Ironheart #6: Don’t You Watch Star Trek?

After last issue’s rather emotional ending that saw Riri finally attend a self-help group with her Mother, we shift gears into a superhero team-up with none other than Miles Morales: Spider-Man!

The absolute best thing about this comic is that it functions as a one-shot exploration of the relationship between two of Marvel’s budding new superheroes. It isn’t burdened by the weight of those who came before them, it’s just a classic story about two heroes overcoming their differences and saving the day. These types of stories are critical, in my opinion, in solidifying the characters in the Marvel Comics universe and showing that they can indeed carry the torch onward.

Where this issue falls short, unfortunately, is in the use of in media res (translation: into the middle of things) narrative structure. This essentially creates a scenario where we are thrown into the most interesting part of the story first before being whisked back to the beginning before it all happened. It’s a common trope used in comics (and a lot of other media) and it’s one that is just difficult to pull off right. All things considered, Ironheart #6 isn’t the worst use of this storytelling I’ve seen though. It manages to keep your interest all throughout with the help of some truly gorgeous artwork thanks to Kevin Libranda and Matt Milla.

It’s worth noting that the artwork from this entire series really has never failed to impress. This creative team is pulling off some stunning panels and in my opinion, not nearly enough people are aware of what type of caliber artwork we are being given. Combined with Eve L. Ewing’s consistently engaging stories, the entire series up to this point can be described in one word…

Underrated.

The friendly banter and dramatic action flows well together in Ironheart #6, but it’s the sci-fi roots that make this issue truly succeed. We know Riri is a Star Trek fan already, considering she was even working on a Geordi La Forge cosplay from ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’, and this issue plays right into that type of storytelling. The time loop cabin is a nod to multiple Trek episodes like ‘Cause and Effect’ where our beloved characters must first realize they are stuck in a time loop then find a way out. It doesn’t stop there though. In order to defeat the Tank, a villain with a penchant for space-time portals, Ironheart and Spider-Man pull him into a trap of his own making and leave him stuck being passed back and forth between his own two portals in an endless cycle. If the series could just run with sci-fi themes like this and incorporate Riri’s super genius outside of just her suit, the potential is unlimited. This issue is a testament to that potential.

Overall, Ironheart #6 is arguably the best issue yet in the series. The inclusion of Spidey certainly helps, but it also shows that Ironheart is a character who can do more than just hold her own. As an added plus, we also see that Riri is a big fan of Captain Marvel too! It looks like things are only going to get better from here, as next issue promises another team-up, this time with Nadia Van Dyne aka the Unstoppable Wasp! I can’t wait!