The following article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, now in theaters.
Ironheart was not a big hit among long-time Marvel fans when introduced in the comics, but the MCU might have turned things around for the character. Ironheart’s prospects on the screen seem a lot better than they did on the page when she was introduced in Invincible Iron Man #7 by (Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato) in 2015.
Ironheart, (aka Riri Williams) is a young girl with genius intelligence who builds an Iron-Man-like armor that gives her abilities like flight and super strength. Many fans thought her comic appearance was poorly executed in comparison to other younger superheroes like Miles Morales as Spider-Man and Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel. The MCU, however, does a lot more right for Riri in her first appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
The MCU Gave Riri A Better Origin Story
The most obvious difference between the MCU and the comics' depictions of Riri is her introduction. In the comics, Riri is brought onto the scene by Tony Stark himself simply because he took notice of her. She’s then recruited to fight alongside him, but she doesn’t really get an opportunity to develop a connection with Iron Man before he's put into a coma after a fight with Captain Marvel in the events of Civil War II (by Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez). She takes up the mantle of Ironheart and merely fills the hole Tony left.
In the MCU, Ironheart still builds her own version of the Iron Man armor while attending M.I.T. for college. But very quickly into her story, Riri is tracked down by Princess Shuri and Okoye of the Dora Milaje to prevent Namor from killing her. She eventually harbors a close sentiment for Shuri and the nation of Wakanda, because Queen Ramonda gave her own life to help save her from drowning. This gives a more compelling reason for Riri to continue her superhero journey when she leaves Wakanda because she’s seen first-hand the sacrifices people make for others.
Dominique Thorne's Performance Defines Riri
A lot of fans complained about Riri’s lack of personality in the comics, but it’s hard to tell whether this was warranted or die-hard Iron Man fans didn’t feel like she could fill Tony Stark’s shoes. In the comics, Riri has a sarcastic attitude that could rival Tony’s, but she was much more introverted, so she often lacked the level of confidence expected from a superhero. However, Riri’s confidence (and other strong elements of her personality) shines in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Fans get to see the same giddiness in Riri as she flies in the Ironheart Mark 1 as they saw in Tony Stark in his flight tests in Iron Man (2008). She’s stubborn and quick to dismiss Okoye and Shuri when they’re in her dorm room at M.I.T and even tries to throw a JBL speaker at them. Okoye, of course, slices it in half. She’s full of life, and Dominique Throne definitely elevates the character off the page.
Ironheart Has a More Stable Future In The MCU
In the comics, Ironheart inherits Iron Man’s legacy because Tony is in a coma. This already made fans feel like her role was temporary. From the start, it was obvious Tony Stark would return as Iron Man, and Riri would be left without a clear purpose in the Marvel Universe. She pops up every now and again and eventually joins a less familiar Marvel team known as The Champions, alongside other young superheroes like Miles Morales and Kamala Khan.
However, in the MCU, Tony Stark is dead. With that, Riri Williams has a stronger foundation to build her own identity. She’s able to feel separate enough from the identity of Iron Man for fans to be interested in what comes next for her. Ironheart has a lot of potential to be a big name in the next few phases of the MCU, especially with her involvement in protecting Wakanda from Namor and the rest of Talokan. Ironheart could easily become a fan favorite in the MCU among other newer, more notable characters like Kate Bishop and Kamala Khan.
It's clear Marvel has bigger plans for Ironheart in her solo Disney+ series Ironheart set to debut in late 2023. From what Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has shown of Riri, she is more lively and more at home in the MCU than she was in Marvel Comics. With an amazing mind that gives her the capability to build armor arguably better than Iron Man, Ironheart has a bright future ahead.