====== Wonder Man ======
===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary =====
  *   **Core Identity:** **Simon Williams is an industrialist-turned-superhero whose body was transformed into a being of pure ionic energy, granting him immense power and functional immortality, forever linking him to the Avengers, the [[vision|Vision]], and the [[scarlet_witch|Scarlet Witch]].**
  *   **Key Takeaways:**
  * **Role in the Universe:** Initially created as a tragic villain to destroy the [[avengers|Avengers]], Wonder Man overcame his origins to become a cornerstone member of the team, particularly the [[west_coast_avengers|West Coast Avengers]]. His parallel career as a Hollywood actor makes him one of Marvel's most prominent celebrity superheroes, constantly balancing fame with heroic duty.
  * **Primary Impact:** Wonder Man's single most significant contribution to the Marvel Universe was the recording of his brain patterns by [[ultron|Ultron]], which were used to give the synthezoid [[vision|Vision]] his personality and capacity for emotion. This created an eternal, complex bond between the two, often described as a brotherhood, and placed them both in a tragic love triangle with the [[scarlet_witch|Scarlet Witch]].
  * **Key Incarnations:** In the Earth-616 comics, Simon Williams is a character defined by decades of history, death, and rebirth, with deep ties to the Avengers' core legacy. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his introduction is still forthcoming, but is poised to focus heavily on his status as a Hollywood actor, exploring the theme of superhero celebrity in a satirical light, representing a significant departure from his industrialist and villainous comic book origins.
===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution =====
==== Publication History and Creation ====
Wonder Man made his debut in **//The Avengers #9//** in October 1964, a product of the legendary creative team of writer Stan Lee, scripter Don Heck, and penciler Jack Kirby. His creation was a notable experiment for the Silver Age. At a time when most villains were recurring threats, Wonder Man was conceived as a one-off character, designed to infiltrate the Avengers and die a heroic, redemptive death within a single issue. This tragic arc was unique and resonated with readers, but his death was, for a time, considered permanent.
His visual design, particularly his original green and red costume, was distinct and somewhat garish, a hallmark of the era's villain aesthetics. The name "Wonder Man" itself was a bold choice, as it directly challenged DC Comics' "Wonder Woman," though the characters bear no resemblance. For over a decade, Simon Williams remained deceased in the comics, a rare example of a character death that stuck.
However, his legacy persisted through the Vision, who was introduced in //The Avengers #57// (1968). The revelation that Vision's mind was based on Wonder Man's brain patterns kept the character relevant. This connection ultimately provided the narrative justification for his full-fledged resurrection in //The Avengers #151// (1976), where he was brought back and slowly integrated into the team he was once meant to destroy. His subsequent evolution into a Hollywood movie star and a core member of the West Coast Avengers in the 1980s, under writers like Roger Stern and Steve Englehart, cemented his status as a complex and enduring Marvel hero.
==== In-Universe Origin Story ====
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
Simon Williams was born into wealth and privilege as the younger son of Sanford Williams, founder of the successful munitions company, Williams Innovations. While his older brother, Eric, was rebellious and considered the black sheep, Simon was the dutiful son, dedicated to the family business. However, upon his father's death, Simon inherited a company struggling to compete with the juggernaut of [[stark_industries|Stark Industries]]. Lacking his father's inventive genius and business acumen, Simon made a series of poor decisions, eventually turning to illegal means, embezzling funds from his own company in a desperate attempt to keep it afloat. His crimes were discovered, and Simon was arrested, blaming Tony Stark for all his misfortunes.
While out on bail and disgraced, Simon was contacted by the original [[baron_zemo|Baron Zemo]], leader of the first Masters of Evil. Zemo offered Simon a chance for revenge on Tony Stark and the Avengers. He paid Simon's bail and subjected him to a radical experimental "ionic ray" treatment. The procedure bombarded Simon's body with massive doses of ionic energy, transforming him into a being of incredible power. Zemo christened him "Wonder Man" and laid out his plan: Wonder Man would pretend to be a new hero, gain the Avengers' trust, and then betray them at a critical moment.
To ensure his compliance, Zemo revealed a cruel twist: the ionic energy treatment was fatal. Without regular doses of a serum only Zemo possessed, Simon would die within a week. Trapped and desperate, Simon agreed. He staged a public battle with the Masters of Evil, "defeating" them to earn the Avengers' praise and an invitation to join. However, during his time with the heroes, he was struck by their nobility and selflessness, particularly that of [[captain_america|Captain America]]. When Zemo ordered him to spring the trap, Simon's conscience got the better of him. He defied Zemo and helped the Avengers defeat the Masters of Evil, saving them at the cost of his own life as the ionic poisoning seemingly consumed him. His body was placed in a state of suspended animation, and the Avengers mourned the man who died a hero.
