One current MCU character is Iron Man’s most obvious successor, and their origin story cleverly inverts Iron Man’s, distinguishing their character.
Ever since Iron Man tragically sacrificed his life in Avengers: Endgame, the question of who would replace him has loomed over the MCU – and the answer offers a clever twist on Tony’s backstory. As the former leader of the Avengers and a brilliant scientist credited with mastering nanotechnology and unlocking the secret to time travel, Tony Stark left great shoes to fill, and his influence can be felt all around the world. While there are multiple characters who could be seen as spiritual successors to Iron Man, including his mentee Peter Parker and his best friend and teammate James Rhodes, the MCU Phase 4 set up who his direct replacement is in a clever way.
The biggest issue with finding a replacement for Iron Man is the possibility that the new hero will be a carbon copy of Tony and live in his shadow. In order for a successor to succeed, they not only have to echo elements of the original hero that audiences fell in love with but also introduce a fresh take on the hero, cementing that, while this character will be honoring the original’s legacy, they are, in fact, their own person. While Iron Man’s successor hasn’t had much screen time, they have already succeeded in distinguishing themselves from Tony in their origin story, signaling a new, interesting direction for the character.
Ironheart’s MCU Origin Story Flips Iron Man’s Beginning
Riri Williams is Iron Man’s most direct replacement, and her origin story perfectly inverts his. Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, is an engineering prodigy like Iron Man and attends his alma mater, MIT. Her technology is sought out and used by the United States government, making her a target for international threats, once again similar to Tony. But that is where their similarities end. In Iron Man’s origin story, Tony helms a powerful weapons manufacturer responsible for mass violence and death. Riri, on the other hand, builds a vibranium detector as an act of public service to mine for a priceless natural resource.
Tony and Riri’s disparities continue. Tony’s weapons lead him to be kidnapped by a terrorist organization, who coerces him into building a weapon to hurt innocent people in exchange for sparing his life. Riri, on the other hand, is invited to Wakanda to protect her from the people of Talokan who wish to harm her. Tony tricks his captors and builds an iron suit to escape, killing them in the process. Riri builds an iron suit to protect innocent Wakandans from the Talokan and defends Wakanda when it’s under attack. These key differences completely recontextualize Riri as a hero, setting her up for a very different character arc.
How Ironheart’s Flipped Origin Helps Define Her Character
A defining part of Tony’s characterization is he unwittingly becomes a hero after being placed in danger. Tony’s kidnapping is so traumatic for him that once he’s safe, he ends his weapons manufacturing division, no longer comfortable being complicit in the harm it’s caused. He then spends most of his years as a hero, protecting the people around him from villains he inadvertently created. Because Tony never meant to become a hero, most of his character arc sees him making mistakes in his pursuit of protecting the world and trying to atone for those mistakes, all culminating in his ultimate sacrifice to save the universe.
Riri’s origin, on the other hand, depicts her as a genuinely heroic person from the start. Even as a young college student, Riri feels compelled to use her exceptional scientific abilities for the greater good. Riri builds a vibranium detector to help people and later develops her own prototype of a mechanized suit, becoming a local hero. With Wakandan technology and vibranium, she is able to perfect her suit, and once she does, her first major act is defending the Wakandan people from the Talokan. If Iron Man‘s origins were characterized by trauma and regret, Ironheart’s origins are characterized by bravery and compassion, making her MCU future very exciting.
