WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Champions #2 by Eve L. Ewing, Simone Di Meo, Bob Quinn, Federico Lee, and VC's Clayton Cowles, on sale now.

Marvel's "Outlawed" event is quickly turning into a generational civil war about who has the right to fight for others. But while the adults are divided on how to handle such a sensitive topic, the kids that the new law affects are even more divided among themselves.

Some teens have sided with C.R.A.D.L.E. and others support the underage heroes. Even the Champions are divided amongst themselves. But one of their founding members recently made her side known: Riri Williams, aka Ironheart.

RELATED: Champions: Which Young Marvel Heroes Have Already Been Arrested in Outlawed?

Riri had been lying low following the incident at Coles Academy, where she had to severely injure Viv Vision to stop her rampage. This decision has been weighing heavily on Riri's mind both before and after the creation of Kamala's Law. But while it is the main reason she is feeling down, it is not the only reason why she remained off the streets following the passage of the new law. Riri's identity is public and as a consequence of this, she does not have the same level of protection from governmental retribution should she act in defiance of the law. While her friends have their secret identities to keep them and their families safe, Riri has no such luxury. From the moment Kamala's Law was passed, every time she put on the Ironheart armor created a threat to her family. If C.R.A.D.L.E. caught her while she was on patrol they could arrest her, take her away from her mom, and possibly charge her mother for negligence.

Riri's vast intellect arguably makes her an exception to Kamala's Law, even though she technically has a mentor in Iron Man. She can see the bigger picture and plan for it, but even she is balking at the notion of being separated from her mother. At the end of the day, Riri is still a minor who does not want to be separated from her parent. For all these reasons, Riri has remained at home contemplating what to do next. Of course, she couldn't maintain that isolation for long and after her friends tried to break a protest gone violent, they arrived at her home to catch their breath and try to convince her to join them. Riri listed her reasons for not making a statement earlier and even seemed a bit bitter regarding her friends' secret identities. But while she explained why she hadn't suited up yet, Riri did not say that she believed Kamala's Law was right, merely listing all the ways it could hurt her and them.

RELATED: Champions: Marvel's Outlawed Leaves One Young Hero Arrested

Champions 2 Riri Afraid

 

Asking them to leave, they were interrupted by Riri's alarms going off, signaling that C.R.A.D.L.E. was coming for them and confirming several of Riri's fears. Putting on the Ironheart armor for the first time since Coles Academy, Riri joined Ms. Marvel, Nova, and Spider-Man in trying to repel the C.R.A.D.L.E. forces.

But her participation in this fight is one born of necessity. Even if she disagrees with Kamala's Law, she's only fighting it right now because she has no choice. Had she surrendered, she would have been charged with hiding fugitives of the law, something she could be punished for even if she has a registered mentor. But whether she would have willingly chosen to side with her friends is moot now. She fought back against government agents, she's picked a side and now she'll have to fight for it.

KEEP READING: Champions #1 Creates a New Status Quo for Marvel's Young Heroes