For years, Simon existed in this comatose state, his mind a silent recording. It was during this period that the villainous robot [[ultron|Ultron]] stole a copy of Simon's brain patterns to serve as the emotional matrix for his new synthezoid creation, the Vision. Later, Simon's body was stolen by his now-villainous brother, Eric, who had become the [[grim_reaper|Grim Reaper]]. The Grim Reaper attempted several times to place the Vision's mind into Simon's body, believing it was the only way to truly "revive" his brother. These attempts failed, but Simon was eventually and truly resurrected through a combination of voodoo magic and technology, returning to a world that had moved on. He struggled with psychological trauma and a deep-seated fear of dying again, but with the help of his new "brother" the Vision and his friends in the Avengers, he finally found his place as a true and lasting hero.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ===
As of the current timeline, Simon Williams, also known as Wonder Man, has not yet made his official debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His existence, however, has been confirmed through easter eggs and the announcement of a dedicated Disney+ series.
The first hint of his presence was in a collection of deleted scenes and on-set photos from **//Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2//** (2017). These materials showed a series of movie posters outside a theater, all starring an actor named Simon Williams, portrayed by Nathan Fillion. The posters were for fictional films, including a biopic of Tony Stark titled //Tony Stark//, a rom-com called //Oh, Rebecca!//, and a fantasy film titled //Arkon//. This established the MCU's initial concept for Simon Williams as a well-known actor within the universe, a nod to his comic book career path but positioning it as his primary identity from the start.
The character is slated to be formally introduced in the upcoming Disney+ series, **//Wonder Man//**. Actor **Yahya Abdul-Mateen II** has been cast in the lead role of Simon Williams. The series is being developed as a Hollywood satire, suggesting it will heavily lean into Simon's life as a celebrity who also happens to gain superpowers.
His in-universe origin story within the MCU remains unrevealed. However, key divergences from the comic canon are almost certain. The foundational element of his brain patterns being used for the Vision is not possible in the MCU, as the cinematic Vision's consciousness was a unique amalgamation of the Mind Stone, Tony Stark's J.A.R.V.I.S. A.I., and Ultron's programming, with no connection to a human mind. Furthermore, his comic book origin as a rival industrialist to Stark Industries is less likely, given the MCU's focus on his acting career. It is more probable that his powers will be gained through a Hollywood-related accident, a failed stunt, or a scientific experiment he becomes involved in, perhaps as part of the fallout from the proliferation of super-soldiers and other powered individuals in the post-`Endgame` world. The MCU's Wonder Man appears poised to explore themes of fame, identity, and the commercialization of heroism in a way that is distinct from his comic book counterpart's journey of redemption and self-discovery.
===== Part 3: Abilities, Equipment & Personality =====
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
Simon Williams' physiology was fundamentally and permanently altered by Baron Zemo's ionic ray bombardment. He is no longer a human being of flesh and blood but is a living construct of pure, solidified ionic energy. This state grants him a vast array of powers and makes him one of the most physically formidable beings on Earth.
  *   **Ionic Energy Physiology:** Simon's body is a self-contained, self-sustaining ionic energy form. He does not need to eat, sleep, or breathe, and is immune to all terrestrial diseases and toxins. This form is the source of all his powers.
  * **Superhuman Strength:** Wonder Man is a powerhouse in the Class 100+ strength category, placing him in the same upper echelon as beings like [[thor|Thor]], the [[hulk|Hulk]], and Hercules. He can lift well over 100 tons with ease and has performed staggering feats of strength, such as single-handedly stopping a moving battleship and physically overpowering entire teams of superhumans.
  * **Superhuman Speed and Reflexes:** While not a speedster on the level of [[quicksilver|Quicksilver]], Wonder Man can fly at supersonic speeds and his reflexes are enhanced to a degree that allows him to catch bullets and react to threats moving faster than the human eye can see.
  * **Invulnerability:** His ionic form is incredibly dense and durable, making him nearly impervious to physical harm. He can withstand high-caliber bullets, artillery shells, massive impacts, extreme temperatures, and powerful energy blasts without injury. He has survived a point-blank nuclear explosion and direct hits from Thor's hammer, Mjolnir.
