My biggest problem with modern Azrael, save for Tynion and Watters’ miserable retcons, is his lack of connection to Batman. You cannot separate Jean Paul Valley from Batman. JPV’s story centers him in so many contexts that without Bruce’s presence in the narrative, he feels out of place.
Jean Paul as a character was made for the sole purpose of being the Anti-Batman, and this bled very heavily into how others interacted with him. Especially Bruce. Their strained, emotionally distant dynamic is firmly based of Knightfall and Bruce’s guilt about the situation. Dubiously, Knightfall is canon again, but the relationships Jean Paul previously had based on Knightfall are not. Bruce does not have the same uncomfortable responsibility and guilt surrounding Azrael. His bond with Cassandra feels shallow. Dick’s resentment of him feels baseless.
Without this history, and Jean Paul’s semi-integration into the Batfam in his desperate pursuit of Batman’s approval, he just doesn’t have any meaningful connection to the larger Batman franchise. But his character.. is built solely for Batman. He can stand on his own, yes, but so much of his narrative centered Batman. His loyalty to Batman that often negatively impacted him, his subconscious mind placing Batman in a father-like role and often placing him against Ludovic or Dumas, his black sheep position, all of it has been nixed.
What does he do without this? Not much. They’ve attempted to give him new bonds through Kate and Luke, and a new supporting cast with Karl and Vengeance, but none of it is particularly sustainable or interesting. Especially when it often relied on someone’s mischaracterization (his own in Rebirth, and Karl’s in SoA).
I think the best way to revamp Jean Paul as a character is to give him that proximity to Batman. Only so much of the damage done by Tynion and Watters’ decisions can be undone as of right now, but re-establishing this dynamic poses an opportunity for so many interesting stories and character moments similar to those in Azrael ‘95 or Agent of the Bat. It would make him more relevant, and also revive some of the themes that were lost in the reboot. It is a much needed change, in my opinion.
