Warren Worthington III

Warren Kenneth Worthington IIIis asuperheroappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics. Created by writerStan Leeand artistJack Kirby, the character first appeared inThe X-Men#1 (September 1963). Warren is a founding member of theX-Men, having used the monikerAngel.Later stories would reveal that prior to joining the team, he had acted as a vigilante under the monikerAvenging Angel.
Warren is amutant, an evolved species of humans who are born with superhuman abilities. The character originally possesses a pair of large feathered wings extending from his back, enabling him to fly. He is the heir of the Worthington family fortune, and this privileged background results in Warren being stereotyped as self-absorbed and unable to deal with hardships during his early years with the X-Men. This personality was ultimately replaced with a more introspective and brooding personality in the late 1980s, when the character was changed into the darkerArchangelpersona. While Warren's wings were originally feathered, his transition to Archangel resulted in metallic wings and newfound powers.
As one of the original X-Men, Warren has had a frequent presence in X-Men-relatedcomic booksthroughout the years and also appeared occasionally in X-Menanimated seriesandvideo games.Ben Fosterplayed the role of Warren in the 2006 filmX-Men: The Last StandandBen Hardyportrayed a younger version in the 2016 filmX-Men: Apocalypse.
The character was created by writerStan Leeand artist/co-creatorJack Kirbyand first appeared inX-Men#1 (Sept.1963) as Angel.Lee made Angel rich and conceited, as well as a winged human to make him the first Marvel character with wings.He appeared as a regular character in that title until it was cancelled with issue #66. The title was revived shortly after, reprinting earlier issues from issue #67 to #93. In 1970 and 1971, a three-part Angel solo feature was published as a back-up strip inKa-Zar#2 and #3 andMarvel Tales#30.
Angel appeared in theX-Menrevamp byLen WeinandDave Cockrumin 1975 with the introduction of the "All-New, All-Different X-Men" (Giant-Size X-Men#1 May 1975), but left the X-Men title with issue #94. Angel and fellow X-ManIcemanwere transitioned into a new series calledThe Champions, which ran from 1975 to 1978. Series creatorTony Isabellahad wanted to do a series about Angel and Iceman traveling together on the highway, in the vein ofRoute 66, but the editors told him to make it into a full team book.
Angel returned to the X-Men briefly inTheUncanny X-Men#134, officially returning to the roster in issue #138 before once again leaving in issue #148. Afterwards, the character, along with fellow founding X-MenBeastand Iceman, joined the roster ofThe Defenders, as part of a short-lived "revamp" of the title, in which the series was renamedThe New Defenders. Angel would stay with the title, as the group's leader, for the book's last three years of publication (1983–1986). The series was canceled in 1986 to free up Angel and his fellow X-Men to star inX-Factor, which debuted in February. Angel remained in the book until issue #70, which was the last issue before the book was revamped with an all-new roster. DuringX-Factor#16–24, the character is presumed dead after losing his wings and apparently killing himself in a plane crash. Angel was dramatically revamped as a character, given a new costume, blue skin, and metallic wings which could fire blades. He first appeared as Archangel inX-Factor#24 (Jan.1988). According toX-FactorwriterLouise Simonsonand pencilerWalt Simonson, the Archangel revamp was motivated in part by their feeling that Angel was aMary Sue(being wealthy, handsome, and adored by women), and in part by the fact that, due to the inflation of superhero abilities, Angel was underpowered compared to other characters in the Marvel Universe.
Angel was added to the cast ofUncanny X-Mentitle and appeared in that series and its companion seriesX-Menfor most of the 1990s. In 1996, Marvel also published a one-shot story simply calledArchangel, which was written byPeter Milligan. He also appeared alongsidePsylockein alimited seriescalledPsylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn(August 1997 – November 1997, 4 issues). From 1999 to 2001, Angel also featured in the seriesX-Men: The Hidden Years, which was set in the original X-Men's early days.
UnderJoe Casey(2001–2002) andChuck Austen(2002–2004), Angel became leader of the X-Men team that appeared in the pages ofUncanny X-Men. AfterChris Claremontreplaced Austen on that title, the character went away for several months before reappearing in the pages of another Claremont-written series,Excalibur(vol. 3 2004). He continued to guest-star in theIncredible Hulktitle during the events ofWorld War Hulk(2007) and then returned toUncanny X-Men(2008-2011) while simultaneously appearing inX-Force(vol. 3) (2008-2010), where the character regained his metallic wings and again assumed the codename Archangel, and subsequently inUncanny X-Force(2010-2011), in which his mind and personality were wiped.
After his personality was stripped, he appeared in a supporting role as one of the students at theJean Grey SchoolinWolverine and the X-Men(2011–2013). He later joined Magneto's more militant X-Men team inUncanny X-Men(2016-2017) and an international strike force inAstonishing X-Men(2017-2018) after his memory was restored. At the same time, a time-displaced version of Angel's younger self was brought to the present and starred inAll-New X-Men(2012–2017) andX-Men Blue(2017-2018), before being returned to his correct time-period in the mini-seriesExtermination(2018).
Angel appeared inHouse of X and Powers of X(2019), which detailed the birth of the Krakoan Age.He was made the CXO of Krakoa's new X-Corp and appeared in the mini-seriesEmpyre: X-Men(2020),X-Corp(2021) andDark X-Men(2023).As the Krakoa era came to a close, he was the focus of the 50th anniversary issue ofGiant-Size X-Men(2024) and appeared in the mini-seriesX-Men: Heir of Apocalypse(2024).
