Battle for the Cowl: Azrael - Death's Dark Knight #3 - DC

So, in this series we find out that Michael Lane has been given the Suit of Sorrows and Sword of Salvation by the Order of Purity. They're connected to the Order of St Dumas, the ones that created the original Azrael, but . . they're not the same thing. Then he fought Talia, and took the Sword of Sin from her. So, now he has the suit and both swords. This issue he finally comes face to face with Dick. They start out fighting, but . . they end up coming to an understanding. There is a bit of a mystery here though because, Michael has given up the costume that he wore when he was a test subject of Doctor Hurt. However, someone else has taken to wearing his suit. Actually I thought it was Jason Todd. But when Michael's nephew runs into him by accident on the street, he immediately recognizes him. So if it's not Jason . . who is it? Anyways, Dick pretty much opens up the road for Michael to pursue this path. He tells Talia how it's gonna be, "You let Lane keep the Suit of Sorrows. If he goes over the edge, he becomes my responsibility." And, after erasing Michael's memories of the Bat-cave and everything Batman related, he also gives him his blessing. When Michael wakes up after being drugged, he finds the suit, both swords and a note hanging on his door . . "This was a gift from her father to my father. Now I give it to you. Screw up and I'll take it back." Then the Order of Purity gives him someplace to live. "Leland McCauley willed this brownstone to the Order . . and if you accept the role of Azrael . . and agree to let us work with you . . it's all yours." But we find out that the Order doesn't actually serve god . . it serves Ra's al Ghul. "For now, I prefer to see how far this man can go before the madness overtakes him. I will manipulate certain events, provoke certain challenges . . all to see if the armor makes the man or the man makes the armor. If he survives . . the the Order of Purity will have an unstoppable weapon." And . . all of this leads directly into Azrael's own series coming out this fall. Fabian Nicieza and Frazer Irving did the creative part of this book. However, as with Batgirl, we don't really know yet who'll be doing the new series. My vote is for Fabian and Frazer. I think they did a good job with this mini.