, their minds become one! He feels every emotion, sees every triumph and heartache! And then nothing. Sarah’s hand drops limply. She is no more. (I’m not gonna cry. I’m not gonna…..sob…..don’t look at me! Umm. I mean, let’s continue on with our story…..)

Later, he watches her funeral from a distance. It’s a beautiful service as services go. He mourns her. But does he have the right? After all, he only carries some of her husband’s memories. And now, her memories are a part of him as well. He feels more strongly than ever before because of this he believes. Does he now possess a soul, he wonders? He knows about as much as anyone else does. That’ll have to be enough.

End.

Dedicated to the woman who gave me life as I just recently celebrated my 46th. birthday, my mother, Pamela Bowen-Metz. I love you, mom.