Wonder Man Explained: The Story Behind Marvel’s Discontinued Hero

Marvel is expanding its universe of television series by introducing a solo show for the relatively obscure Wonder Man.

While the buzz around shows like Daredevil: Born Again, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and Marvel Zombies grows, Wonder Man might not be on everyone’s radar.

Yet, this character has a rich backstory that’s worth exploring, and his upcoming series has the potential to be Marvel’s most self-referential project to date.

Who is Wonder Man?

Simon Williams, known as Wonder Man, made his first appearance in Marvel Comics in The Avengers #9, initially portrayed as a supervillain adversary of the Avengers.

This issue debuted in October 1964, presenting Wonder Man as a foe who was defeated and died shortly thereafter.

His brief career as a villain was cut short due to a lawsuit from DC Comics, which claimed he too closely resembled their Wonder Woman.

Stan Lee commented in 1978: “Years ago, we introduced Wonder Man, and we faced a lawsuit from [DC Comics] regarding Wonder Woman. I agreed to discontinue Wonder Man, only for them to create Power Girl shortly after.”

Nevertheless, he made a comeback four years later, with the Avengers revealing that his consciousness had been preserved in a computer.

His full return to the comics occurred in The Avengers #102 (1972), where he appeared in a comatose state. His revival happened in The Avengers #131-132 through magic from Kang, and later again in #152 via Black Talon.

The true revival came with The Avengers Annual #6, thanks to the Living Laser, leading to him joining the superhero team formally in The Avengers #106. Notably, Wonder Man developed a strong friendship with the Beast from the X-Men, and the two frequently enjoyed outings together. Their camaraderie persisted even after both characters left the Avengers.

Furthermore, Wonder Man co-founded the West Coast Avengers in a miniseries spinoff and cycled in and out of the original Avengers roster. In 1986, he even received his own graphic novel.

Importantly, in 1981, Wonder Man stepped away from the Avengers to pursue a career as a stuntman and actor!

Dissecting Wonder Man’s Origins

Simon Williams is the wealthy heir to his father Sanford Williams’ legacy, who transforms into a superhuman figure after being freed from incarceration by the villain Baron Heinrich Zemo.

Similar to Tony Stark, Simon inherited Williams Innovations upon his father’s passing. However, competing with Stark Industries proved challenging, leading to significant financial losses for his company.

Under pressure, Simon’s brother Eric advised him to embezzle funds for investment in other ventures, a crime that ultimately led to Simon’s arrest.

Feeling responsible for his downfall, Simon allied with Baron Zemo, agreeing to infiltrate the Avengers in exchange for assistance.

Upon accepting Zemo’s offer, Simon underwent transformations through chemical and radiation procedures that endowed him with superhuman abilities such as immense strength, durability, speed, and reflexes—his power level is often likened to that of Thor and Sentry. However, Zemo’s scheme unraveled when Simon’s morals prevented him from betraying the Avengers.

Over time, he also developed regenerative capabilities, the ability to survive without air, food, or water, and energy projection powers.

A fascinating aspect of Wonder Man is his role as a stuntman and actor, a detail that seems poised to play a significant part in the upcoming Marvel series. (Read on for more details!)

What’s the Wonder Man Marvel Series About?

The Wonder Man series is set to premiere in December 2025, featuring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the role of Simon Williams/Wonder Man.

Originally, Wonder Man was slated for an appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, portrayed by Nathan Fillion, but those scenes were ultimately omitted.

The upcoming television series will portray Simon Williams as a struggling actor and stuntman who acquires superhuman powers and ultimately embraces his identity as Wonder Man. A teaser released in October 2024 showcased Marvel’s lineup for 2025, giving glimpses of Wonder Man.

A new look at Marvel Television’s 2025 lineup, featuring Daredevil, Spider-Man, and more! pic.twitter.com/9upX7DYuOZ

— ScreenTime (@screentime) October 30, 2024

In the teaser, Simon appears as an aspiring actor who is auditioning for the role of Wonder Man in an imminent film project. In the comics, Simon has already assumed the identity of Wonder Man prior to embarking on his acting career; hence, it’s possible that in the series, he is already a superpowered individual.

Additionally, the cast includes Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, reprising his role from Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, with Demetrius Grosse portraying Eric Williams, Simon’s brother, and Ed Harris as Neal Saroyan, Simon’s agent.

The series will feature ten episodes and will debut on Disney+.

Will Wonder Man be Part of the MCU?

Absolutely, Wonder Man is set to be integrated into Phase 6 of the MCU!

With Trevor Slattery’s involvement, it indicates that Simon Williams is seamlessly entering the existing MCU narrative. So, what implications does this hold for his character beyond the TV series?

Given Marvel’s renewed storytelling approach under the “Spotlight” branding, it’s possible Simon may play a smaller role than anticipated. Nevertheless, his extensive history in the comics suggests he has been intricately involved in various Avengers narratives.

While he might not be a central figure in upcoming films such as Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, the launch of Wonder Man prior to these movies could see him appear as an established character.

For further insights, feel free to check out our guides outlining the top superhero films to watch right now. Stay updated on Spider-Man 4, Captain America: Brave New World, and Thunderbolts, and keep an eye on the exciting new films set to release this month!

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Image Credits: Dexerto.com