Warren Kenneth Worthington III, also known as 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.[4] Parallel to his angelic persona, Worthington also operates as the death machine named Archangel.[34] 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.[35] 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.[36][37] Wishing to finance super heroics, he was also an inestimable supporter and founder of the Champions,[38] the Defenders[39] and X-Factor.[40]
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.[41] 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.[34] As an instrument of death, Worthington rejoined his long-time friends in X-Factor as Archangel, although he was forever scarred by the transformation.[42] 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.[43]
The Archangel persona resurfaced as Worthington allied himself with the killing squad aimed at targeting enemies of mutantkind at all costs, X-Force,[44] which led to the controversial murder of Apocalypse.[45] His death triggered the Death Seed in Archangel's body, ascending the latter as the next evolutionary caretaker and head of Clan Akkaba.[46][11] X-Force combated Archangel; however, the Life Seed erased his mind completely, forcing him to restart his life as a new person.[22] In due time, he fully recovered, harmonizing his two identities.[47][48] After mutantkind resettled on the nation of Krakoa,[49] Worthington resumed his activities as an influential businessman in X-Corp, moving his wealth and assets to protect his race.[50]
