RIRI WILLIAMS: IRONHEART #1-6 review
(Reviewed by Melody Werner)
Riri Williams: Ironheart is a 2018- ongoing comic written by renowned poet Eve Ewing and illustrated by Luciano Vecchio (#2-5) and Kevin Libranda (#1, #6), with layouts by Geoffo. Published by Marvel, it follows the one-time Tony Stark successor to the Ironman mantle (the Ironmantle, if you will) after she was rechristened as "Ironheart" on Jim Zub's run of The Champions. Personally, I haven't yet read Brian Michael Bendis's run on Invincible Ironman (where the character originated), nor The Champions. I was interested in this because it sounded neat and I had been hearing nothing but good things about it from the folks of the Do You Even Comic Book!? Discord server when the first issue had dropped. Since, this has by far become a favorite monthly of mine and one of the few Marvel comics I still follow as new issues release.
As I was reading #1, I knew about Libranda not doing the next few issues, so I was kinda bummed out because I really, really dug his work on the first issue. Libranda's art truly pops, even if it does definitely fit into the house style Marvel is certainly partial to. Thankfully, the next issue showed that the art side of things was still in skilled hands, as Vecchio is evidently no slouch either--and perhaps just as important, the two aesthetics mesh easily. Even within Marvel's so-called "house style," you'll sometimes have a fill-in or alternating artist who either does things differently to the main artist or who is just not as good as the other. Though I honestly still prefer Libranda, both do a great job of staying relatively consistent stylistically. Matt Milla drops some deft and vibrant colors, which suit RW:I's fun vibe just about perfectly. Then you have the ever impressive Clayton Cowles who, as if it needed to be said, does a stellar job with the lettering--though I believe there is a minor typo in the first few pages of #5, which had me scratching my head for a few seconds. Finally, the covers are by Amy Reeder of Rocket Girl (#1-5) and Stefano Caselli (#6); both of whom turn out excellent, eye-catching covers.
Much can be said of the current trend of bringing writers from other fields (or celebrities in general) over to do comics. Personally, I am fond of the practice as I would say it often leads to very interesting stories and styles of storytelling we might have not seen otherwise. And I will go pound for pound with anyone on my assertion that this has led to more good comics than not. Eve Ewing's transition to comics writer from poet is no exception, though it is worth noting that in some ways her style hearkens back to the classics--albeit with an obviously modern coat of paint. As others have pointed out, the first issue introduces an axiom that has the potential to be just as iconic as "With great power comes great responsibility."
Ironheart's narrative is a more of an "each issue is self-contained" affair than most other modern Big Two comics, though it does have an over-arching plot about a clandestine organization that pulls the strings. It's chock full of the greatest hits for superhero comics: soap opera style drama, ordinary friends, reclusive heroes, villains who try to convince the hero to go turncoat, etc., and they're all executed in a way that is a ton of fun, never feeling in any sense merely perfunctory or old hat. It can however, at times, seem a hair rushed. Fortunately, the title is easy to get into for those uninitiated to the character as I've yet to feel like "Oh, I need to go back and read the preceding books with this character to get the full story." It does a fantastic job of establishing Riri as a unique, smart, and likeable lead; a character who is an intended love letter to the Blerd community just as Kamala Khan was for young Muslim and Pakistani fans, but who can resonate with just about any nerds I should think. I know that there's a certain subset of sadsacks who would go nuclear at the thought of it, but I'd really like to see more major characters of this strata to represent other POC. If they can all be as thoughtful and authentic as this, Marvel could have a winning "formula" for these things.
All's said, Riri Williams: Ironheart is a blast and I highly recommend it. It is funny to me that two of my favorite comics from Marvel and DC both star young black women, that have been written by Bendis, as leads (the DC one I'm referring to is of course Naomi). For all my cynicism towards the Cronenbergian nightmares that both Big Two universes have become, fueled by crossovers and whatnot, these series (among others) appear exempt from such tribulations. For now, at any rate. Maybe that shit'll seep in some time. Who knows? What I do know is that Riri Williams: Ironheart #1-6 gets a 9/10 here.
