If there’s one thing we can consistently count on, it’s that FOX’s Gotham will always find a new way to spin the traditional Batman mythos. We’ve seen the show do it with countless villains, ranging from The Penguin to a couple of different Jokers, but now it’s time for a DC hero to shine. Or is he a hero? New images have just hit the web showing Gotham’s eerie yet recognizable take on Azrael; we hope you missed Theo Galavan, because he’s going to be back in action despite taking a bullet to the brain. Check out the photo below to see for yourself.
You can definitely tell from the photo above that Gotham takes place in a comic book universe. Despite the fact that he suffered a gunshot wound to the head earlier this season, it would appear that Theo Galavan will return to take up the mantle of Azrael. This shouldn’t necessarily come as a huge surprise when we consider the fact that the comic character's original last name, Dumas, is a direct indication of the Order of St. Dumas – the society from which the Azrael assassin takes his orders.
Of course, returning from the dead rarely comes without any significant side effects. Judging by the photo below, it would appear that Azrael will have no aversion to shedding a little bit of blood here and there.
Okay, maybe more than a little bit of blood will be shed when he shows up. As enticing as these early glimpses of Gotham’s Azrael are, they don’t provide much insight as to how the character might look fully suited up, assuming they go that far with him. Azrael has an incredibly specific, flamboyant, and well-known outfit from the comic book source material, so it will prove interesting to see how Gotham decides to put its own spin on what fans expect from the character.
Casual audiences might not necessarily be familiar with the name Azrael, but he has a fairly significant place in the Batman franchise. Originally Jean-Paul Valley, the character took over for Bruce Wayne after the billionaire vigilante had his back broken by the villainous Bane. Later incarnations of the character took on a different tone, becoming an assassin dedicated to the mission of “enforcing God’s will.” At this point, it remains unclear exactly how Gotham will depict the characterization of this particular version of Azrael, but one thing is certain: fans of the Batman lore have waited a long time to see this specific character brought to life in live action.
Be sure to check out Theo Galavan's version of the iconic comic book zealot/warrior in action when the Gotham episode “Azrael” airs on April 25 at 8 p.m. EST on FOX.
