Spoiler Warning: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Riri Williams is one of the most exciting introductions from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. By the time we see her, she’s already built her prototype Ironheart suit and is working on more. Shuri and Okoye need to journey to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and MIT to discover the scientist who constructed a functional vibranium detector. When they get there, they realize they aren’t looking for a professor or a resident researcher but a student. Riri Williams shows up, already doing other students’ homework for them and making money off it. She says her professors told her that her theoretical projects would be impossible. But who is teaching Riri Williams?

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Despite her prodigious talent, she may be getting lessons from some even greater minds of the Marvel universe. There are a few great scientists in the MCU that have yet to be revealed, but we know they are out there. And some would make excellent mentors for the future Ironheart. In the comic books, Ironheart was trained by Tony Stark, but with him not gone from the MCU, Marvel may find another great mind to help teach Riri Williams. It’s not out of the question that her teacher at MIT or a scientist from Chigaco (her hometown) might be one of these impressive superhero mentors.

Is Riri Williams Taking Classes From Mr. Fantastic?

     Marvel Studios

Reed Richards is one of the greatest minds in the Marvel universe, and we all know that he’s coming to the MCU very soon. Along with having similar talents as a scientific prodigy, he had worked at several universities while studying for one of his many degrees. While he never attended MIT in the comic books, it wouldn’t be so far out of the realm of possibility to find Reed Richards working on another doctorate and teaching undergrads while he did his research.

Mr. Fantastic has always been thoroughly involved in the world of higher education, having spent most of his life at school or in the lab. Having Riri Williams take a class from him would be a believable way to introduce his character into the MCU.

While it would be easy to imagine Reed Richards quietly working at a university all this time, he might not make the best mentor for Riri Williams. Or rather, Riri Williams might not get along with Reed Richards. Both incredible minds could likely make incredible machinery together. Still, where Reed Richards is known for being an exemplar of upstanding moral values, Riri Williams is known for having some serious emotional issues and being haunted by trauma. If you were to put them together, they might not get along too well.

If Riri Williams is going to MIT, she might take one of his classes, but it would be doubtful to see them hanging out together outside of school. Still, Mr. Fantastic has the capacity to further enlighten Ms. Williams’ already impressive intellect. This little connection might be a fun bit of trivia to see pop up in the MCU.

Blue Marvel Would Be an Excellent Mentor

     Marvel Comics

Adam Brashear, or the Blue Marvel, is a powerful genius scientist who would make the perfect teacher for Riri and might join the MCU very soon. He’s also from Riri’s hometown of Chicago, Illinois. From a very early age, Brashear became known for having a talent for math and theoretical physics. When he grew up, he graduated and earned several Ph.D.s in the subjects. He eventually became a professor at the University of Maryland. Again, it’s not MIT, but it would be easy to rewrite something like this for the MCU.

Like many experimental comic book scientists, Brashear earned his powers from a dangerous experiment. While trying to find an infinite source of clean energy, Brashear exposed himself to mutagenic radiation while trying to create a bridge to the Negative Zone and harvest the anti-matter there. Due to an accidental explosion, the experiment failed and turned his body into a stable anti-matter reactor.

It granted him the ability to manipulate massive amounts of energy on the levels of Captain Marvel, and he used this power to save the world on a number of occasions. But he was forced to retire when his mask was damaged in battle, and 1960s America refused to accept a Black superhero.

Everything about this character would make a perfect mentor for Riri Williams. Along with both being incredible geniuses, they share the struggle of being African American in a predominately white world. As Riri Williams said in Wakanda Forever, “To be young, gifted, and Black, right?” Adam Brashear would provide a positive role model for Riri as a man who has proved himself honorable in the face of adversity and stood tall against racial oppression.

He would also make a great addition to the MCU, simply as a powerful member of different iterations of the Avengers. There are rumors that he might be mentioned in the upcoming film The Marvels. And there are definitely a lot of fans that are hoping for it. Blue Marvel may be one of the strongest and most noble superheroes that hasn’t been brought into the MCU yet, and there are plenty of people that want to see him.