Ironheart introduced not one but two major Marvel characters in its second half, including Zelma Stanton (Regan Aliyah), whose MCU debut may just set up another spinoff in the future. Warning: spoilers ahead!
The new Disney+ series follows Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) as she upgrades her magic-infused suit of armor while grappling with the increasingly out-of-control powers of Parker Robbins, aka The Hood (Anthony Ramos).
In the finale, she literally makes a deal with the devil in the form of Mephisto, Marvel’s very own Beelzebub, with Sacha Baron Cohen taking on the role.
But while the buzz has been all about Mephisto’s diabolical appearance, Zelma Stanton’s debut in Ironheart Episode 4 is noteworthy, especially after her return in the mid-credits scene.
Who is Zelma Stanton?
In Marvel Comics, Zelma Stanton is a relatively recent but significant character. Introduced in Doctor Strange Vol 4 #1 (2015), she began as a no-nonsense librarian from the Bronx who became entangled in the mystical world when supernatural “mind maggots” invaded her brain.
Doctor Strange cured her, and from there, Zelma’s life changed forever. She joined him at his headquarters – the Sanctum Sanctorum – as his personal librarian, eventually becoming Strange’s protégé and one of the few people he trusted to guard magical knowledge.
Zelma is more than just a bookworm, though – she’s a powerful spellcaster in her own right. Over time, she’s developed an impressive array of magical skills, including conjuring protective spells, manipulating energy, and using enchanted artifacts.
While not quite on the level of the Sorcerer Supreme, she brings a grounded, practical intelligence to the mystical chaos that unfolds in the comics.
Despite being a relatively new magician, Doctor Strange ends up recruiting her to teach at his new school Strange Academy, where she educates students such as Zoe Laveau and Doyle Dormammu.
As highlighted by Marvel, she’s traveled all over the universe to become “one of the most impressive young magicians,” with Strange once calling her “the author of all things magic.”
Why she’s in Ironheart
Zelma makes her MCU debut in Ironheart Episode 4, ‘Bad Magic,’ where she’s played by XO, Kitty star Regan Aliyah. She appears when Riri and her mom visit Zelma’s family-owned candy store in Chicago – a front for magical activity run by her mother, Madeline Stanton (Cree Summer).
The pair are trying to make sense of a torn fragment from Parker’s enchanted cloak. Much like her comic book counterpart, Zelma is intuitive and confident in her abilities, quickly identifying the item in Riri’s pocket and transporting them all to a magical realm called the Western Cortex of Neverish.
As they examine it, we learn that Madeline used to study at the Kamar-Taj – a place for sorcerers and sorceresses to train and control their powers – but dropped out when she fell pregnant with Zelma.
But this turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it’s meant Zelma has honed her own special brand of magic. Soon enough, the mother-daughter duo figure out that the cloak is from a dark dimension, warning Riri to stay away.
Zelma makes numerous appearances from here, helping Riri to work on spells and generate the magic needed to power her suit.
In Ironheart’s mid-credits scene, a desperate, de-powered Parker seeks Zelma’s help, asking for some “heavy duty magic.” Although both are dubious at first, it appears they’re ready to team up when Parker asks, “If you’re up for it, how about a little abracadabra?”
How Zelma’s arrival could set up an MCU spinoff
While nothing is set in stone, Zelma’s arrival opens the door for a potential Strange Academy spinoff, tapping into her role as a magical mentor in the comics.
Talks of an MCU Strange Academy series first emerged a few years back, and more recently, Hollywood insider DanielRPK said Marvel Studios is reportedly deciding whether to make it as a new movie or TV show.
The series could center on a hidden school where Zelma trains budding magic users – think Harry Potter vibes, but rooted in MCU lore. Characters like Parker could enroll, bringing moral complexity to the story as he battles his own demonic past.
The only issue here is that Ironheart was originally filmed back in June 2022, long before Marvel made the decision to scale back its Disney+ shows and focus on quality over quantity.
So while a Strange Academy spinoff involving Zelma makes sense on paper, it may be a while before we see it come to fruition.
Chip quantistico: la chiave per l'internet del futuro