In the X-Men saga, Warren Worthington III, or Archangel, is a standout character. Born into wealth, Warren possesses the mutant ability to fly, thanks to his large feathered wings. He first emerged as the vigilante Avenging Angel before becoming an essential founding member of the X-Men.

Warren’s story takes a dark turn when he loses his wings and narrowly avoids being killed by Apocalypse, who grants him new techno-organic wings. This transformation gives him metallic wings, enhanced abilities, and a new moniker: Archangel. Now armed with deadly wings that can shoot poisonous feathers, Archangel remains committed to the X-Men’s cause and the betterment of humanity.

Obsession explores Archangel’s complex mind. Driven by a deep-seated grudge against Apocalypse, the architect of his suffering, Archangel is determined to seek revenge. At the same time, Apocalypse aims to turn him back into an agent of destruction.

After a brutal battle, the X-Men save a wounded Archangel. Rogue, empathizing with his pain, offers her unwavering support. This moment highlights Archangel’s internal struggle and his relentless pursuit of vengeance, adding a significant layer to his narrative within the X-Men universe.

Archangel enlists a team of archaeologists to decode ancient secrets that could reveal how to defeat Apocalypse. Their efforts pay off when a researcher uncovers a hieroglyph depicting a vulnerability on Apocalypse’s neck. Suddenly, an alarm blares, signaling Apocalypse’s presence at the Statue of Liberty.

Simultaneously, at Xavier‘s Mansion, the X-Men are engaged with a Shi’ar computer, tracking a mysterious Ship. The alert redirects them to the Statue of Liberty to aid Archangel. A skirmish ensues, but an irked Apocalypse withdraws. The team regroups at the mansion, planning their next move towards the concealed spaceship. Despite Rogue‘s comforting words, a determined Archangel departs, followed by Rogue and Gambit.

Cyclops, Beast, and Wolverine approach the camouflaged Ship, intending to capture Apocalypse. Their plan goes awry as they fall into a trap, leaving them stranded. In a twist of fate, Rogue and Archangel encounter Apocalypse, but with Gambit’s timely intervention, they fend him off. Apocalypse taunts them about their comrades’ peril aboard the spaceship.

Onboard, the X-Men outsmart the trap, and as Apocalypse boards, he’s ensnared by a forcefield. A furious Archangel frees him, seeking vengeance. The ensuing chaos is halted when Beast activates the Ship’s self-destruct. In the nick of time, the heroes flee, while Apocalypse escapes into the cosmos in an escape pod. Archangel departs, unwilling to let his anger go.

Apocalypse’s origins in Ancient Egypt were first revealed in the mini-series Rise of the Apocalypse, marking his true beginnings. In the comics, he has been known by various names worldwide, such as The First One, Genesis, Kali-Ma, Huitzilopochtli, and the Eternal One, all signifying his status as the earliest known mutant.

Archangel finally confronted Apocalypse during the X-Cutioner’s Song storyline, but instead of killing him, he chose to watch him die alone.

At one time, the Ship served as X-Factor’s primary base on Manhattan Island.

Apocalypse delivers some memorable lines in this episode, voiced by John Colicos. A favourite at Minutiae is, “There shall be naught to help but ashes!” exclaimed in frustration at the X-Men. Another notable line is, “I am the rocks on the eternal shore – smash against me and be broken!” which he declares as Gambit crashes a plane into him – to the tune of Remy’s iconic catchphrase, “The name is Gambit. Remember it!”, first heard in Reunion and last heard in Remember It.

Rogue had previously absorbed Warren’s personality in Come the Apocalypse. Throughout the episode, snippets of his words and inflections emerge from her.

Both Wolverine and Gambit should tread cautiously; in the comics, they have both served as Death, one of Apocalypse’s horsemen.

Even after being liberated from Apocalypse’s influence, the struggle with brainwashing persists. Despite years of overcoming his darker nature, Warren succumbed to it in the Dark Angel Saga.

In this particular episode, Warren’s rage is uncontainable, leading to the Ship’s critical damage and eventual demise. In the comics, his anger led him to believe he had killed Iceman, which was the catalyst for breaking free from Apocalypse’s control in X-Factor #25.

In Uncanny X-Men #319, Warren finally gets something better than revenge to live for: his teammate (and future co-star in season four): Psylocke.

Apocalypse reappears in season four with an elaborate scheme that was intended to conclude the series. He is next featured briefly in Sanctuary alongside the Shi’ar warrior queen Deathbird…

DESTINED TO (RE)-JOIN THE X-MEN?

The character continuity of Angel/Archangel, also known as Warren Worthington III, in the X-Men animated series has sparked lively discussions among fans due to notable inconsistencies.

In his first appearance in The Cure, Angel is introduced as if he’s never met the X-Men, with key figures like Cyclops and Professor X not recognizing him. Yet, in this same episode, Rogue, Pyro, and Avalanche act as strangers, despite later revelations of Rogue’s past with the Brotherhood. In the following episode, Come the Apocalypse, the X-Men battle him as Archangel with no feeling or recollection of him.

Obsession delves into Archangel’s vendetta against Apocalypse, conflicting with earlier episodes where the X-Men didn’t acknowledge Angel, suggesting a prior collaboration. Sanctuary reveals more of the X-Men’s history, including flashbacks that place Warren with the original team, contradicting his earlier introduction as a newcomer.

In Xavier Remembers, Professor X’s concussion-induced visions include Warren as a child among the original X-Men, as Angel in a later team, and finally as Archangel in an X-Men uniform, hinting at future developments or untold tales.

The Beyond Good and Evil arc has Shard remarking on Archangel’s destiny to ‘join the X-Men,’ further muddling the narrative given his varied depictions as both a member and an acquaintance of the team – before the events of the episode! The plans for a season finale gone awry, the characters of Archangel and Psylocke were supposed to join the team at the end of the story, but the series’ renewal for a final season scuppered those plans.

Lastly, X-Men ’97 shows Warren prominently in an original X -Men uniform which is seen at some extremely pivotal moments.

These inconsistencies have led to various fan theories. Some suggest that Professor X might have edited memories, while others propose that Warren might have temporarily joined the X-Men before a falling out. Despite these theories, the continuity errors regarding Angel/Archangel in the X-Men animated series remain a notable aspect of the show’s narrative.

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