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Im thinking of starting up a small force of blood angels that would eventually grow into a normal force. I really like the story behind the death company and such, and was wondering if this character can be useful in anyway. Would the list have to be tailored around him?

There are two reasons to take him.
1. He removes the 0-1 death company limit allowing you to field more than one squad.
2. In the old descent of angels lists he makes your units succumb to the red thirst 50% of the time which grants you furious assault and fearless.

Other than that his axe is more of a hindrance in my opinion. I'd rather take a reclusiarch or lib with a jump pack.

aren't all axes except kharn's a hinderance now a days? stupid unwieldy. they aren't in lfd2 you know...

what about tactics/ list building?

he's just so expensive to be I1. I can never justify him because of the axe. bumping this thread for interest.

I just found out yesterday that giving my sheeple power weapons means i can give DC power axes. so, making them S6 I1.

multiple squads of this just seems so deadly.

To answer your second question, yes the list needs to be tailored around him for it to be effective. Unfortunately that means expensive choices. In my experience everyone I play with knows what the DC are and what they do. So the second they pop out of something that isn't an assault vehicle they need to brace for impact because every weapon in range is about unload in their direction. In my opinion, they're most effective in an assault vehicle so they can do their job straight out of the gate. Blood Angels have 2 assault vehicles: the Land Raider (and variants) and the StormRaven. Both are 200+ point choices. For maximum effectiveness you'll need some power weapons in each squad and a chaplain for the one without Astorath. Like I said, it can get spensive. He is cool though because he gives red thirst on a 3 or less instead of a 1 which can be useful for your not-already-crazy units.

The death company are insane units. Quite cheap for what they do. You are baisicly trading in scooring troop choises for elite choises when bying a squad. That is not a problem. Just roll with it.