How Marvel can succeed at being lighthearted fun and deadly serious simultaneously.
Fifteen-year-old African-American girl Riri Williams is the new Iron Man. Or Ironheart, as she's called. How creative and diverse Marvel can be if it just tries. The company's representing of how the world and humanity works isn't ending with the new Thor, Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man. Really I think any low sales it gets has to do with its stupid, interfering events like Secret Wars and Civil War II (which, let's face it, only exists to tie in with the 2016 Marvel Civil War movie, despite having nothing to do with it, and make more money). These crossover events keep trying to one-up each other every year or so, and it's annoying - for both current and newer comic readers alike - unneeded, and overall pointless. No wonder some readers don't want to bother wasting their money on them when they just wish to read standalone comics about certain characters, as a possible gateway to further issues and other characters. I know I sound angry here, but I get frustrated with Marvel quite a lot of the time, the way it makes considerable, revolutionary leaps in progress, and then it shoots itself in the foot and backpeddles worryingly later on, blaming others for their own failings, and making excuses not to make progress and attract new readers. Diversity and business go hand in hand, comics industry! Stop avoiding that fact: it'll only make you look bad and bankrupt you sooner or later. Keeping a boycott against Marvel isn't easy, I can tell you.
Anyway, back to Riri in her first solo series, 'Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart'. She is, in the graphic novel's own words, a super genius. Nothing new in the Marvel universe, but she stands on her own not just by her race and youth, but by how realistic she is in her anti-socialism. So much so that she had built her own Iron Man suit all by herself: she is a self-made hero, not a poor Distaff Counterpart to a famous male superhero. She has loving parents who try to understand and support her, and one best friend.
Or she used to.
Riri is a mechanic, a computer expert, and an all-round tech prodigy who spends most of her time working in her garage, angry at the world for its random acts of violence and tragedy. Laws of probabilities frustrate her. A holographic version of the late (?) Tony Stark guides and annoys her. While Riri is mature for her age, emotional outbursts, big and small, let the reader never forget that she is still a teenager. 'Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart' complements teenagers, and knows what intelligent and interesting people they are. Riri has troubles with her iron suit and makes many mistakes. Then she grows to have a sense of fun in her fights and endeavors as both Ironheart and herself. Her diversity, humanity, tragedy and heart make her a vital inclusion in the Marvel canon, alongside Kamala Khan.
Riri is not the only well-written female in the comic, however. We have the fantastically kickass Pepper Potts, Mary Jane Watson, Friday the hologram, Tony's mother Amanda Strong, who is now the head of Stark Industries, Riri's mother, the villainous Tomoe the Techno Golem (okay, seriously? My word processor doesn't know the word Golem?!) and her Biohack Ninjas, Commander Sharon Carter of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Dana Richardson of Riri's school. Each woman represents a possible future for Riri - as a friend, ally, foe, and anything in-between. She is given many choices to make throughout her time as Ironheart, and any she picks is a guarantee of trouble. And more loss for her in her young life.
'Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart' is almost flawless, filled with complex and interesting characters. The art is great, and the story simply weaves in very serious issues to go with its action scenes; issues that remind me of the breakout YA novel of the same year, 'The Hate U Give'. It is not for children. Not surprising that Brian Michael Bendis wrote this Marvel title.
It's thrilling, despite the Tony Stark hologram overstaying his welcome - even considering the "twist" role he will no doubt play in the future - and a few instances of confusion when following panel placements on double-page spreads in the narration. I'm sure the real Stark is really really really positively dead as well. Totally believe you, Marvel. No, really, sure I do.
Riri Williams - a new star in the light and darkness of comics' diversity. Of storytelling with heart as well as action. A solo beginning that comes close to breathtaking.
Final Score: 4/5
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