Season Review: Marvel Zombies Season One

When Kevin Feige first floated the idea of bringing the utterly depraved Marvel Zombies comic book concept into the Disney fold, I’ll admit I was skeptical. Would the Mouse House really unleash the kind of visceral, stomach-churning horror that the original comics were famous for? Or would we get some neutered, sanitized, PG-13 version of superhero cannibalism?

Well, settle in, true believers, because Marvel Studios’ Marvel Zombies animated series just walked through the wall and ate the damn room. This isn’t just an exercise in shock value; it’s a tight, 45-minute (or however long they made it—I lost track between the headshots and the entrail-tugging) shot of nihilistic adrenaline that pushes the boundaries of the MCU’s animated offerings, making even the darkest What If…? episodes look like a pleasant Sunday brunch.

The premise is as simple as it is brilliant: a universe where a plague turns our favorite heroes into flesh-craving monsters. What elevates this beyond a simple gory footnote is the relentless pace and the sheer commitment to the bit. You’re not here for long, philosophical musings; you’re here to watch Zombie Iron Man use his uni-beam to blow holes in former allies, or to see a desperate, uninfected hero squad try to survive against insurmountable odds.

The animation style is a stunning blend of the classic Marvel look with a splatterpunk sensibility. The action sequences are fluid, fast, and unforgiving. When the Zombies attack—and they attack constantly—it’s a masterclass in controlled chaos. Every bite, tear, and dismemberment is rendered with loving, gruesome detail that will have purists cheering and casual viewers clutching their stomachs. This is the TV-MA rating being earned, not just applied. We’re talking about the comic book’s most grotesque moments being brought to life, and the creative team refused to pull any punches.

But this is still a comedy-action outfit, and where Marvel Zombies truly excels is in the morbid, pitch-black humor that only the undead can deliver. The remaining, uninfected heroes—a motley crew of B-listers and surviving A-listers—are fantastic anchors for the horror. Their reactions, their desperate, often failed attempts at strategy, provide the only moments of levity.

The series uses the established voice cast effectively, but it’s the characterization of the zombies themselves that is the real star. These aren’t just shambling hordes; they are horrifying echoes of their heroic selves, sometimes retaining just enough intelligence or muscle memory to make them terrifyingly competent killers. Seeing the zombie versions of Captain America or Scarlet Witch commit unspeakable acts manages to be both shocking and, yes, darkly funny in a way that Rick and Morty fans will instantly appreciate. The one-liners are sparse, but when they hit, they are sharper than Wolverine’s bone claws.

Marvel Zombies is exactly what it should be. It’s short, brutal, focused, and utterly uncompromising. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, delivering a concentrated dose of comic book carnage that honors the source material while fitting perfectly into the multiverse sandbox. I’m going to take some points off due to the non-official MCU cast attempting to mimic their real acting counterparts sounding not great, but overall everybody else was excellent. 

For fans who were tired of the usual high-stakes-but-low-consequences MCU formula, this is the glorious, bloody palate cleanser you need. If you can handle the gore, this is a must-watch. If you can’t, well, stick to Bluey.