Awesome
Summary:
A regularly enjoyable read with an excellent creative team and title character.
Riri Williams: Ironheart is a 2018- ongoing comic written by renowned poet Eve Ewing and illustrated by Luciano Vecchio (#2-5) and Kevin Libranda (#1, #6), with layouts by Geoffo. Published by Marvel, it follows the one-time Tony Stark successor to the Ironman mantle (the Ironmantle, if you will) after she was rechristened as "Ironheart" on Jim Zub's run of The Champions. Personally, I haven't yet read Brian Michael Bendis's run on Invincible Ironman (where the character originated), nor The Champions. I was interested in this because it sounded neat and I had been hearing nothing but good things about it from the folks of the Do You Even Comic Book!? Discord server when the first issue had dropped. Since, this has by far become a favorite monthly of mine and one of the few Marvel comics I still follow as new issues release.
As I was reading #1, I knew about Libranda not doing the next few issues, so I was kinda bummed out because I really, really dug his work on the first issue. Libranda's art truly pops, even if it does definitely fit into the house style Marvel is certainly partial to. Thankfully, the next issue showed that the art side of things was still in skilled hands, as Vecchio is evidently no slouch either--and perhaps just as important, the two aesthetics mesh easily. Even within Marvel's so-called "house style," you'll sometimes have a fill-in or alternating artist who either does things differently to the main artist or who is just not as good as the other. Though I honestly still prefer Libranda, both do a great job of staying relatively consistent stylistically. Matt Milla drops some deft and vibrant colors, which suit RW:I's fun vibe just about perfectly. Then you have the ever impressive Clayton Cowles who, as if it needed to be said, does a stellar job with the lettering--though I believe there is a minor typo in the first few pages of #5, which had me scratching my head for a few seconds. Finally, the covers are by Amy Reeder of Rocket Girl (#1-5) and Stefano Caselli (#6); both of whom turn out excellent, eye-catching covers.
Much can be said of the current trend of bringing writers from other fields (or celebrities in general) over to do comics. Personally, I am fond of the practice as I would say it often leads to very interesting stories and styles of storytelling we might have not seen otherwise. And I will go pound for pound with anyone on my assertion that this has led to more good comics than not. Eve Ewing's transition to comics writer from poet is no exception, though it is worth noting that in some ways her style hearkens back to the classics--albeit with an obviously modern coat of paint. As others have pointed out, the first issue introduces an axiom that has the potential to be just as iconic as "With great power comes great responsibility."
Ironheart's narrative is a more of an "each issue is self-contained" affair than most other modern Big Two comics, though it does have an over-arching plot about a clandestine organization that pulls the strings. It's chock full of the greatest hits for superhero comics: soap opera style drama, ordinary friends, reclusive heroes, villains who try to convince the hero to go turncoat, etc., and they're all executed in a way that is a ton of fun, never feeling in any sense merely perfunctory or old hat. It can however, at times, seem a hair rushed. Fortunately, the title is easy to get into for those uninitiated to the character as I've yet to feel like "Oh, I need to go back and read the preceding books with this character to get the full story." It does a fantastic job of establishing Riri as a unique, smart, and likeable lead; a character who is an intended love letter to the Blerd community just as Kamala Khan was for young Muslim and Pakistani fans, but who can resonate with just about any nerds I should think. I know that there's a certain subset of sadsacks who would go nuclear at the thought of it, but I'd really like to see more major characters of this strata to represent other POC. If they can all be as thoughtful and authentic as this, Marvel could have a winning "formula" for these things.
All's said, Riri Williams: Ironheart is a blast and I highly recommend it. It is funny to me that two of my favorite comics from Marvel and DC both star young black women, that have been written by Bendis, as leads (the DC one I'm referring to is of course Naomi). For all my cynicism towards the Cronenbergian nightmares that both Big Two universes have become, fueled by crossovers and whatnot, these series (among others) appear exempt from such tribulations. For now, at any rate. Maybe that shit'll seep in some time. Who knows? What I do know is that Riri Williams: Ironheart #1-6 gets a 9/10 here.
Awesome
Summary:
A regularly enjoyable read with an excellent creative team and title character.
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