And the Dead will walk the Earth…IN SPANDEX!
Hello, I’m Odin Ashcroft, and I bring you the mother of all Halloween topics: MARVEL ZOMBIES!
A rather new trend in comics (well, not new new, but as of nearly five years, its still fresh…only the content is decaying). I’ve been getting quite a few requests for this, so, I wanted to save it when it was appropriate and here we are, edging “dangerously” close to Halloween. So, lets begin shall we?
The whole idea of Marvel Zombies could be given to one man Mark Millar, who was currently writing the title Ultimate Fantastic Four. For those unaware of what this title was, it was one of the core titles in Marvels hit label, the Ultimate Universe. The concept was to take all their popular characters and “reboot” them, so their origins had happened in the modern era. So, in this universe, Spider-Man’s still in High School, the X-men are still being formed, and the Avengers are known as the Ultimates. Yeah…I never did like that name, but moving on!
So, in this universe, its Fantastic Four was a quartet of teenagers, who in a result of an experiment into another dimension, “The N-Zone”. But, due to the miscalculations made by fellow teen genius, Victor Von Damme, the quartet and Victor were flung through that dimension and then dropped to random points on Earth, changed. The four, with new abilities and forms, became the Fantastic Four, while Victor would soon become Doctor Doom. Backstory over, onto the “meat” of the story.
Well, during Mark Millar’s story, called “Crossover” (Drawn by Greg Land), where it seemed the teenaged Reed Richards had made contact with the mainstream Marvel universe’s Reed Richards. With the elder Reed’s help, he constructs a way to travel to other universe and crosses over into the other Reed’s Earth. However, the foolish teen learns he’s been tricked, as he not only encounters a zombiefied Fantastic Four, but the whole of New York City TEEMING with Marvel Zombies, who had pretty much devoured their entire planets populace.
They seek to use the teen’s gateway to reach his world for a whole new “buffet”, but Reed escapes with help from the most unlikely of allies…
And trust me when I say, being the Master of Magnetism in a world of zombies?
KICKS. ASS.
So, Reed succeeds in stopping the zombies from crossing over…until seven issues later, during “Frightful” (also Drawn by Greg Land) when the Zombie Fantastic Four (which would be then known as the Frightful Four, in this universe), made it through to the Ultimate Universe via dimensional portal, all thanks to a complicated plot by this guy…
Smug looking bastard, isn’t he? However, their plans go pear shape, and both the zombies AND Doctor Doom find themselves shunted back to their Earth. How Doctor Doom somehow returns to his native Earth, is never clearly explained. But, this is the end of the Zombie Earth…in this title.
Due to the popularity of the concept, Marvel published a mini series by Robert Kirkman (a very big name in comics, especially due to his epic ongoing zombie comic, “THE WALKING DEAD”) and drawn by Sean Phillips. But, artistically, Sean was overshadowed by the incredible cover work done by Arthur Suydam. I mean, check out cover for Issue #1
Yes, a pattern began to grow when either Suydam or Greg Land (later on) would do covers for the Marvel Zombies. Suydam’s covers were zombied “reimaginings” of classic Marvel covers, ranging from stuff from the 60s to todays memorable covers. These covers are so popular, Marvel released a book containing only the covers...
Anyway, back to the story. The Marvel Zombies mini series takes place between the two Ultimate Fantastic Four storylines, picking up directly from the end of Crossover, with an exhausted Magneto destroying the gateway that the Two Reeds had created together. He learns that there are survivors on his old hideout, Asteroid M, including his Acolytes and Forge. But, sadly, before he could even reach them, he is corned and devoured by some “Zombie Avengers” but not before he decapitates Hawkeye. But, one obstacle is removed, while another arrives as the Silver Surfer arrives and informs the zombies that his master Galactus is coming, to devour the planet. But, even the Silver Surfer couldn’t survive against the onslaught of Colonel America (this worlds Captain America), Iron Man, Giant-Man, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, the Hulk and Wolverine. In doing so, they acquire a portion of the Power Cosmic, which they use to slaughter the remaining zombie heroes, doing away with “competition” for when the “Main Meal” would arrive.
