Marvel Zombies unfolds as a grim tale of survival amidst a zombie apocalypse. A band of heroes journeys across a ravaged landscape, struggling against hordes of the undead. Echoing many such journeys, the real strength lies not in the culmination, which relies on a somewhat predictable narrative turn, but rather in the intense, shocking climax delivered in the episode preceding the finale.
[Editor’s Note: Proceed with caution, as this piece contains major spoilers for the conclusion of Marvel Zombies.]
Marvel Zombies serves as a chilling extension of the What If…? episode exploring a zombie-infested world, and also carries echoes of WandaVision. The Scarlet Witch, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen, emerges as the paramount antagonist, a “Queen of the Dead” commanding vast armies of zombies, including reanimated heroes. Wanda Maximoff uses her influence to dismantle the remaining pockets of resistance through sheer power and manipulation.
Wanda’s driving ambition centers on seizing the Infinity Stones’ limitless power, now residing within the Hulk after their destruction during a confrontation with a zombified Thanos. Unable to achieve this alone, she spends the series subtly influencing Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), whose abilities stem from harnessing cosmic energy. Following a catastrophic battle where Wanda’s forces decimate Kamala’s allies defending the Hulk, Wanda skillfully convinces Kamala that joining her is not a betrayal, but a path to restoring their lost comrades.
Hesitantly, Kamala agrees, and joins hands with Wanda, who proclaims, “And so the world begins again.” An explosion of energy, reminiscent of Kamala’s own power projections, washes over the globe, seemingly restoring it. Yet, as Kamala delights in sharing boba tea with her resurrected friends, her perception fractures, revealing the grim reality of shambling zombies against a devastated landscape. Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) appears briefly, locked in a desperate struggle, imploring Kamala to distrust what she sees. The series concludes with a horrifying glimpse of an undead, screaming Wanda.
The intentions of showrunner Bryan Andrews and writer Zeb Wells behind this finale remain unclear. Are they laying the groundwork for a potential second season, or simply aiming for a final, shocking twist? Wanda’s reality-altering powers, amplified by the Infinity Stones and Kamala’s energy channeling, could plausibly have repaired the world. Wanda’s power is showcased in comics where she creates worlds where mutants dominate and then almost wipes them out.
However, Wanda also possesses the ability to manipulate perceptions, a skill she ruthlessly employed in Marvel Zombies by feeding infected human flesh to the Asgardians. The finale hints that Wanda is actively altering Kamala’s reality, diverting her from an ongoing conflict. Given that Ironheart perished in the initial episode, much of Kamala’s journey might be a fabrication, an illusion.
This direction feels uninspired, a blend of the “it was all a dream” trope with the tired cliché of a villain ensnaring a hero within a false paradise, reminiscent of Alan Moore’s poignant Superman story, For the Man Who Has Everything. While Kamala’s shifting perceptions create visually striking moments, the plot twist itself feels unsatisfying.
The climax of episode three provided a far more compelling twist. Kamala’s quest centers around deploying a shrunken S.H.I.E.L.D. device, theorized to broadcast a distress signal deep into the galaxy, potentially offering salvation. However, the device proves futile. Upon reaching outer space, Kamala discovers that the Nova Corps is fully aware of the zombie pandemic and has chosen to quarantine Earth rather than intervene. The Nova Corps refuses aid and actively attempts to eliminate Kamala and her team to prevent further spread.
This devastating revelation underscores the series’ overarching theme: What defines heroism when the world seems beyond redemption? Kamala may find other Earthbound allies, but external help will not be given. This despairing situation drives Kamala’s decision to trust Wanda’s promise of a restored world, despite her reservations, because the alternative is watching everyone she knows and loves die.
The surge of energy that sweeps across the planet would have served as a superior ending to Marvel Zombies compared to Wanda’s screaming face. It would have left significant ambiguity as to whether Kamala has aided Wanda to heal the world, or whether Kamala has secured the her own fate. Furthermore, it would have provided a more appropriate end for a story branching from What If…?, offering endless possibilities for future MCU iterations.