Azrael (Arkhamverse)

Michael Washington Lane, also known as Azrael, is a recurring character in the Batman: Arkham videogame series, appearing as a supporting character in both the 2011 video game Batman: Arkham City and the 2015 sequel Batman: Arkham Knight.
He is voiced by Khary Payton, who also portrayed King Ezekiel in The Walking Dead, and voiced Cyborg in 2003s Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!, and the DC Animated Film Universe, Aqualad in Young Justice, Drebin 893 in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and Knox in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.
== Biography ==
===Background===
Little is known of Michael Washington Lane's past, but he lived in Gotham City and played football at some point. In adulthood, he joined the Gotham City Police Department and later became a test subject for a secret program to create a crimefighter. However, Lane suffered from psychological issues from the program, resulting in his dismissal from the department. 
===Becoming Azrael===
Remorseful of his actions, he confessed his sons to a priest, whom unbeknownst to him, was a member of the Order of St. Dumas. The order then recruited Michael into their ranks to become Azrael, and tasked him to observe Gotham's vigilante Batman. In reality, the order wanted Azrael to kill Batman once he learned everything from the Dark Knight as they saw him as an obstacle in allowing them to kill criminals without consequence.
===Arkham City===
Azrael makes his debut in Batman: Arkham City. He is seen on the rooftops of various buildings in Arkham City, watching over Batman. When the Dark Knight approached him, Azrael disappears in a cloud of smoke, leaving a symbol for the superhero to scan. After scanning all the symbols and combining them to reveal a location, Batman meets up with Azrael, who explains about the Order of St. Dumas, warning him of their prophecy of future events and the Dark Knight's end. Though Batman doubts this, Azrael tells him that, regardless of his belief, there are parts of it that are becoming true and they will meet again, before disappearing again into a cloud of smoke.
===Arkham Knight===
With the prophecy seemingly coming true during Scarecrow's campaign, Azrael meets with Batman and explains his intention of becoming the latter's successor. While Batman appeared to agree with Lane, he secretly observed the order's champion during his training against simulations to study the suit of sorrows. Having Alfred gather information from the simulations, Batman learns of Azrael's true identity, the Order of St. Dumas and oddities in his psychology. Returning to the clock tower, the Dark Knight used the bat-computer and discovered something implanted in Lane's brain, which was used by the order to manipulate his psychology for their ulterior motives. Upon Azrael's arrival, the Dark Knight left him with the choice of either accept that he's being manipulated or follow through with the order's plan.
====Azrael's Choice====
<tabber>
Break form the Order = Coming to his senses, Azrael either breaks the sword or leaves from the tower, expressing his intention of confronting the order for their actions. 
|-|
Kill Batman = Deciding to give into the order's manipulations, Azrael attempts to kill Batman, but is knocked out and imprisoned.
</tabber>
==Trivia==
*It's implied that Azrael is aware that Batman is Bruce Wayne, as he be seen watching Bruce in the beginning of Arkham City.
==External Links==
*Azrael on the Villains Wiki.
*Azrael on the Arkham Wiki.
*Azrael on the DC Comics Database.
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