Warren Worthington III was born inCenterport, New York, to Kathryn Worthington andWarren Worthington IIand the grandson of Warren Worthington. He attendsPhillips Exeter Academyin his adolescence when his featheredwingsbegin to grow from his shoulder blades. At first, Warren feels he is a freak and aberration, but he soon learns that he can use his wings to fly and help people. When there is a fire in his dormitory, he borrows some props from the school's drama department, dresses up as a heavenly angel, and rescues his friends. He soon learns that he is in fact amutant. He dons a mask and costume, calls himself theAvenging Angel, and becomes a solo adventurer, before being recruited byProfessor Charles Xavierfor the X-Men.
Warren's status as a wealthy playboy, as well as being an outspoken individual who chafes at the notion of being told what to do, is the subject of much tension within the X-Men. In particular, Warren is in love withJean Grey, who is in love withScott Summers, although he ultimately sets aside his love for Jean, coming to terms with the fact that Jean loves Scott.Angel still harbors an unrequited love for Jean even as he begins datingCandy Southern.
While pursuingSauronin theSavage Land, Angel is attacked bypteranodonsand falls to his death. He would have remained dead if not for the "Creator", who isMagnetowithout his costume. Magneto provides the necessary medical treatment needed to revive Angel and provides him with a new blue-and-white costume.Unknown to Angel, the costume also has a device installed that lets Magneto gain control over Angel, which he does months later when he makes an attack on the X-Men.
Around this time, Angel publicly reveals himself as a mutant after discovering that his uncle Burt Worthington (who goes by the name of the Dazzler — though he is in no way related to Alison Blaire, a later mutant heroine and brief love interest for Warren in her own comic series who also uses the name) has not only murdered his father,but also poisoned his mother to ensure his inheritance of the Worthington fortune.
When the original X-Men are captured by the mutant islandKrakoa, Professor X creates a new team of X-Men to rescue them.When this new team decides to stay on as X-Men, Angel and the rest of the original team, with the exception of Cyclops, leave.He andIcemango to Los Angeles, where they found theChampionswithHercules, theBlack Widow, and the originalGhost Rider.Following the apparent death of Jean Grey and Cyclops' subsequent exile from the team, Warren rejoins the X-Men.During this time, Angel unsuccessfully pursues pop star Alison Blaire, also known asDazzler.He grows increasingly disturbed by the behavior and actions ofWolverine,and quits the team in protest.
He is kidnapped by theMorlockleaderCallisto, who intends to force Angel to be her lover.Storm,Nightcrawler,Colossus, andSpritearrive in time to stop Callisto from cutting off Angel's wings (believing that without them, Angel will be unable to flee from her). Storm fights and defeats Callisto for the right to be the leader of the Morlocks, effectively freeing Angel in the process.
Shortly thereafter, Angel joins theDefenders, along with Beast, Iceman, and girlfriend Candy Southern.Using Angel's New Mexico house as their base, the group has several adventures before most of the group are killed freeing teammateMoondragonfrom demonic possession.
Angel considers retirement following the collapse of the Defenders, but the discovery of Jean Grey alive changes his mind. Jean Grey is furious at the increase in anti-mutant hysteria in the two years she has been missing, and opposes the X-Men's decision to align themselves with the villain Magneto. To appease Jean's desire for action, Warren organizes X-Factor.He recruits his old prep school friendCameron Hodgeto run the team, unaware that Cameron hates mutants, particularly Warren.Since Cyclops is married toMadelyne Pryorat the time and reacts coldly to Jean's return, Angel takes advantage of Jean's need for emotional support and expresses his love for her.This destroys Warren's relationship with Candy Southern, after Candy finds Warren consoling Jean.
X-Factor's formation begins a period of upheaval in Warren's life. Cameron Hodge abuses Warren's trust and portrays X-Factor as "mutant hunters" for hire, further fueling anti-mutant sentiment.An altercation with theBrotherhood of MutantsallowsMystiqueto discover the relationship between the "mutant hunters" and the former X-Men; she exposes Warren as the financial backer for X-Factor, causing a public relations nightmare.Warren's wings are mutilated during the "Mutant Massacre" by theMarauder,Harpoon.When the wings develop gangrene,Cameron Hodgeviolates Angel's wishes and has the crippled wingsamputated.Despondent over the loss, Warren escapes the hospital and commandeers his private jet. It explodes in the air as the rest of X-Factor watch helplessly from below.It is ultimately revealed that Hodge sabotaged Warren's plane to finish off his nemesis, in an apparent suicide.
Seconds before the explosion, Warren is spirited away by the ancient mutantApocalypse. Apocalypse offers to restore Angel's wings if Angel will serve him as one of hisFour Horsemen.Apocalypse subjects Angel to extensive genetic alterations, giving him blue skin and organic metal wings which can cut through almost anything. The wings can fire the metal feathers as projectiles. Apocalypse gives Worthington the title of Death. He makes Worthington the leader of his Horsemen after Worthington beats the others in a fight, and gives him a drug that remove his reservations to follow Apocalypse's dark plans.Death is unveiled to X-Factor during their second encounter with the Horsemen,and Warren sadistically exploits the weaknesses of his friends to defeat them in combat.During a later attack on Manhattan, Iceman fakes his own death at Warren's hands, hoping that the shock of killing a friend will enable him to break free of the influence of Apocalypse's drug. Although freed, Warren refuses to rejoin X-Factor, feeling that he has changed too much psychologically to be a hero.
He seeks out Candy Southern, but finds that she is missing.Warren learns that Candy has been lobotomized to protect Cameron Hodge's secrets, including the establishment of the anti-mutant militia "The Right" using funds embezzled from Worthington.In the confrontation that follows, Hodge murders Candy in front of Warren and Warren decapitates Hodge.Changing his codename from "Death" to "Dark Angel", he later rejoins X-Factor and takes the codename "Archangel" during the events of "Inferno".
