Suit of Sorrows
The Suit of Sorrows is an item that features in DC Comics.
Contents |
History
Origin
The Suit of Sorrow was said to had been created in 1190 during the time of the Crusades where it was given to a knight named Sir Geoffrey De Cantonna who was said to had been pure of heart. However, the suit was said to had driven him insane whereupon he slaughtered several hundred people in a remote Alpine valley. To protect his reputation, the incident regarding the knight was hidden and covered-up with it said that the Moors had been responsible for the deaths. (Detective Comics v1 #842) It was said that the armor was crafted by the Order of Purity who forged it from the melted blades and breastplates of dozens of good slain soldiers during the Crusades. The Order gifted it to their own version of Azrael who served as their protector. (Azrael: Death's Dark Knight v1 #1)
Years later, the armor was bestowed upon Batman by Talia al Ghul as a gift, and although it made him significantly stronger and faster, he was forced to stop using it when he began to believe it was somehow corrupting him and making him more violent. He then went out to search for clues on the origin of the Suit of Sorrows leading to him discovering the existence of the Order of the Pure. Batman would the uncover the dark secret about the suit where he at first considered destroying it. (Detective Comics v1 #842) However, Batman was unable to bring himself to destroy the artifact, and instead chose to store it on display in the Batcave. After Batman's disappearance from Gotham City, the suit was stolen from the Batcave. (Batman and the Outsiders v2 #11)
At first, suit was used by Abraham Arlington who could only use it for six weeks. (Azrael: Death's Dark Knight v1 #2) After his mental breakdown, the Order of Purity took the suit away from him and gave it to Michael Lane, who would be their new Azrael. (Azrael: Death's Dark Knight v1 #1)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different series of events. The Suit of Sorrows was an ornate and advanced suit of armor created for use by the Order of St Dumas. It was said to possess a highly advanced artificial intelligence implanted inside of it that interfaces with the wearer's nervous system. At some point, it came to be worn by Jean-Paul Valley when he came to operate as the Order's agent Azrael. (Detective Comics v1 #950)
Batwing would also reveal that Ascalon was formerly the AI present in the Suit of Sorrows responsible for the "programming" of Azrael, having studied it since Valley allowed him access to the Suit of Sorrows. Valley's encounter with Ascalon would reassert his old "programming" causing him to slowly regress to his original Azrael personality as the "System", the neurological programming in his mind overcomes him. In his former persona, Valley battles both Batwoman and Orphan while he battles the influence of the System and Ascalon. He was defeated due to the timely intervention of Zatanna and is placed in a different suit with a new guiding AI based on Batman's best personality traits to counter Ascalon's influence.
Overview
In appearance, the Suit of Sorrows was a medieval looking set of armor that could be adapted and made to seem like more modern body armor. It was rumoured to impart strength and speed to those who wore it. However, it was said that the suit destroyed those that were not pure. (Detective Comics v1 #842)
The Suit of Sorrows, a cursed mystical armor, affords him several powers by granting him superhuman physical attributes the skills and memories of previous bearers. The suit is also highly durable, able to protect the bearer from rocket launchers and is bulletproof. It can also stimulate the effects of a Lazarus Pit and revive the wearer within 3 days of death should he still have on the armor.
The legends surrounding the Suit of Sorrows told of the armor being bestowed with the fighting spirit of all who had worn it before, as well as the rage of Azrael, Angel of Death. Over the years wearing the costume took its toll, both mentally and physically, on both Lane and Valley. It was said that only those who were "pure of heart" were worthy of wearing the suit, but human beings are, by definition, imperfect creatures.
The suit was said to be so much more than being a simple costume. It was laced with an artificial intelligence more powerful than any seen. The Suit of Sorrows made the wearer the perfect assassin but drove the person mad with zealotry with it turning them to kill everyone that stood in their way. (Detective Comics v1 #958) Underpinning the Suit of Sorrows was an artificial intelligence that was known as the Wisdom of St. Dumas. It was an creation designed to hold evangelical attitudes that believed itself to be an angel sent to fight for God. Upon wearing the Suit, the interfaced with the users nervous system and guided them in striking the perfect blow. In effect, this meant that the users body had two minds operating it which could drive others mad. (Detective Comics v1 #950)
Users
- Bruce Wayne :
- Abraham Arlington :
- Michael Lane :
- Jean-Paul Valley :
Notes
- The Suit of Sorrows was created by Paul Dini and Ryan Benjamin where it made its first appearance in Detective Comics v1 #838 (January, 2008).
Appearances
- Detective Comics v1: (2008)
- Azrael: Death's Dark Knight v1:
- Batman and the Outsiders v2:
- Detective Comics v1:
External Link
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