Show pageBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Angel Salvadore (Tempest) ====== ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **In one bolded sentence, Angel Salvadore is a complex mutant character whose journey encapsulates themes of survival, trauma, and reinvention, evolving from a troubled, insect-like student at the Xavier Institute to the technologically-powered hero known as Tempest.** * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** Angel Salvadore represents the "street-level" experience of being a mutant in the [[marvel_universe|Marvel Universe]]. Unlike many X-Men born into privilege or with glamorous powers, her abilities were initially jarring and her background was one of abuse and hardship, making her a relatable and grounded figure within the often fantastical world of mutants. Her subsequent transformation into [[tempest|Tempest]] repositioned her as a proactive hero, demonstrating the potential for growth and change. * **Primary Impact:** Angel's most significant impact is through her relationship with [[beak|Barnell Bohusk (Beak)]]. Their shared story as outcasts who find love and build a family together provided a powerful emotional core to Grant Morrison's seminal //New X-Men// run. Furthermore, her depowerment during the [[m-day|M-Day]] event and subsequent re-empowerment as Tempest made her a key case study for the consequences of the Decimation and the resilience of the mutant (and human) spirit. * **Key Incarnations:** The distinction between her comic and cinematic versions is stark. In the **Earth-616** comics, she is a complex, often abrasive survivor with insectoid physiology, whose greatest story is her romance and family life. In the **Marvel Cinematic Universe** (specifically //X-Men: First Class//), she is reimagined as a confident, alluring go-go dancer with dragonfly-like wings who quickly defects to the [[hellfire_club]], serving as a minor antagonist with a drastically simplified backstory and motivation. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== Angel Salvadore made her first appearance in **//New X-Men// #118** in November 2001. She was a pivotal creation of the visionary writer **[[grant_morrison|Grant Morrison]]** and artist **Ethan Van Sciver** during their revolutionary and critically acclaimed run on the X-Men flagship title. Morrison's era was defined by a departure from the classic superheroics of the 90s, aiming to present a more contemporary, strange, and socially relevant vision of the mutant experience. Angel was conceived as a direct embodiment of this philosophy. Her powers were not conventionally "cool" or beautiful; they were insectoid, alien, and even slightly grotesque. Her personality was not that of a polished hero-in-training but that of a scared, angry teenager lashing out against a world that had only ever shown her cruelty. She was designed to be a "problem student," a character who would challenge the utopian ideals of the [[xavier_institute|Xavier Institute]] and force readers to confront the grittier realities of what it might mean to be a mutant. Her visual design, with her small, translucent wings and fly-like eyes, was a deliberate move away from the idealized physiques common in comics, grounding her in a more biological, and at times unsettling, reality. Her creation was instrumental in exploring themes of otherness, teenage alienation, and finding beauty and love in the unconventional. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== The origin of Angel Salvadore is a tale of two vastly different realities, showcasing one of the most significant character adaptations between the comic book page and the silver screen. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === Angel Salvadore's life before the Xavier Institute was a nightmare. She was born and raised in a broken home in Wyoming, suffering years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her stepfather. The emergence of her mutant powers—a housefly's physiology—only intensified his cruelty. When she could no longer hide her insect-like wings, he brutally beat her and threw her out of the house. Alone, pregnant, and terrified, the fourteen-year-old Angel was found by [[wolverine|Wolverine]] and brought to the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. Her initial time at the school was marked by extreme hostility and a defensive, rebellious attitude—a clear trauma response to her past. She was difficult, insubordinate, and quick to anger, famously getting a tattoo of [[biz-markie|Biz Markie]] on her arm against school rules. She was immediately ostracized by many of the more "beautiful" mutants, particularly the Stepford Cuckoos, who belittled her appearance and background. Her life changed when she found a kindred spirit in another outcast, Barnell Bohusk, a boy with a bird-like appearance who was codenamed **[[beak|Beak]]**. Their shared status as "freaks" among the other mutants forged a powerful bond, which quickly blossomed into a deep and genuine romance. In a secluded shack on the school