Warren later meets and becomes romantically involved withCharlotte Jones, aNew York City Policeofficer and single mother.It is with Charlotte's help that X-Factor frees Warren from the Ravens, a cult of near-immortal psychic vampires.It is during this battle that Warren's survival is made public knowledge, allowing him to regain control over his family's remaining business holdings and his personal fortune.X-Factor rejoins the X-Men following the defeat of theShadow KingonMuir Island.
After rejoining the X-Men, Archangel's brooding behavior lessens, after Jean reveals to Warren that his wings (which Warren believes have a mind of their own) have actually been operating off Warren's own unconscious desires for violence.This, combined with Warren's accidental decapitation ofMutant Liberation FrontmemberKamikaze,leads Warren to try to reject the dark cloud that has hung over his head ever since gaining his new wings. His relationship with Charlotte Jones fades as Warren begins dating fellow X-Men memberPsylocke.In an attempt to put his dark days behind him, Warren retires his "Death" uniform in favor of the blue/white costume Magneto made for him.
After Psylocke is eviscerated by X-Men prisonerSabretoothduring an escape attempt, Warren and the X-Men track him down and capture him, but not before he is able to badly damage Warren's metal wings.Over time, the damage to his wings spreads. Eventually, the metal wings shatter completely, revealing that his feathered wings have been growing back within them and have broken them apart from the inside.This follows a visit fromOzymandias, who tells him that he is indeed one of Apocalypse's chosen ones.Reclaiming his originalAngelpowers, Warren still retains his blue skin color.
Angel is one of several X-Men who are present whenGambit's culpability in the events of the "Mutant Massacre" is made public by Magneto, which turns him against his teammate.Shortly afterwards, with the X-Men broke and their mansion stripped bare by the US Government, Angel volunteers money to help keep the team going, though this requires his reclaiming full control over his family company to do so.Tracking some of his company's finances at this time, Warren discovers the former villains theThunderboltsretrieving a jet that was used by the Champions, but although initially suspicious of the Thunderbolts' motives, after joining them in a confrontation withGraviton, Warren accepts their genuine desire to reform, leaving them with the jet as he wishes them luck.Angel returns to the X-Men following the events ofThe Twelve, in which his wings (temporarily) further mutate into wings made of light and he gains talon-like hands and healing powers, which Warren uses to restore the mobility of crippled Horseman of ApocalypseWar.Returning to the X-Men, Warren finds his relationship with Psylocke gone, as she has begun dating new X-Men recruitThunderbirdIII.
WhenRogueleaves the X-Men to join Storm's splinter group (X-Treme X-Men), Angel is promoted to head of the X-Men's field team.Angel's squad fights the anti-mutant groupChurch of Humanityand Mystique and her newest incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants,and tangles with theVanisher, who has gone into business with several medical companies to create a designer drug that could give humans mutant-like powers.Angel also becomes entangled in a love triangle with rookie X-Men memberPaige Guthrieand the mutant prostituteStacy X.Furthermore, during a battle withBlack Tom Cassidy, Angel's regression to his pre-"Death" state is complete when he reverts to his normal Caucasian skin color when Cassidy (now turned into a plant-typevampire) attempts to drain Angel's life force from him.His healing powers fromThe Twelvealso manifest themselves again, in the form of the revelation that Angel's blood has miracle healing properties.
Following the death of Jean Grey, Warren and Paige take an extended leave of absence from the team.Warren begins doing overseas charity work at this point, in the form of a charity called "Mutants Sans Frontières" inZanzibar(a reference toDoctors Without Borders), where he then proceeds to help stop acoupwith the aid of Professor X's newest charges from nearbyGenosha.InExcalibur, Warren meets up again withCallisto. As Paige reminds Warren of his history with Callisto, Viper attacks, but Warren and Callisto defeat Viper together.
InGeneration M, Angel fakes having lost his wings to capture theGhoul, a derangedserial killerwho uses his retained mutant powers to murder ex-mutants.
Though not an active member of any team, Warren reunites with the other surviving original X-Men — Cyclops, Iceman, and Beast — in a mission to stopBishopfrom recapturing the fugitive mutants known asthe 198,though Bishop later joins them in their rescue attempt.
Angel joins withHercules,Namora, andAmadeus Choto calm down the rampagingHulk.Afterward, Angel discovers thatAmadeus Chohas hacked into Warren's bank accounts and stolen several million dollars from him, to help him further aid the Hulk.
Angel is part of the team that investigates the new mutant birth in Alaska.He is later part of the team who is looking for formerAcolytes.He is next seen part of the same team, but attacking theMarauders.Warren goes againstMister Sinister, but is easily defeated once Sinister recovers fromEmma Frost's mental attack.Angel is knocked out, but recovers and is present with the X-teams for the final battle over the fate of the baby.
Angel is later seen flying over San Francisco, going to meet withHepzibah,Warpath, and Iceman, when he stumbles across an area that looks as if the 1960s never ended. He contacts Scott and Emma, asking them for assistance before suffering the mind-altering effects of the zone, which are revealed to be caused byMartinique Jason.Angel and the three other ensnared X-Men are sent by Martinique to confront Scott and Emma.Emma manages to free them from the illusion and, during the fall-out battle, Angel rescues MayorSadie Sinclair. Thankful for the assistance and for the idea of having real superheroes in their city, Mayor Sinclair then talks to Cyclops and Angel about helping them resettle the X-Men in San Francisco.
