Wonder Watchlist

Marvel Zombies rarely works, and when it does, its four short episodes have Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) to thank for it. Barely tapping into its TV-MA rating, the series starts out strong but flounders with its overwhelming amount of comedic relief. Its impressive animation and voice acting can’t help save a script that indulges in yet another formulaic MCU storyline, entirely too dependent on quips. 

Kamala and her zombie-fighting friends Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) and Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) lead the first episode of Marvel’s newest project. And immediately, their chemistry draws us in. With Kamala’s quick wit, Riri’s intelligence, and Kate’s agility, they are a trio made for this environment. It’s been years since the events of Endgame, leaving the fates of many of the MCU’s most prized heroes unknown. Food is running low, and it’s unclear how much longer this infection will last. Soon, the wandering heroes find an item that could make this all disappear. The only issue is they have no idea what to do with it—or how they’ll survive the journey to learn what it is.

There are entirely too many characters in Marvel Zombies, especially when each of them has to have some level of humor that is more eye-rolling than it is funny. Episode one is a solid introduction to an Elseworld story within the MCU, but once characters like Katy (Awkwafina), Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), and even Red Guardian (David Harbour) are introduced in later episodes, any moment of tension during Kamala’s journey is stifled. The more compelling characters like Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Blade Knight (Todd Williams), and Black Panther (who doesn’t even speak) get nearly no characterization outside of forced exposition. It’s frustrating beyond measure, especially when this is the first time seeing the MCU debut of Blade, making it feel like the studio had complete and utter assurance that his movie would’ve been released prior to this… but it wasn’t.

The tonal issues in Marvel Zombies are its downfall, similar to complaints that have plagued the MCU for years. This series has a TV-MA rating, and while there’s blood and action that isn’t suited for children, the story is injected with funny quips and long-winded jokes that don’t match the tone established by its zombie hacking and slashing. It ends up being completely forgettable after viewing and easy to tune out while watching. Bryan Andrews and Zeb Wells pen the story for Marvel Zombies, and it’s hard to tell if they ever read the comic series of the same name. There’s some similarities between the two, mostly in basic plot points, but leaves much to be desired for fans of the comic.

The voice acting is done mostly by those who have played these characters in live action. But what Marvel Zombies gets right is using Kamala as the main character, leading a group of wayward heroes we’ve seen in previous films. Vellani stands as one of the best-cast characters in the MCU—not only does she understand the character she is playing more than most, but she gives her best performance as the character since her Ms. Marvel debut. Thompson and Pugh also give impressive performances with only their voices—their moments stand out as bright spots in the series. For the debut of Blade not being voiced by Mahershala Ali is a head-scratcher, but Williams brings the character to life here. With his character being possessed by Khonshu, he delivers matter-of-fact responses with ease, but it does leave a sour taste that such a sought-after character has his first appearance in the MCU in a four-episode series.

Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) fans have got to be annoyed with the use of Wanda in the MCU as of late, pinning her as a villain yet again. Marvel Zombies shows her once more as a woman with paper-thin motives. She has no characterization in this series outside of being someone the heroes have to defeat. This is similar to many familiar faces that grace the series—many in zombie form—making fan-favorite characters and legacy heroes take the sideline for characters like Shang-Chi, who has barely been used since his debut film. It’s apparent that the MCU is throwing all these characters together for a “hey, remember these people?” moment to bridge the gap in appearances before their next big Avengers film. It leaves many characters, and even the villain, coming across as point-and-clap moments more than anything of value—a disservice to those who are looking for something more.

Marvel Zombies has action-packed animation that is stunning—one of the best animation styles Marvel Animation has used. It’s dynamic with its 3D aesthetic that makes the action leap off the screen. Kamala’s powers—although still a bummer that they were changed from her comic origin—are the best we’ve seen them, and she learns how to hone them. Seeing characters that haven’t shared screen time together using their unique powers is a blast to witness, but the blood and gore don’t really fit. Sure, characters like Blade slicing up zombies with ease is cool, but it doesn’t fulfill that TV-MA rating that the marketing has been pushing.

Overall, Marvel Zombies is just more of the same from the MCU. There are moments that are promising, but it falls flat with a script that holds it back. With impressive voice acting and animation, the tonal inconsistency keeps Marvel Zombies from being a series that is worth watching.

Rating: 2.5/5

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