The Third Ghost

MICHAEL LANE VILLAIN BLOG NOT AZRAEL AU DCRP / MDNI / CW HEAVY

[gothams-bat-devil]

I've as much right to BEAR The Mantle of the Bat as anyone here! I suffered for that right! We're both sons of the Batman in our way, let's face it. Sons of the same father. But me... I have another father. Our father in Hell!

ROLEPLAY BLOG FOR THE BAT-DEVIL!

STRICTLY DEVILMIKE, WHILE I MIGHT HUMOUR AZMIKE, I PERSONALLY DISLIKE WHAT IT DOES FOR HIS CHARACTER.

(That doesn’t mean I don’t have my own version. haha. @azrael-sword-of-justice )

WHO IS MICHAEL LANE?

Michael Washington Lane is a retired cop, veteran, and widower. The man was born and bred in Gotham, a child who grew up in an era of the city when it was still wracked with crime. Of course, that was no way to live, leading to Michael relying heavily on his religious upbringing to survive. The church was a safe heaven, god his keeper. His fear of the Lord developed during his tour in Iraq, starting to believe that god was punishing him directly because of his “violent”, apathetic nature. This belief was only reinforced by the tragedies that befell his life in the following years joining the police force. Michael lost his son, Henry, as well his wife, Chanté. It was only natural what he’d lose next… however, there was hope. A program, designed for people like him who could no longer serve this wonderful city. A program to create the next Batman.

WHO IS THE BAT-DEVIL?

FUNNY. THAT'S HOW IT ALL GOT STARTED. SOMEBODY WONDERED WHAT WE'D ALL DO IF BATMAN DIED.

Earlier into Batman’s career the Gotham City Police Department became attached to having a vigilante to protect the city. They needed a BAT to enforce justice. Desperate for a safeguard for the Batman’s inevitable demise they partnered with one Dr. Simon Hurt to create their Batman. The program wasn’t a success, despite numerous attempts none of the three suspects, Officer Muller, Officer Branca, and Officer Lane could defeat or live up to Batman. This would drive Doctor. Hurt insane, creating “tragedies” to help “motivate” his subjects, in Lane’s case murdering his remaining family in a way that would trigger his PTSD, as well subjecting all three former policemen to solitary confinement. This would catch the government’s attention and the program was shutdown, each 'Batman’ retired, medicated, and kept away from the public eye. Sworn to secrecy, better left forgotten.

That was, unfortunately, until these agents awoke. With the Black Glove arriving back in Gotham, each "Ghost" (Batman replacement) began to fall back into their training, replacing Batman as they saw him as an imposter. The Bat-Devil was the third ghost, the most successful of the three, (as well the most delusional.) he saw Batman (Bruce Wayne) and Batman (Michael Lane) as the same person, both of them devil forced to manage a hell-like-place called Gotham. Fallen angels, punished by god.

PERSONALITY & GOALS.

Michael by his own admission is a devil. He indulges in sin… All 8 of them. Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, Sloth, and the forgotten sin of Faith. He can be horribly cruel, delighting in the pain of those he sees as sinners. However, he is trained to protect Gotham. He reports to fellow vigilante, is compelled to find the previous Gotham Police Commissioner to report to, and only goes out of his way to torture fellow criminals or those he deems as such. He truly believes he’s Batman! Delusionally Attached to the hero at such a level that he can’t separate the two in his mind. If someone is friends with Batman, they must also be friends with him, yes? If Batman owns something it must be his. Why would it be different?

Outside of the cowl, Michael is incredibly unstable. He suffers greatly with interpersonal skills, unable to connect with people or imagine any form of relationship with them. This doesn’t mean Michael doesn’t want relationships, being alone is so very painful for the man as it is. No, it’s simply a struggle for him to maintain them. His life since the Batman Program has revolved completely around said program’s namesake, unable to shower, eat, or take care of himself if it went against his traumatic programming. This can lead to him scaring people, which at some level Michael delights in because it allows him to express control that is often stripped from him. The widower hates to be treated like a specimen.

The Bat-Devil aims to take over Gotham, replacing Batman and continuing the work of his predecessor. Gotham needs to be punished, protected by him alone. He wants to be a hero, intrinsically, yet his delusions have been weaponised to such a level he believes that torture is the only way for him to do so. With his direct involvement in Batman’s death (twice), Michael Lane exclusively wants to get rid of his "imposter", doing whatever necessary to punish those under his assumed care.

INTERACTIONS!

I try to keep this blog 13+, of course if anything gets too mature I’ll finish the thread in private!

I’m fine with magic anons! If it makes me uncomfortable I simply won’t reply <3

ships are fine! Discuss them with me and I’ll be very happy. I don’t want to roleplay serious ships with people who aren’t an adult though, makes me a little uncomfortable haha.

Anyone is free to interact! I play a villain who is .. a little crazy, admittedly. So expect that in return!

if yer muse is in Gotham, come bother me!

CHARACTER BOUNDARIES !