InX-Forcevol. 3 #4, Warren is brutally attacked by a mind-controlledWolfsbane. During the attack, Wolfsbane savagely rips Warren's feather wings from his back and runs away, taking the wings with her.It is revealed byElixirthat Warren's wings, despite appearing fully organic, are actually stilltechno-organicconstructs that he is unable to regenerate. Wolfsbane later delivers them to thePurifiers, who are seeking the Apocalypse Strain, the techno-organics which comprise Warren's wings. The Purifiers use the Apocalypse Strain to modify an army of Purifier agents, giving them the same metallic wings that Archangel once had.Meanwhile, althoughElixiris able to heal all of Warren's injuries, he cannot regrow his wings due to interference from the Apocalypse Strain. Later in the story, Warren is gripped by a series of excruciating seizures that not only mysteriously regenerate his techno-organic wings, but also transform him back into Apocalypse's version of Death/Archangel, complete with blue skin and a techno-organic version of his uniform.
X-Force attacks Archangel, who eventually asks for relief from the pain of losing his wings and transforming into Archangel.Archangel escapes, to take revenge on the Purifiers, and at their headquarters he slaughters most of them in a blood-maddened rage. Once the battle is over, he reverts to his normal Caucasian, feather-winged appearance. He comments toWolverinethat he can still feel the metal wings inside him, and that they want to come out again. According to Elixir, Warren's transformation is permanent, implying that he is fully capable of transforming back into Archangel again at any time.
In an attempt to understand what was done to both Wolfsbane and Angel, the pair of them are placed in a room together, where Rahne is forced to gaze at Warren. The mere sight of him causes her to become murderous once again, and she attempts to rip the wings from Warren's body once more. The sight of a psychotic Wolfsbane, as well as the fear of having his wings torn from his body again, causes a defensive reaction in Warren, reverting him back into his violent Archangel persona.
From then on, Angel takes dual membership with both the X-Men and X-Force, though Cyclops forbids Angel from telling the rest of the team about the return of his Archangel powers.While recruiting a scientist for Beast's "Science Squad", the X-Club, Angel is forced to transform into Archangel to destroy a giant rampaging monster. Beast reacts in anger that Angel has not told him that his "Death" powers have returned, creating tension between the two friends. Angel knows telling Beast would expose the latest incarnation of X-Force and effectively end Cyclops' latest tenure as leader if the truth about his personal black ops squad became public knowledge.
During the X-Club's trip to 1906 to discover the origins of the modern mutant race, Angel transforms into Archangel a number of times to help further their mission.
During theFear Itselfstoryline, Wolverine and Archangel interrogate Purifiers member Benedict Ryan on where Jonathan Standish is hiding out.
In the "Dark Angel Saga", the "Archangel" persona of Warren, which was secretly created when he was first transformed by Apocalypse into his  Horseman of Death, has finally taken over his mind, and he plans to be the heir to Apocalypse, bringingOzymandias,Dark Beast,the Final Horsemen,Autumn Rolfson, and her son Genocide as his army to destroy humanity.At the conclusion of the story arc Betsy stabs Archangel in the chest with the Celestial Life Seed, seemingly killing him. In the aftermath of the explosion of Apocalypse's citadel, Warren is seen by the members of X-Force walking in the snow. Psylocke, shocked that he is alive and apparently free of Apocalypse, runs up and embraces him. This Warren then reveals he had no idea who Psylocke is and appears to have amnesia. Warren has his normal white skin again but seems to have retained his metallic wings.
Following the Dark Angel Saga, it is revealed that Warren had indeed died and his soul departed for the afterlife, with his Celestial-mutated body now hosting an all-new personality with its own soul. He lost leadership of Worthington Industries and became a student inWolverine's new school for mutants.Although the new entity, who has chosen to retain the same name of Warren Worthington III and the code name of "Angel" is making efforts to be integrated, it is clear that he has no memory at all of the original Warren Worthington's friends and acquaintances, as his discussions with Iceman demonstrate and how he turned away former lover Psylocke.
When Wolverine's legs were damaged Warren tried to fix them with a "miracle". When he failed he wanted to try it again but Wolverine wouldn't allow him, so he and a few other students went to the casino on Planet Sin. There they took the device that damaged their headmaster's legs so it could be used to heal him. While doing so he forged a friendship with Evan, a clone of Apocalypse.
Warren tried to prove that he truly was a real angel by flying to heaven but he failed and accepted the fact that he was mutant. While falling he was saved by Evan and revealed that he could see the essence of people when he looked at them. Evan asked him what he saw when he looked at him and despite seeing only the image of Apocalypse, Warren told him that he could see nothing but goodness in him.
Warren left the school with Bobby and Rachel to help his fellow mutants in the battle against the Avengers.He returned to join the X-Men, the Avengers andNovaagainst Cyclops, and has since regained all of his memories.
In an apocalyptic possible future, an agingFrank Castlewarns the present-dayDeadpoolof the "son of Archangel".DuringUncanny Avengers(2013), it is revealed that while preparing to ascend as Apocalypse during the "Dark Angel Saga", Warren fathered two children with Pestilence ofthe Final Horsemen, who appear asUrielandElimin, the time-travelingKang the Conqueror-disciples "Apocalypse Twins".
As part of theAll-New, All-Different Marvelevent, Angel has mysteriously reverted somehow to his pre-LifeSeed blue-skinned Archangel form, and appears as a member of Magneto'snew Uncanny X-Mento protect mutantkind at all costs. His mind had also changed, having become nothing more than a silent and mindless predator controlled by Psylocke. Under her psychic leash, Archangel became a heavy hitter in Magneto's X-Men.