grounds, Angel revealed she was pregnant. Using her insectoid biology, she created a number of cocoons, from which hatched several hybrid children who possessed traits from both their parents. Her journey took a dark turn when she was manipulated into joining the "Special Class," a group of troubled students taught by the new teacher, Xorn. Believing Xorn to be a benevolent mentor, Angel and her classmates were instead indoctrinated with the radical, anti-human philosophy of [[magneto|Magneto]] (who Xorn was impersonating). As part of this new [[brotherhood_of_evil_mutants|Brotherhood]], Angel participated in the takeover of New York City. However, witnessing the sheer brutality and madness of "Xorneto," she and Beak had a change of heart. It was Beak who ultimately helped the X-Men defeat the villain, and in the aftermath, both he and Angel were pardoned for their roles in the uprising, returning to the school to raise their children. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === //Note: Angel Salvadore appeared in the 20th Century Fox film //X-Men: First Class//, which predates the formal integration of the X-Men into the Marvel Studios' MCU. However, for encyclopedic purposes, this continuity is treated as the primary "cinematic universe" version of the character.// The cinematic origin of Angel Salvadore, portrayed by Zoë Kravitz, is almost unrecognizable from her comic book counterpart. In the 1962 setting of **//X-Men: First Class//**, she is first introduced as a young, confident, and beautiful go-go dancer working at a club in Las Vegas. Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, in the early stages of recruiting mutants for the CIA's "Division X," approach her after learning of her abilities. This version of Angel possesses beautiful, iridescent dragonfly-like wings tattooed on her back, which she can manifest into physical, functional appendages for flight. She also has the ability to spit a highly corrosive, explosive acid projectile. When approached by the future [[professor_x|Professor X]] and Magneto, she is initially skeptical but demonstrates her powers with a nonchalant flair, showcasing a personality far removed from the traumatized, angry teenager of the comics. She agrees to join their nascent team and partakes in their training exercises, where she is given the codename **Tempest**. However, her allegiance proves to be shallow. When the team is confronted by Sebastian Shaw and the [[hellfire_club]], Angel is easily swayed by Shaw's promises of power, freedom from hiding, and a world where mutants rule. Along with [[azazel]], [[riptide]], and [[emma_frost|Emma Frost]], she defects and becomes a key member of Shaw's inner circle. She participates in their plan to instigate World War III, fighting against her former teammates during the climactic confrontation at the Cuban Missile Crisis. After Shaw's death, she remains loyal to Magneto, becoming a founding member of his Brotherhood. Her fate is unceremoniously revealed in the subsequent film, //X-Men: Days of Future Past//. In a file shown to Magneto, it is revealed that Angel was one of several mutants captured, experimented on, and ultimately killed by Bolivar Trask's Project Wideawake in the 1970s. This cinematic adaptation prioritized aesthetics and narrative expediency, transforming Angel from a complex protagonist into a visually striking but ultimately minor and tragic antagonist. ===== Part 3: Abilities, Equipment & Personality ===== Angel's powers and persona have undergone one of the most dramatic evolutions in modern X-Men history, shifting from a biological mutation to technologically-grafted abilities. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === ==== Powers as a Mutant (Pre-M-Day) ==== Angel's original mutation granted her the complete physiology of a common housefly //(Musca domestica)//. * **Insectoid Wings:** Her most prominent feature was a pair of small, translucent, insect-like wings on her back. Despite their delicate appearance, they were capable of beating at an incredibly high speed, generating enough lift for flight and producing a distinctive, loud buzzing sound. * **Acidic Saliva:** Angel could project a highly acidic, viscous substance from her mouth. This saliva was potent enough to cause severe burns and could dissolve various materials. She used it both defensively and offensively, often as a last resort. * **Reproductive System:** Her biology included an insectoid reproductive system. She could produce and lay large, cocoon-like eggs. Her gestation period was extremely rapid, lasting only a few days from conception to "birth." * **Digestive Adaptation:** As part of her fly-like nature, she had a unique digestive process. To eat solid food, she first had to vomit digestive enzymes onto it, liquefying the meal before consuming it. This was a source of great personal shame and discomfort for her. ==== Depowered State and Personality ==== The events of **[[m-day|M-Day]]**, where the [[scarlet_witch|Scarlet Witch]] erased the powers of over 90% of the world's mutants, had