Despite Mark Ruffalo’s strong performance as the Hulk, the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t fully explored Bruce Banner or his alter ego. Fans have long hoped for a solo Hulk movie, but more importantly, the way the conflict between Hulk and Banner was resolved removed a fascinating dynamic from the series. Hulk’s appeal lay in being a classic ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ character – a combination of intelligence and brute strength. Many fans disliked the ‘Smart Hulk’ version, feeling it diminished that internal struggle. Fortunately, a new character in the MCU seems to be bringing back some of that compelling conflict.
The new series Wonder Man features Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, a man striving for his goals who also possesses incredibly dangerous, explosive powers. The show explores Simon’s struggle to control these abilities, hinting that his emotional state directly impacts their destructive potential. While Bruce Banner transforms into the Hulk when angry, Simon’s powers create a wider range of unintended consequences. Now that the Hulk’s rage isn’t the primary threat, Simon Williams offers a compelling new take on the unstable, powerful character.
Wonder Man Proves Iron Man’s Nightmare Right (Sort Of)
Notably, Wonder Man picks up a storyline from Spider-Man: Homecoming involving the Department of Damage Control (DODC). Originally created by Tony Stark as a cleanup crew, the DODC has evolved into a controlling and somewhat sinister agency. It represents the fear and unease that led to the Sokovia Accords, and Wonder Man shows that their main goal is to prevent another catastrophic event like the one in Age of Ultron.
The movie Wonder Man shows Tony Stark was right to worry: superpowers, especially those that are unpredictable like Simon Williams’, can be incredibly dangerous. Just like Tony created the Hulkbuster armor and SHIELD built a special prison for Bruce Banner, the DODC is the government’s plan for dealing with powerful, potentially uncontrollable individuals. Although Simon Williams doesn’t get angry and destructive like the Hulk, his powers are linked to his feelings and aren’t always under his control, making him a similar kind of threat. Essentially, from a security standpoint, Simon Williams could be considered another Hulk.
Marvel has been adding more characters with unstable powers lately. In 2025, they introduced the Sentry, played by Lewis Pullman, and there are reports that Hulk will appear in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, potentially bringing his classic Savage form to the MCU. If Scarlet Witch returns after her expected revival, and we add mutants like Jean Grey/Phoenix and Wolverine to the mix, Marvel could assemble the most unpredictable and volatile Avengers team ever.
You can now watch all 8 episodes of Wonder Man on Disney+. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-02-02 21:42