Angela
Angela, angelic bounty hunter
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics
First appearance	Spawn #9 (March 1993)
Created by	Neil Gaiman Todd McFarlane
In story information
Species	Angel
Team affiliations	Heaven
Abilities	Indefinite lifespan, trained warrior and bounty hunter

Angela vor@ tufta e hima kogks kangnat a is a fictional character in Todd McFarlane's Spawn comic book series. The character was created for the series by writer Neil Gaiman which led to a legal battle between McFarlane and Gaiman over the rights to the character. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image Comics is an American comic book publisher. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to first comic book to feature a character. ... Spawn (real name Al Simmons) is a fictional character in Image Comics comic book of the same name. ... Neil Richard Gaiman (IPA: ) (born November 10, 1960[2]) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. ... Todd McFarlane (born March 16, 1961 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian comic book artist, writer, toy manufacturer/designer, and media entrepreneur who is best known as the creator of the epic religious fantasy series Spawn. ... A fictional character is any person, persona, identity, or entity that is created from ones imagination or from an adaption of an existing entity. ... Todd McFarlane (born March 16, 1961 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian comic book artist, writer, toy manufacturer/designer, and media entrepreneur who is best known as the creator of the epic religious fantasy series Spawn. ... Spawn is a fictional comic book character created by Todd McFarlane. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... Neil Richard Gaiman (IPA: ) (born November 10, 1960[2]) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. ...

Fictional character biography

In the comics, Angela is an angel who acts opposite Spawn as a bounty hunter working under the auspices of Heaven. She attempted to kill Spawn upon their first meeting, but he managed to defeat her despite her significantly greater experience. When he later came to her aid during her trial in Heaven - ironically, he was there to testify that she had permission to attempt to kill him - then they started a romantic relationship. Angela was killed during the battle with Malebolgia in Spawn #100. Malebolgia is the name of a fictional demon in the Spawn universe, drawing its name from the Malebolge, the eighth circle of Dantes hell. ...

Publication history

Angela is a recurring adversary and ally of Spawn, and so is featured often in the series. Her debut was in issue Spawn #9, but she has since appeared in issues #62, #89, and #96 through #100.

In 1994 and 1995, a three-issue Angela limited series was published, written by Gaiman and illustrated by Greg Capullo. The series was later reprinted in a trade paperback (ISBN 1-887279-09-1), which, as of 2005, is out-of-print. There was also an Angela stand-alone comic (1995). Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... The limited series is a term referring to a comic book series with a set finite number of issues. ... Capullos cover for Quasar #32 (March, 1992). ... In comics, a trade paperback (TPB or simply trade) specifically refers to a collection of stories originally published in comic books reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Angela has also been featured in several crossovers. The "Rage of Angels" miniseries saw Angela meeting Glory in Angela and Glory (1996), and was continued in Youngblood #6 (1996) and Team Youngblood #21. There was also a crossover Aria/Angela, featuring Angela in the Aria comic series. It has been suggested that Gaming crossovers be merged into this article or section. ... Glory is a fictional character from the Image Comics comic book series created by Rob Liefeld. ... Youngblood is a superhero team, and eponymous comic book, created by Rob(The shitty Artist) Liefeld. ... Cover to Youngblood #1 (April 1992). ... Aria is a miniseries by Image Comics, written by Michael Turner. ...

Legal rights

In 1993 McFarlane contracted Neil Gaiman (as well as other recognized authors like Alan Moore, Dave Sim, and Frank Miller) to write one issue of Spawn. While doing so, Gaiman introduced the characters Angela, Cogliostro, and Medieval Spawn. All three characters continued to be featured prominently in the series after Gaiman's involvement, and had many tie-ins with McFarlane's toy company. Cogliostro had a prominent role in the live-action movie in 1997. McFarlane had initially agreed that Gaiman retained creator rights on the characters, but later claimed that Gaiman's work had been work-for-hire and that McFarlane owned all of Gaiman's creations entirely, pointing to the legal indicial in Spawn #9 and the lack of legal contract stating otherwise. (Some argued that this change of heart was motivated by his desire to gain full ownership of the characters by using Miracleman as a bargaining tool.) McFarlane had also refused to pay Gaiman for the volumes of Gaiman's work he republished and kept in print. In 2002, Gaiman filed suit and won a sizeable judgement against McFarlane and Image Comics for the rights due any creator. All three characters are currently co-owned 50/50 by both men. Neil Richard Gaiman (IPA: ) (born November 10, 1960[2]) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. ... Cogliostro (Cog, initially rendered Cagliostro) is a supporting character in Todd McFarlanes Spawn comic series. ... This page deals with Spawn, the comic book title and character. ... Miracleman, originally known as Marvelman in his native United Kingdom, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero created in 1954 by writer-artist Mick Anglo for publisher L. Miller & Son. ...

Appearances in other media

The character had a minor cameo appearance in the 1997 live action film Spawn; a tall, beautiful red-haired woman with the typical Spawn symbol on her earrings appeared in one scene, and it is hinted, although not specifically stated, that this is meant to be Angela. She also appeared in the animated HBO series Todd McFarlane's Spawn. Spawn is a film adaptation of Todd McFarlanes creator-owned Image comic book of the same name. ... Todd McFarlanes Spawn was an animated television series which aired on HBO from 1997 through 1999. ...

Angela is the subject of a song by heavy metal band Iced Earth called "The Hunter", which appears on their Spawn-themed concept album The Dark Saga. Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band that combine influences from thrash metal, power metal, progressive metal, opera, speed metal and NWOBHM. In 1999 their leader and songwriter Jon Schaffer teamed up with Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kürsch to form a side project called Demons & Wizards. ... The Dark Saga is a concept album by the American heavy metal band Iced Earth. ...

Awards

In 1995 and 1996, Angela was nominated for, but did not win, a number of Wizard Fan Awards: 1995 Favorite Villainess, 1995 Character Most Deserving of Own Ongoing Title, 1995 Favorite One-shot or Limited Series/Miniseries, and 1996 Favorite Heroine. The Wizard Fan Awards are given out by Wizard: The Comics Magazine annually. ...

Manga Counterpart

During Ken Kurosawa's travels in the manga Shadows of Spawn, he mistakes another Spawn-hunting angel, Mikaela, to be a normal human. Kurosawa saves her from the Violator, who wanted to eat her heart. Instead of being grateful, she despises Kurosawa for his act, proclaiming he stole her dignity. She decides to try to battle him, but Violator explains that he knows karate as his main fighting skill. She flies off into the night, wanting a rematch when she has learned the martial art.

She reappears to help Kurosawa later in the series, from the clutches of a monstrous phlebiac. The two double-team to defeat the monster, where she disappears shortly thereafter.

External links

• Angela miniseries
• Angela toy
• About legal battle between Gaiman and McFarlane
• http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/op3.fwx?submit1=showop&caseno=03-1331.PDF
• http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9677
• http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2004_02_22_archive.asp#107766958467371937

See also

• Spawn villains