Marvel's Strangest Superhero Squad Takes Shape in MCU
Disney's Wonder Man show is quietly introducing the most unconventional superhero team Marvel has ever created, featuring heroes with abilities that defy traditional expectations.
Disney's Wonder Man series promises something completely different from typical superhero content, and early casting reveals suggest the studio might be building the most unconventional team of heroes ever seen on screen. The Great Lakes Avengers are slowly making their way into live-action.
Doorman, an obscure mutant capable of transforming his body into a dark energy portal, joins the Wonder Man cast as the second Great Lakes Avengers member to enter the MCU. Mister Immortal previously appeared in She-Hulk as Jennifer Walters' problematic former spouse, establishing the foundation for this unusual team.
The Original Oddball Squad
The complete Great Lakes roster features five distinctly strange heroes. Beyond Mister Immortal and Doorman, the team includes Dinah Soar, a pterodactyl-human hybrid; Flatman, whose two-dimensional body can stretch and bend impossibly; and Big Bertha, a fashion model who inflates to enormous proportions.
John Byrne created these characters in 1989's West Coast Avengers #46. The team declared themselves protectors of America's heartland without official permission to use the Avengers name. Hawkeye and Mockingbird eventually mentored the group, though they never received legitimate Avengers status.
Name Changes and Identity Crisis
The Great Lakes team has struggled with branding throughout their comic history. After abandoning the Avengers name, they became The Lightning Rods, mimicking the Thunderbolts. Discovering their mutant status led to another rebrand as the Great Lakes X-Men. They eventually settled on Great Lakes Champions before returning to their original Avengers moniker.
Their latest comic appearances show them back to calling themselves the Great Lakes Avengers. Still unauthorized, but their continued heroic efforts have earned grudging tolerance from Marvel's premier teams.
MCU Integration Possibilities
Doorman's role in Wonder Man remains unclear, but the "Doorman Clause" provides significant clues. This insurance waiver requires MCU actors to certify they lack superpowers, suggesting his abilities will definitely factor into the storyline.
Whether Marvel plans a full Great Lakes Avengers assembly remains uncertain. The studio could be building toward a team of lovable misfits, less dysfunctional than the Thunderbolts but far less powerful than the main Avengers roster. Both Mister Immortal and Doorman might simply be one-off appearances designed to expand the universe and satisfy longtime comic readers.
Marvel faces timing challenges with any new team formation. Characters like Hercules, Clea, and Skarr still await proper MCU integration. The Great Lakes Avengers might need to wait their turn.
Wonder Man's eight episodes debut January 27 on Disney Plus. The show's existence proves Marvel will take chances on lesser-known characters, making anything possible for these quirky heroes.