The following Wonder Man review is spoiler-free.
Marvel Studios returns to Disney+ with its second-ever spotlight series, following up on Echo with an all-new story featuring the struggling actor Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) in Wonder Man. The series is self-contained and doesn’t require any prior MCU knowledge to enjoy, though Marvel fans will appreciate the volume of Easter Eggs and callbacks to previous films.
All eight episodes of the newest MCU installment release on Disney+ on January 27 as a binge model, though that’s certainly not an indictment of the series’ quality. Wonder Man features suspenseful twists and turns throughout, plus a unique storytelling style that doesn’t feel like a typical Marvel Television show.
Much like the Marvel Spotlight categorization suggests, the series focuses on telling the story of Simon Williams rather than setting up the future of the MCU. Check out our full Wonder Man spoiler-free review!
Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery Explore the Power of Friendship
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II performs admirably in the lead role, portraying a flawed character that audiences won’t be able to help but root for. However, the real magic happens when Simon Williams shares the screen with Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley). They’re both incredible in their individual roles, but it’s their chemistry together that makes Wonder Man work so well.
Their personalities couldn’t be more different, yet their shared passion for acting, alongside their struggles with loneliness and self-worth, bind them together like two sides of the same coin. Although the series shines when focusing on their adventures, it does lag briefly in the middle when it explores other stories.
From a quality standpoint, this series deserves to be enjoyed by a weekly audience tuning in at the same time. However, the story in the middle episodes works better binged, as the episodes are shorter and feature less of the dynamic duo of Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery.
‘Wonder Man’ Highlights the Potential for Marvel Television on Disney+
Despite Marvel Television delivering some must-watch bangers in the past, like WandaVision and Loki, many still view MCU world-building on Disney+ as homework. By highlighting a lesser-known (for non-comic readers) Marvel character like Simon Williams in a spotlight series that doesn’t worry about setting up the future of the universe, Wonder Man delivers an intimate, contained story that focuses on character growth.
While that undoubtedly leaves the next time we see Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in the MCU up in the air, the series beautifully walks the tightrope of teasing Marvel fans with references and story beats they’ll recognize, while providing a contained story that will make sense even for those who have never seen a Marvel Studios project.
All eight episodes of Wonder Man will begin streaming exclusively on Disney+ on January 27. Follow the Agents of Fandom podcast and socials for more Wonder Man content, as well as all the latest entertainment news and reviews.
Written by
TJ Zwarych
Thanks for checking out the Agents of Fandom! I co-founded AOF alongside two of my best friends, Garrett Blaney and Ruben Ripalda. I belong to many fandoms including Marvel, DC, Star Wars and so much more. I grew up reading comics and watching as many cartoons as I could l with Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Pokemon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh and more being among my favorites. These days, I host the Agents of Fandom podcast and am one of the top Fantasy Sports players in the world. In addition to my work at AOF, I also provide content for RotoGrinders.com to help people with sports betting and daily fantasy sports. I have degrees in Education as well as Psychology and taught middle years students for 5 years. I eventually left teaching to pursue my passions and aim to make the Agents of Fandom a community in which people can enjoy their favorite content with friends from around the world.
