Arella
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| Arella | |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Angela Roth |
| Supporting character of | Raven |
In the Teen Titans comics and animated universe, Angela Roth, commonly called Arella, is the pacifist mother of the superhero psychic Raven. She is the wife of Trigon the demon, who seduced her in human form in order to produce someone who would later serve as his portal to Earth.
Born in Gotham City, Angela Roth was a depressed, aimless teenager who fell in with occultists who goaded her to participate in a secret ceremony to appeal to Trigon, who was to manifest in the earth-plane. Although she knew Trigon was a demon by origin, she thought Trigon's human form was authentic. When she realized Trigon's true form, it was too late and Trigon raped her. After she was impregnated by Trigon, Arella attempted to kill herself with pills in an abandoned alleyway. Instead of dying, however, she was taken to the temple Azarath, located between all dimensions. It was there that she was taught pacifism and had her named changed to Arella (which meant Messenger Angel to the Azarathians).
Soon after giving birth to Raven, she gave up her care to Azar, the high priestess. She rarely saw her for quite some time, but took over guardianship of Raven upon Azar's death when Raven was about ten years old.
When Raven was eighteen years old, she fled Azarath to seek help from Earth's heroes to stop Trigon's invasion. This resulted in the New Teen Titans. Raven briefly returned to Azarath, asking her mother for help. Arella refused and sent her back to Earth. When Raven was being held as a prisoner by Trigon, Arella decided to leave Azarath to help her teammates rescue her. Soon after, Trigon was sealed away in another dimension. Arella agreed to go along with him in an attempt to block him from returning through the portal.
Some time later, Raven finally gave in to her father's control. Arella was transported to Azarath, which was promptly destroyed by Trigon's minions. She was among the only survivors. Arella followed the Teen Titans to Earth in order to help them in their fight against Trigon. She watched as Raven was used to destroy her father and then vanish.
Arella travelled the world, trying to find her daughter. When she finally found her, they were both taken prisoner by cultists, under the control of Brother Blood. After spending some time with her daughter in Blood's fortress, they were freed by the Teen Titans.
[edit] Teen Titans animated series
In the Teen Titans animated series, Arella makes a short appearance in the episode "The Prophecy". While meditating, Raven envisions herself in Azarath, her home dimension, where she encounters her mother tending to a whole flock of doves. Raven begs her mother to help her prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, but Arella (echoing Slade, albeit in a much kinder tone) tells her that it is no use, that Raven's destiny was chosen at her birth and it is a destiny she must carry out, like it or not.
It is then revealed that Azarath has already been destroyed (or from the look of the city, deserted at least), and that Arella is apparently dead--although this is debatable--having given her daughter her last words through a telepathic voice-mail of sorts. She was played by Virginia Madsen. It is arguable that the people of Azarath are not dead but, as in 'Teen Titans Go', are now the Phantasm, making her mother still alive to speak to her but not corporeal.
