TV REVIEW: WONDER MAN - Season 1

4/5

Wonderful 

8 Episodes. Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sir Ben Kingsley, X Mayo, Zlatko Burić, Arian Moayed, Byron Bowers, Joe Pantoliano & Josh Gad. Created By: Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Guest. On: Disney +.

Acting right, isn't it a wonder that they always say this about Marvel? The Los Angeles Lakers like hated franchise of entertainment. They drop a few duds, more like misfires, and everyone from newsprint to social media columns says that it's over. Only for them to lament the grand return when we see Robert Downey Jr. at Comic Con with a different iron mask, and Cap back on task for a dominant 'Doomsday' trailer that's bringing all the universes together, even those old X-Men favourite's playing original dress-up, like 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. Marvel Television has already had genre bending hits ('WandaVision') with real depth. Let alone inspired instantly bingeable shows, released differently than their usual week-by-week scheduled programming ('Echo'). Because of that, critics were quick to call this one bad, when little hype and nary a trailer accompanied 'Wonder Man' in his Hollywood one. Until, like any young limelight upstart, this different, all the way to the credits, tough act to follow proved everyone wrong with its name in bright yellow lights.

Marvel Spotlight has already shone its gaze on a wider view of their comic-book world of graphic novels in gorgeous black and white. See the Halloween special 'Werewolf By Night', in colour, too, like the forthcoming 'Spider-Noir', starring 'Ghost Rider' Nicolas Cage on Amazon Prime. And a midseason break for this eight-episode wonder brings an actual comic character called Doorman (a brilliant Byron Bowers) to your front one. Even if it is 'Frozen' star Josh Gad who steals the show. He's not the only real actor getting in on the act of things, playing a fictional version of himself with epic exaggeration. How about 'The Matrix', 'The Fugitive' and 'Bad Boys' star Joe Pantoliano really showing you you shouldn't meet your heroes? Because this superhero story, from 'Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' and 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' director Destin Daniel Cretton and 'Hawkeye' producer Andrew Guest ('30 Rock', 'Community', 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine') on Disney Plus, is about the making of one. 'Wonder Man', the classic TV show and the Stan Lee, Don Heck and Jack Kirby character with ionic energy. Ionic Man anyone? We already have a Wonder Woman.

Not to be confused with a DC Amazonian princess played by Gal Gadot, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ('The Get Down', 'The Handmaid's Tale', 'The Adventures Of Cliff Booth') really is superpowered. After cutting his teeth in blockbusters like 'Baywatch' with The Rock and Hugh Jackman's 'The Greatest Showman', Yahya played Black Panther Bobby Seale in 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7', became 'Candyman' (after joining 'Us' with Jordan Peele) and even channelled Laurence Fishburne perfectly as Morpheus for 'The Matrix Resurrections'. Now the 'Ambulance' star is about to continue his terrific television run, taking over Denzel Washington's role as a 'Man On Fire'. But this hero for hire has already tried on capes on the other side of the street. Whether playing the Black Manta villain for the 'Aquaman' franchise, or pulling a Jason Mamoa Lobo and appearing beautifully in the HBO 'Watchman' show which we still shouldn't spoil. He even fought Captain America himself on 'Black Mirror'...and then some.  Yet through all of this, he was born to play Wonder Man, like this movie's director, played by 'Triangle Of Sadness' actor Zlatko Burić. The same man Hawkgirl dropped to his death in 'Superman' with a sexy look.

Marvel makes mistakes, sure, but the K.E.V.I.N. machine really knows how to pivot, and tie everything back together in a bold and beautiful bow. Because it's still all connected. In the worst example of whitewashing turned on its meta head, the M.C.U. made the legendary 'Iron Man' villain The Mandarin, a classically trained British bloke who loves football...I'm not calling it soccer. Pardon me, that English gentleman in different drapes was none other than the legendary Sir Ben Kingsley ('Lucky Number Slevin', 'Shutter Island', 'Hugo'). The Shakespearean actor who was both 'Gandhi', and a 'Sexy Beast'. Those who hated the 'Iron Man 3' twist found solace in the One Shot 'All Hail The King' with Scott McNairy. All before the one and only Trevor Slattery stole the show in Cretton's 'Shang-Chi' as the perfect surprise. Now, in 'Wonder Man', Kingsley gives more depth of heart and humour to Slattery. You'll never see him coming. And the beautiful bond formed with Mateen makes for the bromance of the year. They did that. Ready for another lesson? This show, with great turns from M.C.U. agent Arian Moayed ('No Way Home', 'Ms. Marvel') and comedian and 'The Daily Show' writer X Mayo, is the real marvel. Wonder no more. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'WandaVision', 'Watchmen', 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'.