Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Ironheart Episodes 1-3.

Ironheart has finally debuted after what feels like an eternity, quickly establishing its ties to the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe. Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) finds herself without her MIT resources and struggling financially to maintain her armor following the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This predicament leads her to ally with the mystically inclined criminal known as The Hood (Anthony Ramos). Additionally, she encounters an unexpected partner in “Joe McGillicuddy” (Alden Ehrenreich​​​​​​), who is revealed to be Ezekiel Stane — the son of Iron Man‘s Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges).

However, the connection that many fans were eager to witness was the relationship between Riri and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), particularly since they share a significant bond in the comics. Given Stark’s tragic demise in Avengers: Endgame, the series takes a fresh approach by introducing Riri’s second A.I. companion: N.A.T.A.L.I.E. (Lyric Ross). This creative shift proves beneficial, especially as Riri’s narrative continues to develop.

Discover Riri Williams’ Comic Origins and Her Collaboration with a Holographic Tony Stark

Riri Williams made her first appearance in Invincible Iron Man (2015) #9 , created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato Jr.. In this issue, she captures the attention of Iron Man after constructing her own armor using spare parts taken from the M.I.T. campus. Iron Man initially offers to mentor her as a hero, but the training dynamics change due to the Civil War II storyline penned by Bendis and David Marquez. The conflict escalates when Iron Man and Captain Marvel clash after an Inhuman named Ulysses claims his ability to foresee the future; Captain Marvel views this as a tool for preemptive crime prevention, while Iron Man opposes it, believing the future remains uncertain.

As tensions rise, the superhero community becomes deeply divided, culminating in a nearly fatal confrontation where Captain Marvel inflicts a serious injury on Iron Man. This forces Tony Stark to transfer his consciousness into a holographic avatar, allowing him to continue guiding Riri. Eventually, Stark successfully reintegrates his mind back into his physical form, while Riri aligns herself with the teenage superhero group known as the Champions. Furthermore, Ironheart headlines her own ongoing series, crafted by Eve Ewing and Luciano Vecchio, where N.A.T.A.L.I.E. is first introduced. The initial episodes of Ironheart, “Take Me Home” and “Will The Real Natalie Please Stand Up?”, closely reflect the comic origins of N.A.T.A.L.I.E.. As Riri attempts to develop an A.I. companion for her armor, her computer scans her memories, resulting in a holographic representation of her deceased friend Natalie Washington, showcasing one of Ironheart‘s most compelling elements.

Explore How ‘Ironheart’ Unpacks Riri’s Complex Past by Featuring N.A.T.A.L.I.E. Instead of Tony Stark

By opting for N.A.T.A.L.I.E. as Riri’s A.I. rather than Tony Stark, Ironheart is effectively peeling back the layers of trauma that Riri has experienced. Before the series unfolds, she shares a close bond with Natalie, which is tragically shattered when a gunfight erupts, resulting in the deaths of both Natalie and Riri’s stepfather, Gary. Riri also grapples with further loss, having witnessed the former queen of Wakanda, Ramonda (Angela Bassett), sacrificing herself to shield Riri from the onslaught of Talokan in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The series even delivers a shocking twist in its third episode, “We in Danger, Girl,” where Riri finds herself in a confrontation with The Hood’s cousin, John (Manny Montana), during a heist gone awry, ultimately leaving him trapped in a greenhouse, which leads to his demise.

This harrowing experience triggers Riri’s panic attack, illustrating the emotional weight she carries. Fortunately, N.A.T.A.L.I.E. plays a crucial role in helping her navigate through these turbulent emotions. This isn’t the only instance where N.A.T.A.L.I.E. proves to be invaluable; in “Will The Real Natalie Please Stand Up?”, she confronts Riri about her partnership with The Hood, highlighting her naivety regarding his true nature — prompting Riri to pilfer a piece of his cloak. N.A.T.A.L.I.E. also saves Riri during “We in Danger, Girl,” first by piloting the Ironheart armor while Riri retrieves The Hood’s cloak, and then by breaking into the greenhouse to rescue her. These moments resonate deeply, given Riri’s bond with the real Natalie. In contrast, while Tony Stark served as Riri’s first A.I. in the comics, their relationship lacks the personal connection in the MCU, making this adjustment a significant improvement.

N.A.T.A.L.I.E. Distinguishes Itself as a Unique Artificial Intelligence within the MCU, and That’s a Positive Development

Throughout the MCU, we’ve encountered various artificial intelligences brought to life. Tony Stark has developed J.A.R.V.I.S. and F.R.I.D.A.Y. to assist him in piloting his armor, and he also played a pivotal role in creating Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The Age of Ultron storyline also introduces remnants of J.A.R.V.I.S. that culminate in the formation of Vision. Furthermore, Spider-Man: Far From Home depicts Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker grappling with an A.I. named E.D.I.T.H., which commands a network of drones. N.A.T.A.L.I.E. stands apart from these A.I. constructs because she embodies the essence of a real person: this authenticity stems not only from her being modeled after a real individual within the story but also from Lyric Ross’s brilliant performance. Ross breathes life into N.A.T.A.L.I.E., infusing her with humor and charisma, creating a dynamic partnership with Dominique Thorne that results in some of Ironheart‘s most memorable moments.

This innovative portrayal of A.I. sets an exciting precedent for the anticipated Vision Quest series, which aims to explore various artificial intelligences within the MCU. If Terry Matalas aspires to make Vision Quest a standout project for Marvel Television, he should take cues from how Ironheart presents N.A.T.A.L.I.E.. Although Iron Man may not feature in Ironheart, the profound connection between Riri and N.A.T.A.L.I.E. signifies that this alteration was one of the finest decisions made by showrunner Chinaka Hodge in the adaptation from comics to screen.

The initial three episodes of Ironheart are currently available for streaming on Disney+, with the remaining episodes set to premiere on July 1.