a devastating effect on Angel and her family. She, along with Beak and most of their children, lost all their mutant abilities. She became a fully baseline human. This transition was profoundly traumatic. The very things that had once made her an outcast were gone, but their absence left her feeling vulnerable and lost. During this period, her personality softened considerably. The hard, angry shell she had built around herself at the Xavier Institute fell away, replaced by the anxieties of a young mother trying to protect her family in a world that hated and feared what they once were. She and Barnell joined a short-lived support group for ex-mutants called the New Warriors, seeking a sense of community. Their powerless existence was a constant struggle, culminating in an attack by William Stryker's anti-mutant [[purifiers]], which led to the tragic death of one of their children. ==== Powers as Tempest (Post-M-Day) ==== Following the attack by the Purifiers, Angel and Barnell were recruited by the vigilante **[[night_thrasher|Night Thrasher (Donyell Taylor)]]** to join his new iteration of the **[[new_warriors]]**. To compensate for their lost powers, Night Thrasher equipped them with advanced technology. It was here that Angel Salvadore adopted the codename **Tempest**. * **Technological Gauntlets:** Her new powers were derived from a sophisticated suit, primarily centered around a pair of powerful gauntlets. These devices allowed her to generate and project concentrated blasts of elemental energy. * **Pyrokinesis:** She could project intense streams of fire and heat. * **Cryokinesis:** She could generate blasts of extreme cold and ice. * **Electrokinesis:** She demonstrated the ability to generate and discharge electricity. * **Flight:** Her suit included a flight system that enabled her to fly at high speeds, replacing her lost mutant wings. This flight was more controlled and faster than her original wings allowed. * **Enhanced Durability:** The New Warriors armor provided a significant degree of protection from physical harm and energy attacks. As Tempest, Angel regained a sense of agency and power she had not felt since losing her mutation. Her personality shifted again, becoming more confident, focused, and heroic. She was no longer just a survivor, but a protector. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === The cinematic version of Angel, codenamed Tempest from the start, had powers that were visually impressive but less biologically complex than her comic counterpart. * **Dragonfly Wings:** Instead of small, buzzing fly wings, this Angel had large, beautiful, dragonfly-like wings. They appeared as tattoos on her back and could become corporeal at will, allowing for graceful and agile flight. This change was clearly made for cinematic appeal, making the character more conventionally attractive. * **Acidic/Explosive Spit:** She could project a small, glowing globule of energy from her mouth. Upon impact, this projectile would explode with significant concussive and acidic force. This was a much more weaponized and less "gross" version of her comic book's acidic saliva. * **Personality:** This version of Angel was portrayed as self-assured, seductive, and opportunistic. She lacked the deep-seated trauma and rebellious anger of her Earth-616 self. Her decision to join the Hellfire Club was presented as a simple choice for power and social status, rather than the result of manipulation or a desperate search for belonging. She was confident in her abilities and her place in the world, a stark contrast to the insecure outcast of the comics. ===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network ===== ==== Core Allies ==== * **[[beak|Barnell Bohusk (Beak)]]:** Barnell is, without question, the most important person in Angel's life. Their relationship is the defining emotional arc of her character. They met as fellow outcasts at the Xavier Institute, both mocked for their unconventional appearances. They found in each other a solace and acceptance they couldn't find anywhere else. Their love story is raw and realistic, progressing from a teenage romance to a committed partnership as they became young parents. Barnell's unwavering loyalty and love helped ground Angel and break through her defensive walls. They faced everything together: the "Special Class," the Decimation, the loss of a child, and their reinvention as heroes in the New Warriors. * **[[xorn|Xorn]]:** Initially, Angel viewed Xorn as a powerful and compassionate mentor. As the teacher of the "Special Class," he seemed to understand and empower the students that the other teachers neglected. Angel developed a deep sense of loyalty to him, which he expertly manipulated. She fully embraced his "Magneto" persona and his revolutionary ideals, seeing him as a savior for mutants like her. Her eventual realization of his insanity and betrayal was a harsh but crucial lesson, forcing her to question authority and her own judgment. * **[[night_thrasher|Night Thrasher (Donyell Taylor)]]:** Donyell Taylor was the