Marvel’s Generations: Iron Clad Camaraderie

by Vince Brusio

There are times when a writer gets the opportunity to play the role of Zen master, and one of those times is now for Brian Michael Bendis as he gets to put together both a legendary Avenger and the young aerial auteur that is Riri Williams in Marvel's latest Generations one-shot, Iron Man/Ironheart. Both the master and the grasshopper are on a level playing field in this futuristic story, and it is a cherished opportunity for Bendis to get both cerebral and cacophonous concerning two heroes that share the same suit.

Generations: Iron Man & Iron Heart #1 (JUL171006) is in comic shops August 6.

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Vince Brusio: Is Generations: Iron Man & Iron Heart #1 (JUL171006) more cerebral or kinetic? What kind of story is it, and what kinds of adjectives could you use to describe your plot, or the dialogue exchanges between these two heroes?

Brian Michael Bendis: Good question. I consider it a Futurists travelogue through the Marvel universe!  Which sounds very cerebral but it’s actually pretty kinetic. We see a lot of things and hear a lot of ideas. These are two people of science who learn something about each other that only this scenario could teach them. And they are so tuned in to how unique this experience is that they make the most of it.

Vince Brusio: So Riri Williams finds herself in the same circle as one of the original Avengers. For a person her age, that’s like giving the kid who wrote an “A”-level high school thesis on the moon an opportunity to sit down with Stephen Hawking, don’t you think? What’s the intimidation factor like for her upon the two of them first exchanging words with each other?

Brian Michael Bendis: One of the things I like about her the most is that her hero worship and intimidation factor is just enough. She doesn’t get cartoonish for over-the-top. She admires Tony Stark but is aware of Tony Stark’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s not hero worship and it’s not career or relationship goals but she admires him and is subconsciously trying to aspire past him.

Because to look up to him is to look where he is looking… past him and into the next horizon.

Vince Brusio: With Tony’s world-renowned history and ego on the table for everyone to see, what must it be like for him to fly next to someone whose armor is in the same weight class? Or is it? And it’s not that he hasn’t had a wing man before, as we can’t discount past sorties with War Machine. But what’s flight school looking like for Tony now that he’s got a rookie who appears to be able to keep up with him at Mach 1?

Brian Michael Bendis: I think it’s a complicated feeling. I think he can feel a twinge of jealousy but at the same time the genuine honor of having inspired her is in the forefront. This relationship is very different from the one he has with Rhodey. Even though Tony was supplying the armor, Rhodey was his peer on every conceivable level. Riri is a work in progress and comes at the relationship with some pragmatic hero worship. Friendship may come, but that will be later.

This story takes place in the future. The Tony Stark we meet here is one who has learned a lesson or two about ego. In my opinion we're meeting the best version of Tony. A Tony who has survived somewhat by luck and appreciates every moment of it. Also he knows something about the legacy of Miss Williams that seems to make him very pleased to have inspired her ascent.

Vince Brusio: So when you helped create Riri Williams, what initial flaws did you build into the character to make her human, and will any of those flaws play a part in how she interacts with the mind and experience of Tony Stark?

Brian Michael Bendis: We actually hint at some of this on the very first page of her first issue. Riri’s genius is a blessing and a curse. She sees the world differently and invents towards that, but at the same time she sees the world differently and reacts to things in some ways that would be described as abnormal. Some readers have pointed this out. I’m not going to label it because her situation is unique. I think her specific abilities bring about certain personality traits that may get her in a lot of trouble. It will be interesting to see her developed.

Vince Brusio: How do you let your personal affection for Riri affect this story? Do you find that your favoritism for her works for you or against you when you’re trying to balance the point of views from each ego in this one-shot?

Brian Michael Bendis: I love how you assume that I have favoritism towards her. I don’t. I actually love each character I’m writing equally. I love her and Tony Stark and, let’s say, Victor Von Doom equally and for different reasons.

I use every scene to try to be truthful to every character because you literally never know what line of dialogue or what reaction to what action from these characters will inspire or entertain somebody. So you just write honestly and humanly. It’s kind of why you write.

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Vince Brusio writes about comics, and writes comics. He is the long-serving Editor of PREVIEWSworld.com, the creator of PUSSYCATS, and encourages everyone to keep the faith...and keep reading comics.