Ironheart's biggest twist isn’t about Riri—it’s about the son of Iron Man’s first enemy

When Ironheart was announced, the audience anticipated that it would detail Riri Williams’ ascent as another brilliant creator in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Riri does get her arc as a new innovator, the most surprising element is not about her at all. The actual jaw-dropper is a character who’s introduced earlier and whose name doesn’t ring many bells. Joe McGillicuddy—a soft-spoken tech ethicist—shocks everyone as he was revealed to be Ezekiel “Zeke” Stane, son of Obadiah Stane and thus, Iron Man's first foe.

This discovery does not simply add a legacy antagonist to the fray; it shifts an essential moment in MCU chronology. Zeke’s mention of ‘Iron Monger’ happens to be one of the first MCU references where monger is used officially. For most followers, this is a reminder that dates back around 20 years considering Iron Man (2008) only teasingly referenced the name. The addition of Zeke now brings a new generational aspect into Riri's story and opening up the need for another examination on the impact of Stark's legacy.

The MCU quietly passed the torch to a different kind of legacy villain for Ironheart

It isn’t just Zeke’s lineage that makes his reveal so compelling; also striking is how Ironheart decides to approach it. Rather than depicting him as an unambiguous antagonist looking to get back at someone for something, the series offers a more empathetic view of him as having been shaped by his father’s ambition in some morally troubling ways. His connection to black market tech and covert intimidation is only part of what makes him dangerous. More striking is his philosophical clash with Riri: where she constructs to motivate, Zeke tears down to stifle.

In Ironheart, Zeke is positioned as a mirror to Riri instead of her foil which deepens the emotional impact of the series conflict. While the story revolves around Riri finally claiming her spotlight, she simultaneously grapples with the more troubling aspects of Iron Man’s legacy. This, far more than any new technological upgrade or suit reveal, is the twist that will shape this phase of her journey.

Iron Monger: A name 17 years in the making

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While Obadiah Stane might have assembled the first Iron Monger suit in Iron Man, the movie didn’t give him that title. It was hinted in a boardroom scene where Stane said, “We’re iron mongers—we make weapons,” but Marvel didn’t use the name directly. Nobody used it until 17 years later when Ironheart finally made the link explicit.

The act of naming holds a complex narrative. Not only does it connect Zeke’s arc with his father’s, but it also pays homage to the comic book roots which early MCU adaptations sometimes avoided. Marvel seemed reluctant to go all in on its more vibrant, over-the-top tropes back in 2008. However, times have changed. Ironheart makes a bold statement by reintroducing a dormant villain codename—and through his son, ensuring it holds significance once more.

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