In an ongoing subplot, the Acolytes return to Earth to find Magneto, but instead find Black Panther, still uninfected but mutilated, missing an arm and a foot. He’d escaped from the lab of Giant-Man, who had been keeping him alive as a food source. He also escaped with the zombified head of the Wasp, whose head had been bitten off by her irate husband, but removing the head seemed to be ineffective of killing these zombies, as the head begged for flesh, showing that the hunger seemed to be more psychological than actual hunger.
Galactus arrives, and succeeds at first to repel the zombies, but zombies who succeeded in devouring his herald realized they could use the power they’d gained to use against Galactus. Using a device, which both combines and amplifies the powers, they use it to critically injure Galactus. But before they could feed, they are attacked by the zombified remants of their old villains
Outside the “Casualty” of Colonel America, they succeed in destroying their former foes, and proceed to devour the Devourer of Worlds. Now infused with his power, the remaining Marvel Zombies becoming collective Galacti. This is where it picks up from “Frightful”, where the immobilized Frightful Four and Doctor Doom are exiled back onto this Earth. It is unknown what happens to the Frightful Four, and Doctor Doom returns to his universe. So, Five Years jump ahead, and The Black Panther, a “domesticated” Wasp (now equipped with new proestecthic limbs), and the Acolytes return to Earth, finding nothing but plant life as the zombies have long since left…to the stars. As the “Galacti”, they move across the cosmos, moving from inhabited world to world, leaving nothing but wastelands in their wake....
And thats where the first mini series ended...and many sequels would follow it. Well, technically, a couple of prequels followed first...sort of. Now, before I continue, I ask you this...when you think of the living Dead, what you usually think of is that they are Evil. And this Army, so full of Darkness..okay okay, ominous hint ominous hint, and I bring you the most unexpected but most welcomed cross over. Marvel Zombies meet...
Ash!
Hail to the king, baby
Thats right, the one of the first things following the very first Marvel Zombies mini series was Marvel Zombies Vs. The Army of Darkness. Now, this was an cross-company cross over, given Dynamite Comics owns the rights to the Evil Dead/Army of Darkness franchise. But, this takes place at the very beginning of the infection of Earth 2149 (the Marvel Zombie Earth designation) where Ash was shunted into as he encountered a zombiefied Sentry (A Marvel Pastiche on a certain man of steel), where both land into Earth 2149, which in the meantime, Ash recieves a prophecy of an army of the dead would rise and this world would fall. When he reaches the alternate Earh, he makes many mistakes (like helping the villian Thunderball escape while thinking Daredevil was the bad guy) and fails to convince anyone on the Avengers of the looming danger ahead, and is teleported away just as the call of a "disturbance occurs". Ash arrives on scene, attempting one more time to warn them, but Spider-Man arrives and by Colonel America's request, drags him away...just when the Avengers encounter the zombie Sentry...
and after Ash convinces Spider-Man, the webslinger is quickly infected from behind by Colonel America. But, Ash is narrowly saved from the zombi es, but leaves him alone while he rushes to go check on his Aunt May and Mary Jane...meanwhile, New York is infected by its Mightest Heroes...
Which leads Ash to find himself in very weird company, from the Punisher (someone you think would handle himself in a zombie infestation. Surprise: He doesnt), and then, with the Dazzler...trust me, I wouldnt HAVE enough time explaining who she is. Just understand me when I say super powered disco dancer, and move on. Of course, he narrowly misses bumping into his reality doppelganger, who is eaten by a zombie Howard the Duck...who is then killed by "our" Ash. Both Ash and Dazzler end up at Dr.Strange's mansion, where they find the survivor of the Avengers infection, The Scarlet Witch, who then jointly look for the Necronomicon, still believing this to be a Deadite invasion. But, it turns out this universe's Book of the Dead is in fact, in Latveria. Well, through a series of very odd events, the trio reach Latveria, only to be imprisoned by Doom himself. But Ash, with his usual charm and luck, escapes imprsionment, coming across the Enchantress, who was being held prison as well. But, after he frees her, and takes her to his imprisoned comerades, she drops her "enchantment", revealing herself to be a zombie, who infects Dazzler...which Doom slays as well as the Enchantress.
