Marvel TV show of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever can offer, from hints about Riri Williams' allies to reveals concerning her enemies.

As teased in the trailer, it seems Ironheart's case is Parker Robbins/The Hood, a magic-wielding misfit who leads a gang looking to show the world that they can be a powerful group. In the trailer for Ironheart, The Hood's rivalry with Riri is hinted at, as are some mysterious markings on his back that could link to another massive Marvel villain.

What's Going On With The Hood's Back In The Ironheart Trailer?

The Hood Has Some Interesting Physical Blemishes

Around two minutes into Ironheart's trailer, the clash between The Hood and Riri Williams is shown. One of Riri's friends is heard stating that Riri knows nothing about Parker Robbins accompanying a shot of the villain. In this shot, Robbins is seemingly hunching over a work desk of some kind, showcasing two circular tattoos on his back. The tattoos include one larger circle and a smaller one to the right of it, inscribed with indecipherable markings.

Stemming from these circular tattoos are vine-like markings. These markings look akin to those on lightning strike victims, only The Hood's are black in Ironheart. Interestingly, the black lightning-like marks grow bigger in the split-second shot, extending out from the circular tattoos down Robbins' back, raising many questions about what they could mean for Ironheart's primary villain.

The Hood's Powers And Connection To Mephisto Explained

The Hood Is Connected To Many Magical & Supernatural Marvel Stories

Before exploring what the markings in Ironheart could be, it is worth delving into The Hood's comic book history. Robbins became The Hood after being attacked by several demons that were left in the physical realm after a seance. The demons wore a red hood and boots which he was forced to wear after seemingly defeating them and losing his clothes in a mugging. Upon donning the hood, Robbins discovered he gained powers stemming from Dormammu and the Dark Dimension, which is a source of magic in the MCU.

The Hood bargained with Mephisto to regain the powers he had lost...

The powers that The Hood gained were those typical of most Marvel magic s, though the connection to Dormammu allows some to be amplified. Later in Marvel Comics, The Hood bargained with Mephisto to regain the powers he had lost. This deal led to Robbins becoming an iteration of Ghost Rider after Johnny Blaze, taking on the powers of the Spirit of Vengeance. Interestingly, this connection to Mephisto could be explored in Ironheart, if rumors about the show are to be believed.

How Mephisto Could Fit Into Marvel's Ironheart Show

Mephisto May Finally Enter The MCU

For years, MCU fans have theorized about Mephisto's inclusion in the franchise. Many assumed this would come in WandaVision, given that Mephisto was integral to the storyline involving Scarlet Witch's children in Marvel Comics. That said, Mephisto is still yet to debut, despite being confirmed to exist in a 2024 show. According to some reports that remain speculation and conjecture at this point, Ironheart was rumored to include Mephisto given the show's exploration of the magical side of the MCU and how it could clash with the technological aspects of the franchise.

The Hood's markings shown in Ironheart's trailer could this. Given that The Hood has bargained with Mephisto for more power in the comics, the MCU could adapt this storyline. The markings on Robbins' back could be a manifestation of Mephisto's power, explaining why they are growing in the trailer and potentially making The Hood more powerful if the MCU version of the character is shown to have bargained with the devil.

This could reveal that The Hood is being manipulated by Mephisto, though to what end remains interesting to theorize about. Mephisto's main goal in the comics is to enslave human souls to his realm, which could be the same in the MCU. If so, Mephisto could use other means of accruing power, such as pulling the strings of criminals like The Hood and manipulating heroes like Ironheart. How this could be explored, though, remains to be seen once Ironheart releases on Disney+ in June 2025, though The Hood's intriguing markings could have already provided a tease at the devil's MCU introduction.