The physical change is a huge part of why this version of Warren stands out. The blue skin and metal wings make him immediately recognizable, but the wings also change the kinds…

The physical change is a huge part of why this version of Warren stands out. The blue skin and metal wings make him immediately recognizable, but the wings also change the kinds of danger he brings into a scene. The original Angel could carry someone to safety. This version can send sharp projectiles into people. Those feathers can deliver a paralyzing chemical, too, so it is not only a matter of making the wings harder or giving him a stronger attack. His body has been equipped to disable people. Apocalypse has taken something Warren already knows how to use and given it an entirely different purpose. That makes the fights more complicated. There are ways Warren can hurt somebody now that did not exist before, and the story has to deal with his ability to restrain himself as well as his ability to win. Having the more frightening attack does not make every decision easier. I also think the design does a lot of work without needing dialogue. You can see the relationship to Angel immediately. He still has that enormous silhouette in the air. Then you see the edges and the color of his skin, and the resemblance starts to feel disturbing. There is enough of Warren there to recognize what has happened to him.