Wonder Man Was Everything I've Missed From Marvel

When I first read that Marvel was developing a show dedicated to Wonder Man, I can't say I had very big expectations as I have no real connection to the character, but the idea of a stuntman turned superhero intrigued me! But having finished the entire show, I can confidently say Wonder Man has set the precedent for what I expect Marvel Studios to release this year, and may be one of my favorite stories the studio has told in the last 7 years. It's no secret that the MCU has been struggling to release worthwhile projects in the aftermath of their colossal saga ending film Avengers Endgame. While there has been some good movies and shows, Marvel studios seemed more interested in quantity over quality, with great projects becoming the exception rather than the rule. This was the opposite of what the Marvel Cinematic Universe had been known for in it's early years , where two films a year made for a sharper more consistent focus that the studio has struggled to maintain.

Wonder Man follows Simon Williams played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, as he does his best to make it as an actor in Hollywood, when he finds out that there is a reboot of his favorite super hero film Wonder Man that he will do anything to be cast in. For Simon acting isn't just a career, it's his dream that will bring him the happiness and belonging he's always wanted. Film holds a special place in Simon's heart, as seeing Wonder Man was a keystone memory he shares with his late father. When we meet Simon in present day, he's not doing very well, as he is fired from American Horror Story for being too over dedicated to his craft, with his girlfriend leaving him in the same day, Simon is understandably full of anger. That anger, frustration, and sense of loneliness pervade every action Simon takes over the course of the show. Simon is his own worst enemy, being a serious over thinker he tends to forget to be mindful of others, and can become more self involved than he means to be. But when Simon meets Trevor Slattery played by Ben Kingsley reprising his role from Iron Man 3 and Shang- Chi, not only does he learn about the Wonder Man auditions, the two characters also form a friendship that will help both of them grow.

While Simon does have family namely in his mother and brother Eric, he is not close to them as he fears he will never be the man they want him to be. Simon lives in the shadow of his older brother who is much more financially successful than he is, while their mother loves them both equally. The absence of their father looms over the family as a void both Eric and Simon yearn to fill. Simon's desire to be Wonder Man is in hopes that he can be the man his father was, and someone his father would be proud of.

Trevor Slattery is shown to have been an actor for many years before we met him first in Iron Man 3, while he was never hugely successful he is still recognized by the every people of the MCU. Trevor was tapped by The Department of Damage Control to spy on Simon, as they are unsure if he will be a threat or a potential asset in the future due to his powers. This makes for an easy cover for Trevor, but he sees potential in Simon and the two become best friends over the course of the show. This friendship empowers Simon to become his best self and overcome his fears of inadequacy. But Trevor has his own troubles that Simon helps him overcome. Trevor has nobody left who trusts him, and feels as though his chance to do anything meaningful has long since passed him by. By helping Simon he finds redemption for himself when nobody else would have given him a second chance.

With Trevors help Simon gains the courage to win the role of Wonder Man, where he goes on to be majorly successful for the first time in his life. Traveling around California together looking for places to film self tapes, practicing lines and getting wrapped up in troubles from Trevor's past, the two leads become inseparable. Helping each other ease their anxieties, defending each other and being a reliable friend isn't a quality that is easily found, especially with the age gap between our leads. But as Trevor helps Simon tap into his talent and shed his anxieties, he becomes the helping hand he always needed himself. The long form story telling present in Trevor's arc is what made the MCU special to begin with, as any character could progress through the years and change their story for the better.

But where does the superhero aspect come in to all of this? In a refreshing change of pace for Marvel Studios, there is no big villain or third act showdown in this story. Simon's powers only manifest in moments of duress, when his emotions overcome him resulting in waves of ionic energy releasing from his body in devastating shock waves he is unable to control. We only see his powers 4 times in the entire series and the restraint Marvel showed by having the story solely focused on being a character piece where Simon learns to control his powers through his journey of personal growth, rather than just a standard superhero action adventure is the smaller scale story telling I've been craving from the MCU in the wake of Endgame.

The show is mix between a drama and a buddy comedy, which is a formula that made for some of Marvel Studios biggest hits over the years. The choice to write a character focused story about an unlikely hero that is so detached from the larger multiverse saga Marvel as been attempting to tell makes for a much more heartfelt story that feels more personal than most Marvel projects over the last few years.

The multiverse saga has proven rather unsuccessful in my opinion as the stories have strayed so far from what make Marvel heroes special, as they are meant to be everyday people who have an opportunity to become extraordinary. Recent MCU projects have lost touch with the heart of their characters as they choose to focus on messy finales that lack heart, and feel more disconnected than ever, with end credit scenes that are teasing things we may never see. The multiverse itself is not a concept that is wholly uninteresting, but the choices Marvel Studios has made to sell the story of a multiverse have felt flat and uninspired. Wonder Man is the direction I want the MCU to pivot to, by giving us characters that are relatively obscure and telling personal stories that don't serve a larger on going story helps the MCU feel more like a lived in world where every day people can exist next to superhero's.

By the end of the series we see Simon fully in control of his abilities, maintaining a healthy relationship with his family, and successfully portraying Wonder Man. Simon goes from looking up to Wonder Man as a child, to becoming the hero children can look up to all without losing his flaws, but rather truly accepting them as a part of himself. By not allowing himself to be ruled by those negative emotions we see him weighed down by in the beginning of the series, Simon learns to control his powers and become Wonder Man. I hope that Marvel keeps this character around and makes more projects that dare to break the mold in the same way this show did.