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Wonder Man is a fictional character, a superhero and a long-time member of the Avengers that appears in the Marvel Universe. Wonder Man was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Avengers #9 (October 1964).

Publication history

Wonder Man previously appeared in an on-going series, a one-shot issue and now features in a limited series. The character also co-starred with the X-Man and former Avenger Beast in a limited series.

Fictional character biography

Simon Williams was born the son of a rich family, and inherited the family's company and fortune. His father died when he was in his twenties, and despite his best efforts, his company (Williams Innovations) began to decline and lose money to its biggest competitor, Tony Stark. On the advice of his brother Eric, Simon tried to embezzle money from his company and was imprisoned, blaming Tony Stark for his failure. The supervillain Baron Zemo found the desperate Williams and offered him a chance to escape by transforming him into the ion-powered Wonder Man.

Wonder Man joined the Avengers on Zemo's behalf, but ultimately turned on Zemo and was apparently killed in doing so. In a last-ditch effort to save him, the Avengers recorded Wonder Man's brain patterns (Avengers #9). Eric Williams, Wonder Man's brother, was distraught over the death of his sibling and assumed the identity of the Grim Reaper in an effort to destroy the Avengers for killing his brother. The Reaper's first attack on the Avengers was thwarted by the Black Panther. (Avengers #57)

The plan fails when Wonder Man decides to save the Avengers, apparently at the cost of his own life. Iron Man - Tony Stark's alter ego - records Wonder Man's brain patterns in the hope that one day he can be revived. Unknown to the Avengers, Wonder Man's body has simply entered a catatonic state as it adjusts to the effects of the treatment. Eric Williams becomes distraught over the apparent death of his sibling, and blaming the Avengers assumes the identity of the Grim Reaper in an effort to destroy them. The Grim Reaper attacks the Avengers three times before Wonder Man finally returns.

Wonder Man remains in suspended animation for years, and it is during this period that Ultron, the evil robot creation of Henry Pym, steals the brain patterns recorded by the Avengers for use as a template for the synthezoid Vision (the Vision is eventually revealed to be the original Human Torch, an android created by Professor Phineas Horton. This, however, only happened in mainstream continuity and other origins were possible courtesy of the Forever Crystal of Immortus).

During this vulnerable time, Wonder Man is used as pawn on three occasions. Wonder Man is briefly revived by Kang the Conqueror to battle the Avengers as part of his Legion of the Unliving, and later ressurrected as a zuvembie (an analogue of a zombie) by Black Talon and the Grim Reaper to attack the Avengers once more. On the final occasion the Living Laser hypnotises a now awake but still very weak Wonder Man in an unsuccessful attack on the Avengers. After this encounter Wonder Man chooses to remain with the Avengers, and soon after defeats the Grim Reaper, who was intent on destroying the Vision as he was "artificial" and a "mockery" of his brother.

Avenging Days

Wonder Man eventually joins the Avengers in a full-time capacity, and becomes close friends with his teammate, the Beast. For several months after his resurrection, Wonder Man suffers from slight claustrophobia and a fear of dying in battle, as he did once before. Wonder Man finally overcomes his fear of death during the final battle with Korvac. Developing an interest in acting, Wonder Man started in minor roles before moving to Hollywood, where fellow Avenger Hercules used his contacts to establish Wonder man's career. Wonder Man also worked for a time as a stuntman, a vocation considered ideal as he is invulnerable.

Wonder Man joins the West Coast Avengers, and his new-found confidence begins to become arrogance. He develops a serious rivalry with Iron Man, but sees the error of his ways after a brutal battle with the Abomination. Wonder Man eventually accepts the Vision as his "brother", there is a setback when the Vision is dismantled and rebuilt as an emotionless machine by a global conglomeration. The Scarlet Witch - the Vision's wife - asks Wonder Man to provide his brainwaves once again, but Wonder Man refuses, having feelings for her himself.

While a West Coast Avenger, Wonder Man's confidence turned to a sense of superiority, which resulted in a rivarly with fellow avenger Iron Man. He also took to wearing a green-and-red costume with jets on his back, which was largely disliked by fans. After returning from a time travel adventure, Wonder Man's agent insisted he change his costume back to the familiar black muscle shirt with the large red "W." A subsequent battle on a Hollywood set with the gamma-iradiated Abomination served to inspire return Wonder Man to focus his egotistical behavior on being a better Avenger than on being a Hollywood success.

When Avengers West Coast (renamed) disbands after a dispute, Wonder Man becomes a founder member of its successor group - Force Works. Soon after this an accident in space changes Wonder Man into a being of pure ionic energy, and during a related mission against the alien Kree Wonder Man is disintegrated in an explosion. Many months later the Scarlet Witch accidentally resurrects Wonder Man in ionic form, who appears when she is in need. Several months later the Scarlet Witch is able to fully revive Wonder Man and he now exists in an independent, more human form. It is also discovered later that the Grim Reaper - dead at the time - is also revived. Wonder Man becomes romantically involved with the Scarlet Witch, but end their affair during a global war against Kang. Wonder Man at present being blackmailed into working for S.H.I.E.L.D. to support the Superhuman Registration Act.