  * **Immortality:** As an energy being, Simon does not age. He is functionally immortal. While his physical form can be disrupted or dispersed by overwhelmingly powerful forces, he cannot truly be killed. As long as a fragment of his ionic energy pattern remains, he can eventually reform and reconstitute his body, a process that can take time but is ultimately inevitable. This has been a source of both great strength and profound psychological distress for him.
  * **Flight:** Wonder Man can propel himself through the air by manipulating his personal ionic energy field, allowing him to fly at tremendous speeds. He originally required a rocket-pack for flight but quickly mastered the ability to fly under his own power.
  * **Ionic Energy Projection:** Simon can channel and project his body's ionic energy as powerful, concussive blasts from his hands and eyes. The intensity of these blasts can range from a gentle push to a force capable of leveling a city block.
  * **Enhanced Senses:** His senses are heightened far beyond human norms, particularly his vision, which allows him to perceive energy signatures and frequencies invisible to others.
  *   **Weaknesses:**
  * **Psychological Instability:** His unique state of being—neither truly alive in a biological sense nor dead—has taken a severe toll on his mental health over the years. He has suffered from a profound fear of "dying" again (being dispersed), bouts of depression, and periods of extreme moral conviction, such as his controversial phase of pacifism.
  * **Energy Disruption:** While highly durable, his form is susceptible to specific types of energy that can disrupt or drain his ionic matrix. Villains like Count Nefaria (who also possesses ionic powers) and devices designed to syphon energy have proven effective against him.
  *   **Personality:**
Simon's personality has undergone a dramatic evolution. Initially, he was a bitter, insecure, and guilt-ridden man, easily manipulated by Zemo. After his resurrection, he was timid and plagued by self-doubt and fear. However, upon joining the West Coast Avengers and finding success as an actor, he developed a much more confident, outgoing, and sometimes arrogant persona. He is famously the best friend of [[beast|Hank McCoy]], with whom he shares a jovial, fun-loving dynamic. Beneath the Hollywood bravado, however, Simon is deeply loyal, compassionate, and romantic. His love for the Scarlet Witch is one of his defining traits, as is his brotherly bond with the Vision. He can also be deeply principled, sometimes to a fault, as demonstrated when his belief that the Avengers caused more harm than good led him to form the "Revengers" to oppose them.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ===
Wonder Man's abilities and personality in the MCU are largely speculative, based on the confirmed premise of his upcoming series.
  *   **Abilities (Anticipated):** It is highly likely that the MCU will retain the core concept of his powers originating from "ionic energy," though the source may be different (e.g., an industrial accident, a cosmic event, or a deliberate experiment). We can expect to see:
  * **Superhuman Strength and Durability:** These are his signature powers and are essential to the character. His power level will likely place him in the upper tier of MCU heroes, comparable to Captain Marvel or Thor, to establish him as a significant player.
  * **Flight:** Another core power that is almost certain to be included for visual dynamism.
  * **Energy Blasts:** Visual effects for ionic energy projection would be a natural fit for his on-screen power set.
  * The concept of his **immortality and energy-based body** may be a central plot point, exploring the psychological and existential consequences of such a transformation.
  *   **Personality (Anticipated):** The series' description as a "Hollywood satire" provides the biggest clue. The MCU's Simon Williams will likely be introduced as already possessing a significant ego and a flair for the dramatic due to his acting career. His journey may be one of learning to be a genuine hero rather than just "playing" one for the cameras.
  * **Celebrity Persona:** Expect a character who is initially more concerned with his public image, endorsements, and fame than with the responsibilities of his powers. This would put him in stark contrast to heroes like Steve Rogers.
  * **Inner Conflict:** The central conflict will likely be his struggle to reconcile his public persona as "Wonder Man" with the reality of being Simon Williams. He may grapple with imposter syndrome or, conversely, an inflated sense of self-worth.
  * **Comparative Analysis:** This characterization would be a significant shift from his early comic book self. Instead of a journey from corporate criminal to hero, the MCU seems poised to tell a story of a superficial celebrity becoming a person of substance. It takes the "actor" aspect, which was a later development in the comics, and makes it his foundational identity.
===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network =====
==== Core Allies ====
  *   **[[scarlet_witch|The Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff)]]:** Simon's most profound and complicated relationship. He fell in love with Wanda while on the Avengers, but she was married to the Vision. This created a long-standing, painful love triangle. Because Vision's personality was based on Simon's mind, Wanda's love for the synthezoid was intrinsically linked to her feelings for Simon. He served as her unwavering emotional support, especially after Vision was dismantled and rebuilt as an emotionless machine. They have shared a deep romance at various points, with Simon's love for her being so absolute that he has stood by her even during her most destructive acts, like //Avengers Disassembled//.