But Doom's defenses finally fall, resulting in Scarlet Witch's infection. But Ash finds the Necronomicon , only to be told by the book that these creatures are not deadites but an entirely different creature. However, it also points out that the prophecy he'd been told, of an Army of Darkness and that Fall of this Earth had nothing to do with one another. So, Ash, after some "convincing" rises the victims of the zombies as Deadites, providing enough of a distraction for Doom to send the remaining living survivors into another Earth, using a gateway similar to Reed's device. He also provides transport for Ash. Doom himself succeeds in both transportations but destroys the gate once the zombies get in, allowing himself to be infected while insuring the safety of other universes. The Necronomicon is found, but much to its surprised (being bound in flesh, it expected tobe eaten) it is spared as a food source...but the Hulk was in need of toile paper. As for Ash...from one frying pan to the next...look who hes fighting THESE days...
The other Prequel to come out was to fill out the holes that Army of Darkness couldn't fill in at the time. Called Marvel Zombies Dead Days.
It opens right up after Spider-Man being infected, reaching his home where Mary Jane and Aunt May resides. But sadly, he succumbs to the hunger and soon devour both of his loved ones.
Meanwhile, we see Magneto, on board Asteroid M, heading towards Earth to help. Spider-Man continues to infect more and more of his old friends, including Daredevil. Meanwhile, The X-Men try to fight off a zombie Alpha Flight (Canada's premier super team), when Magneto arrives and wipes the out the whole group, asking their aid in fighting the new menace. We see Black Panther confront Giant Man, who has been infected, leading into the events which would see Black Panther a prisoner of Giant Man, who would slowly eat him alive in bites. The Infection spreads...
All the remaining uninfected heroes and villians are united in the cause to stop the infection, while the worlds smartest (Iron Man, Bruce Banner, and Mr.Fantastic) work to find a cure. Doom watches from his fortress in Latveria, refusing to aid in the effort. But, Reed Richards also seems to unwilling to help in a cure, seeing the zombies are in fact, advanced lifeforms. Stark, on the other hand, has built a machine that could allow travel to dimensions, as a last resort if they can stop the infection. Reed Richards calls the Fantastic Four in to discuss that the infection is infact evolution..and reveals that he had secretly infected all of them on purpose. They turn and then proceed to infect HIM. Just as Stark finishes the teleportation device, the zombified Fantastic Four burst in and infect him. Nick Fury and what remains of the heroes try to fight them back, but fail but succeed in destroying the teleportation device, hoping to stop them spreading the disease. He is completely devoured to the point of nothing left, but when asked what would happen next, Mr. Fantastic responds that they will rebuild the machine, and "Spread the Gospel".
And that leads us to the events of Ultimate FF/Marvel Zombies 1....and lead into Marvel Zombies 2...
Now, Forty Years into the future from the ending of the first miniseries, we open to see that nearly the entire universe had been devoured by the cosmic powered zombies, infecting various cosmic heroes and villians in the meantime. They plan to return to Earth and hopefully recreate the gate to other universes.
In the meantime, Black Panther rules the surviving humanity in New Wakanda, but is in a power struggle with the Acolytes, still working under the believe that mutants still hold superiorty to normal humans. An Acolyte assassin attacks him, and nearly kills him, only to be "saved" by the Wasp. Both zombie Avengers then proceed to devour the assassain, wondering where to go now.
As the Cosmic Zombies slowly reached Earth, we learn that Spider-Man and Luke Cage have gradually lost the "hunger' and able to think rationally. But, Giant Man wishes to start a breeding program to create more human food. A battle amongst them ensue, as the "full" zombies feel remorse for what they've done. When they reach Earth, Both Spider Man and Luke Cage are inside the impenetrable barrier that keeps the invading "hungry" zombies at bay. They help kill the Gladiator, which then cause the humans trust them, providing them with cybernetics to replace lost limbs. They tell them of the zombies plans, which they learn has been remade and now lies beneath the city. But the cosmic zombies gain the upper hand, gaining access into the base, and the slaughter begins anew. Its to Giant Man surprise, and soon to his comerades, that their hunger is also gone...but a starving Hulk destroys many of the zombies that had tried to stop him from eating humans.
But, in a series of confused events, the surviving zombies were launched into another universe by Fabian Cortez, the leader of the Acolytes. And thus ends the second volume.
