3.5 Stars.
Riri Williams is a very interesting Marvel character. One of the representations of the new young Marvel heroes (Miles, Gwen, Kamala, Nova, Brawn.... basically all the Champions plus a few others), Ironheart seems to me as a fresh perspective on Iron Man for comics' younger readers. That being said, for me, the book tries too hard to make it seem like she can just be another normal girl. Her identity is public (like Iron Man) and yet we are to believe that she'll be treated the same as "normal" people? Don't get me wrong, I like the character, but I think I'd like to see her interact more with the rest of the MU, or maybe get a really strong villain.
Volume 1 Highlights:
- Riri's hassles with her lab at MIT. The Dean constantly uses her as an example, and brings people to her lab to "show her off". This would be a distraction for any superhero, but things occasionally get dangerous when people can't keep their hands to themselves.
- A fight against new villain Clash (sound based powers) leads us to the first sign of a long term story in the Ten Rings organization, which seems to be both fighting against Ironheart and trying to recruit her (time will tell).
- The spirit of her friend Natalie shows up and becomes her suit's OS (like Iron Man's FRIDAY).
- Riri finds a new friend (and potentially more than that) in Xavier, the neighbor boy, who helps her find new perspective on things.
- Daija, a girl who helped Riri while she was very young in high school turned up missing. As Ironheart looks into it, she crosses paths with Midnight's Fire, an enforcer for the Ten Rings. He has been helping turn young kids into thieves, and had Daija as part of that. Typical trope: fights our hero, gets defeated and arrested.
-Riri, having left MITs lab to have control over her own space, sets up a hideout that acts as both her lab AND a place for the ex-criminal kids to come and be safe. (I predict this will backfire horribly, but I hope it doesn't.)
- The final story has a reconciliation happen between Riri and Miles Morales. He's been missing for a few weeks and she finds him in a cabin that has a time loop on it. Together, they defeat The Tank, who was observing him. (Weak enemy, but alright story.)
Overall, I like Ironheart, but need more drama and grit. Recommend, but not for everyone.