Invincible Iron Man #7

Previously, in Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 1

While most girls her age are pondering college options and prom dresses, RiRi Williams has several offers of a lifetime on her plate. Should she continue her work at MIT or Stark Industries with the full power of Tony Stark’s finances and influence at her disposal? Or should she join her fellow teenage superheroes and become a member of The Champions? It’s a lot to consider and since she’s a super genius, RiRi isn’t taking any of it lightly.

Meanwhile, SHIELD has their eye on her and they’re fully aware of RiRi’s capabilities and options. The fact that RiRi doesn’t have such a high opinion of SHIELD isn’t lost on Director Sharon Carter.

“I hate it when smart people don’t like us.” - Sharon Carter

When RiRi takes on The Will o’ Wisp, she suffers her first public defeat. It’s enough to make anyone doubt themselves, but AI Tony Stark turns it into a teachable moment with RiRi learning that she’s earned the rare admiration and respect of the original Iron Man himself.

RiRi’s decision will have to wait because Lucia Von Bardas has already put her plans in motion, beginning with sending a suicide bomber into a function filled with government officials, and it appears Sharon Carter is at ground zero. RiRi immediately flies into action, because that’s what superheroes do. Maybe she’s made her decision after all.

This issue was very light on story movement until the very end. It did serve the purpose of summarizing the major events in the first volume of the series. RiRi had to experience a failure in order to put what’s before her into perspective. In true RiRi fashion, it’s hilarious that she cares less about taking the L and more about taking one from such a low-level criminal as The Will o’ Wisp. This, among other things, makes it clear why Tony Stark chose her to carry on his legacy.