Comic books have had a huge impact on superhero movies. We really wouldn’t have the Marvel Cinematic Universe without them. But just as they have an impact on the big screen, they can also bring out social and progressive change. In recent years we’ve seen Marvel pull in to express diversity in gender and race. Sam Wilson became Captain America, and Jane Foster became Thor. Both were significant (and very welcomed) changes for the comics. But with comics, nothing is ever permanent. Characters who died can come back to life. Enemies are now allies. And revelations are sometimes controversial, like when Captain America and Hydra controversy, which was then resolved a few weeks later.

Now Marvel is taking another step forward in the right direction. This time with Iron Man. In a recent interview, Brian Michael Bendis said the mantle of the Iron Man name will be going to a 15-year-old black girl named Riri Williams. More on the story below.