Marvel has revealed that Tony Stark will be hanging up his Iron Man boots to be replaced by a 15-year-old black girl.
The comic book maker said that Riri Williams will step up to don the famous robotic suit in the upcoming Civil War II, BBC reports.
The character was introduced earlier this year as a Chicago-born science genius who is a student at MIT.
Iron Man writer Brian Michael Bendis said he created the character after witnessing the state of chaos Chicago was in while working in the city.
“And this story of this brilliant, young woman whose life was marred by tragedy that could have easily ended her life, just random street violence, and went off to college was very inspiring to me,” he said.
“I thought that was the most modern version of a superhero or superheroine story I had ever heard.”
There has been a mixed reaction to the new character online with some praising Marvel for diversifying their characters while others are putting down the move as a cynical attempt to remain relevant.
Pharrell Williams’ @i_am_OTHER Twitter account tweeted: “MORE OF THIS PLEASE: @Marvel’s new Iron Man is a young African American woman. Can’t wait to meet you Riri Williams!
“New Iron Man is a black teen girl. Today is great,” Eric Smith (@ericsmithrocks), an associate literary agent, tweeted.
“A new Ironman? Riri Williams? Marvel is trying so hard to be relevant,” Twitter user @PhoeboBuffay tweeted.
Iron Man first appeared in 1963 and the series has until now focused on billionaire weapons inventor Tony Stark.
