Its a Wonder, but I Wonder...

Wonder Man dropped all eight parts on January 27, and because I was desperate to get back to new (and new to me) Star Trek, and Rosa was desperate to find out what happened in The Pitt (and honestly we both were into both) we binged the show in two sessions. 

Anabelle, doing the same thing, still finished before we did, because she grew up in this crazy "whole season at once" streaming age, and marked it among her favorites.

Simon Williams was one of the original West Coast Avengers, making me a fan since I started regularly collecting comic books. Yaya Abdul-Mateen II brought the character to life with the strange combination of overconfidence in some areas and a complete lack of confidence in others Simon has had in the comics.

This show was different for Marvel, and I think it's due to the character's profession. 

Simon was an actor and stuntman in the comics. However, his adventures were crafted by comic book writers, therefore all of his good and bad traits based on his career path were largely based on stereotypes. 

As an adaptation in the world the character works in, the show could present a far more realistic view of Simon's choices, paths, aspirations and flaws. 

This show was a love letter to both the artistic and business sides of the acting profession, providing a nifty look into both of them. 

It had some strong, direct ties to previous MCA outings. Sir Ben Kingsley as Trevor "The Mandarin" Slattery being the main one, but also The Department of Damage Control and a few other references. I think its kind of amazing that an astonishingly good actor like Kingsley is now associated with playing an over the top, mostly washed up performer. This series highlights why it works so well. (Beyond needing great acting chops to pull off that outrageousness.) It's that for all his faults, Trevor was a true student of the art of acting, eventually becoming a teacher of it. He has a deep and powerful love of the craft.

However, even with those Marvel links, the show didn't really have the feel of the usual MCU world. There was much more of a  Wild Cards or Watchmen universe vibe. It felt like superpowered individuals were rare and always monitored and / or controlled in a way that went beyond being an insurance risk for films. 

(Seriously, Doorman?!?!?! 

With my vast useless knowledge of Marvel , I never would have predicted a Great Lakes Avenger making it into an adaptation.)

This focus on powered individuals being locked up was odd as She Hulk established the Sokovia Accords were repealed. However, for this tale the different vibe was a benefit, not a hinderance.

But enough nerdly wool gathering. The point is, it was a fresh look at things, with a mess of fun characters, and telling a new and interesting tale. 

Plus there were a large amount of Easter Eggs for us comic book geeks. 

(Seeing Wonder Man's "Christmas Tree" costume in an adaptation worked perfectly the way it was part of a made up old and cheesy film. That does not lessen the impact that it surprised me more than Doorman showing up. It's ugliness was not only called out in a What The--?!?! terrible costume game show, but Steve Engleheart, teh writer that introduced it, called out how awful it was IN STORY shortly after it appeared in the West Coast Avengers. )

The show reminded me of what Russell T Davies said in A Writers Tale. That for all the special effects and science fiction stuff in Doctor Who, the most important scenes...

the ones that really pulled the viewers into caring about the story and characters...

involved people sitting around a table talking. 

This show had flash, spectacle, super powers and Hollywood glitz, but it also had a lot of depth, emotions friendship and important scenes with people sitting around a table, talking. 

It was extremely well executed, contained both laughter and tears and was a fantastic change of pace. I sincerely hope they can maintain all of those in a second season.

Having said that, I have equal hopes to see Simon using his insane, ionic energy driven, power levels to kick some super villain butt in Doomsday  and Secret Wars.

And even greater hopes of seeing his friendship with the Beast as the X-men franchise gets folded in. I think Hank and Trevor would get along swimmingly!