Psylocke and Magneto travel to Green Ridge, Colorado to investigate reports of an up-and-coming preacher who looks identical to the original Angel. They discover that he is indeed the Angel who was created by the Celestial LifeSeed and he is attracting a cult of religious fanatics around him.It is revealed that during the 8-month timeskip after the events of Secret Wars, Angel allied himself with Apocalypse's son,Genocideand theClan Akkabain exchange for their help in controlling his Horseman of Death split-personality, which has revived as it is permanently linked to his own metal wings. Clan Akkaba are constantly harvesting Angel's rapidly-regenerating metal wings (to prevent the Death persona from fully possessing Angel) and grafting them into his clones, creating a mindless clone army of blue-skinned Archangels. The silent Archangel who is a member of Magneto's team of X-Men was merely the first such clone who retained trace memories of the original Angel and thus managed to escape to join Magneto's X-Men. Magneto and Psylocke are captured, but Psylocke easily escapes. She gets into a fight with Fantomex, who was sent by Magneto as back-up with Mystique, who herself freed Magneto.Psylocke in a panic calls for the Archangel who is their teammate, who then telepathically controls the rest of the clone army into destroying the town, but the clones are all killed.In a flashback, it is revealed that Magneto accidentally found Angel's unconscious and injured body in a barn during the 8-month timeskip and helped him recover. Magneto at the time gave up on being a hero, as the rest of the X-Men had either disbanded or fled to Limbo, but then was inspired by Angel to restart his own version of the Uncanny X-Men.It is implied that Angel disappeared after that encounter, only to "reappear" as the silent Archangel. In the present, a chastised and repentant Angel explains to Magneto and Psylocke that he and the silent Archangel are ultimately two half-parts of the same one being, so they physically combine into a new blue-skinned persona. This new Archangel being is unsure of who or what he now was, but was determined to find out. He swore off all violence and returned with Magneto's X-Men to their base in the Savage Land.
Warren's primary power is that of naturalflight, due to his large feathered wings. His wings havesuperhumanstrength, and they have a very flexible skeletal structure that enables him to press them to the back of his torso and legs with only the slightest bulge visible under his clothing. His bones are hollow, his body processes food much more efficiently than a normal human body and does not store any excess fat, and he possesses a greater proportionate muscle mass than normal. As a result, his strength, speed, agility, flexibility, endurance, reflexes, coordination, balance, eyesight and hearing are at their peak. Elements of his anatomy are comparable to those of birds, especiallybirds of prey. His eyes can withstand high-speed winds which would damage the average human eye. He can breathe at high velocities or altitudes, and he can cope with the reduced temperatures at high altitudes for prolonged periods of time, giving him a greater-than-normal capacity to endure low temperatures in areas such as the Arctic. The strength in his natural wings can easily break a man's arm or leg, or even put someone through a wall.
While he generally flies below the height of clouds, Angel can reach almost twice this height with little effort. At his absolute maximum, he can reach the highest recorded altitude of a bird in flight — about the height ofMount Everest— but he can only remain that high for a few minutes. Although flight is as natural a mode of transportation for Angel as for a bird, he can only fly nonstop under his own power for around half a day.
He has undergone heavy training withProfessor X, especially in mastering his flight indoors. He has demonstrated superior agility, flexibility, reflexes, coordination, and balance while flying, and has been shown defeating superbeings much faster than him (like theHuman Torch) by dodging them and having them smash against the ground or a wall at full speed.
Angel is also an accomplished hand-to-hand combatant,having defeated several of the werewolf-likehomo superiorwhen Wolverine is defeated.He is trained in hand-to-hand combat at Xavier's school; while dating Psylocke, he receives a considerable amount of martial arts instruction.During his years on the team, he is given extensive training from Wolverine, and when he once surprises Wolverine after taking down some men, he says, "My father spoiled me with more than money."He also receives further instruction from theBlack WidowandHerculesduring his days with theChampions.
As the result of asecondary mutationwhich has been shown inconsistently, Angel also develops a healing factor and can heal others by mixing his blood with theirs, provided they have a matchingblood typeto Warren's.His healing blood does not work withNightcrawler.Although powerful, this mutation varies in potency. At times, he cannot aid the terminally wounded; at others, he can actually raise the recently dead.This secondary mutation suggests that he may be descended from the ancient race ofCheyarafimmutants.He is nearly immune to injury because his healing blood is constantly flowing through him. At its onset, he repairs broken bones in days,but his healing abilities have enhanced since then.In an issue ofX-Forceit is apparent that this healing factor comes from his wings as seen when Warren is savagely attacked and his wings are ripped from his body, his healing factor fails to work, and he instead must be healed byJosh Foley. It is revealed that the Celestial Technology bonded to him by Apocalypse prevents Elixir from regenerating his wings.They eventually regenerate on their own.
Aside from his superhuman powers, the original Warren was a most-highly capable businessman and the new Warren has accordingly retained or "inherited" his position as the primary stockholder and chairman emeritus (former chairman) of the board-of-directors of Worthington Industries.
Archangel possesses a set of metal techno-organic wings grafted onto him by the genetic engineering ofApocalypsewhen Apocalypse renames him the Horseman of Death.These wings are composed of a hard, sharp, organic material that resembles the "organic steel" ofColossus' body.The wings give him the ability to project his metallic feathers out from his wings at great speed and with tremendous force, enabling them to pierce even steel, tipped with poison.
Archangel does not have complete control over his feathers, which sometimes shoot from his wings against his conscious will in response to his unconscious aggressive drives. The feathers are laced with a neural inhibitor chemical, generated by Archangel's body, which induces temporaryparalysis.
These wings allow him to fly at speeds much faster than his natural, feathered wings. The edges of these metal wings are also razor sharp, allowing them to be used as weapons.
