3.5/5
The Iron Lung
6 Episodes. Starring: Dominique Thorne, Lyric Ross, Manny Montana
Matthew Elam, Anji White, Jim Rash, Eric André, Cree Summer, Sonia Denis, Shea Couleé, Zoe Terakes, Shakira Barrera, Anthony Ramos & Alden Ehrenreich. Created By: Chinaka Hodge. On: Disney +.
Hammering a heart out of iron, when Dominique Throne ('If Beale Street Could Talk', 'Judas and the Black Messiah') made her M.C.U. debut in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' as Riri Williams, AKA Ironheart, you knew she was thinking outside the Marvel toolbox. The fresh new talent with moxie was exactly what the sequel needed to survive following the tragic death of its star Chadwick Boseman and the Black Panther mantle being up in the air. Now, almost three years later, Thorne reunites with executive producer Ryan Coogler (fresh off his 'Sinners' success with frequent flyer Michael B. Jordan) for Marvel Television's 'Ironheart', created by poet, educator and playwright Chinaka Hodge ('Snowpiercer', 'The Midnight Club'). A crime-drama action and adventure that mixes magic in with the tech for this superhero series, no stranger to the science-fiction of Trekkies. Hands with two peace fingers, all the way up.
Thorne is terrific as Williams, making her way back to Chicagoland in a fresh white suit, before it becomes old and rusted for a true origin story. You can see it in the creative 'Atlanta' like titles that saves you from Marvel's usual sequence (Netflix and Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Fubar', now streaming its second season, does the same). A few years back, Kevin Feige's assembled team caught heat for using A.I. in a too true life imitating art move with their opening credits to the criminally underrated 'Secret Invasion'. Now the franchise umbrella actually has an A.I. character, but then again not for the first time if you heard the voices in Tony Stark's head. Never mind all that, because Lyric Ross shows real character and heart, as she steals the show as the perfect sidekick, and that's no projection. Add friend Matthew Elam, the moving mothering of Anji White, and her friend (the Cree Summers Kanye West was talking about on 'Spaceship') and the family matters of this show will have you settling in like Chicago wind following the fall.
That's all well and good, but you know, every superhero needs a villain. And we have the makings of a great one in 'Hamilton', 'A Star Is Born' and 'In The Heights' star Anthony Ramos ('Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts', 'Twisters') putting on the red Hood. He's the perfect mix of power and passion for the part, and he has his own team too, featuring Manny Montana, Sonia Denis, Shea Couleé, Zoe Terakes, Shakira Barrera and Eric André for show. Plus like another 'Community' cameo from Jim Rash, there's another legendary villain on the cards, serving you deep-dish pizza, and we're saying nothing, unlike the other outlets who spoil on social media, like the ending of 'Squid Game'. What we can say, though, without giving him away, it's good to see the great Alden Ehrenreich back, after his much-maligned, and unfairly so, 'Solo' performance. This six-episode series may have been rush released over a fortnight, but it's not hiding. Surviving a review bombing, it's even got Iron Man's seal of approval with support from Dr. Doom himself, Robert Downey Jr. That's enough to make you love it 3000. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Iron Man', 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever', 'Ms. Marvel'.
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