When Marvel’s WandaVision debuted in 2021, the term “Mephisto” was ubiquitous. Every week, enthusiasts theorized that the demonic Marvel antagonist would be uncovered as the force behind all of Wanda’s (Elizabeth Olsen) dilemmas. This hypothesis seemed feasible since, in the comics, Wanda’s twins Billy and Tommy (Julian Hillard and Jett Klyne) are fragments of Mephisto’s essence that he later reclaims. Nevertheless, viewers felt let down when Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) turned out to be the primary villain of the series.

Still, audiences maintained their hopes for Mephisto’s cameo in future shows. Was the devil figure in a stained-glass window indicative of Mephisto’s involvement in Loki? No, it was merely a nod to Loki (Tom Hiddleston) himself. Did Madisynn (Patty Guggenheim) strike a bargain with Mephisto during her sojourn in a hellish realm in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law? No, it was simply a demon goat called Jake.

As Marvel’s Disney+ series grew, the Mephisto hype diminished. Perhaps he wasn’t destined for the MCU after all.

Enter Ironheart, where tech prodigy Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) confronts the magic-wielding Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos). In the Season 1 finale, Ironheart discloses the source of Parker’s magical hood, and the revelation is what Marvel enthusiasts have awaited since WandaVision: Parker obtained the hood from Mephisto (Sacha Baron Cohen).

In episode 6 of Ironheart, audiences learn that Parker made a pact with Mephisto to satisfy his yearning for wealth. Mephisto provided Parker with all the necessary tools — specifically, the hood — to realize his ambition. In exchange, Parker was to forfeit “something you won’t even miss,” as Mephisto phrased it. Nothing sketchy about that ambiguity whatsoever!

Later in the episode, Riri enters a parallel agreement with Mephisto, ultimately securing her best friend Natalie (Lyric Ross). Yet, the groundwork is laid for a confrontation with the demon, as all magic has a price. Surely, the magic of revival demands the highest cost of all.

On the surface, the Mephisto revelation is thrilling for MCU fans who have longed for it since WandaVision. Even if his inclusion in Ironheart isn’t entirely faithful to the comics as it could have been in a series like WandaVision, it still aligns well with the larger thematic conflict between magic and technology.

However, with the supervillain’s introduction slated for 2025 — four years after the peak of Mephisto mania — it feels as if the sails of SS Mephisto have been deflated. Much of this stems from Ironheart’s production timeline.

Ironheart concluded filming in November 2022, then took nearly three years to premiere. At the time of writing and production, incorporating Mephisto must have appeared as a significant opportunity: a moment of fan service that also propels Riri’s narrative into an exciting new direction. And perhaps it would have felt substantial had Ironheart been released more promptly.

Instead, the Mephisto revelation feels more like a relic of Marvel Studios’ earlier TV phase, when Marvel was testing out a diverse, albeit congested, lineup, featuring successes like WandaVision and Ms. Marvel alongside lesser entries like Secret Invasion. Since then, of Marvel Studios’ live-action offerings, only Loki and Daredevil have been granted second seasons. Furthermore, Marvel has revamped its approach to television production, hinting at a departure from its initial slate of shows.

Given that and Ironheart’s two-week release schedule, it seems Marvel and Disney lack confidence in how Riri and the remainder of the show’s characters will integrate into the MCU landscape going forward. This could also apply to Mephisto, whose appearance, after extensive buildup, might ultimately mean little.

In the end, nothing encapsulates my response to the Mephisto revelation quite like Parker’s initial reaction to hearing Mephisto’s name.

“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” he queries.

In 2022, that line would have seemed like a clever nod to fans. But in 2025, it serves as a reminder of just how unwieldy the MCU has become — and of the numerous loose ends its television series have left in their aftermath.

Ironheart Season 1 is currently streaming on Disney+.