Why Marvel’s ‘Wonder Man’ Could Be the Weirdest—and Most Fun—MCU Series Yet
Marvel’s Wonder Man is about to land on Disney+, and for once the star of a Marvel Cinematic Universe series isn’t a household name. Even among comic readers, Simon Williams has always been more cult favorite than marquee hero. With Marvel positioning this as its first major MCU project of 2026 and The Ringer framing it as a “primer-needed” show, it’s worth understanding who this guy is—and why Marvel is betting on him—before you hit “Play” on that binge drop.
What follows is a spoiler-light, character-focused guide: a mix of comics history, MCU speculation, and some context on why Wonder Man might quietly be one of Marvel’s most flexible toys in the box—part superhero, part Hollywood satire, part existential weirdo.
Who Is Wonder Man? Simon Williams in a Nutshell
In Marvel Comics, Wonder Man is Simon Williams: failed industrialist, sometime villain, reluctant hero, and full‑time Hollywood himbo. He debuted back in 1964’s Avengers #9, created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck, and was originally killed off in the very issue he appeared in. Classic Marvel move.
- Real name: Simon Williams
- Alias: Wonder Man
- Day job (often): Stuntman, actor, Hollywood fixture
- Primary team affiliations: The Avengers, West Coast Avengers
- Signature vibe: Super-powered celebrity with a messy emotional core
Where someone like Captain America is built to be an icon, Simon is built to be a character: insecure, self‑sabotaging, occasionally washed, but fundamentally decent. That’s the energy Marvel is leaning into for the MCU series—and it’s a big reason critics and sites like The Ringer see him as fertile ground for a more self‑aware, Hollywood‑skewering superhero show.
Comic-Book Origins: From Business Failure to Ionic Powerhouse
The comic version of Simon Williams starts out not as a hero, but as a guy whose life has gone terribly off‑script. His family company, Williams Innovations, is run into the ground while competing with Tony Stark. Desperate and resentful, Simon gets pulled into a scheme with Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil, which ends with him transformed into an “ionic” being—basically a walking energy reactor—and sent to infiltrate the Avengers.
The twist: Simon can’t go through with betraying Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. He sacrifices himself to save them and “dies,” seemingly for good. For years, Wonder Man is just a tragic footnote—until writers bring him back, now fully powered, as a morally complicated Avenger who remembers starting out on the wrong side.
“He was never meant to be a headliner, but he became this fascinating way to explore fame, guilt, and second chances inside a superhero universe.”
That throughline—failure, resentment, reinvention—is crucial to understanding why Marvel is rolling him out now, when the MCU is itself in a phase of self‑correction and re‑branding.
What Are Wonder Man’s Powers in the MCU and Comics?
On paper, Wonder Man is wildly overpowered. His body is suffused with ionic energy, giving him a suite of abilities that put him near the top tier of Marvel strong guys. The fun is that he often has more emotional baggage than your average cosmic god.
- Super strength & durability: Able to trade blows with Thor‑level threats.
- Flight: Often depicted as flying via ionic energy manipulation.
- Longevity: His ionic form basically makes him ageless and very hard to kill.
- Energy manipulation: In later runs, he can project or channel ionic blasts.
- “Energy being” mode: Sometimes portrayed as pure energy held in a humanoid shape.
The series is likely to keep the general idea—Simon as an energy‑powered, almost indestructible presence—but tweak the sci‑fi explanation to fit the MCU’s existing language about Stark tech, experimental energy sources, and maybe even multiversal weirdness.
Wonder Man as Hollywood Satire: Why This Show Feels Different
The comics eventually reinvent Simon as a full‑blown Hollywood figure: an Avenger who becomes a stuntman, actor, and low‑key celebrity. That’s where Wonder Man sings—he’s a superhero in the Marvel Universe, but he’s also a “working actor” in an industry that chews people up.
That’s a big part of why entertainment writers have had their eye on this project. The Ringer’s coverage has leaned into the idea of Wonder Man as Marvel’s chance to riff on:
- The MCU as an industry inside its own fictional world.
- Superheroes as influencers, brands, and IP.
- How fame amplifies insecurity, especially for a guy whose life started with public failure.
“If She-Hulk was Marvel’s legal comedy and WandaVision its sitcom experiment, Wonder Man is poised to be its Hollywood satire—a show about a guy who’s equal parts Avenger and struggling actor.”
If the series leans into that tone—part industry commentary, part character study—it could feel more like a premium dramedy that happens to be set in the MCU, rather than another world‑ending mission.
Key Relationships: Vision, Scarlet Witch, and the Avengers Legacy
One of the stranger pieces of Wonder Man lore is how deeply he’s tied to Vision and Scarlet Witch in the comics. In classic Marvel continuity, Vision’s personality matrix is originally based on Simon’s brain patterns. Translation: the android Avenger is, in a way, built from Wonder Man’s mind.
That connection leads to an unusually emotional triangle between:
- Simon Williams: The human whose brain patterns were used.
- Vision: The synthezoid who inherits some of Simon’s emotional wiring.
- Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch): The woman who loves Vision, and at times has complicated feelings for Simon.
The MCU has already taken Wanda and Vision through their tragic arc in WandaVision, but Simon’s arrival opens doors: flashbacks, rewrites, or new emotional fallout around what it means for Wanda to meet the man whose inner life may have shaped her greatest love.
