Riri Williams is confirmed to be coming to the MCU, and is debuting in Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever. But who is Riri Williams in Marvel Comics?
Dominique Thorne is officially confirmed to be debuting her character, Ironheart, in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It was already announced that she has been given her own self-titled Disney+ series, but now fans will not have to wait for that. Ironheart’s first appearance will be in the upcoming 2022 movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which was recently pushed from a July 8th, 2022 release date to a November 11th, 2022 release date.
So who is Riri Williams in Marvel Comics? Well she is a teen genius who decides to build her own suit after being inspired by Tony Stark. She wants to fight for the good of humanity so she takes and Iron Man suit and reverse engineers it, while adding some modifications and touches of her own. Tony Stark himself gives her his approval after she uses it to stop some escaped prison inmates.
Related: How Ironheart Could Bring Tony Stark Back In To The MCU
Riri has proven herself as super smart by not only reverse engineering her own suit, but because she is a 15 year old college student at MIT. She first appeared in Invincible Iron Man #7, however even with her close ties to Mr. Stark in the comic books, it is very unlikely she will be meeting him in live action in the MCU.
How Will Riri Williams Tie Into The MCU?
While all we know now is that Riri Williams will first appear to fans in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it is easy to infer that she will be using her genius for something when we do see her. With T’Challa gone, Shuri will probably be the one running Wakanda, or at least helping with him. They are always looking for talented kids to come help them out, so it makes sense that they would cross paths. Riri is likely to put herself on the Wakandan radar with a creation of her own Iron Man suit.
Suggested Riri Williams Comic Books
MCU fans know that Riri Williams is coming to live action, but for those who don’t know much about her and want to really dive in, here are some suggested comic book that will help you get to know this young super genius.
Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart Vol. 1: Riri Williams
A new Iron Age begins! From the violent streets of Chicago, an armored hero rises! Clad in her very own Iron Man suit, Riri Williams is ready to show the world what she can do as the self-made hero of tomorrow. Her technology just might change the world forever…if she survives long enough! But is she ready for all the problems that come with stepping into Iron Man’s jet boots?
Problems like her first big Marvel villain. And the other guy currently running around as shell-head. And the laundry list Tony Stark left of criminals looking to destroy his legacy. Oh, and all the super-teams out to recruit her! As Riri’s adventures go very viral, it’s time to claim an alter ego of her own – welcome to the Marvel Universe, Ironheart!
COLLECTING: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN 1-5
Purchase here.
Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart Vol. 2: Choices
The whole world loves Riri Williams, A.K.A. Ironheart! Well, except for those who have a bone to pick with how she’s doing the job. And the deadly villain who’d like to take a piece out of her. Come to think of it, that’s a whole lot of people who aren’t that fond of her! What’s a girl to do? Striking out on her own, Riri has her idealism put to the test by a world she doesn’t yet understand.
How far will she go to do what she knows is right? And how can she handle the biggest threat she’ll ever encounter: a headstrong Tony Stark A.I. that’s decided it knows what’s best for the world? Plus: An international incident sets the stage for one of the biggest Iron Man stories ever!
COLLECTING: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN 6-11
Purchase here.
Ironheart Vol. 1: Those With Courage
Riri Williams, the armored hero called Ironheart who took the comics world by storm, takes center stage! When a group of world leaders is held hostage by one of Spider-Man’s old foes, Riri must step up her game. But she’s thrown for a loop when an old acquaintance from back in Chicago re-enters her life!
Now, Ironheart is caught between her need for independence and her obligations at M.I.T. – and when an old friend is kidnapped, she needs to make some tough decisions! Luckily, Riri has a will of steel, a heart of iron…and a brand-new A.I. system on her side!
CHAMPIONS artist Kevin Libranda joins award-winning poet Eve L. Ewing, as Ironheart steps boldly out of Tony Stark’s shadow to forge her own future!
COLLECTING: IRONHEART 1-5
Purchase here.
Ironheart Vol. 2: Ten Rings
Riri Williams has been dealing with a lot close to home, but now she is going global! From the Sanctum Santorum to Wakanda, Riri teams up with some of your favorite Marvel characters as she follows the trail of Midnight’s Fire. But what does the mysterious Ten Rings organization have planned for Ironheart?
COLLECTING: IRONHEART 7-11
Purchase here.
Ironheart: Riri Williams
A new Iron Age begins! And from the streets of Chicago, an armored hero rises! Clad in her very own high-tech suit, Riri Williams is ready to show the world what she can do as the self-made hero of tomorrow.
But is she ready for all the problems that come with stepping into Iron Man’s boots? Like her first big Marvel villain! The laundry list of criminals looking to destroy Tony Stark’s legacy! And that other guy also running around as Iron Man!
As Riri’s adventures go viral, she soon claims her own alter ego: Ironheart! But her idealism is put to the test by a world she doesn’t yet understand – and a headstrong Tony Stark A.I. that thinks he knows best! How far will Riri go to do what she knows is right?
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.