Since the first trailer for Ironheart has finally been released, we wanted to revisit these 8 things you might not know about the famous Marvel character. Here are 8 juicy facts about Iron Man's heir in the comics.
8) She's a very recent character
Indeed, Riri Williams, even though she's already integrated into the MCU, is a very recent character. She made her first appearance in 2016 in the comic book Invincible Iron Man Vol. 2 #7 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato. Riri Williams is a 15-year-old engineering student. After her father's death, she was raised with her sister Sharon, her mother, and their stepfather, Gary. A true genius, she went to study at MIT at only 16. As briefly mentioned in Wakanda Forever, Riri Williams steals technological material from MIT to build her own armor inspired by Iron Man's. She then decides to take on the alias of Ironheart and become a new heroine in the Marvel universe.
7) Tony Stark is her mentor even though he is deceased
To become Ironheart, Riri Williams received help from a rather unusual Tony Stark. Indeed, after his disappearance in Civil War II, Tony Stark returns in the form of an AI that takes the appearance of a hologram. While the philanthropic genius has died, his consciousness continues to exist through this artificial intelligence. A story trajectory that the Ironheart series could use, thus allowing a potential return of Tony Stark in the MCU.
6) The controversy
In 2016, Riri Williams was at the heart of a mini-scandal. Indeed, the Midtown Comics store ordered a new cover for Ironheart. The artist J. Scott Campbell, known for his sexy and stylized style, was hired to offer a completely new variant cover of the character. Except that J. Scott Campbell sexualized the young girl, as a reminder, only 15 years old. He drew her in a suggestive pose, with low-cut clothes and a crop top revealing her midriff. An inconsistent representation, which does not fit with the character's writing, which is more oriented towards a form of intellectualization, model youth, and emotional maturity. In any case, this cover caused an uproar. The public and several voices in the comics world denounced this sexualization of a minor. The cover was withdrawn before it was even marketed. Marvel even distanced itself from this illustration. As for J. Scott Campbell, he defended himself by saying that his intention was not to sexualize Riri Williams but to represent her as a strong, independent, confident, and bold woman.
5) Skai Jackson as a source of inspiration
The actress Skai Jackson was a source of inspiration for the creation of Riri Williams. Skai Jackson is an American actress, author, and influencer born on April 8, 2002 in Staten Island. She rose to prominence at a young age through her roles on the Disney Channel, notably playing Zuri Ross in the series Jessie (2011–2015) and its spin-off Camp Kikiwaka (2015–2018). She is also known for her activism against racism and harassment, using her popularity to raise awareness and inspire her generation.
4) The importance of Eve L. Ewing in the creation of the character
Eve L. Ewing was also an important part of the creation of Riri Williams. She is a sociologist, writer, poet, and professor at the University of Chicago. Her voice has a significant impact on discussions about education and social justice for African Americans in the United States. Like Riri Williams, she is a young Black woman who was raised in the rough neighborhoods of Chicago. When Marvel decided to develop a comic book series about Riri Williams, the company turned to Eve L. Ewing. She then became a consultant to Brian M. Bendis, bringing her innovative and modern take on the character. Ewing gave Riri a way of speaking, thinking, and experiencing her emotions that corresponds to what many young Black American women experience, especially in working-class neighborhoods. 3) She is a member of the Champions
Like many superheroes in the Marvel universe, Riri Williams belongs to a team of vigilantes. She is a member of the Champions, a team of young superheroes including Kamala Khan, Miles Morales, Sam Alexander, Joaquin Torres, and Amadeus Cho. A team that could potentially come to life in the MCU since most of these characters have already been introduced.
2) She is played by Dominique Thorne
In cinema, Riri Williams takes on the role of the young actress Dominique Thorne. Aged 28, the young woman became known in 2018 in the poignant and exciting drama If Beale Street Could Talk. A social and political drama, a touching romance, an important film directed by Barry Jenkins. In this, the choice of Dominique Thorne to play Ironheart is obvious. And personally, we find that the young actress offers a masterful job in the role of this new heroine.
1) Hood
The Ironheart series will also introduce an antagonist much appreciated by comic book fans. Indeed, Anthony Ramos was chosen to play the terrible Hood. Created in 2002, Hood quickly became an iconic comic book supervillain. Parker Robbins is basically a petty criminal who survives as best he can. One day, when a robbery goes wrong, Parker Robbins comes face to face with a demon called Nisanti. Robbins takes down this mystical creature and seizes his cape and magical boots. An artifact that gives him ultra-powerful mystical powers. This new costume allows him to become invisible, levitate in the air, and see through mystical barriers. He can therefore distinguish shapeshifters, magicians, and spells cast by his opponents. With his powers, he also transforms his two pistols into weapons of mass destruction through the use of magic bullets that have different abilities. When stressed or when he loses control of himself, Hood transforms into an extremely powerful demon, leaving Nisanti to rise from the ashes for a short time. Power-wise, Hood is capable of facing characters of the caliber of Wolverine in single combat. A very stylized and charismatic character, we hope that Ironheart will do him justice.
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