Diverse Universe: Marvel Comics' New Iron Man To Be Black Female Teen

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. (CBSMiami/AP) — A black female teenager will be the newest hero fitted for an iron suit.

Marvel Comics veteran writer Brian Michael Bendis said in an interview Wednesday with Time that Tony Stark will step away from his superhero alter-ego and a new character named Riri Williams will assume the laser-blasting role.

Bendis describes Williams as a science genius who enrolled in MIT at the age of 15. She comes to Stark's attention when she builds her own Iron Man suit in her dorm.

Marvel has bestowed several diverse characters in recent years with long-running superhero mantles, including a biracial Spider-Man, Muslim Ms. Marvel, female Thor, African-American Captain America and Asian-American Hulk. However, those characters have yet to appear in Marvel film or TV adaptations.

Williams will debut in "Invincible Iron Man" comic book this fall.

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