10 Things You Didn't Know About Ironheart
6. Under The Shadow Of The Gun
While The Champions were helping build a community centre, Miles Morales received an emergency alert on his phone. A shooter at his school killed and injured several people before killing himself. One of the injured victims was Mile’s friend and because Spider-Man was with the Champions instead of at school that day, he blamed himself.
Champions #24 is Spider-Man’s story, but it was Ironheart, who lost both her best friend and stepfather to gun violence, who had the saddest and probably the most logical take on the tragedy. While talking to Amadeus, she was sure of the inevitability that this would happen again and there wasn't much they could do about it. She said that the gun violence that touched her life was the very reason that she built the "damn" armour in the first place.
It is Ms. Marvel, who was in her own school and has had to endure active shooter drills since this incident that finally breaks through to Spider-Man. She tells him that despite the incredible powers they both possess, it is impossible for them to be everywhere and save everyone. Ultimately, they can only make the choice to give in to despair or embrace hope. With the phrase “Give up or stand up”, Kamala spurred Miles to not only return to his team but his school friends as well.