If it isn’t obvious, Michael is not a happy character. His story is about a man taken advantage of by those in charge, tortured, and left to rot. Those roleplaying with him should be aware of what I will and will not personally write for the character.

BATCEST: He is .. a weird case. Not exactly a part of the batfamily, however he believes to be one mentally. Michael Lane has had dialogue that suggests he doesn’t know graduated members, such as Nightwing, are related to Batman, in fact that example has canonically flirted with him! Because of that I would be fine with Mikedick. Although I am still not comfortable with ships that would be assumed familiar in his mind. Discuss any ship with me beforehand please, casual flirting is fine but I do not want to engage in a dynamic where both parties aren’t properly informed of what you want from it. <3

CHEATING: This HAS to be discussed between all parties. Any relationships people want to explore will be assumed to be in their own, separate timeline. I trust you all to be normal.

BIGOTRY: I love writing dark fiction and would be fine exploring that with a mature party! That does not mean I want non-discussed ableism or sanism in my inbox. Run it by me! Additionally I will not write anything about racism, like at all. No racial slurs please. 🙂‍↕️.

NSFT: I am an adult, if any other adult wanted to explore character-focused NSFT content I would love to! Not on tumblr though, haha. I like to keep my blog 13+, so any thread containing those themes would have to be discussed in DMs and taken elsewhere. Yay.

CONTENT WARNINGS!

If any of these themes upset you, please don’t interact. <3

Religious Themes

Obsessive behaviour

Mental illness

Psychotic episodes

Sanism & Ableism

Abuse of power

Loss of autonomy

Mind-breaking

Mental / Physical Torture

Processing Trauma

Self Harm / Mutilation

Non-suicidal self injury

Gore, Blood, Death

OUT OF CHARACTER :)

hiii you can call me Muzz! :) 18+, Semi-Active, and love to plot religious themed gore! It’s my thing! :3 I like & follow from @muzzleguppy, as well post fanart from threads there! Have fun!

[muzzleguppy]

DOCTOR HURT WAS THE DEVIL.

SOMETIMES HE VISITS THIS WORLD TO DESTROY THE GOOD AND MAKE SLAVES OF MEN LIKE ME.

THEY POURED HOT GLUE INTO MY BROTHER'S EYES... CARVED OBSCENITIES INTO MY SISTER'S FLESH...

...SO I COULD BE DRIVEN BY DEMONS, JUST LIKE YOU.

THE BAT-DEVIL, MICHAEL LANE.

[muzzleguppy]

ok with knightfall movie coming out soon and the Azrael fandom bracing itself for a content implosion I need to get something off my chest.

WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE TALK ABOUT MICHAEL LANE AZRAEL.

It is imperative as a fandom to think critically about the media you consume, how you consume it, and how you conduct yourself. Personally, I quite like Azrael, Both Jean-Paul Valley and Michael Lane. You would think that would be allowed within this comic space, but as we currently are it is somehow radical thinking. The way The Azrael fandom - as well the Batman Fandom as a whole - have treated Michael Lane isnt okay. Its racist, and it needs to change.

For those unaware Michael Lane is the second Azrael, a character who in such a short-run did multiple big waves in comics. He caused Battle-For-The-Cowl, He created the start for Damian's character arc, and even made the well liked design of Red Hood Batman (as it was his suit.) Michael is a twist on the original, A character loyal from dogma alone, instead of sci-fi indoctrination. A catholic angel who likens himself to the Antichrist, his story is very interesting religious fiction. It is different than Jean-Paul's run. yes, but it was never trying to be like him.

Unfortunately that meant a large, vocal part of this community despises Michael. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, you can dislike a character. I would fine if it was just that. However, the longer I have spent researching the discussion about these two I have come to a different conclussion.

The Fandom Hates Michael on Principle. It is not his character, it is meta-narrative and, without a doubt, Racism.

If you've never read Michael Lane's 2009 Run you might've missed the key detail that Michael is Black. Yes, Michael is a black, hypersexual, schizophrenic, with cptsd and religious trauma. He covers a wide net of poorly represented minority in comic, quite tastefully by the way.

If you haven't caught on, Jean-Paul Fan's are legitimately mad to the point of, in some cases I've seen, writing fanwork brutalizing the character, all because they see a Black Character getting a solo-run as "stealing" from him. A character who hasn't had a run since his introduction. 2011 being the last year he's even had a comic. The same fandom that praises Jean-Paul for his appearance (Blonde hair, Blue Eyes) because he "looks like a anime character".

.

yeah.

It doesnt help that multiple people I've seen in the Azrael fandom Are Racist. It doesnt help that the main criticsm given to Michael is perfectly allowed in SoA (jean-paul literally stole his Catholicism and everyone ate it up. ok.) as it stands, the only thing Michael has done to deserve such criticsm is be a person of colour in comics. its fucked up.

The Azrael fandom legitamtely prides itself on represenaton. everyone loves Jean-Paul as a system. So it’s undeniably weird when they bully a character who is canonically mentally ill. why is only Jean-Paul's example of mental health okay? the way Lane has been alinated from the fandom is done malicously, and those who dont go out of their way to Read Michael's quick, 32-Issue run, is letting it happen.

