Invincible Iron Man #8

Previously, in Invincible Iron Man #7

Wow. This might be my favorite issue since the premiere. Bendis effortlessly fills us in on Riri’s background while showing her learn valuable lessons in the present day. And even though she’s the smartest person in the Marvel Universe, she’s not too smart to think there isn’t more she can learn. Unfortunately, most of her learning is taking place in the field since bad guys don’t exactly operate on a hero’s schedule.

RiRi feels compelled to fly to the site of The Smithsonian explosion. Thankfully, Sharon Carter survived and was able to clear the building before casualties could be claimed. Here RiRi learns her first lesson in showing up at a crime scene where government agencies are on high alert. She hasn’t earned the trust of the people yet and her presence could be seen as aggressive at worst, and a distraction at best.

RiRi also gets a crash course in government politics. Carter can’t order a retaliatory strike without proof, but if RiRi goes in to handle Lucia Von Bardas, SHIELD has plausible deniability. It’s not clear if RiRi fully trusts SHIELD — they’ve been spying on her since before kindergarten, so her trepidation could be forgiven. But she does want to help, especially after Lady Octopus attacks the scene of the explosion under Von Bardas’ orders.

The flashbacks show that RiRi always knew she wanted to be a scientist and openly dared anyone to tell her she couldn’t. There’s an adorable exchange with a female teacher who doesn’t dissuade RiRi at all (much to her annoyance); RiRi wanted someone to prove wrong. At the age of 11, she called NASA to get info on applying to their space program and shocked the receptionist when she said she was calling from her dorm room at M.I.T. I love these glimpses into the early part of RiRi’s childhood and they shed light on the kind of hero she’s shaping up to be.

Coming up next time: a showdown with Lucia Von Bardas!