Katarzyna Petru
Tomorrow at 21:00 Eastern Time (ET), the first three episodes of the new Marvel series – “Ironheart” – will debut on the Disney+ platform. The production follows the story of Riri Williams, a young inventor who – much like Tony Stark before her – builds her own suit and embarks on the path to becoming a superheroine. But before a new chapter begins, it’s worth recalling where the character of Ironheart comes from, what we already know about her from the Marvel cinematic universe, and how she differs from her comic book counterpart.
Who is Ironheart? The Legacy of Tony Stark
Riri Williams is a brilliant teenager from Chicago who, at the age of 15, gained admission to the prestigious MIT. She possesses an engineering mind on par with Tony Stark himself, and his journey serves as her greatest inspiration. She first appeared in Marvel comics in 2016, created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mike Deodato, and later developed by Eve L. Ewing.
In the comic book world, Riri constructs her own version of Iron Man's armour while still a student and eventually adopts the alias Ironheart. After the death of Tony Stark (who exists at that time in the form of AI), she takes on part of his mission and ideas, creating a new approach to heroism – more youthful, idealistic, but no less effective.
Ironheart in the MCU – film beginnings
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) introduced Riri in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022). In this version, Riri studies at MIT and works on her own projects after hours. Her greatest achievement becomes a device for detecting vibranium – an incredibly valuable metal from Wakanda. This invention inadvertently attracts the attention of Namor, the ruler of the underwater kingdom of Talokan, who sees Riri as a threat.
Later in the film, Riri is kidnapped by Namor's people, ends up in his kingdom along with Shuri, and then escapes to Wakanda, where she constructs her first fully-fledged combat suit. Together with the Black Panther, she participates in the fight against the forces of the aquatic empire. The conclusion of the film leaves the door open for further adventures of the character — and this is precisely what the plot of the new series is based on.
What will the series "Ironheart" be about?
The new production from Marvel Studios takes Riri back to Chicago. After the events in Wakanda, the young inventor drops out of university and returns to her family. Viewers will meet her loved ones: her mother Ronnie (Anji White) and childhood friends, including Xavier Washington (Matthew Elam), the brother of her deceased friend Natalie.
But this is not just a story about returning home. Riri enters a new phase of her life when she meets Parker Robbins, known in the underworld as Hood (played by Anthony Ramos). He is a mysterious villain with his own moral code, who gathers a team of outsiders fighting for "justice in their own way." Also on the horizon is Joe McGillicuddy (Alden Ehrenreich) – a loner and engineer who, like Riri, admires the legacy of Tony Stark.
The series tells a story not only about suits and battles but primarily about the collision of youthful ideals with brutal reality. Riri faces the consequences of her inventions, new relationships, and decisions that could weigh heavily on her future as a hero.
MCU vs Comics – What is Changing?
As is often the case with Marvel adaptations, the film version differs from the comic book original. In the comics, Riri had no connection to Wakanda, and her armours were constructed in secrecy, without the involvement of other superheroes. In the MCU, however, she receives strong support from Shuri, and her debut is immediately intertwined with a larger global conflict.
The character of Parker Robbins / Hood also deviates from the comic book original, where he was a character strongly linked to magic – his cloak gave him the ability to teleport and had demonic origins. In the series, he will most likely be grounded in more realistic confines of the MCU, although full details will only be revealed in subsequent episodes.
What’s next in the world of Marvel?
The premiere of Ironheart is just the beginning of a new phase for Marvel Television. On 6th August, the animated series “Eyes of Wakanda” will debut, and for Halloween, an animated series “Marvel Zombies” is planned. Another live-action premiere is scheduled for December: “Wonder Man”, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and featuring Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery.
The first three episodes will be available tomorrow – 25th June at 21:00 ET on Disney+. The final three episodes will be released on the platform on 1st July at the same time.
