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Marvel Studios' Wonder Man series leads to Marvel comics revamping the comic character to look more like Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (including the beard)

Simon Williams just got recast as Marvel Comics' Wonder Man.

The poster for the Wonder Man show
Image credit: Marvel Studios

The popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has provided the impetus for Marvel Comics to revamp classic characters to be more in line with their movie or TV counterparts. For instance, Shang-Chi's entire origin has been adjusted in the wake of his movie debut (for good reason, those early issues of Master of Kung Fu gave him a wildly racist backstory as the son of Fu Manchu. Yeah.). Media synergy has been the name of the game these past few years. 

Now, there's an entirely new Wonder Man joining the Marvel Universe in the wake of the MCU's Wonder Man show on Disney+. Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who is Black, portrayed Simon Williams, who is white in the comics, on the show. It's worth noting that on the show, Simon Williams is an actor who plays Wonder Man in a remake of a Wonder Man movie. And the original Wonder Man actor within the world of the MCU was a white guy. 

This new Wonder Man in Marvel Comics is named Vin Lerner, and he'll be joining the fight in the Reborn: Ultimate Impact mini-series from Chris Condon and Stefano Caselli this spring. Take a look at Stefano Caselli's art of Vin Lerner below. 

An image of Vin Lerner Wonder man in Marvel Comics' Reborn: Ultimate Impact
Image credit: Marvel Comics

While Vin Lerner has a different hairstyle than Abdul-Mateen II's Simon Williams in the Wonder Man show, he does have the same beard. Simon Williams in Marvel Comics has never made facial hair part of his look, so it's safe to say that with Vin Lerner, the age of a Bearded Wonder Man has begun. 

Reborn: Ultimate Impact #1 will be released on May 20, 2026. 


Jules Chin Greene

Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color.

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