While he believes he has lost his metal wings when he re-grows his organic ones, the Celestial Technology never leaves his system, and his natural-appearing wings contain the Celestial technology. When implanted into regular human beings, the technology induces a transformation similar to that of Warren's. When his feathered wings are severed from his body by Wolfsbane, his metal wings grow back in their place. Furthermore, his skin reverts to blue and his old Archangel costume appears.Warren's body returns to normal — the metal wings being replaced with the appearance of his feathered ones — indicating that Warren has the ability to switch between metal and feathered wings and his Angel and Archangel appearances.As Archangel, Warren retains his healing factor.The wings have been shown capable to heal Apocalypse.. In issue 14 ofX-Men: Second Coming, Dr. Nemesis questions the rate that they would grow as the biology is different from Colossus' armor.
After the death of Warren and the Archangel persona via the Life Seed, Angel comes back to life as anamnesiacwith healing powers far beyond what he was ever able to originally accomplish, as demonstrated when he resurrects a recently dead dog.
The time displaced Warren, fromAll-New X-Men, initially started with feathered wings, but duringThe Black Vortexsaga he was imbued with Cosmic wings.These new wings allow him to travel at faster than light speeds. He can also discharge cosmic blasts that can destroy spaceships. He can feed off cosmic energy, thus survive in outer space and without sustenance.These wings were surgically removed by a younger version of Cable and replaced with wings that Mimic had copied from Angel in their original meeting, allowing him to be returned to the past with no effect on the timeline.
Shawn S. Lealos ofScreen Rantranked Warren 1st in their "X-Men: 10 Most Powerful Horsemen Of Apocalypse" list,while Lukkas Shayo included him in their "10 Iconic New York City-Based Marvel Superheroes We Haven't Seen In The MCU" list.Hilary Goldstein and Richard George ofIGNranked Warren 11th in their "Top 25 X-Men" list.Darren Franich ofEntertainment Weeklyranked Warren 40th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.ofComicsAllianceranked Warren 75th in their "100 Greatest X-Men of All Time" list.CBR.comranked Warren 4th in their "X-Men: The 5 Deadliest Members Of The Hellfire Club (& The 5 Weakest)" list,6th in their "X-Force: 20 Powerful Members" list,9th in their "10 Most Terrifying X-Men" list,and 10th in their "10 Greatest X-Men, Ranked By Courage" list.
According toDiamond Comic Distributors,Angel: Revelations#1 was the 106th best selling comic book in May 2008.Angel: Revelations#2 was the 125th best selling comic book in June 2008.
James Hunt ofCBR.comcalledAngel: Revelations#1 a "prodigious talent on display," saying, "The religious imagery gives the book a consistent motif and the literal "angel" aspect of the character takes a lot more focus that it usually receives when the character is dealt with. Of all the X-Men, Warren probably has the "origin" story that relates itself most directly to the idea of emergent mutant powers being a metaphor for adolescence. Being a Marvel Knights title, it's unclear whether this origin is "in-continuity" or not, but ultimately it shouldn't matter. If the rest of the series is as good as this opening issue, it's going to be an utterly beautiful read and, if you're reading this at a time when it's too late to start collecting the series, it'll almost certainly be worth splashing out for the hardcover just to make sure the format does the story justice. It's definitely good to see Marvel happy to put out a series that looks a little more experimental than their usual fare, and if there's any justice in the industry it'll pay off nicely."Bryan Joel ofIGNgaveAngel: Revelations#1 a grade of 8.1 out of 10, writing, "Truthfully, Angel's origin probably needed an update. Considering the sort of character he's become and the advancements his powers eventually received, the origin doesn't really line up. Thankfully, Aguirre-Sacasa seems to agree and has craftedRevelationsto remedy that. Issue #1 features the basics of Warren immediately pre-power onset, where he's attending a private school and worrying about the changes to his body. The script also interjects a couple scenes of more sinister things going on, which elevates this above the level of simple rehash. There almost seems to be more attention paid to religion, a pet theme of Aguirre-Sacasa's; the title of this series isn't just a play on words. Suffice it to say, I'm surprisingly interested to see how this all plays out.  One of the main selling points, though, is the art by Adam Pollina. Probably most renowned for his extended run on the first volume ofX-Force, his work inRevelationscouldn't be further from the tradition style seen there. Now he's somewhere between Skottie Young and... Salvador Dali, perhaps? But in a good way. I can definitely see how the weird, deformed style will bug some readers, but I think it's deeply engaging and gives the whole issue a more spiritual and mystical feel. It might not be exactly in step with an Angel series, but it's at least something different and I appreciate that."
According toDiamond Comic Distributors,Iceman and Angel#1 was the 161st best selling comic book in March 2011.
Ryan K. Lindsay ofCBR.comcalledIceman and Angel#1 "as much fun as you want, but as pithy as you expect too," asserting, "A one-shot should be a comic that stands on its own, and this issue certainly does that. It needs to give you enough narrative meat to feel like the money was well invested, and this issue mostly does that. It should elicit some form of strong reaction from you in the few pages it has, and this issue works hard to make you laugh and is more successful than not. See Namor score some bagels and Googam become a broheim. It's not earth shattering but it is solid fun and sometimes that's just what you need. Pick up this comic and feel the freedom of old funny done-in-one comics just like they did when you were a kid where the parts add up to greater than the actual whole."David Brothers ofComicsAlliancerankedIceman and Angel#1 10th in their "10 Top Marvel Comics Coming in March 2011," saying, "One of the best things we don't see much of any more is the relationship between the original X-Men. The modern series is all about hard decisions, hard edges, and hard core self protection, but back in the day, they were just a bunch of kids who hung out together. Iceman and Angel in particular were pretty fun together, because one was a goofball and the other was a self-styled ladies man. Brian Clevinger has proven that he can do stories like this, where he takes a slice of time and expands on it in a meaningful way, and Juan Doe is a pretty great artist. Add in GOOM, a classic Marvel villain, and you've got a story that I think is going to be a pretty good read.X-Men First Classmay be dead in name, but these one-shots are doing a pretty good job of keeping the feeling alive."
