With Marvel Studios’ Ironheart now officially streaming on Disney+, actor Anthony Ramos is addressing the wave of early criticism aimed at the series. Amid polarized fan reactions, Ramos is defending the cast and crew’s work, calling the negativity “expected but not deserved.”
“Everybody’s gonna say whatever they wanna say,” Ramos said in a press junket interview over the weekend. “But at the end of the day we know what we make, and we’re proud of what we made.”
Ramos stars as Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, a key antagonist in Ironheart, which continues the story of Riri Williams (played by Dominique Thorne) following her debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The show blends tech, magic, and identity as Riri returns to MIT while facing Robbins, a dark, mystically powered figure with a complicated past.
🔥 Fan Reactions: Mixed and Divided
Since its June 26 premiere, Ironheart has drawn a wide range of responses:
- Some fans have praised the show’s ambition and themes around science vs. mysticism.
- Others have criticized its tone, pacing, or deviation from the comic book source material—particularly the reimagining of Robbins, who in the comics is a street-level New York villain, not a mystic anti-hero from Chicago.
The pushback has fueled social media debates, with some calling it another example of “Marvel burnout,” while others argue it’s an important and overdue spotlight for a young Black female hero in the MCU.
🎭 Ramos on Reinventing The Hood
Ramos has been candid about his approach to the role. Rather than follow the comics strictly, he said he aimed to make Robbins “more emotionally layered, more human.”
“I didn’t want to just play a villain. I wanted to play a man wrestling with darkness. He’s a misfit with a good heart who ends up in a bad place,” Ramos said during an interview with The Popverse.
He also shared that he avoided rereading the comics intentionally, hoping to bring something unique and personal to the performance.
🤝 Support from Within the MCU
Despite the criticism, Ironheart has received strong support from inside the Marvel family. Robert Downey Jr., whose Iron Man legacy looms large over the show, surprised the cast on Good Morning America with a heartfelt message:
“Iron Man loves Ironheart. You’re carrying the torch beautifully,” Downey said. “Ignore the noise. You’re making something fresh and necessary.”
📺 Where the Series Stands
Ironheart is part of Marvel’s Phase 5 and sets the stage for younger, more diverse heroes to take the spotlight. Alongside Ms. Marvel and Echo, the series aims to evolve the MCU beyond its original Avengers era.
While reviews remain mixed — some outlets call it “flawed but bold,” others say it “doesn’t fully stick the landing” — what’s clear is that the creators stand by their vision.
“This isn’t just another superhero story,” Ramos added. “It’s about identity, conflict, power, and purpose. If people give it a real chance, I think they’ll be surprised.”
