When a superhero retires, fans and avid comic book fan readers would often ask, who will take their place? When it comes to Marvel and Iron Man, Tony Stark will be succeeded by a 15 year old black girl named Riri Williams.
She is described to have a fierce 'fro and will assume The Golden Avenger mantle from Stark after Civil War II.
According to posts, she is a child prodigy who is currently enrolled in MIT. She is well versed in engineering and has reverse engineered the Iron Man suit out of her dorm room.
"Iron Man" writer and creator Brian Michael Bendis confesses that he was inspired to make her character after working on a Chicago TV show. He claimed he was moved by redemption stories of youth overcoming their environment to succeed at the highest level.
Bendis said that he knew of a young woman whose life had a tragic chapter. She could have lost her life and proceeded to a path of violence but instead, she focused on her career by going to college. He took Riri's inspiration from this story.
"I thought that was the most modern version of a superhero or super heroine story I had ever heard. And I sat with it for awhile until I had the right character and the right place," Bendis explained.
The Marvel Universe now welcomes a new character in its system. She is said to be more advanced than Tony Stark in terms of abilities. But Bendis said that does not mean Tony Stark will be finished. There could be more of him in Civil War II. Riri's appearance would be an introduction after the death of Col. James Rhodes who is also known as War Machine. She will take up the suit and will eventually find out that she is the next Iron Man.
