Los Angeles, Jul 7 (IANS): Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis has revealed Tony Stark will be replaced by Riri Williams, a 15-year-old black girl and a science genius.
According to Bendis, Tony Stark will step out of the Iron Man suit end of the comic-book crossover storyline "Civil War II", and Williams will take over, reports variety.com.
Williams debuted in "Invincible Iron Man" comic's issue number seven in March this year. She was created by Bendis and artist Stefano Caselli.
The decision to incorporate Williams into the Marvel comic-books follows a trend in the last few years of more diverse characters. Bendis is also the creator of Miles Morales, a comic-book iteration of Spider-Man whose father is African-American and mother is Puerto Rican.
Kamala Khan, a teenage Pakistani American, first appeared in the comic-books as Ms. Marvel in 2013. In July 2014, Marvel caused controversy over its decision to introduce the first female Thor, Jane Foster.
Williams, as with all the comic characters who have come before her, could potentially enter the Marvel cinematic universe. The next Marvel films to hit theaters will be "Doctor Strange" in November, 2016, and "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" in May, 2017.
The new series of "The Invincible Iron Man" by Bendis and Caselli, will launch at the end of 2016.