X-Men fans know Warren Worthington III, the wealthy, winged vigilante turned tragic hero. If anyone knows a good, complex comic history, it's Warren. Over his lengthy run as Angel, Archangel, and Dark Angel, Warren has sported several sets of iconic wings, each of which has drastically changed his abilities. But which wings were the most powerful?
Angel begins his heroic days with a feathered set of wings, first seen in 1963's X-Men #1. Using these angelic wings to fight crime and get recruited into the X-Men, Angel's feathery wings served him well until they were removed in X-Factor #14. Thanks to Apocalypse's manipulations in X-Factor #24, Angel's next set of wings are a deadly metal and organic combo of razor-sharp feathers. But wait, there's more. Enter the trippy arc of 2015's The Black Vortex Saga, where Angel is treated to an enhanced, cosmic set of fire wings. He even had bat wings in an alternate universe, featured in Mackie and Pepoy's Mutant-X comic. So, which of these wings is the strongest?
Warren's feathered wings are his original, iconic set, but they're far from the strongest. Ultimately, it's a close run between Angel's metallic set vs. his cosmic-powered wings. During his time as the Horseman Death and then as Archangel, Warren's bladed wings were retractable - a bonus his organic wings never had. The sharp feathers also serve as mini projectiles, adding a deadly bonus to his winged abilities. Not to mention, they're poison-tipped, capable of sending enemies into a deep sleep. It's also been noted that these wings give Warren added height, speed, and aerodynamic capabilities compared to his original form. X-Factor #25 also mentions that the wings themselves - as creations of Apocalypse - influence Warren's mind, making him a more merciless warrior.
Uncanny X-Men vol. 1 #338 shows Warren shedding his metal wings and reinstating his organic pair. These wings, however, glow and offer a touch of psionic power. Angel is "reborn" and is a hero once more, but writers were never quite happy with the simple power of flight, and Warren has spent most of his hero career flip-flopping between his regular mutation and his Archangel form, often with the attendant temptation to break bad, becoming a much darker character and even one of the deadliest members of X-Force.
Only 2015's Black Vortex Saga could offer an upgrade on Warren's metal wings, bringing the time-displaced young X-Men into contact with the Guardians of the Galaxy. The Black Vortex is a mystical object that grants the user their ultimate potential or evolutionary form. The heroes agree that Thane - son of Thanos - can't ever posses such a powerful object. After a few heroes are granted celestial powers by the Black Vortex, Warren also succumbs to its tempting transformation.
Warren's cosmic wings grant him faster-than-light flight, projectile energy blasts, the ability to siphon cosmic energy, and added strength and durability. His stamina is limitless, meaning he doesn't need to rest and can fly non-stop. He even has a "berserk" mode, where his cosmic powers take control of him and he becomes a living cyclone of celestial power. His wings are fiery, and burn so hot that they glow vivid hues. In X-Men Blue #35, a Warren from Earth-TRN727 even uses his cosmic wings to defeat Archangel, proving his celestial wings are superior. So, while Warren's other wings are powerful in their own right, it's Angel's set of cosmic wings that win all bragging rights.