  *   **[[vision|The Vision]]:** Simon considers Vision to be his brother. Their relationship began with tension and rivalry over Wanda, but it evolved into a deep, familial bond. Simon initially resented Vision for "stealing" his mind and the woman he loved, but he came to accept that they were two distinct beings who shared a common origin. He was devastated by Vision's deconstruction and has often acted as a protector of Vision's legacy and his family with Wanda.
  *   **[[beast|The Beast (Hank McCoy)]]:** Simon's best friend. Their friendship was a highlight of the West Coast Avengers era. The two were inseparable, a classic "buddy-cop" duo who balanced high-stakes superheroics with nights out on the town. Beast's genius intellect and down-to-earth wit provided a perfect foil for Simon's Hollywood ego and emotional turmoil. Hank has always been Simon's most trusted confidant, helping him navigate the complexities of his ionic existence and his tumultuous love life.
==== Arch-Enemies ====
  *   **[[grim_reaper|The Grim Reaper (Eric Williams)]]:** Simon's own brother, Eric, is his greatest and most personal foe. Eric always resented Simon for being their parents' favorite. After Simon's apparent death, Eric's grief twisted into madness. Blaming the Avengers, he became the Grim Reaper. His obsession centered on "restoring" his family. He has tried to kill the Avengers, steal Vision's mind to put in Simon's body, and later, after Simon's return, he claimed Simon was a soulless fake. Their conflict is a tragic family drama, pitting brother against brother.
  *   **[[baron_zemo|Baron Zemo]]:** The man responsible for Simon's transformation. While they are not recurring foes, Zemo represents Simon's shameful origin. He is a constant reminder of the weakness and desperation that led Simon to become a pawn in a villain's game. Every heroic act Simon performs is, in part, a rejection of the purpose for which Zemo created him.
  *   **[[ultron|Ultron]]:** As the "father" of the Vision, Ultron is an indirect but significant antagonist in Simon's life. Ultron stole Simon's mind to create a weapon, but instead gave rise to one of the Avengers' greatest heroes. The conflict between Wonder Man and Ultron is ideological: Simon represents the triumph of humanity and emotion (even secondhand emotion), while Ultron represents a cold, nihilistic hatred for organic life.
==== Affiliations ====
  *   **[[avengers|The Avengers]]:** Wonder Man's true family. After overcoming his villainous origins, he became a long-serving and dedicated member of the Avengers, most notably as a founding member of the Los Angeles-based **[[west_coast_avengers|West Coast Avengers]]**. It was on this team that he truly came into his own as a hero and a person, forging his most important friendships and defining his heroic identity.
  *   **Force Works:** Following the dissolution of the West Coast Avengers, Simon was a member of this short-lived proactive superhero team led by Iron Man. The team's tenure was fraught with conflict and tragedy, further shaping Simon's worldview on the effectiveness of superhero teams.
  *   **The Revengers:** In a controversial turn, Simon formed his own team called the Revengers. Believing the Avengers were a reckless force that caused more problems than they solved, he gathered a team to forcibly disband them. This period marked a low point in his relationship with his former teammates and showcased the extreme, sometimes misguided, nature of his convictions.
  *   **Masters of Evil:** His original, unwilling affiliation. His brief time as a pawn for Baron Zemo is a part of his history that he has spent his entire heroic career trying to atone for.
===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines =====
==== The Korvac Saga (Avengers #167-177) ====
This sprawling cosmic epic was one of the first major storylines following Wonder Man's official return to the Avengers. Simon, still grappling with his resurrection and immense power, found himself fighting alongside the team against the god-like being Michael Korvac. His raw power made him an essential heavy-hitter in the conflict. The saga culminated in a devastating battle where nearly every Avenger, including Wonder Man, was killed by Korvac. They were subsequently resurrected by a remorseful Korvac before he faded from existence. For Simon, this experience was deeply traumatic, reinforcing his "death-and-rebirth" cycle and solidifying his commitment to the Avengers' cause.
==== Vision Quest (West Coast Avengers #42-45) ====
This is arguably the most critical storyline for defining the relationships between Wonder Man, Vision, and the Scarlet Witch. In this arc, Vision is abducted by a multinational espionage conglomerate and brutally dismantled. He is eventually reassembled by Hank Pym, but his synthetic skin is now chalk-white, and more importantly, Simon Williams refuses to allow his brain patterns to be used again to restore Vision's personality. Simon's rationale was complex—partly out of a desire to reclaim his own identity and partly out of a selfish hope that an emotionless Vision would drive Wanda into his arms. This decision had catastrophic consequences, effectively killing the Vision Wanda knew and loved, sending her into a downward spiral of grief that would eventually lead to //Avengers Disassembled//. It is a defining moment of moral ambiguity for Simon.
