Ironheart: Bad Chemistry #1 is one of those comics that I’m surprised hasn’t been floated sooner. Obviously, it’s great seeing Riri Williams back in armor and back in action, but this is a comic that’s debuting ahead of the titular character’s upcoming TV series. So for anyone who saw Riri in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever or is just genuinely curious to learn more about this character, Bad Chemistry is a solid entry point.
When Bad Chemistry begins, Ironheart is in pursuit of her newest nemesis Khem, who has the ability to molecularly reshape matter. Kham seeks the Philosopher’s Stone – the same artifact that alchemist Diablo used to battle the Fantastic Four – and has enlisted the help of another villain to spread its effects to Chicago. To stop her, Riri ends up turning to an unlikely ally.
Ironheart: Bad Chemistry sings due to a crackling script from John Jennings (no relation). Jennings chooses to hone in on the similarities and the differences between Ironheart and Khem, offering new insight into their dynamic. Ironheart thinks on the fly, utilizing some unorthodox situations to solve her problems, but she genuinely cares for the people she’s protecting. Khem, on the other hand, is far less scrupulous about who she harms or uses in her quest for power. I also loved the acerbic chemistry Riri has with her onboard AI N.A.T.; it’s rare that a computer program in comics has a personality and doesn’t want to murder the human race.
Marvel
Jethro Morales is a master at illustrating action sequences, hooking readers with some dynamic movement. The entire opening fight between Ironheart and Khem is proof of that; the two sail around Chicago, with Ironheart bearing down on her target, Khem utilizing her chemistry-based powers to create a superdense granite sphere around her foe’s head. The final fight is no less intense – in fact, the stakes are heightened due to Khem’s newfound powers, which turn the Windy City into a melting mass of metal and glass.
Andrew Dalhouse and Ariana Maher also deserve credit for adding life to the book with their coloring and lettering work, respectively. Dalhouse leans into the divide between Ironheart and Khem, giving the later her standard pink, black and gold color scheme while providing the latter with a dark violent and white, making them polar opposites. The same color scheme is applied to Riri’s speech balloons when she’s in her armor, with Maher adopting a digital speech pattern for N.A.T. that’s full of personality.
Ironheart: Bad Chemistry #1 works as both a standalone story and an introduction to Riri Williams, meaning that it’s the perfect comic to give someone if they want to know more about her. While I wish this was the first issue of an ongoing series, I do hope Marvel does more of these to tie in with upcoming films and TV shows. It’d be a great way to hook new readers.
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