Now, both Marvel Zombies 1 and 2 had been written by Robert Kirkman and drawn by Sean Phillips, with covers by Arthur Suydam, but when Marvel Zombies 3 came along, they did not return. Instead, the story would be written Fred Van Lente and drawn by Kev Walker, with covers by Greg Land. And not only does this volume have none of the original crew, it doesnt even follow the same cast of characters. But now, lets open up, Marvel Zombies 3...
In fact, this follows the adventures in the MAIN Marvel universe, as we learned is being invaded by the zombies via the Nexus of Realities (which, coincidentally, are in the swamps of Florida), attacking local heroes Siege, Jennifer Kale, Wundarr and the Conquistador (I dont make these up, series). One of the zombies that attack them is none other than Deadpool.
All are killed and infected with the exception of Jennifer Kale, who waits in an observation room back at headquarters of A.R.M.O.R. (Altered-Reality Monitoring and Operational Response ), Machine Man and Jocasta (both sentient artificial intelligent androids) are off to travel into the Marvel Zombie universe to find DNA of an uninfected human for Morbius (the "Living" Vampire) to create a vaccine, so the people of Earth 616 can be innoculated from the virus. But, as soon as the heroes go into the next universe, it is learned that Morbius working for A.R.M.O.R. is in fact the zombie version, having kidnapped the other.
Meanwhile, the two androids followed "human" readings, which turns out to be clones created by the zombified Kingpin and Jackal, now being their sole food source. They do find the uninfected Vanessa Fisk, the wife of the Kingpin. She gives them a sample to use for the vaccine but declines going with them back into Earth 616. But, Machine Man is overcome with pity at the zombies treating clones like humans treat robots. Leaving Jocasta, Machine man proceeds into battle mode and destroys the clones out of mercy, and is soon attacked...
But when encountering the zombie Doctor Strange, he realizes that Morbius had been replaced, releasing the zombie Deadpool and soon, an outbreak quickly overtakes the whole facility, which Jocasta returns alone to find out. Machine Man, meanwhile, finds the zombie Lockjaw (a giant teleporting dog. I cannot make this stuff up, seriously), using him to teleport to A.R.M.O.R., in time to slaughter the zombies...
Although the real Morbius slays his zombie doppelganger. In the end, Jocasta and Machine Man return to their duties elsewhere, while Morbius goes off to follow the zombies who escaped, forming a new team of Midnight Sons (an old 90s attempt a forming a group made up of supernatural characters). This ends the third volume butr leads directly into the next, with the Midnight Sons as the focus and the same crew as before...here is Marvel Zombies 4
Marvel Zombies 4 opens with the Midnight Sons, comprised of Morbius, Werewolf by Night, Daimon Hellstrom, and Jennifer Kale, who have been innoculated by the vaccine developed by Morbius. They investigate cruise ship apparently attacked by zombie fishermen and Piranha (the villain, not the actual fish). During this conflict its revealed that Morbius has developed an oxidizing bacteria, which LITERALLY, makes zombies explode. But as we would find out, the head of the zombie Deadpool, carried by Simon Garth (a NATIVE zombie, but the voodoo kind), is the cause of all the new zombies. However, they fell under the sway of the Black Talon, and Deadpool fills in ALL the details. Black Talon calls the Hood, leader of the super powered criminal underworld, telling him of the all new weapon he had to destroy all superheroes.
The Midnight Sons reach the island, destroying the infected cruise ship just to be sure. The Hood, having more interest than one would believe in all this, goes off to Black Talon's plantation on the island, along with some of his henchmen. They and the Midnight Sons encounter one another and thereby clash. But, as the Deadpool infected zombies enter the clash, Morbius attacks them with his explosive vaccine...but it causes the disease to mutate, making the disease itself an airborne killing machine, no longer needing hosts to feed it. Killing Hood's henchmen, forcing the Hood and the Midnight Sons to join forces. Kale summons the Man-Thing, a mindless but powerful creature. Its connection to the Earth helps heal the damage brought on by the super virus. But, Deadpool realizes he can control this super virus and has it create a super zombie out of the dead bodies. The Super-Zombie fights and kills Man-Thing.
