This text comprises spoilers for “Ironheart” episodes 1-3.
There are many MCU characters whose tales have diverged from their comedian origins. Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) had talents just like Reed Richards’ embiggening powers on the web page, which had been modified to crystal-forming expertise in her present. Baron Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), too, shifted from being the extra comic-accurate son of a former Captain America foe to an elite and vengeful Sokovian soldier searching for justice for his household’s loss. Now, Riri Williams, aka Ironheart (Dominique Thorne), is the most recent hero to have some changes made to her backstory. The distinction is that this feels extra like an obligation than an important a part of storytelling.
Within the comics, Ironheart’s story kicks into gear when Tony Stark visits and endorses Williams’ work, adopted later by a man-made AI modeled after Stark himself. It is a failsafe that kicks in after Stark goes right into a coma following the occasions of Civil Struggle II, however he sends his digital doppelgänger to help Riri to construct a go well with of her personal. Doing so fortifies a bond between the 2 characters, very similar to the one we have already seen between Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Downey’s Iron Man. The issue within the present, in fact, is that the MCU Tony Stark has been useless for the previous few years, and even when he wasn’t, bringing Downey again would’ve pushed the finances for “Ironheart” into very expensive territory. In consequence, even mentioning Stark’s identify feels awkward, highlighting an inconsistency in Riri’s journey that takes a while to beat.
Tony Stark is a task mannequin that Riri does not appear all that impressed by
Robert Downey Jr. may’ve given Thorne some phrases of knowledge when she took on the position, however that is about so far as it goes for the MCU alumni. Within the first episode of “Ironheart,” the identify of Tony Stark is thrown round a good bit, on condition that Riri is a part of MIT and has plans to broaden on the concepts and creations of the late Iron Man with designs of her personal. Whereas she may use his identify as a protection for her work to proceed, it merely does not sit proper that she’s alleged to respect Tony this a lot. (It is framed virtually to the extent of Kamala making an attempt to observe within the footsteps of Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel.) At this level, Riri actually must be both often taking a look at her muse’s works or by no means. As a substitute, the present presents this weak in-between that merely looks like a time-filler till it makes a far smarter resolution with one other core a part of Riri’s backstory.
Similar to so many heroes, Williams’ quest to do good comes from private tragedy. The present, just like the comics, reveals that Riri’s finest good friend, Natalie (Lyric Ross), and Riri’s stepfather, Gary (LaRoyce Hawkins), had been casualties of a drive-by capturing. Fortunately, although, it is by way of this traumatic occasion the place the present speeds issues up with Riri’s artistic course of and brings Natalie again to life (kinda) lots before in Ironheart’s authentic shaggy dog story.
Turning Natalie into N.A.T.A.L.I.E. so quickly is the right distraction from the Stark concern – however will it return sooner or later?
Whereas Riri made her comedian debut in 2016 in “Invincible Iron Man” #7, she did not get her personal standalone story till “Ironheart” #1 in 2018. That is a variety of time for the titular hero to spend with Stark, AI or in any other case, that she merely hasn’t had within the MCU. What good timing then, that similar to in her first comedian ebook concern, her new AI, N.A.T.A.L.I.E., involves life within the first episode — and it isn’t a second too quickly.
The noticeable absence of Stark and the overuse of his identify will get promptly swept apart due to the arrival of Lyric Ross as Thorne’s former-friend-turned-super-advanced-digital-assistant. This shifts focus to extra attention-grabbing components which can be related to the MCU model of Riri, moderately than the comedian model the present is drawing from. Admittedly, it could have been good to see some sort of interplay between Ironheart and the hero from whom she takes her identify, however as nice because the MCU could be, we sadly cannot have all the things. It does spark some curiosity about Riri’s future on this ever-expanding universe, although.
There is not any telling the place Ironheart will seem subsequent after her standalone present, however what might be attention-grabbing is whether or not it takes place within the time interval earlier than or after the occasions of “Avengers: Doomsday.” Having already touched on Stark’s legacy, how may Riri react when a person in a inexperienced cape and an intriguing accent reveals up who appears to be like similar to the person she modeled her nice innovations after? If and when that occurs, it would truly give Riri a greater alternative to work together with the person who’s made such an impression in her life, versus her debut sequence, which has struggled to successfully present it.
