Marvel Television’s newest streaming series, “Wonder Man,” released just this past month on Jan. 28, introducing a new, powerful and complex character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This new Disney+ series follows Simon Williams, a struggling actor who is trying to land a role as the lead in “Wonder Man,” all while keeping the secret that he actually has superpowers.
The character known as Wonder Man made his comic debut in “Avengers #9,” which was released on Oct. 1, 1964. His powers consist of superhuman abilities, including strength, durability, stamina and reflexes, as well as the ability to fly, manipulate energy and project energy. Frequently appearing with many different iterations of the Avengers, he serves as one of the team’s powerhouses and strongest members. Seeing Wonder Man debut onscreen ushers us into a new age of Marvel as they begin to introduce more of their lesser-known characters to the MCU.
In the acting world of the MCU, superpowered individuals have now been banned from acting in film and television. The show follows Williams as he tries to secure the role, all while navigating life and hiding his powers. The looming worry that his secret will be revealed causes him to be thrown into a situation he has never faced before. With the Department of Damage Control, also known as the DODC, constantly watching him, Williams both wants the spotlight but at the same time needs to keep his powers a secret.
This show provides viewers with a meta look at creating superhero films, even showcasing the concept of “superhero fatigue,” which some people say is happening in real life with superhero movies.
“I think audiences are tired of the same tropes and ideas over and over again in every superhero movie,” Senior Mainor Martinez-Castillo said, “Wonder Man addressing that is great, we get a different perspective than the typical rich hero or perfect life hero, but instead of someone trying to lead a normal life.”
Addressing this concept is a bold statement from Marvel, showing that they are seeing how some fans may be feeling and are using this as a way to show them the other side of that.
The series stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams and Ben Kingsley, reprising his role as Trevor Slattery from “Iron Man 3” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” In the comics, Wonder Man is a Caucasian man, but in this show he is being played by an African American actor, showcasing a new version of the character.
I highly recommend this show for non-MCU and MCU fans alike. “Wonder Man” is very grounded and tells a story that’s really not connected to the larger scope of the MCU, allowing this new character to shine in his own world in his debut. Seeing a struggling actor trying to land a lead role while hiding his superpowers makes for a very captivating plot and creates interesting character dynamics. The entirety of this eight-episode series is now available on Disney+, so make sure to watch this inside look at the filmmaking world of the MCU.