BREWER REPORT:
Simon says What’s up with Wonder (woe) Man?
By Byron Brewer

Ion-powered Zemo pawn. Zombie. Avenger. Last month’s jail bird.

In his time – and far after it – Simon Williams has been all of these, none more bizarre than the latter (and that even includes “zombie,” a state he found himself in courtesy of Black Talon and his own bro, Grim Reaper).

The last I saw of real Simon Williams was at the funeral of Janet Van Dyne, the final official “meeting” of the first incarnation of Mighty Avengers, a team that never had a chance but was one of my favorite lineups. How he went from there to appearing on national television during Dark Reign, lamenting his tenure as an Avenger, is a mystery to me.

What’s up with Wonder Man? Where are these woes coming from?

Norman Osborn, the man who effectively retired Wonder Man as an Avenger, could not have picked a better rep during his late night TV news feud with Clint Barton. Wonder Man before a national audience claims being an Avenger was all a waste of time, and that using violence to uphold justice has caused nothing but heartache and death. He ends his TV speech by sadly admitting that having Osborn in charge is exactly what the United States of America deserves.

Meltdown?

My next sighting of Wonder Man is him working alongside his fellow Avengers at the dawn of the Heroic Age, assumingly re-erecting the old Avengers Mansion? (It was never stated, I do not think, what project the heroes were working on in Avengers #1; that is my guess.)  Great! He is side-by-side with the Beast again! O happy day.

But right in front of Hank McCoy’s blue fur puss, Wonder Man gets into an argument with the man that used to be Captain America. Steve Rogers approaches Simon to answer the call of a new team of Avengers. Instead of thanking the world’s new top cop, Simon is outraged … make that beyond outraged. He vehemently refuses, stating that the Avengers have caused more problems – the super-hero Civil War, the House of M, the Skrull invasion and the dark reign of Osborn – than they have solved. (Simon also mentions having been in jail until Steve procured him a pardon and, to repay this kindness, threatens to stop Steve if he does not change his mind.)

One hero did not answer the call when the Heroic Age lineup (Thor, Iron Man, Bucky Cap, Spidey, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Hawkeye and Ms. Maria Hill) assembled in Avengers #1. By Steve’s reaction, chances are it was Simon Williams.

What’s up with Wonder Man? Where are these woes coming from?

Maybe we will get a clue when Brian Michael Bendis and John Romita Jr. present Avengers #2 next month. (That is Simon’s massive, ion-radiating back on its cover.) Does Simon hold the key to jetting our Assemblers into the future to face their children and an elderly Hulk? Or will the former West Coaster (“Whacko” seems very fitting here!) stop the Kang bang before it begins?

The Avengers #2 hits stores June 23!