Ironheartdid justice to theMCU’s official Iron Man replacement, but the show actually emphasized Riri Williams’ similarities to a completely different Marvel hero. It took a while for the studio to finally release the series, but it was well worth the wait asseason 1 ofIronheartended up being a pleasant surprise.
Ever since her introduction inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever,fans have been anticipating Riri’s role asthe MCU’s official Iron Man successor.Ironheartdid a great job of fleshing out her character beyond her genius mind, adding emotional depth to her just as Tony had. However, the biggest thing the series did was show how similar Riri is to a hero who isn’t Iron Man.
Ironheart’s Ending Provided One Of The Biggest MCU Plot Twists In Recent History
Riri Makes A Deal With Mephisto
Ironheartfinally introduced the highly anticipated character of Mephisto, and it’s revealed thatthe devil is who The Hood made a deal with. Mephisto’s arrival in the MCU has been theorized ever sinceWandaVision. WhileIronheartseemed like an unlikely project for him to finally make his debut, it fits into the plot perfectly.
Mephisto is all about giving people what they want at a costly price, and Parker clearly paid the price throughout the series.Riri saw how Mephisto’s corruption changed him firsthand, so when she finally came face to face with the devil herself, it seemed like she would know better. However, her grief was too strong, and she ended up making a deal with the devil.
The finale ofIronheartshowed Riri seemingly imagining a scenario in which she accepted Mephisto’s deal and got her best friend back permanently, but she acknowledged that it was a bad idea. It made the reveal that she did go through with the deal all the more shocking, andshe was already facing the consequences with Mephisto’s mark on her arm.
Ironheart’s Ending Makes Riri Seem More Similar To A Living MCU Hero Rather Than Iron Man
Doctor Strange Is Willing To Take Big Risks
Riri may be Iron Man’s successor, but theIronheartseason finale twist emphasizes her similarity to Doctor Strange.The Avenger has proven historically that he’s willing to make deals with forces beyond comprehensionif it means he can save the day. He negotiated with Dormammu inDoctor Strangeand claimed the Darkhold inMultiverse of Madness.
Even knowing the risks that come with these deals, Doctor Strange still takes the gamble. While it’s debatable if he’d take a deal with the devil, Riri’s willingness to take such a big risk mirrors Strange’s own behavior. Riri’s future MCU appearances afterIronheartare sure to be interesting, as she might need to turn to Doctor Strange and the Avengers for help.
