Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man, is a man of many faces. First he was a supervillain who was manipulated by Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil to battle the Avengers. Later, he became a card-carrying member of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, forming a long-lasting friendship with the Beast and romantic tension with Scarlet Witch. Then he died and came back to life. But above all else, Simon is an actor, and Wonder Man #1 tackles that aspect of his life head on.
Following a lull in his career, Simon is contacted by Timely Studios to handle a sensitive matter regarding one of their stars, Randolph Chancellor. Simon met Randolph back when they served a stint in prison, and it looks like Randolph has gone back to his old ways as he’s potentially lifted $13 million from Timely’s coffers. To make matters worse, Patsy Walker, aka Hellcat, is leading the investigation and Simon lands in her crosshairs. That’s not even getting into the fact that Simon’s brother Eric, the villain known as the Grim Reaper, has entered his life.
It’s pretty clear that Wonder Man #1 was meant to be a springboard off the Wonder Man television series, given the focus on Simon’s Hollywood career. Randolph’s British accent and ne’er-do-well personality will more than likely remind some readers of Trevor Slattery, as well. Gerry Duggan does manage to add his own flair, weaving a mystery with plenty of comedic elements (including Simon nearly chucking his phone halfway across California when he learns he has to deal with Randolph again) and picking up plot threads from his short-lived West Coast Avengers run, even bringing back Killerwatt for a cameo. I also love that Duggan touches upon various points in Simon’s history, showcasing how his life’s been a series of ups and downs.
Marvel
Bringing Wonder Man #1 to life falls to Mark Buckingham, and it’s a task he more than excels at. Buckingham, alongside inker Aurie Jimenez and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, develops a unique visual identity for the comic that plays into its Hollywood roots. The borders of each page are designed to resemble a film strip, while flashbacks to the past take on a sepia tone that makes them feel like you’re watching an old film. Joe Caramaga also gets in on the action by designing some of his word balloons to resemble excerpts from a film script, which only highlights the satirical tone Duggan is aiming for.
More than anything else, Wonder Man #1 gets the struggle of working in Hollywood, and more importantly, the struggle to fulfill your dreams. I’ve known people in California who wanted nothing more than to make movies and who still keep that dream alive despite a constantly shifting entertainment landscape and the outright astronomical cost of living in Los Angeles. The script even touches on the fallout of last year’s wildfires in California, and how people are struggling to rebuild, giving it that classic “world outside your window” element that makes the Marvel Universe unique.
Wonder Man #1 tackles the ups and downs of superheroing and superstardom, delivering plenty of wit and mystery. It’s also the perfect introduction to Simon Williams if you watched the Wonder Man show and want to know more about his character, or want a story with similar vibes.
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