MODOK Hides Nods to a Forgotten Nathan Fillion Superhero

MODOK Hides Nods to a Forgotten Nathan Fillion Superhero

Wonder Man, Nathan Fillion’s character in MODOK, has a few striking similarities to one of the actor’s more iconic roles.

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MODOK Hides Nods to a Forgotten Nathan Fillion Superhero

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for M.O.D.O.K. Season 1, streaming now on Hulu.

If you thought that the obnoxious superhero Wonder Man voiced by Nathan Fillion in M.O.D.O.K. seemed oddly familiar, you’re not alone. Fillion’s casting was already a clever wink at his history with the comics character, as posters within a scene cut from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 showed him portraying the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Hollywood actor/hero Simon Williams, aka. Wonder Man. However, while the MCU still doesn’t officially have a Wonder Man, the one in M.O.D.O.K. references one of Fillion’s more iconic roles.

Back in 2008, Fillion took part in a web-based mini-series titled Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. The project was a homespun effort created during a strike from the Writers Guild of America and released online at a time when streaming was a relatively new platform for film and television.

MODOK Hides Nods to a Forgotten Nathan Fillion Superhero

Dr. Horrible, much like M.O.D.O.K., played on the superhero genre by centering not on a hero, but on a villainous wannabe who dreams of taking over the world. However, instead of being a Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, the titular Dr. Horrible, played by Neil Patrick Harris, is the alter-ego of an endearingly shy and awkward genius, Billy. Fillion enters the story as Billy’s nemesis, the shallow but smugly popular local superhero Captain Hammer. After Billy’s crush Penny falls for Captain Hammer, their rivalry deepens, and so does Billy’s commitment to the life of a supervillain.

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While Captain Hammer’s narcissistic behavior and bullying tendencies are overlooked by the celebrity-worshiping public, it’s clear to the audience that he doesn’t truly care about truth and justice, and least of all about Penny’s mission to help the homeless. During the dedication ceremony for a new shelter she’s founded, Captain Hammer reads a speech that begins, “I hate the homeless,” only adding “…ness problem” after turning a page. He then goes entirely off-script and sings the song “Everyone’s a Hero,” which includes lyrics like “Everyone’s a hero in their own way…in their own not-that-heroic way” and “A hero doesn’t care if you’re a bunch of scary alcoholic bums.”

This hilariously un-heroic hero rises again in Fillion’s performance as Wonder Man, who makes his first appearance in M.O.D.O.K.’s Episode 7, picking on a homeless person. He even explains to passersby that he loves the homeless but that this one happens to be a villain. In Episode 9, he also reveals a vendetta against squirrels — but this, too, turns out to be because he thinks the animals are friends with the homeless.

As Wonder Man goes on to get romantically involved with M.O.D.O.K.’s ex-wife, universally adored despite his self-centered motives, it’s almost difficult to separate him from Fillion’s first obnoxious superhero. Wonder Man may still have a place in the future of Marvel’s film and TV adaptations, but this version of the character is a unique tribute to a character who deserves to be remembered.

Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. stars Patton Oswalt as M.O.D.O.K., Aimee Garcia as Jodie, Ben Schwartz as Lou, Melissa Fumero as Melissa, Wendi McLendon-Covey as Monica Rappaccini, Beck Bennett as Austin Van Der Sleet, Jon Daly as Super Adaptoid and Sam Richardson as Gary. The series is currently streaming on Hulu.

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Link Source : https://www.cbr.com/modok-nathan-fillion-captain-hammer-dr-horrible/

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