In Batman #500, Jean-Paul in his new mechanical Batsuit confronts Bane in a vicious battle and eventually prevails.

Over the next few issues he is portrayed in, Jean-Paul alienates Robin and becomes paranoid and arrogant, the opposite of what Bruce had chosen him for. Following this, Jean-Paul was unable to shake the influence of the System, giving into it completely after his first defeat at Bane's hands, and being increasingly influenced by it during the rest of his tenure as Batman.

Jean-Paul is shown as a different but not dangerous Batman until an encounter with the Scarecrow, which culminates in Jean-Paul being infected by Scarecrow's fear gas and the 'System' - his programming as Azrael - taking over, in order to combat Jean-Paul's fear. Soon after, Kinsolving and Tim's father Jack Drake are kidnapped and Bruce with Alfred leave the country to find them - their story is continued in Knightquest: The Search, whilst the happenings in Gotham are recorded in Knightquest: The Crusade. Bruce gives Jean-Paul strict orders never to engage Bane in combat indeed, when Jean-Paul faces Bane, only his modified gloves save him from being thrown to his death. Bruce's rationale for this decision is revealed in later issues - secretly, he doesn't want Dick to have to face Bane, as he knows Dick's character will compel him to try. However, Bruce says that Dick is his own man now, with his own responsibilities and would only do so reluctantly Dick later expressed resentment at not being asked to stand in as Batman. Tim Drake argues with Bruce to allow Dick Grayson (the former Robin) to become Batman, as he is more experienced and mentally competent. Shondra Kinsolving to rehabilitate him and asks Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael) to take up the mantle of Batman so that Gotham has a protector. With Batman supposedly out of the way, Bane assumes control of Gotham City and begins to take over a number of illegal operations within it.Īfter his defeat, Bruce Wayne enlists the aid of Dr. The fight between Bruce Wayne and Bane was detailed in Batman #497, and ended in Bane breaking Wayne's back over his knee. After this encounter, Bane made his move and attacked Batman (by this time, Bane had deduced the identity of Batman to be Bruce Wayne) at Wayne Manor, where he was most vulnerable as his alter-ego. The combination of the Joker and Scarecrow took Batman to his mental and physical limits. Over the next few issues, Batman became weaker and weaker as each criminal was put away. Indeed, in later issues, Tim Drake, the current Robin, asks Batman if he is even needed as his sidekick anymore. The storyline of Knightfall drove a large rift in the relationship between Robin and Batman, as Batman sought to face the outbreak alone.

Among the freed inmates, there were numerous high profile villains, such as the Joker, who trapped Arkham's administrator Jeremiah Arkham, and Scarecrow, as well as many less known villains, such as the Mad Hatter, The Ventriloquist, Firefly, Cavalier, and Victor Zsasz. Bane's plan consisted of weakening Batman by forcing him to deal with the deadly villains one at a time. The plot of Knightfall began with the master criminal Bane freeing all of the maximum-security inmates of Arkham Asylum. In KnightsEnd, Bruce Wayne returns and takes his mantle as Batman back from the usurper Azrael. In The Crusade, Azrael's Batman grows more violent and crazy, while in The Search, Bruce Wayne seeks a cure for his paralysis. Knightquest is also divided into two parts. This requires Azrael to become the new Batman, and defeat Bane in Who Rules the Night?. In The Broken Bat, Bane defeats Batman by breaking his spine. The story was originally published in Batman, Catwoman, Detective Comics, Justice League Task Force, Legends of the Dark Knight, Robin, Shadow of the Bat, Showcase '93 and Showcase '94.īane, the primary villain of the storyline, is introduced in Vengeance of Bane, and the vigilante Azrael is introduced in Sword of Azrael. It was written by Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Dennis O'Neil, Doug Moench, and Jo Duffy, with illustrations by Barry Kitson, Bret Blevins, Graham Nolan, Jim Aparo, Jim Balent, Mike Manley, Norm Breyfogle and Ron Wagner.

It's a trilogy consisting of three storylines, Knightfall, Knightquest, and KnightsEnd. Knightfall is a Batman Family crossover published in 1993.

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