Here’s a couple of reasons why making Iron Man a black woman is the best thing since sliced bread.
Once the Civil War II comic series wraps up, Iron Man / Tony Stark will be stepping down from the role and someone new will be taking his place. This person will be MIT student Riri Williams, a beautiful young woman who is exactly what the world needs right now.
Here are five reasons why:
1. Tony Stark is Tony Stale
Tony Stark is Iron Man, we know. He’s basically been in the suit since 1963, making him a somewhat dated character. Unlike other Marvel counterparts who have seen multiple iterations of their characters (how many Spider-Mans have there been?), for the most part, the iron suit has always been worn by Stark.
Along with his multiple appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans have gotten more than their fair share of Iron Man headlines, and they’ve all basically been about the same thing: Tony’s struggle.
Over the years, Stark has struggled with alcoholism, his impact on the world and how the Iron Man suit affected his relationships with his friends and family. In Civil War II, he grapples with the loss of a team member and becomes his usual mopey, emotional self.
I’m not saying Tony Stark stinks, I just think the dude should take a well-deserved break.
2. More females please
Opposite Iron Man in Civil War II was Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers. While it was great to see a powerful female character in the lead, she was a single individual, and one person does not cover the range of a gender.
As comic writer Brian Michael Bendis was careful to point out in his interview with TIME, “Now, when you have a young woman come up to you at a signing and say how happy she is to be represented in his universe, you know you’re moving in the right direction.”
Yes, women do read comic books, and yes, we are interested in seeing more representations of ourselves in the media. More representation of women doesn’t mean less representation of men. It means we all come in different shapes and sizes, and our beloved comic books should be a reflection of this.
And on that note …
3. Racial diversity is important
Having just celebrated the Fourth of July, it’s important to remember that part of what makes America so great is its mixed collection of ethnicities. Barring the most loyal of Trump supporters, it’s difficult to argue otherwise. Just walk outside.
In today’s society, the most topical conversation is about race. Riri Williams is a young, black woman who shamelessly rocks her natural hair on the cover of Invincible Iron Man. She’s already a symbol of what young girls have the power to achieve when they’re not bogged down by stereotypes or financial struggle. Riri is an MIT student — that’s impressive regardless of who you are or where you come from. And what’s most important for young girls/readers to know is that Riri has used education to overcome her struggle.
Bendis also mentioned:
"Some of the comments online, I don’t think people even realize how racist they sound. I’m not saying if you criticize you’re a racist, but if someone writes, “Why do we need Riri Williams we already have Miles?” that’s a weird thing to say."
Simply put, any argument that uses race as a reason not to make Riri Williams Iron Man simply boils down to racism, and racism is bad.
4. Marvel has to be the leader
If you’re a die-hard Marvel fan, then we can both agree that Marvel has to make continued efforts to be No. 1. They can’t just ride the Avengers wave for the next hundred years. New characters have to be introduced as new readers start to pick up comics.
No one has more power to be progressive and lead the way than Marvel right now. They’re a giant company with several rich properties, and they happen to be owned by another gigantic company with several overwhelmingly successful properties. Marvel, like it’s mega daddy Disney, is an industry leader and has a responsibility to promote change.
Just as fans call on Disney to lead the way the LGBT representation in their movies, Marvel can’t be afraid to have more representation in their comics, and by extension, their movies. As fans become more receptive of characters like Miles Morales and Jane Foster, Marvel is becoming more and more confident as they flip iconic characters on their heads and turn them into closer reflections of today’s society.
If Marvel wants to stay at the top, they have to earn it. They have to make splashes, shake things up and act like they belong there.
Which brings us to our last point …
5. Inspiring others one step at a time
As I mentioned a little earlier, the most interesting thing about Riri isn’t her race or gender, but the fact that she’s an MIT student.
“In the latest issue of Iron Man, Tony is in a lab talking to himself, and he’s already aware that there’s some student at MIT that’s reverse-engineered one of his old armors all by herself in her dorm room. He’s aware of her immediately.”
Tony is doing what everyone else should be doing, and that’s taking notice of a young lady who has taken it upon herself to get in the suit. We don’t know what her reasons are yet, but like her predecessor, she’s most likely powerless and relying on only her brains to get the job done.
It’s easy to let financial hardships or personal tragedy get in the way, but Riri’s most important message for readers, and young girls in particular, is that you can do anything you put your mind to.
Unlike Tony Stark who comes from a very wealthy, affluent family, Riri is an example of hard work and perseverance. Random violence is too relevant to ignore, and Marvel is giving us someone who can overcome.
We all need a little reminder that the struggle is real, yes, but not impossible.
Congratulations to Marvel for doing something that doesn’t really need special commendations. I’m sorry if you’re displeased with the news, but the world needs Riri Williams. Iron Man, whose status went from 0-60 overnight thanks to the MCU, is the perfect guy to pass on his legacy to a smart, capable young woman.
As a comic book reader, I’m more than thrilled with the news, and this might be what reinvigorates my interest in Marvel. It won’t take five reasons for me to subscribe to Invincible Iron Man now, but just two words: Riri Williams.
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