The Avengers #341

Reading this issue was very coincidentially with an article posted recently in the Comicvine talking about the subject of comic books having more material of social content, what was very frequent back in the 70ies and 80ies. Technically this issue is from the early 90ies but nonetheless it has a very deep and profound social theme within it: racial prejudice. I remember about that kid back in Los Angeles, named Rodney King, who in the year 92 was brutally assaulted by the police and it was videotaped (check the link for historical purposes please http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_King) , exactly like this story writen by Fabian Nicieza. Fabian creates a vibrant and weigthy atmosphere to discuss this topic with great dialogues with Captain America, Falcon and Rage. The way he aproachs this theme without appeal to platitude and arrogance is an indicative that this story is worth reading, because it transmits a powerful and enlightened message. Speaking of lighter themes it´s amazing how Fabian uses the theme of prejudice to provoke an action from the Avengers and the New Warriors who have to face the Hate Monker and his Sons of the Serpent, a bunch of nazi losers. Steve Epting is very good in this issue, with clear details and a great story telling dynamics (artistically speaking if this issue was held in the digital coloring era, it would be a 5, but colors those days, all manual - without computer, were responsible for a little decline of the art). Wraping up, we find out about Rage´s secret identity in this issue, also get to see Captain America in a training session, one of the things I miss the most about Avengers nowadays: they don´t exercise or practice in group anymore, same thing with the X-Men - who misses the Danger Room? (Who now is a character). Highly recommended both for the writing and the art.
4 out 5