Wonder Man # 1 (one-shot, 1986) (Marvel) [COMICS]

It's a complete coincidence that I'm typing this review on the cusp of the launch of the Wonder Man tv series on Disney+, but sometimes the universe exhibits synchronicity!  The 1986 Wonder Man one-shot was, I believe, the first solo book headed by the character--a character who's been around since circa 1964!  Written by Davie Michelinie and weighing in at 42 pages, its set just before the launch of the West Coast Avengers comics (a fave of mine from that era, and a series in which Wonder Man stars).  This one-shot features Wonder Man (Simon Williams) in his "red safari jacket" look (one that hasn't aged well), during a period where his acting career isn't going well and he's a reserve Avengers only.  The book features a nice, 3-page-long flashback of the character's history (great for new readers).

The story gets going when Scott Lang, of later Ant-Man fame, has a cameo and gives Wondy a tip about a job at a company called Cordco.  Wondy is at Cordco interviewing for a security role when an interdimensional experiment causes an army of little gnomes to pour through! He stops that threat, but on his second day at work, there's another emergency as another portal opens and pulls an employee through!  Only, this time, Wondy has to leave urgently for a reserve Avengers job (stopping the Sandman from causing a nuclear meltdown).  His bosses at Cordco have no choice but to fire him.  A bit like Peter Parker, Wondy often does the right thing only to have fate punish him for it.

A good take on the character, and one I would have happily read more of.