Wonder Man Review: Redefining The Superhero Genre With A Grounded & Moving Exploration Of Unlikely Friends

Wonder Man pulls away from the rest of the MCU's Multiverse Saga to create a unique meta commentary series that has surprising depth and intrigue. Let's get the obvious out of the way from the start. Wonder Man is not a top-tier superhero as far as Marvel is concerned. And for most audiences, the character of Simon Williams is almost entirely a mystery. But, as with shows like Agatha All Along, I think that plays to the strengths of the creatives at Marvel Studios as they take more liberties with the story and create something that is unencumbered by the weight of decades of comic books.

The trailers and promo for this series have revealed that Simon Williams, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, is a struggling actor who lands a huge break when he is cast to play a superhero in a reboot of a classic Hollywood franchise, but little else is shown. And the truth is, that barely scratches the surface of what this show is about. Much of the series is concerned with the relationship between Simon and his newfound friend, Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), a formerly disgraced actor who is trying to break back into the industry after his infamous role as the Mandarin.

Wonder Man Is So Much More Than A Superhero Show

For many, the superhero genre has become stale. That's the reason terms like superhero fatigue are thrown around, along with some of the biggest names in Hollywood weighing in one way or another about this brand of storytelling. But Wonder Man sets out to prove that just because a story is set in a world where superpowers exist, it doesn't make it any less impactful. And it succeeds. This is a drama with comedy and action spliced in, digging into the mind of a man who is fighting hard to achieve his dreams.

The way that superpowers are utilized in the series introduces complexities and nuance that enhance the story and create an environment for the story to develop and change. And the result is something magical. In this way, the superhero aspect of the show becomes a sub-genre, or a category that remains a defining characteristic, though not the primary purpose of the series.

Wonder Man explores the film industry and what it is like to be an actor in Hollywood who is struggling to achieve their dream, despite having an abundance of talent and passion for the industry itself. And it manages to balance this challenging topic with humor, mystery, and tension, all while carefully existing inside a vast universe of stories, without feeling weighed down by that fact.

Ben Kingsley & Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Shine Bright In Wonder Man

At the core of any great story are the characters that make it worth following. For Wonder Man, those characters are Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery. These characters have different backgrounds, and their journeys have been very different, but they manage to forge a bond and a friendship that feels authentic and charming. While their personalities are vastly different, they are complementary.

Of course, this is thanks to the incredible performances of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, who bring immense talent to the roles. Kingsley is a veteran of the MCU at this point, and once again, echoing Agatha All Along, his character has had an unexpected arc that saw him transform from a throwaway villain to become something much greater. Trevor is more than comic relief, though he plays that part well; he is central to Wonder Man's story.

Destin Daniel Cretton's work on this series is exemplary and highlights the potential for the superhero genre to evolve. Wonder Man stands out because it refuses to conform, and while it will undoubtedly receive plenty of outrage from the so-called "die-hard fans" who hold the comic books as the gospel, it will certainly connect with anyone willing to follow the MCU's innovative and bold exploration of a lesser-known character. Funny, that's also how Iron Man kicked the MCU off in 2008...

All eight episodes of Wonder Man begin streaming on Disney+ from January 27.