The new Marvel series Wonder Man is coming to Disney+, but the show’s version of the character will be a bit different from the one featured in the original Marvel comics. Simon Williams first appeared in Avengers #9 in 1964. He was a young man unexpectedly put in charge of his father’s company, but ended up in jail for a crime committed due to his brother. After being tricked by a villainous group called the Masters of Evil and gaining superpowers, he was used to try and defeat the Avengers. Ultimately, he redeemed himself by sacrificing his life to do what was right. However, that was just the beginning of a long and complicated life for Simon Williams.
Want to learn about Wonder Man before he appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Here are seven great stories to get you started.
7) Avengers #9 (1964)
As a long-time comic fan, I remember when Wonder Man first showed up back in Avengers #9 in 1964. It’s amazing to think he was one of the very first bad guys the Avengers faced as a team! But the really interesting thing about Wonder Man is that he wasn’t really a villain by choice. He was in jail, and the Enchantress got him out, but then Baron Zemo basically forced powers onto him using a machine. The catch? Zemo also rigged things so that Wonder Man would die unless he regularly received a special serum – Zemo held the power of life and death over him.
This explains why he had to infiltrate the Avengers as a spy, seemingly betraying them. This particular issue marked both Wonder Man’s debut and his death. It was the beginning of his redemption arc, as he died a hero, saving the Avengers. They recovered his body, and later, Ultron used his brain patterns to create Vision.
6) Wonder Man (1985)
Let me tell you, as a comic book fan, the 1985 Wonder Man issue is a really big deal. Before that, Simon Williams was mostly known as just another member of the Avengers. This was the first time he got his own dedicated story, a single issue that really let his character shine. While a few Avengers did pop up – Scott Lang, Cap, Wasp, and Vision made appearances – the focus was entirely on Simon and his struggles as an actor. It was a fantastic way to establish him as a fully realized character beyond the superhero team dynamic.
This Wonder Man story is a great introduction to the character, especially with his upcoming TV show, as it begins with him trying out for a soap opera role. The story is unusual and packed with action, featuring a battle against otherworldly gnomes and a desperate attempt to stop Sandman from causing a nuclear meltdown – all while Sandman seeks a cure for his cancer. This single issue brilliantly showcases Wonder Man’s ability to juggle his acting career with his responsibilities as a superhero.
5) Avengers #158-160
Although Ultron initially used Wonder Man’s brain patterns to create Vision, Simon Williams wasn’t actually dead – he was in a deep, coma-like state. When Wonder Man recovered, he no longer needed the special serum that had kept him alive and started his career as a superhero. He eventually joined the Avengers, which created tension with Vision. Their conflict came to a head when Scarlet Witch asked Wonder Man to support her, and a jealous Vision attacked him, leading to a fight.
Once Iron Man resolved the initial conflict, a three-part story began featuring Graviton, a major enemy of Wonder Man, marking his first appearance. Following the Graviton battle, Wonder Man faced a personal attack from his brother, the Grim Reaper, who targeted both him and Vision. The story unfolded at a good pace, exploring Wonder Man’s complicated relationships with Vision – whom he considered a brother – and his actual brother, forcing him to make difficult choices.
4) West Coast Avengers #1-4
Power Man has been part of the Avengers in different lineups, even the very first one. Later, when the main Avengers team decided to establish a West Coast branch in California, Hawkeye and Mockingbird were sent to lead it. Hawkeye then invited several heroes to join, and Wonder Man was among those he contacted.
I always loved seeing Wonder Man pop up in the Avengers books – it was cool to have him back in action after he’d been doing stunt work in movies. It really tapped into his backstory too, because his first big foe was his own brother, the Grim Reaper, who used to run with the Lethal Legion. And honestly, things got really interesting when Scarlet Witch and Vision showed up. It immediately brought back all that complicated romantic tension between them, which was always a fun dynamic to watch.
3) Avengers Two: Wonder Man & the Beast (2000)
Wonder Man recently died in the comics, but Scarlet Witch brought him back to life using chaos magic. This time, though, Simon Williams returned deeply affected by his death, causing him to question his purpose. He decided he wanted another opportunity to become the hero everyone believed he could be.
I was so excited when he launched his 2000 series, Avengers Two: Wonder Man & the Beast! It wasn’t just about fighting crime, though – it really showed the amazing friendship between the two heroes. He also used his success to do something truly special, starting a non-profit called Second Chances to help people facing impossible situations. And honestly, seeing him finally gain confidence, especially with his best friend by his side, was incredibly inspiring.
2) West Coast Avengers #45
Although this isn’t a story focused on Wonder Man, he’s central to what happens. In West Coast Avengers #42, Vision vanished. The U.S. government took him into custody, wiped his memory, and essentially reset him. They then sent his empty body back to the West Coast Avengers. Hank Pym tried to repair him, but the process was only partially successful.
As a long-time comic fan, I remember issue #45 of West Coast Avengers being a real turning point. Hank Pym brought back Vision, but this wasn’t the same Vision we knew. He was completely white and had lost all his memories, even lacking the brain patterns of Simon Williams. The core of the issue, though, was Wanda asking Simon to allow Vision to regain those brainwaves, and his flat-out refusal. It caused a huge rift between them, and honestly, their relationship never really recovered from it.
1) X-Force #49-50
I’ve always been fascinated by Wonder Man. It’s interesting how he really tried to leave the superhero life behind and focus on acting, even becoming a pacifist. He genuinely believed groups like the Avengers often created as much trouble as they solved, which is a pretty unique perspective. But, despite wanting out, he got dragged back in when the Beast showed up needing help. Suddenly, he was right in the middle of a dangerous conflict with X-Force, having to stop a seriously twisted version of Beast who was planning world domination. It’s a great story about someone trying to escape a life of fighting, only to be pulled back in when the stakes are incredibly high.
On the mutant island of Krakoa, Beast became increasingly villainous, manipulating the X-Force team for his own dangerous purposes. He believed mutants needed to assert their power at any cost. When X-Force realized how far he’d gone, they confronted him. Simultaneously, they used mutant resurrection technology to create a copy of Beast, restoring his memories from his time with the Avengers. This new Beast turned to his old friend, Wonder Man, for help, and it was Wonder Man who ultimately helped the corrupted Beast recognize his mistakes, highlighting the strength of their long-standing friendship.
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2026-01-18 22:42