Wonder Man is a comic book staple with his 1964 appearance paving the way for adoration from fans all around the world. Wonder Man debuted as a villain but was later reintroduced as a hero and founding member of the West Coast Avengers. Wonder Man is regarded as one of the strongest Avengers as well as one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe.
Simon Williams is an actor by day who also battles Earth's deadliest threats as Wonder Man using his ionized superhuman abilities. Wonder Man's invulnerability is unmatched, placing him in the crosshairs of some immensely powerful enemies such as Baron Zemo, Grim Reaper, and even Doctor Doom.
10 Baron Zemo Is A Calculating Genius And Progenitor
Baron Zemo is directly responsible for Simon Williams's transformation into Wonder Man. In Avengers #9 by Stan Lee, Don Heck, Dick Ayers, and Stan Goldberg, Zemo preys on a frustrated Williams who has just lost much of his family fortune to Stark Industries. Williams agrees to meet with Zemo to undergo a procedure that will give him a new outlook on life.
Zemo intends to create an ionic-powered supervillain to infiltrate and destroy the Avengers. Zemo succeeds, and Wonder Man is born. However, Wonder Man turns on his creator. Baron Zemo is a cunning genius with resources to match, making him a menacing adversary. By creating Wonder Man he is aware of and able to manipulate Williams's strengths and weaknesses.
9 Crossbones Is A Superhuman Mercenary Often Pitted Against The Avengers
Crossbones is a recurring Captain America villain who often fights the Avengers due to his one-time S.H.I.E.L.D affiliation and strong ties to HYDRA. Brock Rumlow is regarded as one of the Marvel Universe's most powerful and skilled mercenaries. Scarlet Witch and the Avengers often foil Crossbones's terrorist activities.
Simon Williams shared a romance with Scarlet Witch. Crossbones uses this knowledge to often distract and best Wonder Man during skirmishes. Rumlow's use of specialized gauntlets grants him superhuman strength and pain tolerance making him a deadly hand-to-hand fighter.
8 Count Nefaria Is A Dangerous Energy Vampire
Count Luchino Nefaria is a vampire that feeds on ionic energy allowing his abilities and powers to grow exponentially the more he feeds. Nefaria frequently battles the Avengers but is most notable for his head-to-head encounters with Iron Man and Wonder Man respectively.
Nefaria was created using the same techniques derived from the ionic energy treatments Baron Zemo used to give Wonder Man his powers and abilities. However, Nefaria's powers are defective in comparison to Wonder Man's because of his constant need to feed on energy to maintain high power levels.
7 Abomination Is An Unyielding Fighter That Summons All Of Wonder Man's Strength
Abomination first became a Wonder Man villain when the two squared off in the pages of West Coast Avengers #25 by Steve Engleheart and Al Milgram. Emil Blonsky is most notably known as Hulk's nemesis Abomination who later became She-Hulk's adversary as well.
Abomination's superior strength, durability, and regenerative healing factor make him one of the most difficult and nearly unmovable combatants in the Marvel Universe. In West Coast Avengers #25, Wonder Man summons all of his ionic energy to defeat Abomination, nearly killing himself in the process.
6 Vision Shares A Similar Origin To Wonder Man
.jpeg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Vision's inception is linked directly to Wonder Man. Ultron, the Avengers's sentient AI helper-turned-adversary, created Vision using Simon Williams's brain patterns. Vision shares many of the same energy-based powers as Wonder Man. However, Vision can inflict massive bodily injury to Wonder Man by using his forehead's solar gem.
Vision and Wonder Man have long shared an uneasy relationship due to similar origins as well as mutual romantic partnerships with Scarlet Witch. The two battled relentlessly for years but reluctantly reconciled when they joined the Avengers.
5 Madame Masque Is A Super-Spy Who Often Thwarts Wonder Man
Madame Masque is a Simon Williams adversary that predates him being imbued with powers. Her comic book origins were explored in Avengers #32 by Kurt Busiek, Paul Ryan, and George Pérez, where she appeared in a gallery of several other Wonder Man rogues.
Masque first used her espionage abilities to infiltrate Williams Innovations with the intention to illegally acquire the company belonging to Williams's father. She is a competent and fierce opponent due to her proficiency with weapons and fighting skills coupled with her technologically advanced body armor and robotic army, The Dreadnoughts.
4 Mephisto's Supernatural Abilities Keep Wonder Man Ensnared
Wonder Man first encountered Mephisto in Mephisto #4 by Al Millgram and John Buscema. Mephisto established himself as one of Wonder Man's greatest enemies in this issue. Simon and the Avengers traveled to Hell to stop Mephisto from devouring the souls of those on Earth.
Wonder Man haulted Mephisto's demonic plans but just narrowly escaped the clutches of eternal hellfire torment. Wonder Man may be one of the most durable members of the Avengers, but Mephisto can alter reality, making him a nearly unbeatable opponent in most scenarios.
3 Kang The Conquer Is A Time-Traveling Menace To The Avengers
Kang The Conquer is one of the most complex, far-reaching, and vexing Avengers villains. Known for his evil ambition and unparalleled determination, Kang travels through time causing many temporal disturbances while orchestrating events and traps for the Avengers to overcome.
Kang is one of Wonder Man's greatest enemies due to his 31st-century technology and indestructible bodysuit. A resurrected Wonder Man was mind-controlled by Kang in Avengers #131 by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema. Kang pitted Wonder Man against the Avengers before the hero finally broke free and foiled his plans.
2 Doctor Doom Is A Magic-Wielding Technopath
Wonder Man cannot defeat Doctor Doom alone, always relying on the Avengers' help. Doom and Wonder Man first met in the "Emperor Doom" story found in Marvel Graphic Novel #27 by Jim Shooter, Mark Gruenwald, and David Michelinie.
In the graphic novel, Doom nearly defeats the Avengers and accomplishes world domination before the team regroups and later subdues him. Doctor Doom is regarded as one of the Marvel Universe's most skilled magic-users in addition to having an arsenal of advanced weaponry and armor at his disposal as leader of Latveria.
1 The Grim Reaper Proves Family Wounds Run Deep
The Grim Reaper's hatred and murderous infatuation with Wonder Man is driven by sibling rivalry. Eric Williams, a.k.a. Grim Reaper and Simon Williams, a.k.a. Wonder Man are indeed brothers as well as archenemies. Eric once attacked the Avengers to avenge the death of his brother. However, when Simon returned as Wonder Man, Eric was infuriated that he joined the Avengers as a hero.
Grim Reaper is an exceptional hand-to-hand grappler who uses a forged scythe blade that doubles as a multifunctional techno weapon. Reaper also wields mystical powers that allow him to control the dead.