Kale mourns its, leaving Morbius, Hellstrom, and the Hood to think of a way of escaping, while Jack Russell (Werewolf by Night) reveals that he had be infected, and about to kill Kale, who summons forth the Hood's master, Dormammu's name, for power. But, with it, she attacks both zombies and her former allies, which quickly Daimon exorcises, but with quick thinking, Kale magically summons moonlight which causes him to revert to his werewolf form, which the zombie virus could not effect. Combining Black Talons and Kales magic, the Zombie plague is bound into the form of Simon Garth. The Midnight Sons, believing the zombie plague now finally solved ,go off to fight other monsters...but the head of zombie Deadpool's survives (into his own spinoff with his living, full bodied 616 counterpart, called "Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth").
After four volumes and many one shots and spin-offs, you'd think this was the end...oh, but we have one final volume to look over. Marvel Zombies Volume 5, the last volume in this series of books (at this point in time) is in fact a mini series of interconnected one shots. The two bookend issues are written by the author of volumes 3 and 4, while the three other one shots are written by three top writers of the zombie genre : David Wellington (Monster Island), Jonathan Maberry (Paitient Zero and Zombie CSU) and Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), with each issue being drawn by different artists and covers by Arthur Suydam. This series is called MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN!
The five issues would follow the interconnected story of what happened to THE Marvel Zombies, from the end of Marvel Zombies 2. They were transported to a different universe, but each of them were sent at different points in time.
First Issue had zombie Spider-Man trying to find a way to cure himself, while infecting this Earth's Sinister Six at the time of this Peter Parker's years at college (the 60s)...
All the while zombie Giant Man siezes control of the Watcher's Tower on the moon. Issue 2 flashed many years later (the 70s), where this Earth's Iron Man (who at this time in Marvel History was Jim Rhodes) and Tony Stark, who failed to prevent his own death while Giant Man acquires some Inhuman devices from Stark's possession.
Issue 3 followed zombie Wolverine eating Hand ninjas in Japan (in the 80s) while Spider-man tries to develop a cure from the uninfected Wolverine native to this universe. Issue 4 flashed all the way forward, arriving at the time where the Hulk was returning from the planet he'd been rocketed to at the time of Planet Hulk (long story another time), landing on its moon, only to enounter the zombified Inhumans, become infected and then proceed to infect this universes Sentry. The fifth and final issue would resolve all the questions asked about the Marvel Universe, as well as the fates of all Marvel Zombies...but seeing how I've spoiled everything so far...I'm going to at least keep this underwraps...that, or at least until public opinion sways me to revealing it ...
So, that is Marvel Zombies in an oversized nutshell...and I have to say, despite the reviews towards the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole concept and execution. But you're probably curious whats my opinion, so, onto the final analysis!
On the Positive Side: The concept in itself is fantastic. Zombie Super Heroes. I mean, the phrase itself, "Marvel Zombies" has been around for sometime, standing for someone who is a die hard Marvel fan. The humor, the violence, and storytelling is great in its variety and variance, from the feeling of a zombie film during "Crossover" to the dark humor in Marvel Zombies 1 to even the over the top goriness of Marvel Zombies 3! Now, not all the parts of the series maybe welcomed by fans, but each one certainly brings to the table. And of course, one of the biggest attractions is the covers. When either done by Arthur Suydam or Greg Land, they do certainly catch ones eyes.
On the Negative Side: Well, theres only one negative side of this great thing, and its this: Its TOO much of a great thing. At the time, the ideas of zombie super heroes was fresh and new. But now, after several years of mini series after mini series, an avid fan like me has to admit perhaps its time to close the coffin on this, at least for now. I'd happy to see this Earth or any Marvel zombie again, but a thing called pacing is in order...besides, Marvel Zombies is one of the few titles I still read from Marvel, only because most of its other titles are having the same problem : Trying to cram way too much out at once.
Anyway, this has been my Marvel Zombies, Giant-Sized Halloween Special. I hope you enjoy this article and hope its enlightened and certainly interested you in the growing horror genre Marvel seems to be developing. I'm Odin Ashcroft, and I'm your comic book wolf. I read it and rant about it so you don't have to. Until next week, keep those requests/comments/questions coming...if not...
They'll be coming to get you!
Bwhahahaahhaahahahahahahahahahahahaha (Happy Halloween!) hahahahahahahahaha!
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Originally Posted by wraithfireorca
