- “You made me! You taught me! You approved of me in ways my mortal father never did! You're my real father, Angelus.”
- ―Penn[src]
Penn was a vampire sired by Angelus in 1786 and, in later centuries, a serial killer nicknamed "Pope" by the Los Angeles press.[1]
Biography[]
Early life and siring[]
Penn, shortly after being sired.
In life, Penn had been a Puritan. According to Penn, he had issues with his father, who apparently never approved of him, even to the point of considering Angelus his real father after being sired. Similarly to his sire, Penn's first victim was his sister, subsequently going on to kill his entire family at their home.[1]
Over the next two centuries, Penn continued his murder sprees, even adopting some of Angelus' old methods, such as carving a Christian cross on his victim's left cheek before draining them of their blood. At some point, he began to deliberately seek out victims who resembled his family, killing them in order to relive his past murders.[1]
Los Angeles[]
Penn committed multiple murders in Los Angeles across various decades, leaving the city and returning to it after the hype about his last spree had faded. Kate Lockley, after researching Penn and Angelus, believed Penn had been in Los Angeles in October 1929 and 1963, and likely in Boston in 1908.[1]
When Penn last returned to the city, he was discovered by Angel, who learned about Penn's presence through an old psychic link he shared with the vampires he had created. Initially, he assumed that he was committing the murders in his sleep, but after Cordelia and Wesley chained him to his bed the night before another murder, they determined that it wasn't him.[1]
Penn burnt with holy water.
Tracking Penn, Angel confronted him in front of his ally Detective Lockley, revealing his vampire nature to her for the first time, only for Penn to escape. After Penn faked evidence suggesting he was going after a school bus, Angel eventually discovered him again. Angel and Penn fought until Kate staked Penn through Angel; she impaled Angel through his stomach with a broken board, reaching Penn's heart.[1]
Powers and abilities[]
Penn possessed the standard powers, abilities, and vulnerabilities as other vampires, although due to his high age he was stronger and faster than the average vampire. He was able to move at a blurring speed,[1] similarly to the rapid speed Angel was capable of performing.[2]
His common weaknesses with other vampires included decapitation, direct sunlight, or a stake through the heart. Penn, like all vampires, was unable to enter the home of a human without being invited.[1]
Victims[]
Penn had at least ten victims through the centuries:[1]
- His older sister
- His younger sister
- His brother
- His father
- His mother
- Unidentified man
- Jessica Halpren
- Jinny Markem
- Reggie Sparks
- Unidentified woman
Behind the scenes[]
- He was portrayed by Jeremy Renner.
- Penn was featured in the card game Top Trumps Angel.