REVIEW: ‘Marvel Zombies’ Lives Up To The Promise Of Being Marvel Animation's Wildest Production Yet
- Moriba Forde
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Marvel Zombies is a bloody treat for fans craving more visceral, unapologetically gruesome productions from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or multiverse in this case.
The series spawned out of the What If...? episode What If... Zombies?!, where a virus plagues Earth's population, turning most people into zombies, including Earth's mightiest heroes. It is also loosely based on Marvel's comic book series of the same name. Marvel Animation's new iteration follows Kamala Khan, Shang-Chi, Spider-Man, and a much edgier Moon Knight, alongside other familiar faces, as they fight to survive the wasteland Earth has become and put an end to the epidemic.
Marvel Zombies is not only a production for fans who crave more mature content, but it's also for those who want to be entertained by a great story without worrying about how it connects to the MCU. The series is not linked to anything other than the What If...? episode it originated from. The self-contained tale masterfully subverts expectations with twists guaranteed to give the audience whiplash. Despite having the same boring 3D animation style as What If...? Zombies has breathtaking visual sequences and beautiful brutality under its belt. The ensemble cast, voicing the roles they were born to play, is the icing on the cake.
Earth's Mightiest Survivors
Iman Vellani, Simu Liu, David Harbour, Awkwafina, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park, Florence Pugh, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tessa Thompson, Hailee Steinfeld, and Dominique Thorne return to voice alternate versions of their characters in this post-apocalyptic world. Todd Williams voices Blade, who, interestingly, is the aforementioned edgier Moon Knight. We probably won't see Mahershala Ali as Blade anytime in the near future, but at least we get Williams' "Blade Knight" as a consolation prize. His portrayal as Blade checks off all the boxes for the Daywalker. His new role as Moon Knight only serves one purpose storywise, but we can't get into that without discussing spoilers, so let's move along. He was quietly confident, charismatic, and deadly. Almost half of the blood can be traced back to the foes who fall by his hand.
Simu Liu and Awkwafina are back as the two halves of the same person, playing Shang-Chi and Katy. Their chemistry not only complements each other, but the entire cast. They offer a different perspective on the plague as regular working-class citizens, relatively speaking. Seeing the outbreak through their eyes, their turmoil, and their interactions with fellow survivors proved to be an immersive experience as they represent people like us trying to survive Hell on Earth, most of all.
If the youth inherits the Earth, then Iman Vellani already has a head start. She is rightfully the star of the show as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel. She leads with a refreshing innocence and a courageous personality, serving as a reminder that hope shines through, no matter how dark everything seems. Despite being that beacon of hope, there are moments when she herself succumbs to despair that are devastating to witness, but the way she pushes through the pain is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit that will be discussed for years to come.
The Queen of The Dead Lives!
Elizabeth Olsen voices a deadlier version of Wanda Maximoff, who wants nothing more than dominion over the damned. Wanda has a history of toeing the line between good and evil while battling her demons. Her ethics are usually debatable; however, that is not the case here. She is undeniably evil.
Anyone who thought Wanda was the most terrifying in Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness would be mistaken. The Scarlet Witch in that movie is a tiny mouse, compared to the unholy beast that is the Red Queen. The way the Red Queen is possessed by Elizabeth Olsen is frighteningly encapsulating.
Marvel Zombies Is A Welcomed Bloody Mess
Marvel Zombies is going to catch many fans and casual viewers by surprise with its storytelling, performances, and dynamic visual sequences. The animated series lives up to the premise of being Marvel's version of The Walking Dead, and fulfills the promise of delivering gore for those who revel in being traumatized. The show holds nothing back except Spider-Man, who was not involved as expected. He appears to contribute little to the narrative around episode 3, disappears, then he offers some support, fights some zombies, and that's it.
Disappointment over Spider-Man's minimal involvement aside, Zombies still manages to be an excellent series, as the action sequences spike adrenaline. When shock isn't provoked over adored characters being mauled by the zombies, awe rises when the heroes hold nothing back to fight these monsters. The animators behind those sequences, on par with Man of Steel and Dragon Ball Z, deserve all of their flowers.
All four episodes of Marvel Zombies will be released on Disney+ on September 24th.
Rating: ★★★★☆
About Marvel Zombies
Premiere Date:Â September 24, 2025
Episode Count:Â 4
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Bryan Andrews
Writer: Zeb Wells
Director: Bryan Andrews
Production:Â Marvel Animation
Distribution:Â Disney+
Cast:Â Iman Vellani, Simu Liu, David Harbour, Awkwafina, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park, Florence Pugh, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tessa Thompson, Hailee Steinfeld, Dominique Thorne, Todd Williams, Hudson Thames
Synopsis: After the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a group of survivors discovers the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking their lives to save their world.