Angel and the Bane is an Azrael storyline written by Dennis O'Neil and illustrated by Barry Kitson. It contains the final confrontation between Azrael and Bane since their last fight in the finale of the Knightfall storyline.
Synopsis
After Azrael accidently disrupts a GCPD "sting" operation led by Sergeant Bullock, Batman gives Azrael one last chance to prove himself a viable asset by apprehending the resurfaced terrorist Bane who had hyjacked a boat in Florida. Azrael eagerly accepts the assignment, however he becomes conflicted regarding his primary motive when his old ally Lilhy returns to Gotham City in an attempt to rekindle a romantic relationship with Azrael.[1] Azrael is temporarily convinced to abandon his mission to apprehend Bane in order to run away with Lilhy to Switzerland, however the vigilante ultimately decides to leave Lilhy to go the Florida, rendezvousing with his ally and trainer Nomoz at the airport. Concurrent to this, Bane frees his comrade Bird from a prison in Florida and shanghaied a group of drug brewers to create a more potent variant of the Venom toxin which he planned to sell to an insurrectionist militia group in Santa Prisca. Azrael and Nomoz locate Bane at a shiping dock and easily incapacitate his hired thugs. In despiration, Bane injects Bird with the new Venom toxin causing him to go in a ravonous frenzy and attack Azrael who only barely subdues him. However, Azrael was too weakened from his bout with Bird that he was unable to defend himself against Bane who incapacitates both Azrael and Nomoz and has them locked within his stolen ship as he makes his way for Santa Prisca.[2] While captive Azrael and Nomoz are injected with the new Venom formula which enables them to escape, but also making them addicted as well. However, using the strength-bolstering high of the toxin, Azrael is able to break free of his bindings and combats Bane aboard the boat. This results in the boat crashing into the shores of Santa Prisca and Azrael being caged by Bane while Nomoz manages to hide within the wreckage of the ship. With proof of the new Venom's strength in Azrael, Bane shows him off to his potential buyers who see the effects firsthand.[3]
Issues
Links and References