It’s no secret that Marvel Studios has a patchy track record when it comes to their animated output. While there have been some hits, others like Marvel Animation: Eyes of Wakanda and What If… Zombies have flattered to deceive. And while Marvel Zombies tries to rectify some of those issues, it also falls victim to others, making for a series that’s occasionally good, rarely great and often irritating to watch.
Based on a What If… Zombies episode, the four-episode series finds Marvel heroes in a version of the MCU overrun by zombies. The story centers around Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), Kate Bishop/Hawkeye (Hailee Steinfeld) and Riri Williams/Ironheart (Dominique Thorne), who band together to save their world from an invading horde of undead superheroes.
Marvel Zombies is the first of its kind for the franchise, as it focuses on the MCU’s next generation of heroes rather than the classic Avengers roster. And as a result, it’s highly satisfying to see the likes of Shang-Chi, Katy Carter (voiced by Awkwafina) and members of the Thunderbolts* – all of whom make their debuts here – getting to shine.
However, that doesn’t mean the series neglects its old school brethren. Hawkeye, Captain America and the Scarlet Witch are all zombified in Marvel Zombies, meaning that there’s plenty of gore and action to be had as fans get the chance to see some of their favorite MCU characters die in grisly ways.
While the show’s cast is strong, the voice acting can sometimes suffer due to the character animation. As a result, the facial expressions of some iconic MCU heroes can sometimes feel lifeless and wooden, and that can lead to some dialogue coming across as overly expository or simply uninteresting.
As for what sets it apart from other MCU stories, Marvel Zombies has a much more bloody, gory and brutal tone than many of the franchise’s recent live-action films. And while there are some comical moments, the bulk of the action revolves around the heroes trying to survive a zombified world.
Ultimately, Marvel Zombies is a solid, entertaining animated entry in the MCU that’s worth a look if you’re willing to overlook some of its bigger What If…?-adjacent issues and external expectations.
But if you’re not, then the four-episode series is likely to leave you feeling as though you’ve wasted your time and energy watching it.