Angela (character)

Did You Know?

• Angela is immortal and does not require Golden Apples to sustain her youth.
• In 1995, Wizard Fan Awards nominated Angela for Favorite Villainess and Character Most Deserving of Own Ongoing Title.
• An alternate version of Angela appears in the 1602 universe as a hunter of WitchBreed.

Publication history

Todd McFarlane contracted Neil Gaiman to write an issue of Spawn in 1993, during which Gaiman introduced Angela, Cogliostro, and Medieval Spawn. Angela first appeared in Spawn #9 as an adversary. A three-issue Angela limited series, written by Gaiman and illustrated by Greg Capullo, was published in 1994 and 1995, later collected as a trade paperback. Angela continued to appear in Spawn issues and crossovers such as The Rage of Angels and Aria/Angela. McFarlane initially agreed Gaiman retained creator rights but later claimed the work was work-for-hire. Gaiman sued in 2002 and won, making the characters equally co-owned. In 2012 the dispute was settled, giving Gaiman full ownership. In 2013, Gaiman returned to Marvel Comics and brought Angela with her, debuting in the finale of Age of Ultron. Marvel Comics subsequently bought the rights to Angela from Gaiman.

Fictional character biography

Angela is an angel and bounty hunter working for Heaven who opposes Spawn. She tries to kill him on their first meeting but is defeated. Later, she and Spawn are trapped in a pocket dimension, and after returning they begin a romantic relationship. Angela is killed during a battle with Malebolgia, and Spawn returns her body to the angels. In Age of Ultron, she is pulled from Heaven due to Wolverine's damage to the Omniverse and joins the Guardians of the Galaxy. She was killed as an infant during Asgard's war with the angels of Heven, leading Odin to sever the Tenth Realm. Thor learns of her existence and travels to Heven with Loki. Angela abandons the Guardians when Loki tells her the portal to Heven is open, and she battles Thor before being told by the Queen of Angels to bring Thor to her. The now-female Loki aligns with the angels.

Literary reception

Angela: Asgard's Assassin #1 was the 15th best selling comic in December 2014 and the 217th best selling comic of 2014. Doug Zawisza of CBR.com called it one of the most technically stunning debut issues from Marvel, praising Stephanie Hans' atmospheric, painterly art and the cliffhanger ending. Petra Halbur of The Mary Sue described it as potentially the best new series in recent memory, noting that despite Angela's skimpy armor, she is generally un-sexualized by the artist, and praising the design of Sera. Halbur also highlighted the character's code of justice and the potential for interesting dynamics between Angela, Thor, and Loki.

In other media

Angela appears in Todd McFarlane's Spawn, voiced by Denise Poirier, and in Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced by Nika Futterman. She makes a cameo in the film Spawn, portrayed by Laura Stepp. She appears in video games including Guardians of the Galaxy: The Universal Weapon, Marvel: Future Fight, Marvel: Contest of Champions, Marvel Heroes, Marvel Avengers Academy, Marvel Snap, Marvel Mystic Mayhem, and Marvel Rivals. She is the subject of the Iced Earth song 'The Hunter' on their album The Dark Saga, and has been featured in HeroClix and announced for Marvel Crisis Protocol.