If you’ve been on social media recently, then you know that Ironheart was the victim of a racist hate campaign long before the premiere of the show. The show was getting review-bombed weeks before its premiere. Listen, I think it is a flawed show. It was made in 2022 and Disney hid it until very recently. But we are not going to pretend that many people, who would never watch the show, are judging it because the star is a young black woman. Most of these critics have never read an Ironheart comic book, and it shows.
Legacy heroes are not a new or “woke” concept. Shazam, who made his debut in 1940, is part of a larger Shazam family of legacy heroes. Almost 20 characters in Marvel Comics history have been Captain America, but some fans only have a problem with Sam Wilson.
A large part of the Riri Williams hate is modern comic book fans who don’t read comics. They see her as usurping the RDJ MCU legacy, which is ridiculous. It is what it is, but comic book geeks are some of the most toxic out there.
If you want to judge Ironheart, try reading some Ironheart comic book stories. The best stories are in the comics. Here are seven you should check out.
1. Invincible Iron Man #7 (2016)
In the aftermath of Civil War II in the comic books, Marvel began given female characters more agency. Mary Jane Watson became Tony Stark’s protege. Riri Williams makes her comic book debut in this comic, although it is a short cameo appearance. The aesthetic inspiration for the character came from TV star Skai Jackson.
Buy this 21-page comic on Kindle now for $1.99.
2. Invincible Iron Man #9 (2016)
Tony Stark has gone missing in Japan. James Rhoades, his best friend, travels to Japan to look for him. After her stepfather and good friend Natalie die in a drive-by shooting, Riri loses herself in her work at M.I.T. It is in this issue that she first assembles her own armor from scrap M.I.T. materials.
Get this 21-page comic for $1.99 on Kindle now.
3. Ironheart: The Saga Of Riri Williams (2015 – 2016)
This 288-page paperback contains the first year of adventures of Riri William. The character was created by superstar creators writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mike Deodato. Riri meets Stark in issue #12, and Stark offers to bankroll Riri’s research and mentor her on her path to becoming a hero. After Stark’s apparent death, his consciousness becomes the onboard AI for the Ironheart armor.
4. Ironheart Vol. 1: Those With Courage (2018)
This was the first of the Ironheart comic book stories, written by Eve L. Ewing, where Riri steps out on her own out of the shadow of Tony Stark. Riri helps Spider-Man save a group of international politicians from kidnappers. She then has to make decisions about whether to stay in Chicago or broaden her horizons as a superhero.
Also, Riri debuts her new onboard AI system for her armor. Riri is now a member of the teen super team, Champions, and helps search for their missing member, Miles Morales.
This 142-page paperback collects the first six issues of the 2018 series. Buy it now at Amazon for $6.19.
5. Ironheart Vol. 2: Ten Rings (2018)
This 132-page paperback collects issues #7 – 12 of the 2018 Ironheart comic book series. The Ten Rings is a mystical Asian secret society, based in Cambodia, that targets Riri Williams as an enemy. So, Riri enlists help from Dr. Strange. Riri also visits Wakanda for help, but learns she has beef with Princess Shuri.
Get this 132-page paperback for $25 at Amazon now.
6. Ironheart 2020 (2020)
This is a two-issue Ironheart comic book series that could not be published in physical form due to the pandemic. A new law prohibits teen superheroes from acting as superheroes without first registering their identities. So, Riri tries to act as a hero while N.A.T.A.L.I.E., her onboard AI, controls the Ironheart armor. Also, a new computer virus that is trying to eradicate autonomous AIs targets N.A.T.A.L.I.E.
Buy both digital issues on Kindle now for $3.98.
7. Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart (2017)
This is a one-shot comic that explores Ironheart thrust into the far-flung technological future of Chicago. Somehow, Ironheart finds herself 126 years into the future. She consults with Tony Stark, Sorcerer Supreme, about the Chicago of the future. Riri also learns that she has become a futurist known across the galaxy.
Buy this 27-page one-shot for $1.99 on Kindle now.
The Best Ironheart Comic Book Stories
Listen, if you hate the Ironheart series, fine. I want to like it more than I actually like it. But the same comic book fans who can’t wait to see Jon Bernthal in Iron Man armor as the Punisher or Bucky Barnes as Captain America sure do have a problem when Black people are the legacy heroes in those roles.
I only recommend that you read these comics to get a better idea of the Ironheart character. But if you are committed to hating this character, not watching the show, or not even reading the comics, then at least admit why.
Give it a chance. As I always say, the best stories are in the comics.
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