Marvel's Zombified Universe: A Misguided Adventure in "Marvel Zombies"

Picture this - your favorite Marvel characters, but they're not fighting off intergalactic threats, they're battling flesh-eating zombies! Intriguing, right? Well, the Marvel Universe took the fan love for their "What If…?" episode featuring a zombie apocalypse and ran with it, resulting in the four-part mini-series "Marvel Zombies."

However, what could have been a thrilling trip through the crazy train of a zombified Marvel Universe failed to fully pack the punch. Boasting an array of characters drenched in blood and guts for perhaps the first time beyond the Deadpool series, it falls prey, not to the undead, but to its own sluggish pace.

The story follows Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, a member of the Young Avengers along with Kate Bishop, Riri Williams, and F.R.I.D.A.Y., all armored up in Iron Man suits. Their mission? Combat a zombie apocalypse and its ring leader, the undead Captain Marvel, and fetch a satellite piece from S.H.I.E.L.D. to contact the Nova Corp for that ever-so-needed de-zombifying tech. Along her journey, Khan teams up with Blade Knight, the Black Widow squad, and a bunch of road warriors to navigate through the chaotic, post-apocalypse Marvel Universe.

The series doesn't shy away from fountains of gore, matching the mature themes with a "What If…?" cel-shaded art style. While the original episode skillfully intertwined the events of "Infinity Wars" alongside zombie chaos, this spin-off gets too tangled in its timeline, mirroring the current convoluted state of the live-action MCU.

Something this series does get right is providing a peek into the upcoming phase 4 MCU characters - it gives us a preview of dynamic relationships and never-seen-before alliances and heroes like Blade Knight. However, the series speedily shuffles through the story without allowing the audience to soak in the true horror of a zombie-ridden world. Most of its focus centers on pitting phase 4 newbies against zombie versions of well-known MCU figures like Captain Marvel, Namor, and a fully transformed, utterly terrifying Scarlet Witch.

"Marvel Zombies" certainly could have benefited from a few additional episodes to allow for more world-building and character expansion. Rather than fleshing out this new, apocalyptic world, the series seems satisfied to simply unleash shows of carnage and bloodbath. Still, some moments charm us, like seeing Shang-Chi and Katy turn into fearless road warriors or glimpsing Skulls morphing into something akin to War Boys.

The series does take its zombie duties seriously, sporting impressively graphic zombie takedowns of even beloved heroes. It's also worth mentioning the excellent use of lighting to enhance the horror ambiance. However, some old issues persist, like the underwhelming animation and character design, curbing the potential of director Bryan Andrews' ambitious vision.

The series is saved slightly by the return of some well-loved MCU actors lending their voices to their animated counterparts, with Iman Vellani and David Harbour being standouts for their impassioned performances as Kamala Khan and Red Guardian, respectively.

Despite these points, the thrill of seeing MCU heroes smashing and crashing zombies wears thin, as the show rapidly falls into the well-tread path of inane jokes and predictability. Intense scenes of gory violence are swiftly followed by dry humor, leaving the series teetering uncertainly between the gory "The Walking Dead" and the joke-laden "Zombieland."

All in all, "Marvel Zombies" feels like a missed opportunity. What could have been a compelling evolution in MCU storytelling ended up serving another round of the same formula, dressed up in a horror disguise. One might wonder, who exactly is the target audience here? Despite promising an edgier, mature spin on its heroes, it remains firmly in the family-friendly category.

Yes, "Marvel Zombies" is a light watch, but its lack of audacity leaves much to be desired. The potential to elevate the Marvel Universe into newer, gory heights is squandered, hidden behind a veil of repetition and play-it-safe tactics. The four-part miniseries is available for your viewing (dis)pleasure on Disney+.