A Fan-Favorite Avenger Makes Their Return

A classic Avengers character who has been missing in action made his return in this week’s Uncanny Avengers #23.

Simon Williams, a.k.a. Wonder Man, made his return to the physical realm after having been trapped inside Rogue’s body and psyche since she accidentally absorbed his entire being, which is made of pure energy, into her mind and body during the Avengers Unity Squad’s mission against the Apocalypse Twins.

He remained trapped within Rogue until Uncanny Avengers #22 when Rogue and Deadpool kissed and Wonder Man suddenly appeared. It was unclear what exactly happened in that moment, but Beast – the former X-Man, and Avenger and Simons’ close friend – explains Uncanny Avengers #23 that Rogue absorbed Deadpool’s regenerative powers, which allowed her to expel Simon from herself.

It wasn’t all good news for Wonder Man. While he’s happy to be corporeal once more, Deadpool had to break it to him that the Avengers Unity Squad spent all of the money Simon earned as a movie star in order to fund their operation. Simon Williams is now broke, and his vow of pacifism is the only thing that stopped him from clobbering Deadpool in return.

What’s next for Wonder Man is unclear. The Avengers Unity Squad was on the verge of disbanding at the end of the issue, and Wonder Man had gone his own way even earlier than that. Simon was spotted in a single panel of Secret Empire #1 helping out at Hawkeye’s resistance base, so perhaps he’ll have a role to play Marvel’s event series.

Wonder Man was created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck in 1964 and first appeared Avengers #9 as a mole within the Avengers for Baron Zemo’s Masters of Evil. Simon appeared to have died, but it was later revealed that the Avengers had saved his consciousness in a computer. Simon’s brainwaves were used in the creation of the Vision. Simon himself was later resurrected as a being of pure ionic energy and joins the Avengers full-time and as a true hero. Simon later regrets his involvement with the Avengers and has a tumultuous relationship with the team, only reluctantly joining the Avengers Unity Squad.

Uncanny Avengers #23 was the final issue for writer Gerry Duggan and artist Pepe Larraz. The next issue brings on writer Jim Zub and artist Aaron Kim Jacinto and sees what remains of the Avengers Unity Squad imprisoned by Hydra as part of the events of Secret Empire.

Uncanny Avengers #23 is on sale now. Uncanny Avengers #24 goes on sale in comic shops and digital comics apps on June 14.

More Marvel News: Black Panther Spinoff Canceled / Marvel Restricts Fantastic Four, X-Men Characters From Appearing On Upper Deck Sketch Cards / Marvel Giving Away Cosmic Cubes For Secret Empire