Dark days are here, Batman. The prophecy has come true. From the ashes of Arkham City, the fires are raging and Gotham is burning. I can see that same fire in your eyes. Before this night is through, that fire will consume you. Gotham will need a new savior, a new guardian, a new Batman.
„
~ Azrael to Batman on the prophecy.
“
I thought myself the instrument of God, not the tool of Man {…} I do no one's bidding but God's. The Order must answer for what they have done to me.
„
~ Azrael to Batman after breaking the sword and planning to confront the Order.
Michael Washington Lane, also known as Azrael, is a recurring character in the Batman: Arkham videogame series, appearing as a supporting character in both the 2011 video game Batman: Arkham City and the 2015 sequel Batman: Arkham Knight.
Little is known of Michael Washington Lane's past, but he lived in Gotham City and played football at some point. In adulthood, he joined the Gotham City Police Department and later became a test subject for a secret program to create a crimefighter. However, Lane suffered from psychological issues from the program, resulting in his dismissal from the department.
Becoming Azrael[]
Remorseful of his actions, he confessed his sons to a priest, whom unbeknownst to him, was a member of the Order of St. Dumas. The order then recruited Michael into their ranks to become Azrael, and tasked him to observe Gotham's vigilante Batman. In reality, the order wanted Azrael to kill Batman once he learned everything from the Dark Knight as they saw him as an obstacle in allowing them to kill criminals without consequence.
Arkham City[]
Azrael makes his debut in Batman: Arkham City. He is seen on the rooftops of various buildings in Arkham City, watching over Batman. When the Dark Knight approached him, Azrael disappears in a cloud of smoke, leaving a symbol for the superhero to scan. After scanning all the symbols and combining them to reveal a location, Batman meets up with Azrael, who explains about the Order of St. Dumas, warning him of their prophecy of future events and the Dark Knight's end. Though Batman doubts this, Azrael tells him that, regardless of his belief, there are parts of it that are becoming true and they will meet again, before disappearing again into a cloud of smoke.
Arkham Knight[]
With the prophecy seemingly coming true during Scarecrow's campaign, Azrael meets with Batman and explains his intention of becoming the latter's successor. While Batman appeared to agree with Lane, he secretly observed the order's champion during his training against simulations to study the suit of sorrows. Having Alfred gather information from the simulations, Batman learns of Azrael's true identity, the Order of St. Dumas and oddities in his psychology. Returning to the clock tower, the Dark Knight used the bat-computer and discovered something implanted in Lane's brain, which was used by the order to manipulate his psychology for their ulterior motives. Upon Azrael's arrival, the Dark Knight left him with the choice of either accept that he's being manipulated or follow through with the order's plan.