If you say you care about Black Characters but don’t read Black Character’s runs? You are racist.

If you complain about the lack of black character solo-runs but allow people to erase and minimise their runs like this? You are racist.

If you call yourself a Azrael fan and don’t count or dislike Michael Lane? You are racist.

Black Characters solo-runs didn’t magically disappear. They saw backlash like the type This Fandom has created and knew they didn’t have to put effort into black characters. Comics have no reason to represent minorities when they get more money out of their blue eyes, black haired cast.

Everyone needs to do better.

When I got into Michael Lane there was no recourses. Everywhere I looked echoed others opinions about his run being boring or not worth reading. No one in this fandom thinks critically or actually reads his comic run! You all stand by so that racist who have can tell you not to care for Michael and erase a black character.

I adore Michael Lane, and you all should too.

If you disagree with me? Block me. This applies to so many other characters too. If you don’t make your own opinion about comics or read something on the basis of it making you uncomfortable, you are not a comic reader. You are not a fan. And I do not want you interacting with me.

[gothams-bat-devil]

Hey i thought you were a girl; did they lie to me

What?

I am not a girl … I am Batman.

[gothams-bat-devil]

do you accept nonbinary people

Of course. why wouldn’t I? Batman loves the lbgt 😊

[gothams-bat-devil]

do you want to kill Batman

is it a “I want to replace him” motive?

Who are you?

[gothams-bat-devil]

Since I am sin free am I your favorite

yes … you will be spared …. You have served the city well.

[sleep-deprived-tim]

I will continue too! Gods willing and all that,

[gothams-bat-devil]

I wish all the little boys and girls followed in such gracious footsteps.

[gothams-bat-devil]

Since I am sin free am I your favorite

yes … you will be spared …. You have served the city well.

[gothams-bat-devil]

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Gotham was not a holy place. Its people, no matter how they cry out, would not be heard. No, they were not citizens of the Lord. Instead under the domain of one much worse. The ultimate evil, the antichrist, Batman.

How was Batman to ignore his children?

It took Michael more time then he’d like to admit to realize why his former shadow acted only in darkness. All evil works in mystery, not powerful enough in the light of day. He was weak, hands shaking despite the numerous layers that draped his body. The sun sickened Michael considerably. Helplessness, fragility, Insecurity… none of that would SAVE the innocent. None of that would PUNISH the sinner. Could his hand, feeble as it was, even raise it’s whip down on the oppressor? On the Saint?

Michael couldn’t stop. Not now. When his people were most vulnerable.

The man struggled to find footing, walking in an uneven pattern as if he’d forgotten how to exist in crowds. In some odd way he had, funny really, there was a time he thrived in the busy, noisy street as he surveyed traffic. Wobbly as he was, it was a good enough excuse not to look up. He didn’t dare, missions marked only for his eyes were everywhere. Ever since the signal awoke, he couldn’t turn it off. Couldn’t sleep. The sky itself would reach its hand toward the widower if he got the courage to face it, in need of his gentle care. Distantly Michael realized his feet ached with a rotten sort of bruise, soles wore in from his constant patrol. Unfortunately his shift wasn’t over, his service always in high demand.

Sckkkkkkkkrt. Michael let his hand drag against the jagged, disorganised brick wall of city street. Pavement creating small, fractional scratches to keep his mind on track. Gliding across papers dramatically taped along his warpath, he stoped when friction finally ripped the fabric against limb. A poster, torn sure, but legible. A missing cat. Quite a fluffy one, grey fur reminiscent of a dust bunny.

Hm.

He was in no shape to take on the cowl, soft calluses formed already from the muscles pulled from the weight of his equipment alone. However Batman didn’t need to make an appearance for this mission. A smile crept across the retired policemen’s face, now collecting every missing poster he could find. Michael wasn’t unaware how unusual such a scene would look, a dozen pages already tucked between his sleeve.

Michael’s general appearance unnerved people, no point in being worried about preordained social convention. His hair was kept short, tightly curled in a way that almost hide the start of grey. The stubble that kept stubbornly forming from his week long adventures in heroism wasn’t so subtle, a mix of premature salt and pepper staining his chin. He was still young, relatively, but stress had run its course. Michael was tall, 6'2 outside his uniform, enough to intimidate. Tower over someone if need be. Despite his build, his stature, something about his nature disagreed. The Gothamite kept to himself, curling into his own body as if he was fragile. No matter how many layers he’d procure, Michael felt exposed, arms folded over his chest, crinkling the paper into a wrinkled mess.

No time to waste! He had a mission afterall :)

Brushing past those unlucky enough to cross his path, the devil in a confident stride began to survey the area. Not even noticing as he’d absentmindedly knocked someone’s beverage into his and their chest, instead having his gaze locked on a tree above. What an asshole. The cup fell to the floor, already crushed under his thick, leather boots.