Wonder Man #1 – Hold for Timely Studios

It’s lights, camera, ionic energy as Simon Williams is back in the spotlight in Wonder Man #1 from Gerry Duggan. As Simon Williams knows perhaps better than anyone, the transition from superstar to superhero is rarely an easy one. Duggan moves beyond the everyday West Coast Avenger to focus on whether Simon is truly capable of saving the day if he’s constantly worried about his brand and his latest script.

This review is a joint review from Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: Gerry Duggan
Penciler: Mark Buckingham
Inker: Aure Jimenez
Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Paulo Siqueira
Cover Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg

Writing

Megan: Simon Williams’ life is never anything but stable. From Zemo and Enchantress changing him into a superpowered being to Simon’s rise in Hollywood from a stunt man to a fan-favorite actor, he’s felt every high and low life has had to offer. In Wonder Man #1, we see Simon on one of his lows after being a huge star. Scripts aren’t coming in, acting gigs aren’t being passed his way, and his contract with Timely Studios is almost up. The only work the studio is throwing his way is having to deal with Randolph Chancellor, his former cellmate in jail, and a fellow actor.

Randolph seems to be involved in some shady business, yet again, which involves millions of dollars missing! With Hellcat being on his tail, Randolph continues to claim innocence. Simon doesn’t know who to believe, doesn’t know what to do or which way to turn, but as it turns out, he has some secret problems of his own.

Gerry Duggan brings a story of Wonder Man that feels so familiar to who the character is, but an all-new story that already starts very strong. I’m very interested to see where this goes as we get to see Simon go through the loneliness of having Hollywood leave you behind, but also the frustration of being brought into others’ problems.

Shawn: Gerry Duggan feels like he’s giving us the modernized version of the “Marvel Method” in issue #1 of Wonder Man. By referencing specific events that have happened in California, Duggan really embraces the “world outside your window” approach that made Marvel so popular during the Silver Age of comics. Perhaps the greatest thing readers get from Duggan in Wonder Man #1 is the bridging of the gap between superhero and collective human memory. While a complete fantasy of a story, Duggan makes it feel like it’s happening in the reader’s timeline, not a sterilized fictional timeline.

Duggan fully leans into the world of Wonder Man. Simon Williams has always served as Marvel’s poster child for the intersection of superheroes and the absurdity of Hollywood. Duggan fully leans into that through not taking himself too seriously and adopting a self-aware tone to the comic. It feels like Duggan is fully admitting the premise of Simon Williams as a character is wild, and in doing so, makes the real-world narrative land harder.

Duggan fills the first issue with plenty of industry satire. Whether it’s looking at actors’ plans for their likenesses after death or just trying to get a job, Duggan uses the fantasy of the movie industry as a middle ground. The industry serves as the bridge between a guy trying to be a hero while also trying to keep his career from going up in flames.

Art

Megan: Wonder Man #1 provides some really great artwork, all thanks to Mark Buckingham, Aure Jimenez, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Joe Caramagna. There’s an interesting modernized retro vibe to the comic that perfectly captures the essence of the Wonder Man character, but also places him in a more recent time that’s easy to relate to. Buckingham and Jiminez ensure that there’s excellent detailing work on each panel that’s outlined in a great filmstrip border. Rosenberg brings a lot of vibrancy to the pages of Wonder Man #1 while having that retro feel to it that suits the character so perfectly. Caramagna works as the letterer on the comic and provides a flow of dialogue that allows you to feel the tone of the characters very well.

Shawn: Mark Buckingham, Aure Jimenez, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Joe Caramagna really do a great job establishing the modern retro aestheic right from the very first panel. This issue showcases the balance of nostalgia with contemporary grit. While Duggan does a masterful job writing the scenes, Buckingham, Jimenez, and Rosenberg are using visual shorthand to tell us the story without a wall of text.

Buckingham, Jimenez, and Rosenberg combine to do an amazing job of showing Simon relaxed in his power. We aren’t necessarily seeing the strained superhero but an ionic power that’s just as comfortable throwing a frisbee as catching a building. The art feels like a love letter to Jack Kirby.

Rosenberg does an amazing job balancing the glamour and the ground in her colors, showing off the golds and pinks in the sunsets, contrasted with the deep, cool tones of a street taco vendor. Joe Caramagna makes a story that is easy to follow and lets the art and writing shine.

Final Thoughts

Megan: 9.2/10. Simon Williams is no stranger to the highs and lows of his life, and Gerry Duggan is giving us an excellent look into him experiencing the lows. This was a very strong start, and I am really looking forward to seeing what Duggan and the team bring in the next issue! Wonder Man #1 is a fun time all around!

Shawn: 9/10 This issue sets Wonder Man on a great path. The line work feels like a love letter to Kirby, while the colors feel modern and crisp. This is a love letter to the Silver Age of comics set in the gritty modern world. Simon’s powers seem effortless in the hands of this art team, making the impossible feel like another day at the office.

Overall Grade: 9.1/10

What did you think of the return of Simon Williams? Let us know in the comments below!