79 – The Angel

A panel from the Angel story in Marvel Comics #1, August 1939
A panel from the Angel story in Marvel Comics #1, August 1939

The third superhero introduced in Marvel Comics #1 (August 1939), was The Angel, created by Paul Gustavson. The Angel that would not see success beyond the Golden Age of Comics, though he did give his name to one of the original X-Men, much like The Human Torch was reborn as a different character in the Silver Age.

The Angel looked a lot like Superman (blue tights, red cape, yellow symbol on chest), but had two differences: no superpowers and a mustache. I don’t think those two things were related. A distinguishing feature of The Angel was his willingly to kill his enemies (criminals).