But down in those waters, I saw New York's hero community witnessing its first true call to arms. There were heroes I'd met, and some I never saw before or again. I know most of us felt tiny in comparison to the devastation around us...but we did what we could. ... This was our first true call to arms. So there was no way Namor could have won the day...regardless of the destruction he'd wrought. And the strangest part of all...was that this day of great tragedy would be the first step...to another new dawn. 
- —Angel[src]
Contents
History
Origin
Born in the late 1870s, Thomas Halloway was the son of a prison warden; his mother died in childbirth. The warden raised Thomas in isolation, in the prison itself, and he was instructed by various experts who had taught him "everything."[3] Thomas was also taught by the prisoners, who passed on the secrets of the underworld. When Thomas discovered that one of the prisoners was about to be electrocuted he saved him. For this deed, Thomas was dubbed an "angel" by the inmate.[4]
When Thomas reached adulthood he decided to become a private detective, and also adopted the costumed identity of "The Angel" to fight crime. During an adventure in which he saved a 4,000 year old woman, he was given the magical Cape of Mercury.[5]
Post-War
After the World War II, the Angel was one of a number of heroes who formed the Penance Council, the ruling body of the V-Battalion, dedicated to fighting the rise of dictatorships and other threats to the world.[6]
However, after a bystander was killed during an adventure, the Angel hung up his cape, unwilling to risk more innocent lives in his fight against crime. Still wishing to combat lawlessness and seeking a way to atone for his mistake, he eventually founded a group of trained assassins, the Scourges, who would ambush and murder costumed criminals. Eventually, these acts of vigilantism were stopped by Captain America. To escape U.S. Agent, he faked his own death.[7]
Thomas Halloway retired and lived on a sprawling estate in Los Angeles.[8]
Powers and Abilities
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Powers
He aged very slowly for several decades but his aging process normalized in the late 1950s or later. He was also able to cast a winged shadow to make a dramatic departures though means for that trick remain unrevealed.
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Abilities
The Angel had wide variety of skills in his prime. He was excellent hand-to-hand combatant and acrobat. He was also accomplished disguise artist, occult scholar and pilot. He had knowledge of many languages, some quite obscure like Greek spoken in 2060 BC.[5][4]
Physical Strength
The Angel occasionally seemed to have superhuman strength during the 1940s, possibly linked to slowed down aging process. In the the early stages of WWII fighting Nazis in Poland, the Angel was able to jump to the top of the high building. He also leaped to catch a flying airplane and smashed his fist through its metal body.[9]
Weaknesses
At the old age, he had to use a wheelchair.
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Cape of Mercury
He occasionally wore the Cape of Mercury.
Weapons
He used pistols, knives and other weapons as was necessary.
Transportation
The Angel was able to fly with the Cape of Mercury although he used it very rarely.
Notes
- Possibly the first active Marvel Golden Age hero, the Angel was retconned decades later as actually being two brothers using the same secret ID. See Angel II for info on his brother.
Trivia
- Thomas Halloway's estate in Los Angeles is decorated with many statues of angels.
See Also
- 125 appearance(s) of Thomas Halloway (Earth-616)
- 11 minor appearance(s) of Thomas Halloway (Earth-616)
- 2 mention(s) of Thomas Halloway (Earth-616)
- 49 image(s) of Thomas Halloway (Earth-616)
- 10 quotation(s) by or about Thomas Halloway (Earth-616)
- 3 victim(s) killed by Thomas Halloway (Earth-616)
- 1 item(s) used/owned by Thomas Halloway (Earth-616)
Links and References
- Thomas Halloway (Earth-616) on Wikipedia.org
- Simon Halloway (Angel II)
- V-Battalion
- Angel entry of Jess Nevins
- The Angel at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
Footnotes
- ↑ Marvel Mystery Comics #60
- ↑ Marvels Project #8Marvels Project #8
- ↑ Marvels Project #1
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Marvel Mystery Handbook 70th Anniversary Special #1
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Marvel Mystery Comics #11
- ↑ Citizen V and the V-Battalion #1
- ↑ U.S.Agent #4
- ↑ Captain America #442
- ↑ Marvel Mystery Comics #2
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #1
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol 1 1
