MARVEL ZOMBIES

written by Robert Kirkman

art by Sean Phillips

published by Marvel Comics

ISBN-10: 0785120149

ISBN-13: 978-0785120148

reviewed by Adam Armstrong

2.21.2009

A story from the perspective of the zombies.

A zombie infestation has started and is infecting the most powerful beings on the planet. In a matter of hours most of the world is devoured or turned into zombies. The main problem now is finding food to fend off the hunger. Giant Man has a good idea: he has trapped the Black Panther and is cutting off his arms and legs to slowly feed off of him. The super powered zombies retain their powers (aside from healing) and their intellects. But with the lack of food they start to fight each other. Silver Surfer and Galactus show up to devour Earth only to be defeated and eaten by some of the zombies giving them the Power Cosmic and becoming the collective Galactus. Now they have the power to leave Earth and eat everything in the universe.

This is a pretty cool and gory variation of Marvel superheroes. Initially set for a small run, captured here, Marvel Zombies is growing into a fairly popular franchise (though it now lacks Kirkman as writer). The only thing I would’ve liked to have seen was a bit more of what the humans were going through other than screaming and getting eaten.

Very fast paced and often tongue-in-cheek, a great read for Marvel fans and zombie fans alike.

4.5 out of 5

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MARVEL ZOMBIES 2

written by Robert Kirkman

art by Sean Phillips

lettered by VC’s Russ Wooton

Published by Marvel Comics

ISBN-10: 0785125450

ISBN-13: 978-0785125457

reviewed by Adam Armstrong

3.15.09

And we start to run out of steam.

Forty years have passed since the zombie plague started. The cosmic powered zombies have eaten there way through the entire known universe. The hunger is still burning deep in all of them so their only recourse is to find the dimensional portal and start devouring other universes. Meanwhile on Earth the remaining humans are starting to fight amongst one another and planning to overthrow their leader, The Black Panther. The Black Panther is mortally wounded and is saved by an infected bite from Wasp, only to bring her hunger back. The zombies arrive and find humans still living, but a few of them decide that they can be heroes once again.

It could be that the story dealt with something other than pure zombie flesh consumption, but this sequel (and Kirkman’s last effort in the series) just doesn’t deliver the same punch as the first. There was too little ‘food’ for the zombies and the cure was just too simple. I don’t think I’ll be checking out the future titles. The artwork is still way cool and worth checking out, especially the covers.

Not terrible but far from great:

2.5 out of 5

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MARVEL ZOMBIES VS. ARMY OF DARKNESS

written by John Layman

art by Fabiano Neves, Fernando Blanco, & Sean Phillips

publisher Marvel Comics

ISBN-10: 0785127437

ISBN-13: 978-0785127437

reviewed by Adam Armstrong

1.15.09

Isn’t it great when two wonderful things come together?

Ash Williams thought he was in the afterlife only to fall out and wind up in a dumpster in New York City. If that isn’t bad enough he is told by a deadite that the world will die and an army of dead will rise. The final insult comes when Ash discovers that the world is populated by the Marvel superheroes and they are the ones turning into zombies. Ash, in his usual idiot capacity, tends to make everything worse and gets a lot of people killed while he tries to find the Necronomicon thinking that the book has something to do with it. After discovering that the infestation is alien in origin and has nothing to do with the Necronomicon, Ash has to find a way to get the few remaining survivors off the planet before the super powered heroes kill the entire population.

I’ve loved the Evil Dead series as long as I can remember and I was a big fan of Marvel comics as a wee tot. Seeing them combined is a fantastic read for me. Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness also helps to fill in a few holes that are left in the Marvel Zombies series. The whole thing is played up with an Army of Darkness outlook from Ash’s antics to the bad puns running amok out of the Zombified heroes mouths. The artwork is top notch and well worth the money.

Buy it!

5 out of 5

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MARVEL ZOMBIES: DEAD DAYS

collection editor Mark D. Beazley

written by Robert Kirkman

art by Sean Phillips

published by Marvel Comics

ISBN-10: 0785132325

ISBN-13: 978-0785132325

reviewed by Adam Armstrong

1.15.09

Filling in the gaps.

Following the events of Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness we watch as Spiderman succumbs to the infestation and eats Mary Jane. Magneto feels bad about bringing the virus to Earth in the first place and decides to help fight the zombie infestation. The remaining X-men join S.H.I.E.L.D. trying to fight the zombies and find survivors while Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, and Reed Richards try to find a cure. Richards goes insane after witnessing the death of his children and decides that zombification is the next step in evolution, infecting the rest of the Fantastic Four who in turn infect him.

Infectious reading, Dead Days serves as an explanation as to how the zombie infestation started and how it spread so quickly. While it doesn’t answer all questions, it does serve as a great aide to those of us who are always asking why. Great art and a good story, though it does only make sense in the world of comic books. Also included in this collection is an origin story from Ultimate Fantastic Four 21-23 & 30-32. Not to mention a ‘bridge’ story from Black Panther 28-30.

Pick it up.

5 out of 5