The Vision's wife, the Scarlet Witch, asked Wonder Man to lend his brainwaves again for her lover to be reborn, but Wonder Man refused, suddenly claiming to have always had feelings for her that he could never really voice and hoping this was his chance. Angered by his refusal, she used her powers to drop a mountainside on him, which hurt nothing but his feelings.

When the West Coast Avengers disbanded, Williams became a founder member of its successor group - Force Works, along with Iron Man, the Scarlet Witch, USAgent and Spider-Woman. However, Wonder Man was disintegrated in a battle with the alien Kree in an early mission with the group.

The Scarlet Witch was eventually able to restore Williams to life with her magic, and in the process brought back the Grim Reaper, who at the time had been a ghost. They became romantically involved, but slowly drifted apart, and ended their affair during the Kang War, promising to stay friends. Recently Simon was linked to Ms. Marvel, also known as Carol Danvers, during House of M. During the Civil War event, Williams has been blackmailed into working for S.H.I.E.L.D. with evidence of several counts of him embezzling from a charity he had set up. Simon and Ms. Marvel are supporters of the Superhuman Registration Act

Writer Peter David will write a Wonder Man miniseries beginning in December, 2006. The title of the mini series is "Wonder Man: My Fair Super Villain". Promotion art for Marvel's upcoming new ongoing title "The Mighty Avengers" reveals that Wonder Man will return to his role as an Avenger, fighting alongside his old allies Ms. Marvel and Iron Man, among others.

Powers and abilities

While Zemo's initial aim was to use ionic energy treatments to make Wonder Man at least as strong as Giant Man, the treatment surpassed Zemo's expectations as it gave Wonder Man strength comparable to Thor. Wonder Man also acquires "instantaneous reflexes", superhuman speed and extreme durability. Although Wonder Man initially used a short range rocket belt provided by Zemo to fly, he later acquired the ability to fly through ionic propulsion.

Wonder Man's strength was significantly diminished following his initial revival by the Black Talon. Through some unexplained mechanism, his full strength returned after his defeat at the hands of the Black Knight, who was previously transformed to stone by the Enchantress. The Knight's stone body was subsequently destroyed in battle with the Vision. Shortly after his full strength returned, Wonder Man learned that the ionic energy Zemo used to grant him his powers had further infused his body, making him a being composed of ionic energy. His cells were like miniature fusion reactors

After he was exposed to the energies of a Nega-Bomb in "Operation Galactic Storm", his powers entered a state of flux that lasted until his second "death" in combat with the Kree. At one point during this state of flux, energy erupted from his body and temporarily empowered a group of his non-superpowered friends and associates, who were briefly known as the "Crazy Eight". During an epic battle against Mephisto, Wonder Man learned that his ionic-energy body was capable of far greater feats than initially believed. He learned that he could fly via ionic propulsion, control his body's dimensions (including being able to grow as large as the supervillain Goliath), and fire energy blasts from his eyes. After that, he was killed by the Kree (see bio above and trivia below), and his atoms were dispersed worldwide. His body was later reformed by the Scarlet Witch. His body was now clearly in its natural state, human flesh, muscle, bone and blood cells suffused with ionic energy.

Alternate Version

MC2

In the MC2 Universe, Wonder Man was never revived after initially dying to save the Avengers, with robotic copies being utilised instead.

Guardians Of The Galaxy

In this alternature future, Wonder Man survives. His hair has turned snow-white. He reluctantly helps out the Guardians while going under the name 'Hollywood'.

Other Media

Wonder Man appears in The Avengers: United They Stand animated series, voiced by Hamish McEwan.

References

1. Wonder Man ran for 23 issues + an Annual from September 1991 - August 1993
2. Wonder Man (1986)
3. Wonder Man: My Fair Super Hero #1 - 5 (2007). Note that this series has only recently commenced
4. Avengers Two:Wonder Man and the Beast #1 - 3 (2000)
5. Avengers #3
6. Avengers #52, 79, 102 + 107 - 108
7. Avengers #57 - 58
8. Avengers #134 - 135
9. Avengers Forever #1 - 12 (1998 - 1999)
10. Avengers vol.1, #131 - 132
11. http://www.moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/123.html
12. Avengers #152
13. Avengers Annual #6
14. Avengers #160
15. Avengers #177
16. The beginning of this relationship is seen in Avengers #211
17. Mentioned by the Vision at the conclusion of Avengers #250
18. West Coast Avengers #25
19. Avengers West Coast #42 - 45
20. Force Works #1
21. Wonder Man vol. 2, #9
22. Avengers vol. 3, #3
23. Avengers vol. 3, #10 - 11
24. Avengers vol. 3, #45 - 55
25. Civil War #1 - 6 (2006)
26. Avengers #211
27. Avengers #164
28. A-Next #1 - 12

• Fictional actors
• Fictional characters who can move at superhuman speeds
• Marvel Comics characters who can fly
• Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
• Marvel Comics immortals
• Marvel Comics mutates
• Marvel Comics titles