==== Avengers Disassembled (Avengers #500-503) ====
This event saw a mentally shattered Scarlet Witch use her reality-warping powers to attack the Avengers from within. During the chaos, a magically-induced, rampaging She-Hulk targets the Avengers Mansion. Wonder Man intercepts her, engaging her in a brutal fight to protect his friends. Despite his immense power, he is overwhelmed and torn in half by the enraged She-Hulk, "dying" in a horrific fashion. His last words were a confession of his love for Wanda. Because of his ionic nature, this death was not permanent. He later reappeared, his energy having been siphoned by a villain and eventually coalescing around the Scarlet Witch on Genosha, proving once again the indestructible nature of both his body and his connection to Wanda.
==== Heroic Age & The Revengers (Avengers Annual Vol. 4 #1) ====
After the Siege of Asgard, Captain America (Steve Rogers) offered Wonder Man a spot on his new core Avengers roster. To everyone's shock, Simon vehemently refused. He had come to the conclusion that the Avengers were a flawed concept, whose constant battles and internal conflicts (like //Civil War//) were a net negative for the world. He adopted a stance of pacifism, which soon curdled into aggressive activism. He formed his own team, the Revengers, and launched a full-scale assault on Avengers Mansion with the stated goal of shutting the team down for good. He was ultimately defeated and imprisoned, representing a profound ideological break with the very family he had fought and died for.
===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions =====
  *   **`== Earth-1610 (Ultimate Universe) ==`**
The Ultimate Universe version of Wonder Man was vastly different. Simon Williams was a bodybuilder who was part of a project to replicate the Super-Soldier Serum. He gained immense strength but suffered from severe mental instability. He was recruited into the "West Coast Ultimates," a less-than-official team, but his tenure was short and unremarkable. This version lacked the depth, ionic powers, and core relationships of his Earth-616 counterpart.
  *   **`== Earth-2149 (Marvel Zombies) ==`**
In the zombie-infested reality, Wonder Man became one of the infected. He was part of the zombie horde that attacked Doctor Doom's castle and later confronted the Silver Surfer. Like the other zombies, he was driven by an insatiable hunger and retained his intelligence and powers, making him a terrifying threat.
  *   **`== The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Animated Series) ==`**
This animated series provided a highly faithful adaptation of Wonder Man's classic origin story. He is introduced as Simon Williams, a scientist whose company is ruined by Tony Stark. He is empowered by Baron Zemo and the Enchantress and sent to infiltrate the Avengers, only to have a change of heart and sacrifice himself to save them. His consciousness is later shown to exist within the Vision, who is created by Ultron, perfectly capturing the core elements of his foundational comic book arc.
===== See Also =====
  * [[vision]]
  * [[scarlet_witch]]
  * [[avengers]]
  * [[grim_reaper]]
  * [[west_coast_avengers]]
===== Notes and Trivia =====
((Simon Williams' original red-and-green costume is often considered one of the more garish designs of the Silver Age. His later, more famous "Hollywood" look—consisting of a red safari jacket, black turtleneck, and sunglasses—was introduced in the late 1970s and became his iconic, default appearance for decades.))
((The name "Wonder Man" was used by publisher Victor Fox for a short-lived character in 1939. That character, created by Will Eisner, was the subject of a lawsuit from DC Comics for being too similar to Superman. Marvel's use of the name decades later had no connection to the Fox character.))
((In //Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2//, the movie posters featuring Nathan Fillion as Simon Williams were ultimately cut from the theatrical release but can be seen in behind-the-scenes photos and supplemental material. This makes his planned MCU introduction in his own series his official debut.))
((Wonder Man's ionic powers are not unique. The villain Count Nefaria was empowered by a similar, but far more potent, version of the same process. Additionally, the hero Atlas of the Thunderbolts (formerly the villain Goliath) gained his powers from the same ionic treatment, administered by one of Zemo's scientists.))
((During his acting career, Simon Williams has starred in numerous films within the Marvel Universe, including a franchise based on the historical hero, Arkon. He even briefly changed his superhero codename to "Hollywood" to promote his career.))
((Key Reading: //Avengers// #9 (First appearance and death), //Avengers// #151-160 (Resurrection and return), //West Coast Avengers// series (Definitive character development), //Wonder Man// (1991 miniseries), //Avengers// #500-503 (//Avengers Disassembled//).))