What Tone to Expect: Between ‘She-Hulk’ and ‘WandaVision’
Based on Marvel’s marketing and early critical chatter, Wonder Man looks like it will sit in the tonal space between She-Hulk and WandaVision—industry‑aware, comedic, but with a surprisingly introspective core.
Expect:
- Comedy: Jokes about Hollywood, superhero branding, and the absurdity of trying to act “normal” when you’re literally glowing with ionic power.
- Melodrama: Simon’s guilt, impostor syndrome, and history as a failed businessman turned reluctant star.
- Industry in‑jokes: Casting drama, stunt work chaos, and pretend MCU movies inside the actual MCU.
- Action: Smaller‑scale fights centered more on personal stakes than cosmic cataclysms.
The Ringer and other outlets have pointed out that Marvel needs projects that feel like TV shows first, MCU entries second. Wonder Man is positioned to be exactly that: character‑led, stylized, and willing to poke fun at its own corporate ecosystem.
Potential Strengths and Weaknesses of ‘Wonder Man’
Going in, it’s worth having realistic expectations. Wonder Man isn’t built to be another Infinity War–scale pillar; it’s Marvel doing a character study with genre flourishes.
What Could Work Really Well
- Fresh protagonist: No cultural baggage, no sky‑high fan expectations—just room to surprise people.
- Hollywood setting: Instantly relatable, visually distinct, and ripe for satire.
- Emotional hook: A guy who genuinely failed, got a second chance, and doesn’t know what to do with it.
- Cross‑media commentary: Space to gently roast Marvel, streaming culture, and the franchise machine.
Where It Could Stumble
- Tonal balance: Lean too hard into Hollywood jokes and the emotional arc might feel thin; lean too dark and the satire goes flat.
- MCU fatigue: Viewers burnt out on interconnected lore might not instantly warm up, even with a clean‑slate hero.
- Villain stakes: Grounded antagonists can be refreshing, but they need sharp writing to feel compelling.
“The risk and the opportunity are the same: most people don’t know or care who Wonder Man is. That gives Marvel almost total freedom—but also no built‑in safety net.”
A Quick Comic Reading Primer Before You Watch
You don’t need to do homework before the show drops, but if The Ringer’s article sent you down the rabbit hole and you want a bit of extra context, a few comics runs are worth knowing about.
- Avengers #9 (1964) – Simon’s original debut and “death.” More historical curiosity than must‑read, but it sets the template.
- 1970s–80s Avengers runs – Build his redemption arc and cement him as a core team member.
- West Coast Avengers – Leans into his Hollywood life and his dynamic with Vision and Wanda.
- Later solo stories – Smaller arcs that treat him as a semi‑washed celebrity hero trying to get his life together.
How to Watch ‘Wonder Man’: Binge Strategy and Viewing Tips
With Marvel dropping Wonder Man as a binge‑ready season instead of weekly episodes, it’s being implicitly framed more like a premium cable dramedy than a traditional superhero show. A few tips before you dive in:
- Give it a couple of episodes: Shows built around flawed leads often take a bit to find their emotional groove.
- Don’t stress the lore: Treat continuity nods as seasoning, not homework—this is designed to be newcomer‑friendly.
- Watch for meta jokes: Casting gags, fake movie posters, and throwaway lines about franchises will likely reward attentive viewers.
- Expect tonal shifts: The series may swing from broad comedy to surprisingly earnest drama; that’s a feature, not a bug.
If you’re the kind of viewer who liked Andor for its grounded politics or Barry for its Hollywood‑meets‑violence absurdity, Wonder Man might be your lane in the modern MCU.
Trailer and First Impressions: What the Marketing Is Telling Us
Marvel’s trailers for Wonder Man have leaned heavily on Simon’s dual identity: red‑jacketed, sunglasses‑on, almost rock‑star energy on the surface; fracturing, insecure, and overwhelmed underneath. The Los Angeles backdrop is front‑and‑center—soundstages, backlots, premieres, and dingy apartments all sharing screen time.
The marketing also suggests:
- Supportive ensemble: Agents, stunt coordinators, fellow actors, and maybe a few other powered individuals orbiting Simon.
- Stylized visuals: Neon‑tinged nightlife, bold color palettes, and a distinct look compared with Marvel’s more conventional cityscapes.
- Controlled MCU cameos: Enough to anchor the show in the universe, but not so much that it becomes cameo‑driven fan service.
If you haven’t watched the trailer yet, it’s worth checking Marvel’s official YouTube channel or the videos tab on the Wonder Man IMDb page for the latest clips and featurettes.
Final Thoughts: Why ‘Wonder Man’ Matters More Than You Think
Even if you’ve never bought a comic with Simon Williams on the cover, Wonder Man is arriving at a pivotal time for Marvel. After years of cosmic stakes and multiverse charts, the MCU needs shows that feel personal, specific, and a little weird. A super‑powered Hollywood character study about a man who quite literally glows with potential but still doesn’t know who he is? That’s fertile ground.
The Ringer’s decision to publish a detailed primer isn’t just fan service—it’s a sign that this is a swing, not a fill‑in. If Marvel can balance the satire with sincerity and let Simon be flawed without turning him into a punchline, Wonder Man could quietly become one of the MCU’s most rewatchable series.
So before you dive into the binge this week, all you really need to know is this: Simon Williams is Marvel’s avatar for washed‑up potential and second chances. If that hits a little close to home—for the character, for Hollywood, and maybe even for the MCU itself—that’s exactly the point.
