Grimlock ♥ Ultra Magnus

Because Ironheart is the new Iron Man - and she's a black teenager named Riri Williams who is a super genius.   At least, that's what her school tells her parents when she's five.   They warn her that people at her intelligence level can have trouble relating to others and to try and encourage her to be a child: to play, specifically with others, and to remind her how beautiful the world around her is.  

And while her parents do just that, she finds it cheesy.   Her one friend, who doesn't have a father in her life, says she finds it sweet and wishes she had a dad to tell her that, and that she'd hope any father would care enough to do so.  

Still, she is no 'man.'   Tony Stark is dead, and Iron Man has been rebranded - so why hasn't the actual Marvel franchise?   

Tony Stark makes an appearance as the new AI for Ironheart's armor, which he leaves to Riri Williams.   I'm excited enough by him living on as an AI that I'm probably going to pick up more of this series, but I'm thinking digitally once again.   I'm also really glad that so many smart, black girls are being created by Marvel.   It makes Marvel feel far less... white.   Because it's not just black girls: it's Muslim American girls, too.   It's Marvel expanding and becoming more heavily diverse, and I love that shift.   

Regardless, this is a series that tries to talk about life in general.  Not just for Riri, but for her friend.   When a picnic turns into a nightmare as a drive-by shooting occurs...  

Then again, this feels like a trope.   I'd argue it only happens to black characters, except that in some origins for the Punisher, this is how his family was killed.   (In others it's a car explosion meant for him.   That being said, he's not only white, he's law enforcement.   He has some of the most privilege, and this still happens to him.)

Also, took away a couple stars after reading this.   Naming her after a  porn version of Iron Man?   Ew.   Also, I think that since black children are often hyper sexualized, it's more important to draw them as children.   (Like Moon Girl, so Marvel isn't zero for two, I guess.)   So, yeah, kinda gross on a  couple levels.  I think I'll wait for digital sales to pick up more of these.   The story is compelling, but this series is clearly problematic on a couple different levels.