Summary

• Ironheart's acquisition of the Mandarin's Rings was underutilized and ended without any real development for the iconic character.
• Riri's journey with the Rings was originally meant to be a central part of the delayed or canceled The Invincible Ironheart solo series.
• After fearing corruption by the Ring's power, Riri Williams let the mutant inventor Forge send the Makluan Rings into space, where she wouldn't be tempted to use them.

Warning: contains spoilers for Invincible Iron Man #14It was a shock in Iron Man (2020) #24 when Ironheart revealed to Iron Man and Rhodey that she had perilously posed as Cobalt Man to secure the Mandarin's Rings, and the development should have led to a fascinating story for the young Riri Williams. Instead, after a canceled solo series, Ironheart's Mandarin's Rings were unceremoniously sent off into space by the mutant Forge in Invincible Iron Man #14, a disappointing conclusion to a sadly underutilized story.

There was a major build-up to Ironheart's acquisition of the Mandarin's Makluan Rings, teasing the ongoing arguments between Riri and Tony Stark would be like a 3rd Marvel Civil War, but the Rings have barely been used by Ironheart since she received them.

Invincible Iron Man #14, from writer Gerry Duggan with artists Andrea Di Vito and Bryan Valenza, sees Forge helping Riri to recognize that the Makluan technology is corrupting her, as it has its previous hosts, with the empowered Ironheart allowing Forge to send the rings out throughout space, where she cannot find them.

Riri's Mandarin Ring Journey Is Over Before It Ever Began

Ironheart's Ten Rings of the Mandarin were hard won, with Riri needing to infiltrate the villainous Source Control agency and convince its leader Spymaster that she was Cobalt Man, to obtain the Rings. Ironheart was seen using one ring in Iron Man #24, the Black Light Ring or Nightbringer, sending Spymaster, Force, and Source Control henchmen into the Darkforce Dimension, something Tony had no idea the Ring could do. After much arguing, Riri was able to convince Tony that she had been studying the Rings for years and was confident they could be used for good, and not as a weapon.

Ironheart used the Rings at least twice more, presumably using the psionic Mento-Intensifier Ring in her battle against both The Living Laser and then Emma Frost. Invincible Iron Man #14 shows an alien Makluan dragon warning Ironheart of the Rings danger, telling her that, "Even the purest of hearts will compromise in the darkest of days." After promising the dwarves of Nidavellir a stash of mysterium for use of their forge to build Iron Man's warships, the dwarves renege on the deal and attempt to kill them, with Riri nearly sending them to the Darkforce Dimension, looking quite corrupted.

Marvel Wasted An Exciting Opportunity To Develop Ironheart's Character

Ironheart is talked down by Forge, and its she is scared of how much she likes using the power, with Forge convincing her to send them into space using a celestial sextant he devised. Ironheart's journey with the Mandarin's Rings was short-lived and underdeveloped, likely because they were meant to be a central part of the delayed or canceled The Invincible Ironheart solo series from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Jim Towe, which was originally meant to debut in August 2023. Instead, Riri got to use the Rings four times, seemingly becoming overwhelmed by their power and then giving them up with barely a second thought.

It could have been inspiring and character-defining to have a young hero like Riri Williams find a way to transform one of the universe's most dangerous weapons, the Mandarin's Makluan Rings, into a force for good. The continued conflict between Ironheart and Iron Man would have been compelling, and her struggle against corruption a fascinating source of growth, but Marvel has decided to forget these plans and shoot them away into the stars instead.

Invincible Iron Man #14 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.