Wonder Man Earns Rave Early Reviews, Hailed as the MCU’s Best Show in Years

Alright, here’s a sentence I never thought I’d start with: Wonder Man—the Marvel show. Yes, Wonder Man is about a superpowered actor trying to make it in Hollywood (because what could possibly go wrong with that idea?). Well, the first batch of reactions just landed, and apparently, Marvel’s taking a bit of a victory lap.

The Big Picture: Is Wonder Man Actually... Good?

First up, this show isn’t shy about being different. Simon Williams—played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II—dreams of stardom, and he’s not alone. Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, doing the ‘washed-up thespian’ thing hilariously well.

Let’s be blunt—critics are loving it. Like, actually ranking-it-with-the-best type of loving it. The general vibe: this isn’t just another Marvel series cut into bite-sized movie chunks. It’s a weird, funny, and downright self-aware riff on Hollywood obsession.

What Are Critics Saying?

• The Movie Podcast (Shahbaz Siddiqui): Couldn’t get enough. He calls it ‘hilarious, self-aware, and a genuine love letter to Hollywood,’ and says it’s ‘wildly different’ for Marvel. If that sounds like a humblebrag about how meta the show is, you’re not wrong.
• The Hashtag Show (Junior Felix): 'Hands down my favorite MCU series to date.' High praise, considering the mountain of superhero TV out there. He also calls it ‘grounded, well paced, and headlined by an incredible cast,’ and singles out episodes 4 and 7 as top-tier stuff. Abdul-Mateen II is ‘a breath of fresh air,’ Kingsley is ‘fantastic’—which, let’s be honest, isn’t ever a shocker.
• Amon Warmann: Puts it up there with Loki and WandaVision. Those are big shoes to fill, given how much people love those shows (or, at the very least, argue about them online).
• Davide Tonti: Calls Wonder Man ‘one of the best MCU shows and definitely the best one under the Marvel Television banner.’ That’s a bold call, since Marvel Television has had a, let’s say, ‘uneven’ track record.
• Erik Swann: Finally, someone says it out loud: 'This actually feels like a TV show as opposed to a movie cut up into parts.' Maybe Disney Plus heard all the fans complaining, or maybe this is just the first time anyone listened.
• Geek Central (Justin Lawrence): Declares it 'one of Marvel Television’s most confident series.' Confidence can go a long way, especially with a premise this bizarre.

Bottom Line (and When You Can Watch)

So yeah, it’s experimental, it’s surprisingly smart, and apparently it’s a weird gem that might end up on top of a lot of 'best MCU shows' lists. Even reviewers who are usually cynical about these launches seem pretty sold.

If you’re curious—or just dying to see Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley throw down on Hollywood’s insanity—mark your calendar: Wonder Man drops on Disney Plus, January 27. Get ready for something different, and (if the critics are to be believed) something actually worth your time.