Get to know Wonder Man through this collection, which includes origins, resurrections, reactions, and redemption. There is quite a buzz around Wonder Man since he will be getting an MCU show on Disney+; Marvel Comics has released quite a few collections about the hero. There is an omnibus, a Marvel-Verse, and this trade paperback. Which is the best choice, and what does this collection have that should put it on your radar?
Marvel Comics
Here is a rundown of what is inside this trade paperback collection:
- Avengers (vol 1) #9 by Stan Lee and Don Heck, featuring Wonder Man’s first appearance and death.
- Avengers (vol 1) #152, 153, and Annual #6 by Gerry Conway, Steve Englehart, John Buscema, and George Perez, giving us Wonder Man’s return to the living.
- Wonder Man (vol 1) #1 by David Michelinie and Kerry Gammill gives us a look at the employment problems of Wonder Man.
- Tales of the Marvels: Wonder Years by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Igor Kordey show us how superhero deaths affect their fans and followers.
- Avengers Two: Wonder Man and Beast by Roger Stern and Mark Bagley gives us a great adventure with one of comics’ best set of friends.
- Wonder Man (vol 3), My Fair Superhero by Peter David and Andrew Currie is a tale of redemption and loss.
Knowing what is contained and comparing it to the recently released Marvel-Verse Wonder Man trade, I suggest sticking with the Marvel-Verse collection. While The Saga of Simon Williams has more content, it isn’t material that is hard to get. Last year, Marvel released a Marvel Tales that collected the Avengers Two story, and Wonder Man (vol 3) has already been collected as a trade and can probably purchased at a lower price. The Wonder Years story would be back issues to hunt for, so you could get the best parts of this trade at a possibly lower price than this trade paperback will cost.
Marvel Comics
Within the trade collection, the first appearance is a fun one-and-done story that introduces us to Wonder Man while showing how tragic his story is. I will say that for the next part of the trade story, I appreciate that the collected editions included the “cliffhanger” ending from Avengers #151. However, the following issues are less entertaining and seem very tangent to Wonder Man’s story. Yes, it is his return to the book, but his story is just the background to the main story that challenges the Avengers. It was a dense story to get through that didn’t have much payout for Simon Williams’ saga.
The next story is a beautiful piece with fantastic art but is more about Cindy Knutz. I recommend reading this mini-series even if you pass on this trade, as it is wonderful: a spiritual sequel or installment to Marvels showing us how these heroes change everyday lives. The last two stories would be the best pieces that showcase Simon’s character. Avengers Two is helping Simon return to the world of the living after his second death, and what better way to face those tribulations than with a good friend? The friendship of Wonder Man and Beast is a top-tier example, and this adventure is pure buddy-cop goodness. Plus, it fixes leftover plot points from Wonder Man’s second series and has Cindy appear.
Marvel Comics
The final tragic story brings My Fair Lady to comic book adventures. Here, we get a tense challenge between Wonder Man and his agent, Neal Saroyan, about reforming Ladykiller. There is plenty of story with this portion, and you get invested in the characters and want the best for them, but sadly, some fates can’t be escaped. While the art might leave you wanting, the story picks up the interest and keeps you hooked. In the last half of the trade, the stories get into the “Saga of Simon Williams” as a character. While there isn’t much material collected about Wonder Man, I would suggest getting the stories in other ways to save money and avoid collections with similar content. Yet, if this is your only Wonder Man collection, you are in for some excellent character depth as you progress through this trade paperback.
This trade features a mix of stories from Wonder Man’s long history in the Marvel Universe. The first portion sets things up and gives you insights into Wonder Man’s world. The second half takes you on a character-driven ride that challenges Wonder Man as he deals with loss, friendship, and guilt. We also see how heroic sacrifice can affect ordinary people who worship heroes. If this is your first Wonder Man collection, I would recommend it as it is an excellent overview, but if you have some of the newer collections, you might find yourself double collecting.
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