Angel: Who is the Horseman of Death?

A Fallen Angel’s Salvation

A little girl runs for her life. She can hear shouts behind her. Awful words that her parents didn’t like. She trips, scrapes her knee. The girl looks back at an angry mob chasing her. She can see their hatred, hear vile insults. A man walks towards her, hefting a sledgehammer. The girl closes all 13 of her eyes. She’s going to die.

“STOP!!!”

Her eyes snap open at the furious scream. She looks up and sees a man in front of the sun, silver wings casting shade. He descends like a bird of prey, kicking the man with the sledgehammer away. He glares at everyone else, then gently lifts her up. A mighty flap of his wings carries them skyward. The girl cries, finally safe in the arms of an Angel.

Angel is one of the original X-Men. He’s often forgotten in favor of more popular members, but he was briefly the franchise’s poster child. So who is he? Is he really angelic? What is the Archangel? Let’s find out.

Principality: Angel’s Backstory

Angel debuted in The X-Men #1 in 1963. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Angel was briefly part of the X-Men logo, flying above it in costume, but that element was dropped after a few issues.

Warren Worthington the 3rd was a socialite attending college. He began growing wings as a teenager, which he hid with a harness and large coat. A fire broke out on campus and Warren flew several students to safety while hiding his face behind a theater mask. Saving them inspired him to become a superhero.

The Avenging Angel made his debut and rescued many more people. He was recruited by Professor Xavier to join the X-Men. Warren was popular, but occasionally caused friction by hitting on his teammate, Jean Grey. He played Veronica to Cyclops’ Betty, but ultimately accepted that Jean loved Cyclops.

Warren publicly revealed that he was a Mutant after his parents were murdered by an uncle seeking his inheritance. Angel became an advocate for Mutant rights and funded several spin-off teams.

Dominion: Angel’s History

Angel’s life changed during a fateful mission. The X-Men learned that a community of Mutants were being slaughtered by terrorists called The Marauders. His wings were impaled after he was caught off guard and further damaged when he protected Thor from a sneak attack. His wounds developed gangrene and his wings had to be amputated.

Warren became suicidal without his wings. He seemingly killed himself in an airplane crash, but had secretly been kidnapped by Apocalypse. The villain offered to restore Warren’s wings in exchange for his service. Warren agreed and was transformed into Archangel, a metal-winged Horseman of Death.

Archangel was mind-controlled into fighting the X-Men many times. Iceman faked his death, shocking Archangel out of Apocalypse’s control. Warren became obsessed with revenge against Apocalypse and refused to rejoin the X-Men. His friends eventually broke through his trauma. Even better, Archangel’s metal wings were revealed to be casts that had regrown his natural wings. Archangel abandoned his pain as Angel was born again.

Throne: Angel’s Powers and Personality

Warren was originally the weakest X-Man, only able to fly with his wings. He slowly gained more powers, including super strength, enhanced vision, and blood that can heal allies. His healing blood implies that he’s the last descendant of an angelic mutant race, but that plot point is rarely used.

Archangel was enhanced by Apocalypse’s tech. His techno-organic wings can cut through steel, shoot paralyzing steel feathers at enemies, and fly faster than his organic ones. Angel avoids using these powers, but can transform into Archangel at will.

Warren was vain and flighty in his early days. Depression slowly built as other X-Men joined who did everything he could and more, and spiraled out of control after his amputation. Archangel was obsessed with revenge. Warren conquered his pain after returning to heroism, but still struggles to contain Archangel’s rage.

The Actors Who Play Him

William Callaway – Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Stephen Ouimette – X-Men: The Animated Series
Mark Hildreth – X-Men: Evolution
Liam O’Brien – Wolverine and the X-Men
Ben Foster – X-Men: The Last Stand
Ben Hardy – X-Men: Apocalypse

Didya Get All That?

An angel who once was lost, but now is found.

Photo: Ben Hardy as Angel in X-Men: Apocalypse. Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.

Jared Bounacos

Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.