Warren Worthington III is a millionaire playboy as well as a mutant gifted with wings that allow him to soar into the skies as the high-flying Angel of the first class of X-Men.[2] Parallel to his angelic persona, Worthington also operates as the death machine named Archangel.[35] Wishing to put his abilities to help those in need, Angel started to avenge crime by himself as a vigilante before being found by Professor Xavier and recruited to his X-Men.[36] He stood by the X-Men in times of need, until departing after no longer recognizing Xavier's dream in face of aggressive new mutants joining his class.[37][38] Wishing to finance super heroics, he was also an inestimable supporter and founder of the Champions,[39] the Defenders[40] and X-Factor.[41]
Ironically, Angel met the dark nature of mutantkind in himself. His business in X-Factor led him to be betrayed by his close but envious friend Cameron Hodge, which cost him his blessed wings.[42] Vulnerable without his powers, Angel was corrupted by the eternal mutant Apocalypse, who replaced his wings with poisonous metallic blades to have him serve as his most lethal Horseman.[35] As an instrument of death, Worthington rejoined his long-time friends in X-Factor as Archangel, although he was forever scarred by the transformation.[43] During a slow recovery, Archangel reestablished his life and even became one of Xavier's most valuable allies by helping mutants in the corporate world through X-Corp.[44]
The Archangel persona resurfaced as Worthington allied himself with the killing squad aimed at targeting enemies of mutantkind at all costs, X-Force,[45] which led to the controversial murder of Apocalypse.[46] His death triggered the Death Seed in Archangel's body, ascending the latter as the next evolutionary caretaker and head of Clan Akkaba.[47][11] X-Force combated Archangel; however, the Life Seed erased his mind completely, forcing him to restart his life as a new person.[24] In due time, he fully recovered, harmonizing his two identities.[48][49] After mutantkind resettled on the nation of Krakoa,[50] Worthington resumed his activities as an influential businessman in X-Corp, moving his wealth and assets to protect his race.[51]
