Highlights
In the MCU, Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, has a different origin story and connection to other characters compared to the comics.
Riri's original link to Tony Stark is substituted with a meaningful bond with Shuri in Wakanda Forever, as she assists Riri in enhancing her Mark II armor.
Unlike the sleek Ironheart suit, Riri's attire in the MCU is more robust and crafted from vibranium, granting it heightened resiliency. Nevertheless, the Ironheart armor still resides in Wakanda and awaits her return.
Ryan Coogler had the distinct honor of introducing two major Marvel Comics heroes in his follow-up to 2018's Black Panther, titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. One of these characters, Namor, not only made a profound impact but also introduced a new group of people to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The other character, Riri Williams, also known as Ironheart, played a significant role in Iron Man comics and becomes the protege of the brilliant genius.
In the MCU, Ironheart, portrayed by the dynamic Dominique Thorne, was introduced in a unique manner different from her comic book counterpart. Coogler and his writing team had the challenge of incorporating Ironheart into the existing MCU landscape, which greatly differed from the comic universe. While alterations to origin stories and backgrounds are common in adaptations, this was particularly true for Riri Williams due to the developments of previous MCU entries.
Ironheart in Marvel Comics
The Marvel Comics version of Riri Williams has a strong connection to Tony Stark, much like how Peter Parker is tied to him in the MCU. Riri, a student at MIT, creates a suit of armor similar to Iron Man's by utilizing parts she stole from the university. She uses this suit to prevent two convicts from escaping prison, resulting in damage to her armor. Upon learning about this incident, Tony Stark meets Riri and supports her desire to become a superhero due to her exceptional intelligence and skills.
As a young student at MIT, Riri collaborates with Tony Stark to build a second suit of armor. She then joins him in a second superhero Civil War, fighting against Carol Danvers, also known as Captain Marvel. It's definitely a sink-or-swim situation. The events of Civil War 2 leave Tony in a coma and the world without an Iron Man. In response, Riri decides to take on the mantle herself, donning her own suit and adopting the name Ironheart.
Riri's presence in the Marvel comic book universe solidified her reputation as she confronted dangerous adversaries like Rhino, Lady Octopus, and Armadillo. However, her most formidable rival came in the form of Lucia von Bardas, a criminal cyborg from Latveria who initiated an assault on the United States. Single-handedly, Ironheart launched a counter-offensive and emerged victorious against this criminal mastermind. Not only that, she went on to establish democracy and facilitate free elections in the country, which was previously under the rule of Doctor Doom.
Riri's character is so closely connected to Tony Stark that she possesses an A.I. version of him as a mentor and sidekick. With Tony Stark's mother, Amanda Armstrong, granting her access to Tony's old lab, Riri also partners with Pepper Potts, who dons the Rescue armor.
Ironheart in the MCU
Ironheart's presence in the MCU is still relatively recent, making it unlikely that all of these events have occurred. However, as her new series debuts, certain elements may find their way into the character's cinematic portrayal. Despite her brief appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, there exist significant disparities that the MCU will struggle to resolve.
While maintaining fundamental character traits, Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, had to make adaptations for the character to seamlessly integrate into the cinematic universe. Notably, the absence of a connection to Tony Stark can be attributed to his demise in Avengers: Endgame. In its place, Riri Williams shares a strong bond with Shuri, who is also a brilliant technologist. Collaborating in Shuri's laboratory, Riri constructed her Mark II armor while Shuri developed an artificial heart-shaped herb to assume the mantle of the new Black Panther.
Furthermore, the motivation behind Shuri and Okoye's pursuit of Riri differed from the comics. Rather than seeking her out for her prototype armor, they were interested in her creation of a vibranium-detecting device. Originally employed by the CIA to locate vibranium outside of Wakanda, this device was deemed a threat to Talokan by Namor. Consequently, Riri came under Namor's radar as well. It is worth noting that in contrast to the comics, Riri did not intervene in a prison break.
In the comics, Riri pays homage to Tony Stark by incorporating his iconic gold and red color scheme in her armor as a tribute while he remained in a coma. However, as Riri lacks any connection to Tony in the MCU, her final suit in "Wakanda Forever" bears little resemblance to her comic book armor. Significantly bulkier and adorned with large shoulder plates, her MCU suit is believed to be constructed from vibranium, a noteworthy upgrade that Tony never had the opportunity to make. As a result, Riri's armor in the MCU possesses remarkable strength and resilience.
Finally, in the MCU, Riri does not possess the Ironheart armor. In the concluding moments of Wakanda Forever, Shuri informs Riri that Wakanda will maintain ownership of the armor until she comes back to the country. This presents a significant obstacle for Ironheart in achieving her full superhero potential as portrayed in the comics. It will be captivating to witness in her upcoming series whether she acquires the armor from Shuri, constructs a new suit, or cunningly manages to pilfer it unnoticed. Battling against The Hood, Riri will require her armor and every enhancement she can gather.
