Marvel Studios has a hit with its new Wonder Man series on Disney+, but the show’s success comes from breaking the rules, not following them. The series, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, has earned some of the MCU’s best reviews by solving a problem that has bothered fans for years: predictable and tired superhero storytelling. Instead of another world-ending plot or a convoluted multiverse story, Wonder Man offers a fresh, funny, and grounded look at what it might actually be like to have powers in a world obsessed with superhero movies.
The Show Completely Skips the Superhero Origin Story
One of the biggest ways Wonder Man feels new is by ignoring the most basic part of a superhero tale: the origin story. The series never explains how Simon Williams got his ionic powers. He simply has them, and they are more of a problem for his acting career than a gift for fighting crime.
This is a major shift for Marvel. Early films like Iron Man and Captain America: The First Avenger spent significant time showing how their heroes became who they are. Recently, this pattern has contributed to a feeling of superhero fatigue. Wonder Man confidently assumes the audience doesn’t need another lengthy explanation. This approach lets the series focus on character and story, moving quickly into the unique situation Simon faces.
The show outright refuses to discuss Simon’s origin story… It’s a great approach that serves the show well, and could very well crack the origin story problem for the entire franchise.
This is not the first time Marvel has shortened an origin. Spider-Man‘s story was handled quickly in Captain America: Civil War because it had been told so many times before. However, Wonder Man takes this idea further by not addressing the “how” at all, treating superpowers as just another part of the character’s complicated life.
It’s a Grounded, Character-Driven Story Under the Marvel Spotlight Banner
Wonder Man is part of the Marvel Spotlight initiative, a label for stories that are more focused on character than on connecting to the larger MCU. This allows the show to feel different. The stakes are personal, not planetary. Simon’s main goal is to land a starring role in a movie reboot of his favorite childhood superhero film, also called Wonder Man.
The show explores Hollywood’s entertainment industry, making it a satire of celebrity and franchise culture. Simon is an actor with real superpowers trying to get a job playing a superhero, while hiding those powers because of a Hollywood rule called the “Doorman Clause” that makes it hard for superpowered people to get insured on film sets. This creates a relatable story about chasing dreams and dealing with everyday anxieties, set against a bizarre backdrop.
Brad Winderbaum, Head of Marvel Television, has said the goal with Marvel Spotlight is to create stories that don’t feel like homework. You can watch Wonder Man without having seen dozens of other Marvel projects, which has become a barrier for new and casual fans.
It Uses Meta Comedy Without Breaking the Fourth Wall
Wonder Man is a deeply self-aware series, but it uses meta-commentary in a new way for Marvel. It joins She-Hulk and Deadpool as MCU projects that know they are part of a massive entertainment franchise. However, it doesn’t have its characters look at the camera and talk to the audience.
Instead, the meta-humor comes from the story itself. Simon Williams is an actor in a world where superheroes are real, trying to get a part in a movie about a superhero. The show makes jokes about Hollywood, fame, and the very idea of superhero fatigue from within the story.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II explained the approach, saying the show is “self-aware without looking directly into the camera”. This allows the series to satirize the genre and the industry that produces it while keeping viewers immersed in Simon’s journey.
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The Series Is a Critical Success with a Stellar Cast
The new approach is working. Wonder Man has earned a 90% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the highest-rated MCU Disney+ series, close to the scores for WandaVision. Audiences have also responded well, giving it an 88% audience score.
A major reason for this success is the chemistry between the two leads. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II brings depth to Simon Williams, a man torn between his mundane desires and his extraordinary abilities. Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, the failed actor who once pretended to be the Mandarin. Their unlikely friendship is the heart of the series.
The show was created by Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Andrew Guest. Cretton is seen as one of Marvel’s top creative talents and is also directing the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
All eight episodes of Wonder Man‘s first season are available to stream now on Disney+. The finale sets up future stories by showing Simon using his full powers to break Trevor out of a Department of Damage Control prison, making them both fugitives. While conceived as a limited series, Marvel executives have said a second season could happen if the show finds a big enough audience.
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