When Beast decides to travel back in time to recruit the original X-Men to stop Scott committing mutant genocide,Angel accompanies his teammates into the future, but initially prefers to return to the past rather than remain in such a twisted present. Even after his teammates vote to remain until they have saved the future, Angel expresses curiosity about what has happened to his own future self, as no reference has been made to his present condition.The next day, the rebirthed Angel finds the younger Angel who asks him why he has metallic wings; the older Angel ignores the question and invites his younger self to go flying.While flying above the skies of New York, the two Angels become caught up inH.Y.D.R.A.'s attack onAvengers Tower. Together, the two heroes are able to defeat the terrorists and captureMadame Hydra.
Frustrated after seeing what will happen to himself in the future, the younger Angel defects from theJean Grey School for Higher Learningand joins the older Cyclops' new team ofoutlaw X-Men.After the 2013 "Battle of the Atom" storyline, the rest of the displaced X-Men also join Cyclops' team, except for young Cyclops, who joins his fatherCorsairand the Starjammers.Warren then starts a romantic relationship withX-23.Later, the All-New X-Men accidentally travel to the Ultimate Universe, where Angel and X-23 encounter that universe's version of Wolverine's son,Jimmy Hudsonand theX-Men.During the events of the 2015 storyline "The Black Vortex", young Warren is imbued with cosmic powers and gains magic wings of light.When asked by X-23 why he risked his life to gain new powers, he said he hoped that changing himself will alter his future and prevent him from being transformed into Archangel.
After theX-Men go to war against the Inhumans over the fate of the Terrigen, Angel joins the rest of the time-displaced X-Men in hopes of finally returning them to their own timeline. However they discover that they aren't fromEarth 616's timeline and with no way of figuring out which timeline they're from, they become stranded on Earth 616.With this knowledge in mind, Angel and the rest of the time-displaced X-Men leave the main team of X-Men to find their place in the world.Angel joins the rest of the time-displaced X-Men alongside Magneto.
After a series of adventures - which included the discovery that they actuallywerefrom the true past and the X-Men they had witnessed were actually the disguised Brotherhood of Mutants attempting to change history -the X-Men are forced to return to the past when they are attacked byAhab, a mutant-hunter from the future, and a younger version of Cable who feels that his future self has lost his way. Part of young-Cable's efforts include surgically removing Warren's new cosmic wings and replacing them with the wings Mimic copied from Warren in the past.The team eventuallyreturn to the past, with Jean planting a psychic block on their memories so that they will forget about their experiences in the future until they catch up with the moment they departed.
In the1602timeline, Warren becomes Werner, a youngwitchbreed(as mutants are known in this reality) who hides his mutation using garments sewn by his mother. Unfortunately, he is captured and almost burnt at the stake by the Grand InquisitorEnrique(a.k.a. Magneto), but rescued at the last moment byCarlos Javierand his students. Safe in England, Werner befriendsJohn Greyunaware that "Master John" is in fact a young woman disguised as a man. This friendship causes jealousy on the part ofScotius Summerisle, who knows of the deception and fears Werner also knows and is trying to court her. They almost come to blows but are reconciled when circumstances lead to Jean's death. It then comes to light that Werner is unaware of Master John's true gender but states that he "was in love with that young man".
In theAge of Apocalypse, Warren is never remade as Death by Apocalypse, nor does he ever join the X-Men. Instead, as most of New York is destroyed, Angel works with Apocalypse's mutant elite, Magneto and his X-Men, and even the Human High Council to maintain and operate a nightclub aptly named Heaven, where humans and mutants can intermingle. When two of his employees, Scarlett MacKenzie andKarma, are apprehended and later killed, Angel finally chooses a side. Strapping himself down with a number of bombs, he attacks Apocalypse's citadel in asuicide run. His sacrifice shuts down the protective shields surrounding the citadel, providing the X-Men with a much needed entrance.
In Earth-5701, an Age of Apocalypse-like reality seen inCable & Deadpool#15, Warren has also been turned into Death and helps Apocalypse conquer the world.
In this alternate universe ofEarth X, Warren loses his fortune and becomes an authentic angel, who helps anybody who needs him. He joins the New York City Police and his old friendIcemanto protect the world-altering Torch of the city against the forces ofMephisto. Later, he travels withMister Fantasticand others to theNegative Zonein the search for Paradise.
Archangel appeared in the comic bookExilesas a member ofWeapon X, a more ruthless version of the self-titled reality hopping team. This Archangel, hailing from Earth-714, appears very much like hisEarth-616counterpart, even wearing a costume very similar to the one the 616-version wears at the time. Of course, this Archangel, since he is selected for Weapon X rather than the Exiles themselves, is more savage, employing the excessive use of automatic weapons. Archangel is, at some point, replaced by asociopathicversion ofMs. Marvelafter he is supposedly sent home for completing his number of missions. He is actually placed in the Panoptichron gallery of fallen Exiles. Why he is placed there is unknown, but he is one of only five recruits to return home alive and intact, alongsideShe-Hulk,Beak,Iron Man, andDaredevil.
