Marvel Zombies Squanders the MCU’s Most Promising Superhero Team

Image: Marvel Television

Marvel Zombies is Marvel Television’s new animated miniseries, expanding a standout episode of What If…? into a four-part story. Though it borrows its title from Robert Kirkman’s comics, the show forges its own path, following Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and an unlikely band of allies as they try to survive a world overrun by zombified versions of Avengers such as Hawkeye, Captain Marvel, and the Scarlet Witch.

The series delivers on visceral thrills—blood, dismemberment, and classic zombie mayhem—while also quietly laying groundwork for a future Young Avengers formation, albeit in a much darker timeline than live-action fans might expect. The opening places Khan in a desperate struggle to survive alongside Riri Williams/Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) and Kate Bishop/Hawkeye (Hailee Steinfeld). The trio’s rapport is immediate and engaging, but it’s difficult not to wish this character-first reunion had premiered on a larger live-action stage rather than within a brief streaming miniseries.

The show does some welcome work with its characters: by sidelining Riri’s A.I. companion, the series gives Ironheart room to develop in a more grounded, human way, and Kate Bishop’s return is a satisfying reminder of her charm since the 2021 Hawkeye series. Vellani’s warm, spirited portrayal of Kamala elevates the material throughout, proving she can carry even the most outlandish premises.

Still, there’s a bittersweet note: when these heroes eventually cross over into live action, their first meeting may lack the effortless chemistry already established here. Marvel Zombies highlights the promise of this young roster, even if the series itself feels fleeting and removed from the broader cinematic spotlight.

Source: Polygon