Greetings comic lovers and welcome back to casually comics the channel where we talk
everything comics from reviews of comics new and old to history anecdotes and more I’m
Sasha and today I’m taking you to meet DC’s Wonder Man.
You heard that right.
If you’re always down for an obscure character hit that like button.
So when we talked about the creation of Spider-Woman Jessica Drew and how it arose entirely under
copyright duress we briefly touched on Wonder Man.
Now the Wonder Man most are aware of these days is Marvel’s Wonder Man though you may
have missed him.
He’s one of those characters whos’ important in comics but rarely makes the grade when
it comes to being adapted.
His history was marred by lawsuits from DC before Marvel was finally able to go ahead
with him,, partially thanks to leverage because of moves from dc that could themselves be
viewed as infringements.
But what we also mentioned was that DC had a Wonder Man an actual one, not a guy who
was wonder woman while she was bust which has also happened but a full blown separate
wonder man for one whole issue, and this is his glorious tale.
A tale of jealousy, and petty Superman my favourite kind.
Classic supes could get very petty and it’s hilarious everytime.
So this wonder man story is the main story of the 163 issue of Superman from the first
ever run.
The full title is Superman ft the hero who was greater than superman, and superman complaining
that he is a has been on the cover.
Look up in the sky a dram queen.
So the issue opens with a parade being given in Wonder Man’s honour and clark lamenting
how it all came to this.
It all started when superman was off about to help with an experimental reactor test,
cause you could pretty much have told Silver Age Superman to do anything even go to a birthday
party and he would have done it.
However right as he’s about to construct the shield Wonder Man shows up and he’s
already built it so he’ll just go ahead and do the test.
And the scientists are just like ok flying stranger.
See too trusting Lex was right.
Clark tries scanning him to see if he’s a robot but no he’s not and as he follows
him he sees their strength and invulnerabilities match.
Also the people instantly start forgetting about Superman “superman wasn’t even needed
whoever this wonder man is he’s terrific” They don’t even whisper it harsh.
So Clark goes to check if Wonder Man could be kryptonian but no one has left the bottle
city of Kandor and everyone who should be in the phantom zone is still there.
While he’s doing this Wonder Man is going around building his cred and finally his good
deeds get to be too much and Superman decides to confront him if anyones’ going to do
good in metropolis it’s Clark Kent.
And just in case you were thinking oh well maybe Wonder Man’s just super keen he instantly
puts that to rest “Quit trying to pry into who I am why don’t you realise you’re
a has been and permanently retire your clark kent identity.”
So not only does he know who he is he’s also been carrying around kryptonite in a
lead sack.
Fearful of losing everything Superman backs off.
And we’re back at the parade and now it’s Wonder Man’s turn for backstory.
So who is he.Who’s mans is this.
Well it turns out Wonder Man is one of Superman’s emergency defense robots named Ajax.
So Superman had a bunch of robots that looked like him who he would dispatch out to crimes.
And also apparently talk really pointedly too in nothing but exposition.
“I have to return to my clark kent identity now” Guard my trophies and the bottle city
of kandor and the phantom zone projector ajax.”
One day ajax is sent out to deal with a meteor shower and is damaged saving a space ship
he finds there in gratitude the inhabitants turn him into a man by placing him in a chemically
made android body.
Just go with it its not a clone ok it’s a chemical android.
They also tell him to fight the power and that he doesn’t have to be superman’s
servant and they give him kryptonite cause they tell him Superman is gonna get petty
once he hones in on his turf and he’s going to need it.
So Ajax has been living his best most superman aggravating life but it’s all too much when
he saves Lois and we know how much Clark loves doing that he also puts the moves on her like
scary she needs to get her mace moves.
“You know miss lane I believe the strange emotion I feel for you is love I never thought
that I would love anyone” Yeah this is his first time meeting her, run lois he’s going
to wear your face.
Deciding he is a has been Superman flees to his fortress but Wonder Man is there too also
shoutout to the giant key Superman used to use to open the fortress he would literally
fly at it with this massive key.
Later it was a really tiny key that was really heavy and now I don’t know what he’s using
scanners hopefully or you know what bring back the big key live a little.
Superman and Wonder Man duke it out with wonder man winning thanks to his kryptonite.
However then the aliens who turned him into a chemical android show up and it turns out
they were actually the Superman Revenge Squad which is exactly what it sounds like a group
of villains who want revenge on Superman for various slights perceived or real the roster
is ever changing.
They sent Ajax down to make Superman jealous all for this but ha ha plot twist time.
Wonder Man had superhearing and x-ray vision and he heard their plan after they made him
so he was just playing along so him and superman could team up and take them down.
Why didn't he just tell him...I’m convinced he wanted to be a jerk. Clark asked him to
wash his bottle city jar too many times.
Also since we’re revealing things Clark now claims he knew that Wonder Man was robot
from near the battles start and to that I say yeah ok sure way to try and save face.
I don’t buy it.
But it doesn't matter cause after they defeat the revenge squad it turns out Wonder man’s
chemical android body was only designed for a few days and he’s dying right now that
instant.
So Clark does not have to deal with his intense jealousy issues or the fact that the city
replaced him and was holding parades for someone else within the span of a couple of days.
It’s no wonder he’s so insecure.
So Wonder Man dies and gets an epitaph that made me laugh far harder than it should have.
Wonder Man formerly called Ajax he was born a robot but he died a man.
I mean yeah accurate that sums up his life.
So that was the tale of Wonder Man it’s a good thing he died cause clark would probably
have eventually killed him.
This story is a fun one off and I personally love classic comics some modern readers find
them hard to connect to because of many factors, pacing, art style, overall silliness depending
on the era but I dunno I just like the experience.
Which Wonder Man do you prefer let me know down below?
Also do you have a favourite petty superman moment if you do let me know down below.
Thanks so much for watching Casually comics please do all of the youtube things like share
comment subscribe and hit that bell notification so that you never miss a vid and i will see
you again soon buh bye.