InMarvel Zombies, Angel is infected by the zombiesRogueandMs. Marvel.He participates in a zombie attack on the castle ofDoctor Doom. The zombies have detected unaffected humans inside.He later appears inMarvel Zombies 3when he attacksJocasta, Ultron andMachine Man, but he is killed soon after.Angel is also confirmed as one of the few X-Men who attackJuggernaut.
In the alternate reality represented in the comic bookMutant X, Warren Worthington is captured by Apocalypse much like he is in the main Marvel timeline. Instead of blue skin and metallic wings, this version of Warren is given chalk white skin, leathery bat-wings, razor sharp claws and fangs, and the ability to breathe fire. Able to shake off Apocalypse's brainwashing, but still affected by the horrors he has endured, he becomes bitter, and often lashes out at his teammates in the superhero team the Six. Though he insists on being called the Fallen, his friends still call him Warren, to his chagrin. The Six is a continuation of the original X-Men legacy, in a reality whereAlex Summerswas the first X-Man instead of his older brotherScott.
WhenMadelyne Pryorbecomes possessed by the Goblin Force and takes over New York, the Fallen defects from the Six alongside her,and vanishes after her defeat. He next appears allied again with Apocalypse against the threat of the Xavier/Shadow Kingentity.He is one of the very few surviving heroes after the combined attack of the Goblin Force controlledBeyonderand the revived Dracula. He allies himself with a reformed Six.
He makes one final appearance at the end of the series, whenDoctor Strangesummons the Fallen, along with Xavier,Reed Richards, and others to help Alex prepare for his battle with theBeyonder.
On the world of the Sons of Iron and Daughters of the Dragon, the New Exiles face a squad of alternate "core X-Men" who are loyal toLilandra. These X-Men include an alternate version of Warren who is codenamed "Krait" and has many similarities to his ArchangelEarth-616appearance.
New Excaliburbattles an evil counterpart of Angel, who is a member of theShadow-X, the X-Men of an alternate reality in which Professor X is possessed by theShadow King. They are brought toEarth-616as a result ofM-Day. He is later killed by one of the Shadow Captains.
TheUltimateversion of Angel (Warren Worthington III) is one of only a few mutants to identifiably be a mutant at birth. Warren comes from millionaire, mutant-bigoted parents who quickly sign guardianship of him over toCharles Xavier. Warren joins theX-Mentaking the code name Angel, though he proves to be an inexperienced and reluctant fighter.There is much controversy over Angel joining theX-Men, as there are many protests of angels being a sign of God; also,Roguedoes not like the fact that he has the appearance of an angel.On an unauthorized mission toGenosha, Angel and his teammates attempt to rescueLongshot, an accused murderer who is facing a public execution.During theMagnetic Northstoryline,Dazzlerand Warren go to the Triskelion in an attempt to rescuePolaris.After Magneto shuts down the power, Dazzler is impaled by one ofLady Deathstrike's claws, leaving her in a coma. Angel faces Professor Xavier and takes responsibility. Under the guise of expulsion, Angel joinsEmma Frost'sAcademy of Tomorrowas a spy for Xavier.
Warren becomes close friends withNightcrawler, initially due to the fact that they both have physical mutations.Warren gets over his initial attraction toStorm,and after the events in Genosha, engages in a relationship with Dazzler.After Bishop recruits Dazzler in his new team of X-Men, she makes Angel part of the team (despite Bishop's protests).While trying to protect the Morlocks he is shot to death byMister Sinister.Thanks to Jean Grey, he later returns to life.He is seen as a member of Colossus' enhanced team, his appearance drastically altered through the use of Banshee, the Ultimate version of Mutant Growth Hormone (MGH), resulting in Warren having abald eagle-like head and feathered upper torso.The mutation seems to have progressed, as he is now completely feathered and has talons and double-jointed knees.
During the "Ultimatum" event, Warren is brutally killed by Sabertooth.
Angel's powers include feathered wings, hollow bone structure, and zero body fat, allowing flight. He also has heightened strength, speed, agility, reflexes, coordination, balance, endurance, and eyesight. He does not appear to have the healing powers of his616 Universecounterpart.
In the first issue ofX-Men Fairy Tales, based on the Japanese story ofMomotarō, Archangel appears as apheasant. He refuses to fly because he is scared of falling and failing, untilCyclops/Hitomi andBeast/Aoi convince him.
He is namedTenshi, meaning "Angel" in Japanese.
InWhat IfArchangel Fell From Grace?, Archangel is still the Angel of Death and violently murders criminals.He fights Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Beast and flees after injuring Beast and Cyclops. Cameron Hodge andN'astirh, Master of Demons, holdCandy Southerncaptive, causing Archangel to exact vengeance. He teams with N'astirh to create the door to Inferno, but sacrifices himself by merging with the demon to prevent Inferno.
InWhat If Angel killed X-Factor and Horsemen?, Archangel defected back to X-Factor far more quickly than he did in canon, serving as a proactive force that acted against their enemies. However, as Apocalypse's philosophies of 'Survival of the Fittest' became more and more prominent in his mind, Warren killed not only X-Factor's enemies, but even went on to kill X-Factor and Apocalypse's Horsemen, justifying his actions by saying that his victims had proved themselves unworthy of survival by trusting him. The issue concluded with Archangel clashing with Apocalypse to determine whether he was worthy of survival, Apocalypse feeling that Archangel had gone too far as he would have judged some of Archangel's victims as worth surviving.
In the second issue ofPrelude to Deadpool Corps, a universe is shown where Angel is an orphaned kid at Professor X Orphanage for troubled kids. At a dance between Professor X's and Emma Frost's orphanages, Angel teams up with kid versions of Wolverine andColossusto take on the kid version of Deadpool (namedKidpool).