I think it is soo important to remember Azrael is Jean Paul’s protector and not just a “violent alter.” We see him retreat into being Azrael when faced with new traumas or uncomfortable situations (namely after discovering the labs where Azraels are made, but also when he finds out he’s “dying” in Agent of the Bat). And it is not so simple as being only Azrael in those moments, there is absolutely a nuance to it, but Jean Paul is constantly shown shielding himself by letting Azrael handle the things he cannot.
It is Azrael who fights for his life, Azrael who dealt with the aftermath of JPV’s breakdown in the lab, Azrael who protects Jean Paul from the threat of death when he is “sick,” Azrael endured the abuse and brainwashing in their childhood. He is Jean Paul’s protector, but he is weaponized in a way that makes him seem violent. Azrael is not inherently aggressive, just as Jean Paul isn’t, but due to the brainwashing and the way he’s been put into the box of “avenging angel,” he can be.
Azrael’s violence begins with the intention of shielding someone, be it Jean Paul or a bystander, but it can (does) escalate beyond that. He is not “bad” by nature, nor is he a killer, or overly aggressive and angry. He is an abuse victim, bearing the weight of much of Jean Paul’s trauma, forced into the role of an avenging angel through years of brainwashing.
The idea that Azrael is meant to punish or used strictly for violence is reinforced by those around him, including Jean Paul’s friends and allies, which further pushes this narrative of him being inherently violent. But the reality of Azrael’s existence is that he, much like Jean Paul, is struggling and forced to conform to other’s expectations. But unlike Jean Paul, he is not always given the grace of being seen as a victim or having emotional complexity beyond his title.
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