Popverse's top stories

• After Stranger Things: The Duffer Bros. original plans for a sequel set in the 90s
• 2026 is the year of The Apothecary Diaries and we love it
• The Stranger Things ConformityGate theory exposes fandom’s obsession with “fixing” endings some don't like after the Snyder Cut

He’s a stuntman, he’s a tycoon, he’s a struggling actor, he’s an Avenger, he’s an immortal, and he’s a hero.

Meet Wonder Man, the MCU’s newest hero. Simon Williams will be making his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Wonder Man, a miniseries that premieres on Disney+ on January 27. As we get ready for the Marvel Studios television show, you might be wondering who Wonder Man is, what his role in the Marvel Universe is, and how he connects to other Avengers like Wanda and Vision.

Don’t worry, Popverse has you covered. Let’s get to know Simon Williams and dive into his career as Wonder Man.

Who is Wonder Man?

Wonder Man is a Marvel Universe superhero powered by ionic energy. Wonder Man, whose real name is Simon Williams, is a longtime Avenger who works as an actor when he isn’t saving the world. He was introduced in The Avengers #9 (1964) as a villain, but he turned against his evil partners to save the Avengers. His numerous deaths and resurrections gave him a fear of dying for some time, but he’s largely gotten over that.

What is the origin story of Wonder Man?

Simon Williams was a failed businessman who blamed Tony Stark for the downfall of his family company, Williams Innovations. Seeking to exploit Simon’s anger, Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil offered to grant him great power to help them take down the Avengers. Zemo used an ionic ray to give Simon enhanced strength and vulnerability, but there was a catch. The ionic energy in Simon’s body would kill him without a regular dose of Zemo’s special serum. This was Zemo’s way of keeping Simon under his thumb.

Taking on the name Wonder Man, Simon met the Avengers and convinced them he was a hero. After betraying them to Zemo, Wonder Man had a change of heart and turned on the Masters of Evil, saving the Avengers. Simon was seemingly killed during the confrontation, but in reality, his ionic powers kept him in a state of suspended animation while his body evolved. Since then, Wonder Man has been an on-again, off-again member of the Avengers, and occasional movie star (because every hero needs a day job).

What are the powers of Wonder Man?

Wonder Man’s body is made of ionic energy, giving him enhanced strength and durability. Simon can lift over 100 tons, and his strength has been compared to Hulk, Hercules, and Thor. Wonder Man is faster than Olympic athletes and has the ability to leap great distances. Simon’s durability allows him to withstand most human weapons without getting hurt.

In his early appearances, Wonder Man needed a jetpack to fly, but his powers have evolved, allowing him to fly. His ionic energy allows him to survive without food or water, in addition to healing Simon if he gets sick. In other words, he’s as close to being immortal as you can get in the Marvel Universe (despite dying a few times).

Wonder Man can manipulate the ionic energy in his body to create blasts, alter his size, and create force fields. Over time, the ionic energy took over Simon’s body, replacing his organic parts. In other words, he’s not made of flesh and blood, he’s a being of pure energy with a humanoid appearance.

What are the best Wonder Man comics?

If you want to learn more about Wonder Man, you can check out his first appearance and origin from Avengers #9 (1964). While the character has come a long way since then, it’s a great way to get the basics of his backstory and see how far he’s come.

Simon was really fleshed out as a character in the 1984 West Coast Avengers limited series and the subsequent 1985 ongoing series. These comics explored Simon’s fear of death, his unresolved feelings for Scarlet Witch, and his desire to be an actor. If you want a Hollywood-centric Wonder Man story, you should definitely check out West Coast Avengers #25, which centers around a film premiere for one of Simon’s movies.

Wonder Man also had his own ongoing series, which began in 1991 and ran for 29 issues. While not as iconic as his run with the West Coast Avengers, the 1991 Wonder Man ongoing was a good exploration of Simon as a solo hero away from the Avengers.

How does Wonder Man connect to Wanda and Vision?

Wonder Man has a complicated place in Wanda and Vision’s history. The villainous android Ultron created Vision using Wonder Man’s brainwave patterns. This means that Vision’s identity was modeled after Simon’s memories and personality. For a time, this created some tension between the two Avengers, but they came to regard one another as twin brothers.

Over time, Simon developed feelings for Wanda, the Scarlet Witch. Wanda was married to Vision at the time, which created some tension between the three heroes. In Avengers #11 (1998) Wanda, now divorced from Vision, begins a romance with Wonder Man. Their romance fizzled out in Avengers #51 (2002), with the two agreeing to remain good friends.

For the most part, Wanda, Simon, and Vision are on good terms now, even if there’s some occasional awkwardness.

Who is the actor playing Wonder Man in the MCU?

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will be playing Wonder Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If you’re into superhero media, then you might remember Abdul-Mateen as Black Manta in Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. He also played Doctor Manhattan in HBO’s The Watchmen series. Abdul-Mateen will make his MCU debut in the Disney+ miniseries Wonder Man, which premieres on January 27. Abdul-Mateen’s version of Simon Williams will be an actor starring in a remake of an in-universe Wonder Man movie. When Williams gains superpowers, he tries to hide them, fearing they might hurt his film career.

Consider this a meta post-credits scene for Marvel fans - the four key articles you need to read next to continue the thrills:

• How to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe in release or chronological order
• The best Marvel Comics stories of all time
• All the MCU movies ranked from best to worst
• Our weekly Marvel insider's column, Marvel Matters