Avengers Twilight Twilight /

A dystopian tale of familiar superheroes, aged and embittered, is hardly a new trope in comics, but what Zdarsky and Acuna have crafted is a welcome addition. Captain America, now deprived of the Super Soldier Serum, attempts to reignite hope in a deranged oligarchy ruled by manipulation and placation by fighting back, joined by world-weary, former Avengers, including Thor, Luke Cage, Iron Man, and fan-favorite Ms. Marvel, as well as some new faces. The exaggerated but recognizable elements to America's current political climate are not subtle, nor would one expect them to be in a superhero story. Acuna's art is appropriately dull and muted until it isn't, with many detailed explosions, splash pages, and interesting panel layouts to elevate the excitement as the heroes take their stand. Comparisons to Waid and Ross' DC title Kingdom Come are inevitable, but Zdarsky has interesting things to say about the current rise in authoritarian-leaning leaders around the world, the role that the greed of a powerful few plays in all our lives, and just how our actions or inactions will affect the next generation. Bolstering this book's appeal is its accessibility. A stand-alone story, one only needs general knowledge of the Avengers. An excellent book for teens or adults, this is a triumph of superhero fiction with riveting action and timely themes, reminding us to never surrender to apathy.