What is this book about?

Jean Paul Valley, aka Azrael, is the latest in a line of assassin-enforcers for “The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas.” Which essentially is a sinister cult. He has been receiving training and mental conditioning to prepare him for his role since before he was born. He is a test tube baby, and his genes have been spliced with that of various animals. For most of his life, he has been brainwashed with “The System,” which is a deep level of psychological conditioning. Eventually he is called upon by this cult to take up the mantle of Azrael, which is essentially a role that has been passed down for century’s where someone in the cult is chosen as a sort of “super-agent” to fight and protect the Order, the System, Saint Dumas and all that other jazz.

Eventually Batman, shows him the error of his ways and he decides to fight alongside Batman against the criminals of Gotham, rejecting his “birthright” and seeking Batman’s help in breaking his conditioning to forge his own destiny.

This whole series is essentially about Azrael trying to break free of his past and become something different and better than what he was “born to be.”

Why should you read this book?

Because the whole concept behind Azrael is something many of us can relate to. Azrael: Agent of the Bat, shows the character in a constant struggle to break free from his birthright.

Literally since birth, Jean Paul Valley, has been taught and trained to become one way. Until a friend whom he trusted showed him that there are others ways he can live his life. That he did not have to live up to the expectations of his parents, guardians or caregivers.

This is just a metaphor, for the concept of parental conditioning. Questioning what we’re born with and what we’re taught as we grow up. For many, they do not question what they were taught; nor do they care. They see it as the correct way of life.

This book isn’t necessarily for just the people with whom can relate to Valley’s struggle in rejecting his birthright. But also for the people whom think that their upbringing is the correct way of life.

Not only did Jean Paul Valley reject and decide to fight against the Order of St.Dumas, but he also wanted to make it something better than what it had become. He saw that the Order had a great plan but also thought it might work better if they questioned how it had been done before.

It’s a good book for anyone.