catalyst for Angel's transformation into Tempest. After she and Barnell lost their powers and suffered a great tragedy, he offered them a chance to fight back. He provided them with the technology, training, and purpose they desperately needed. While their relationship was primarily professional, he was the architect of her second act, giving her the means to become a hero on her own terms, separate from the X-Men and her past as a "freak." ==== Arch-Enemies ==== * **[[quentin_quire|Quentin Quire (Kid Omega)]]:** As the leader of the Omega Gang, Quentin Quire was a direct antagonist to Angel during her time at the Institute. His "Riot at Xavier's" was fueled by a sense of mutant elitism that stood in stark opposition to everything Angel and Beak represented. He and his gang viewed them as genetically inferior and worthless, embodying the internal prejudice and classism that could exist even within the mutant community. Their conflict was ideological, pitting his vision of a powerful, "cool" mutant future against her struggle just to survive. * **[[william_stryker|Reverend William Stryker]]:** Stryker and his Purifiers represented the ultimate threat to Angel and her family after they were depowered. To Stryker, an ex-mutant was not a tragedy but an abomination that needed to be cleansed. His forces hunted down Angel and her family, seeing them as easy targets. The Purifiers' attack on their bus, which resulted in the death of their son Tito, was a defining trauma that directly led to Angel and Barnell joining the New Warriors to seek justice and prevent others from suffering the same fate. * **The Stepford Cuckoos:** While not "arch-enemies" in a physical sense, Esme Cuckoo (and her sisters by extension) was a significant social antagonist for Angel. The telepathic Cuckoos represented the popular, polished, and powerful elite at the school. They openly mocked Angel's appearance, intelligence, and background, engaging in relentless psychological bullying. Esme, in particular, manipulated Angel and the other members of the Special Class, using her powers to further Xorn's plans. This rivalry highlighted the social hierarchies and cruelty that can exist even in a supposed safe haven. ==== Affiliations ==== * **[[xavier_institute|Xavier Institute]]:** Angel's time at the Institute was formative but tumultuous. It was both her sanctuary from the abuse of her past and a new kind of prison where she faced prejudice and alienation. She was a member of the student body and, most notably, a key member of Xorn's "Special Class," which set her apart from the mainstream X-Men trainees. * **[[brotherhood_of_evil_mutants|The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants]]:** Under the sway of Xorn's Magneto persona, Angel briefly but significantly served as a member of his new Brotherhood. She participated in their violent takeover of Manhattan, believing she was fighting for a just cause. Her time in this group represents the lowest point of her manipulation and her desperate desire for belonging and power. * **[[new_warriors]]**: This affiliation marks Angel's heroic evolution. As Tempest, she became a core member of Night Thrasher's controversial team of former and depowered mutants. The team operated outside the sanction of the [[superhuman_registration_act|Superhuman Registration Act]], making them outlaws. In the New Warriors, Angel found a new purpose, using her technologically-granted powers to protect the innocent and fight injustice, finally becoming the proactive hero she was never able to be as a frightened student. ===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines ===== ==== New X-Men: Riot at Xavier's ==== //(New X-Men #135-138)// This storyline is foundational to Angel's character. At this point, she and Beak are established as a couple, trying to live a quiet life in their shack and raise their newborn children. However, the social unrest at the school, instigated by Quentin Quire's Omega Gang, throws their lives into chaos. The "riot" is a protest against what Quire perceives as Professor X's weak, integrationist philosophy. For Angel, the event reinforces her belief that the school is not a safe place. More importantly, it is the backdrop for her deeper involvement with Xorn's Special Class. Feeling alienated by the main student body, she and other outcasts are drawn to Xorn's teachings, which culminates in them joining his "Brotherhood" in the subsequent "Planet X" storyline, solidifying her as a character defined by her search for acceptance. ==== House of M & Decimation (M-Day) ==== //(House of M #8, New X-Men Vol. 2 #20-24)// This event is the single most transformative moment in Angel Salvadore's life. When the Scarlet Witch utters the words "No more mutants," Angel is one of the millions whose X-Gene is erased. She is rendered fully human, losing her wings, her acidic saliva, and her entire insectoid physiology. The event is depicted as both a blessing and a curse. While she is freed from the physical traits that caused her so much grief, she is also left powerless