Racial tension rises in New York after police are caught on tape beating handcuffed Hispanic teen Carmello Martinez. When Len Kryzewski and other armed plainclothes members of the Sons of the Serpent hate group nearly start a riot by publicly denouncing minorities and threatening violence if anyone disagrees, Avengers reservist Rage scares off the Sons, then criticizes the police in a TV interview. Later, an impatient Rage wrecks a training mechanism during a workout with Captain America and the Falcon, demanding to know why the Avengers aren’t addressing the Martinez situation. When they explain the Avengers aren’t designed to handle social issues, Rage storms out, saying he’ll take care of it himself. A worried Cap and Falcon seek advice from Rage’s grandmother Edna Staples, who reveals that Rage and Carmello are close friends, and that Rage is only 14 years old. Later, in Canarsie, a mob of angry anti-racism protesters is drawn into a violent clash with the Sons of the Serpent, sporting new gear provided by a mysterious benefactor. The idealistic young New Warriors super-team intervenes, trying to keep the peace, and Rage joins the fight as well, but a sinister observer is secretly influencing everyone’s emotions to make the heroes, protesters, police and Serpents violently angry, and is all too delighted when Rage’s fellow Avengers arrive, trying to break up the fight...