Marvel Zombies comics had a kind of weird journey into popularity. Even though to my surprise, it doesn’t make it that much of a complex read. This is mostly due to them being very loosely connected because the zombies are from a different universe. Making us think that 5 comic stories to read before Disney+’s Marvel Zombies is needed for a shortcut to know the ins and outs of the upcoming.
Coming off the back of an episode of What If…? and hopefully will also cross over with Avengers: Secret Wars in the future, Marvel Zombies looks to kind of continue that cartoon but also be slightly the end chapter. It is exciting, slightly weird that it’s actually happening, but still confusing and still really random that Marvel/Disney are making this. Either way if you want to read before or after, here are 5 comic stories to read before Disney+’s Marvel Zombies.
Marvel Zombies (2005)
I am surprisingly new to Marvel Zombie fandom, only really getting into this year and after reading I was massively surprised by the direction of the series. Starting with the first kind of original story in the zombie kind of universe. The biggest surprise being that the series mostly focuses on the zombies’ stories rather than the alive superheroes. What is kind of amazing and unexpected. Even though sadly it does look like they’re taking the Disney+ series in a different direction. Maybe in later seasons we will get a season that is closer to this series. It definitely feels like if Army of the Dead was like well written, completely different and good.
Ultimate Fantastic Four #21
We have to include the first appearance of the zombies and this being in the Ultimate universe. Where there Reed Richards gets tricks without spoilers. I would recommend maybe continuing with this series with the development of the Zombies first is really good to read. It keeps to the trend of smart zombies kind trying to find food. With only Reed Richards is on the menu and maybe even more of the Fantastic Four.
Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies
I suppose looking at the larger scale of things. The Age of Ultron vs Marvel Zombies is slightly bigger than the previous two due to being connected to Secret Wars 2015’s Battleworlds. The zombies being one of the Omega level dangers outside the main zoned areas. It’s a good read in general. I would say but you looking for a main king zombie story I would look elsewhere but if you are looking for kind of a good mix of the both I would definitely try this one out. It’s likely we kind of see something like this as well with Ultron being a massive part of the What If…? universe. Making possibly a must-read if a season 2 is announced in the future.
Marvel Select: Marvel Zombies: Resurrection
Marvel Zombies: Resurrection takes place kind of straight after the original in 2005. With Galactus making a splash into the Marvel Universe. This series much more carnagey (pun intended) from the start the zombies are here they’re hungry. Sadly though I don’t think it captures the past zombies. With being very I don’t want to write this but I have to, it feels very inspired by Walking Dead. There’s survivors and there’s zombies. The zombies are still smart and Marvel characters but it’s a very different tone and for the sequel it kind of felt like it should have been similar to the original. It feels like this is definitely the bigger inspiration for the Disney+ cartoon though, so if you have watched that by now this could be the go-to comic for afterwards.
Marvel Zombies: Battleworld
Another comic part of the Battleworld, it’s kind of a weird one as it’s basically a Elsa Bloodstone. If you don’t know she is a a full blown monster hunter, making zombies kind a good mix for her. Its kind of is sadly another step away from what made the zombies so interesting to me. With instead focusing on Elsa Bloodstone story with her more dealing with zombies. We do see smarter zombies like all the others but it feels like its another step away. If you did enjoy Resurrection or even Marvel Zombies vs Ultron this is a good continuation. If you just a hardcore Marvel Zombies 2005 comic though and wanted something similar like me, this is kind of a miss. Also if you’re a Elsa Bloodstone fan this is a must read.
Bonus: DC Deceased
This one is kind of a bonus because it isn’t the Marvel kind and kind to me without spoiling much. I think the DC universe kind works better with a zombie apocalypse. This story is serious. I am not a big fan of how it becomes and how the zombie spread, but or the lore behind the whole DC zombie thing. However, the stories and development is one of the best zombie comics I have read. There are sadly no smart zombies without spoiling anything but still a great story that tugs at your heart strings if you haven’t been bitten and starts like the smell or brains… Brains!!!