Rage of Angels

Officers of the NYPD have just been caught on tape beating a young man named Carmello Martinez, who not only wasn’t resisting arrest but was handcuffed at the time. This had made the issue of police brutality a hot button and divisive topic. Protestors and counter-protestors have both arrived outside the 41st Precinct, drawn attention from the media. Among those interviewed, one man spews his racists ideals, telling the interviewer that immigrants and non-whites need to be thrown out of the country. This is heard by the Avenger known as Rage who has been observing things from a nearby rooftop. Pissed off by this bigoted tirade, Rage leaps down and confronts the man about his hateful comments. The man reminds Rage that it is a free country and he is allowed to say what he wants. Rage doesn’t disagree, but snatches a metal pipe the man has been brandishing, pointing out that he is trying to intimidate people with a weapon. Rage then snaps it in half in his super-strong fingers. The man and his friends leave, vowing that the “white minority” will be back to take what their city.

The reporter takes this opportunity to get an Avengers opinion on the Carmello Martinez story. Rage explains that the cops have a lot to answer for and these beatings are eroding the public trust in law enforcement. This interview is observed by Rage’s grandmother, Granny Staples, who is deeply concerned by her grandson’s comments.

She isn’t the only one, when Captain America and Black Widow also see the news they decide to talk to Rage about it. At that moment, Rage is in a training session with the Falcon. Captain America ends the session and confronts Rage about his statement. However, Rage is frustrated about the injustices happening to kids on the street and wants the Avengers to do more about it. However, Cap and Falcon point out that street level problems aren’t really what the Avengers deal with. Falcon even tries to empathize with Rage, reminding him that he is a social worker who helps the youth in Harlem. Unfortunately, Rage is too angry to listen, he reminds them that what happened to Carmello Martinez was wrong and if they won’t do something about it, he will. Both Cap and Falcon are concerned by Rage’s anger and decide to keep an eye on him and figure out where it comes from.

Meanwhile, in the back room of a deli on 103rd street, the man that Rage confronted at the police station is meeting with other like minded individuals. He tells the others that it is time for them to come out of hiding and begins handing out brand new uniforms for their group, the Sons of the Serpent.

While at the Ambrose Building in downtown Manhattan, Dwayne Taylor watches the news about Carmello Martinez and is also deeply concerned by what’s going on. His mentor, Andrew Chord, notices this and asks what he intends to do about it. The two hash it out while having a sparring session. Having grown up wealthy, Dwayne can’t relate to the problems other Black an Hispanic kids face on a daily basis, but he decides he can’t just sit back and do nothing. As he retrieves his Night Thrasher gear, Dwayne is glad that he has friends he can call in to help with something like this.

Back at Avengers Headquarters, Peggy Carter and Michael O’Brien are going over the footage of the interview outside the 41st Precinct as she thought there was something familiar about the racist guy that Rage argued with. Sure enough, after running his face through various databases she gets an ID on the guy, Leonard Kryzewsky, who has a prior arrest record for various violent crimes he committed as a member of the Sons of the Serpents, a racist terrorist organization.[1]

Meanwhile, Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson pay a visit to the home of Edna “Granny” Staples in order to learn what connection Rage might have with Carmello Martinez. Sitting down for tea with Granny, she explains that Elvin grew up with Carmello. This comes as a surprise to the two veteran Avengers since Rage appears to be a fully grown adult. That’s when Edna drops a bombshell on them: Her grandson is actually 14 years old!

Back at the 41st, the protest outside the police station continues. By this time, Night Thrasher has gathered his fellow New Warriors — Firestar, Marvel Boy, Namorita, and Silhouette — and are keeping an eye on things from a nearby alleyway. When the Sons of the Serpents arrive and try to rile people up, the situation explodes in violence, prompting the New Warriors to step in and try and break things up.[2] As they fight with the Sons of the Serpent, the New Warriors find it difficult to keep their emotions in check. This is thanks to a man in black watching the battle from the rooftops.[3] As he toys with everyone’s emotions, Rage arrives on the scene and is emotionally manipulated into fighting the New Warriors. When the rest of the Avengers arrive on the scene, the mystery man begins to manipulate them as well….

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Vision, Black Widow, Falcon, Rage), New Warriors (Night Thrasher, Silhouette, Firestar, Marvel Boy, Namorita), Hate-Monger (unidentified), Sons of the Serpent (Leonard Kryzewski), Granny Staples, Peggy Carter, Michael O’Brien, Andrew Chord

Continuity Notes

1. Peggy recounts that the Sons of the Serpent had previously fought the Avengers and the Defenders. This story references Avengers #32-33 and Defenders #22-25. It omits the second time the Avengers fought the Sons of the Serpent back in Avengers #73-74.

2. Here, Marvel Boy mentions why his arm is in a sling in this story: He had been injured in the New Warrior’s recent battle with Terrax in New Warriors #15-18. His arm will remain in a cast until after the events of New Warriors #26. Also of interest here, Namorita is wearing a suit of Atlantean armor. She started wearing this armor after suffering a serious beating in New Warriors #14. She’ll have abandoned this new look by issue #18 of that series.

3. This mystery man reveals himself to be the all-new Hate-Monger next issue.

Topical References

• This story was inspired by the beating of Rodney King. King was assaulted by the LAPD on March 3, 1991. King had been pulled over for speeding and evading the police. The cops threw him to the ground and beat the living shit out of him. The entire incident was caught on tape and it highlighted the issue of police brutality, particularly toward Blacks and other marginalized groups. Sadly, these sorts of things are still relevant today (see George Floyd for one of the more recent examples). Anyway, if you hear anyone claim CoMiCs WeReN’t PoLiTiCaL in the past, kindly point them to this comic and tell them to shut the fuck up.

• Carmillo Martinez is depicted as own a stereo that plays cassette tapes. This should be considered topical as this is an obsolete technology.

• Likewise, Granny Staples is depicted watching the news on a CRT television that uses an antenna to pick up a signal. Another obsolescent technology.