and vulnerable. This storyline, titled "Childhood's End," follows Angel, Beak (who also lost his powers), and their children as they attempt to leave the Institute and build a normal life. It is a poignant and heartbreaking exploration of identity, loss, and what it means to be "normal." Their struggle is brutally interrupted by an attack from the Purifiers, proving that even as ex-mutants, they will never be safe. This event strips Angel down to her core and sets the stage for her heroic rebirth. ==== New Warriors: Defiant ==== //(New Warriors Vol. 4 #1-20)// This entire volume chronicles Angel's second act. After the trauma of M-Day and the murder of their son, a grieving and vengeful Angel and Barnell are found by Night Thrasher. He offers them a deal: power and a chance at justice in exchange for their service on his new team. Accepting the offer, Angel is outfitted with advanced armor and gauntlets, taking on the powerful new codename **Tempest**. This storyline follows her journey from a victim to a proactive vigilante. We see her mastering her new fire-and-ice abilities, fighting alongside other depowered mutants, and operating as an outlaw in a post-[[civil_war|Civil War]] world. The series explores her rage and grief, channeling them into a fierce determination to protect others. Her transformation into Tempest is complete; she is no longer the scared girl from Wyoming but a confident and formidable hero, proving that her strength was never just in her genes. ===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions ===== While Angel has not been a major focus in many alternate comic book realities, her most prominent and radically different version exists in the realm of cinema. ==== X-Men Film Series (Earth-10005) ==== The version of Angel Salvadore seen in //X-Men: First Class// is the most well-known adaptation of the character. Portrayed by Zoë Kravitz, she bears little resemblance to her comic book origin beyond her name and basic powers. * **Origin and Personality:** Instead of a traumatized, abused teenager, this Angel is a confident adult working as an exotic dancer. Her personality is flirtatious, worldly, and ultimately self-serving. There is no hint of the deep-seated anger or vulnerability that defined her comic counterpart. * **Powers and Aesthetics:** Her powers were adapted to be more visually appealing for the screen. The grotesque, biological aspects of her mutation were removed. Her wings are large, beautiful, and can be retracted into tattoos, and her acidic spit is a clean, explosive energy ball. Her codename, Tempest, is given to her by the X-Men, a nod to her future comic identity that is ironic given she quickly betrays them. * **Allegiance and Fate:** This version's defining characteristic is her betrayal. She willingly and easily defects to Sebastian Shaw's Hellfire Club, drawn by his vision of mutant supremacy. She shows no remorse for this decision and becomes a loyal follower of Magneto after Shaw's death. This is a complete inversion of the Earth-616 Angel, whose core arc is about finding family and love amidst hardship. Her story ends tragically and off-screen, as it's revealed in //X-Men: Days of Future Past// that she was captured and killed by Trask Industries between films, her DNA used to advance the Sentinel program. This adaptation serves as a prime example of how secondary characters are often streamlined or fundamentally altered to serve the narrative needs of a film. ===== See Also ===== * [[beak]] * [[new_warriors]] * [[grant_morrison]] * [[xavier_institute]] * [[m-day]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((Angel Salvadore was named after the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí and the film director Luis Buñuel's film //Un Chien Andalou//, reflecting the surreal and strange tone of Grant Morrison's //New X-Men// run.)) ((Her children with Beak are named Tito, Axel, Kara, an unnamed daughter, and two unnamed sons. Most of them inherited a mix of their parents' original avian and insectoid mutations.)) ((In the comics, Beak briefly took on the codename "Blackwing" when he joined the New Warriors alongside Angel's Tempest, and he was given a tech-suit that allowed for flight and enhanced strength.)) ((The specific technology Night Thrasher provided to the New Warriors was implied to be derived from a variety of sources, including reverse-engineered technology from supervillains and his own corporate resources.)) ((The question of whether Angel and the other depowered mutants could ever have their powers restored remains a recurring theme in the X-Men universe, especially after the establishment of the mutant nation of [[krakoa]] and its Resurrection Protocols. However, Angel Salvadore's status in this new era remains largely unaddressed.)) ((Zoë Kravitz, who played Angel in //X-Men: First Class//, would later voice Mary Jane Watson in //Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse// and play Catwoman in //The Batman//, making her a prolific actress across multiple comic book cinematic universes.))