Following a significant delay, Riri Williams is making her return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with a solo series on Disney+. After her introduction in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Dominique Thorne’s character has been eager for more attention, and with the release of the first three episodes, we now have a clearer understanding of how closely the series adheres to Riri’s comic book roots and what alterations, updates, or amalgamations have been made in the MCU adaptation. One significant modification to Ironheart’s origin story becomes apparent towards the end of episode 1 and plays a pivotal role in episodes 2 and 3, greatly enhancing the series as a whole. Proceed with caution if you haven’t watched episodes 1 through 3, as spoilers are imminent.
Ironheart’s Original Story
If you’re not acquainted with the comic book character Riri, the MCU series incorporates several elements from those comics, but it also rearranges some aspects and merges certain features. A significant alteration can be seen in Riri’s armor’s AI. Unlike the comics where Tony Stark serves as her armor’s AI, the show presents a different relationship dynamic during her early superhero career.
As a die-hard movie fan, I’ve always admired how Tony Stark stood by Pepper Potts when she embarked on her mission to save humanity as Rescue in the early days. Later on, during the tumultuous events of Civil War II, she returned the favor by offering him assistance. Unfortunately, these events led to a tragic turn for Stark, putting him into a coma. Remarkably, Potts was still able to communicate with his AI while wearing her armor. Throughout the series, we witness both the advantages and disadvantages of having an AI Stark as our companion, adding layers of complexity to the storyline.
The MCU Version’s One Key Change
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s account of Ironheart’s beginnings, the links to Iron Man’s universe and history are more subtly conveyed through Ezekiel Stane, Tony Stark’s son, and his overall influence rather than a direct association with Riri. This implies that Stark himself is not controlling the AI, leaving us wondering instead about who holds that control now.
In the comics’ origin story, a significant change is introduced in the series instead of following Tony Stark’s path. Instead, the narrative jumps ahead in time, starting with Riri accidentally developing an AI based on her deceased friend Natalie (played by Lyric Ross), and this incident and friendship become the core focus of the show.
In the series, Riri’s closest friend and foster father met a devastating fate due to a drive-by shooting. By making Natalie the AI character from the beginning, the show can delve deeply into Riri’s past grief in an authentic and surprising manner. Initially, Natalie (known as N.A.T.A.L.I.E. in her artificial state) assumes a similar role to Ironheart’s AI from the comics, but this doesn’t occur until later. Instead, the early episodes focus on Riri collaborating with an AI version of Tony Stark.
As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I must admit that having Iron Man (Stark) somehow involved would undeniably be thrilling. Yet, the decision to make Natalie the AI for Riri from the get-go feels refreshingly innovative to me. This setup offers a deeply intimate and distinctive portrayal of Riri’s initial struggles and sorrow, which resonates profoundly with my own experiences. As Natalie develops further, I can only imagine the complex and chaotic journey that lies ahead – a journey that echoes the intricacies and messiness of family ties, regardless of their form.
As a devoted cinephile, I must admit, the bond between Riri and Natalie in this series has captured my heart, making it the core element that keeps me hooked. If the show had strictly adhered to the comic’s narrative, their relationship might not have taken center stage as it does now – a testament to the creators’ brilliant reimagining of the storyline.
Currently, you can watch the first three installments of Ironheart on Disney+, with episodes 4 to 6 set to premiere weekly for the following three weeks.
https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/ironheart-tv-review-mcu-series-explained-riri-williams/embed/#
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2025-06-26 06:10