9 Cool Batman: Knightquest Moments Everyone Forgets About
3. Almost Murdering Gunhawk
Azrael's last case as Batman would see him taking on the murderer known as Gunhawk and his sidekick Bunny. It was also the culmination of Jean-Paul Valley's slow descent into madness.
Throughout the entire Crusade story arc, Valley's psyche had been on a knife edge. On one side, his need to be "Batman" keeps Gotham City safe from the darkness that threatens to consume her. On the other, his programming from the Order of St. Dumas gives him his abilities and feeds his need for vengeance.
During a confrontation between Batman and Gunhawk, Bunny is injured, forcing Valley to retreat from combat and choose between justice and vengeance. Azrael concludes that he can have both and swears to becomes a Batman who will punish the guilty and save Gotham City from itself. After Azrael makes final alterations to his armour, he heads to the hospital, planning to deal with Gunhawk once and for all.
Valley, lost to bloodlust, traps his foe and rains down blows upon him. Only moments away from killing Gunhawk, Azrael is interrupted by a GCPD tactical squad, and the vigilante disappears into the shadows instead of confronting the armed police officers.