Marvel Zombies Review: The Best Marvel TV Series of 2025

Marvel Zombies picks up where What If…? left off and delivers the strongest Marvel series since X-Men ’97. The animated series stands shoulder to shoulder with Thunderbolts as one of 2025’s best MCU projects. Anchored by Ms. Marvel’s charisma and heart, the series blends a hauntingly dark tone with Brian Andrews’ sharp direction to create an unforgettable entry in the franchise.

Marvel Zombies Overview

Marvel Zombies picks up five years after the virus unleashed by Wanda Maximoff devastated the world. The story, written by Zeb Wells and Andrews, smartly centers on a trio of Young Avengers—Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld). Their easy chemistry adds heart to a bleak story, making the tragedies of this four-episode run land with real weight. One action sequence is cut so quickly it’s hard to follow, but the overall balance of character and chaos is strong.

The plot follows Kamala, who, with help from Riri and Kate, discovers a key that could end the apocalypse. To succeed, they must cross zombie-ravaged lands, gaining aid from Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, Shang-Chi, Valkyrie, Blade (making his long-awaited MCU debut) and others.

Most of the live-action cast reprise their roles, with three standouts. Vellani proves to be one of Marvel’s best casting choices since Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, capturing Kamala’s fear, hope, and determination. David Harbour once again blends humor and pathos as Red Guardian, while Simu Liu provides Kamala with steady guidance as Shang-Chi. Together, they elevate the emotional core of the series.

The animation is a major step up from What If…?, leaning into visceral gore, shocking violence, and the rare Marvel story where the heroes don’t win. It’s unapologetically bleak, but also gripping.

Blade’s introduction shines thanks to Todd Williams’ homage to Mahershala Ali, though connecting him to Moon Knight’s Khonshu feels forced. And while the pacing is strong, a few rushed beats undercut the emotional impact.

Still, Marvel Zombies emerges as one of Marvel’s boldest, darkest, and most unexpected delights.

Marvel Zombies is airing on Disney Plus.

Heroines vs Marvel Zombies

One of the most striking elements of Marvel Zombies is the significant emotional weight placed on its female characters. From the opening episode, Kamala, Riri, and Kate take on an impossible quest: ending the apocalypse in a world already lost. Their bond is inspiring, but the sacrifices of women around them give the series its most profound heartbreak.

At the survivor compound, Yelena and Melina refuse to hide. Yelena’s last stand against zombified Avengers is fierce and devastating. Melina chooses to trigger the compound’s destruction, ensuring Kamala’s mission can continue. Their bravery leaves Kamala shaken but more determined.

In New Asgard, Valkyrie rises to the occasion. She leads a doomed defense against the infected, sacrificing herself so others can escape. Her choice mirrors the mythic weight of Asgardian heroism, even in defeat.

Katy, Shang-Chi’s longtime friend, also steps up. She wields the Ten Rings alongside him, proving her courage and rejecting the role of sidekick.

Each of these women embraces responsibility when retreat would be easier. Their sacrifices give the show unexpected power.

Below and Above

Red Guardian, Yelena, Blade, Shang-Chi, Katy, and Jimmy Woo rally behind Kamala, determined to keep hope alive. Leaving the ruins of the compound, they travel to New Orleans, a city now ruled by Baron Zemo.

Zemo, ever calculating, controls the sector with ruthless efficiency. He grudgingly grants them access to a repurposed RAFT facility, which is one of the few ships capable of reaching New Asgard. Yet his aid comes with a trap. He lures Zombie Namor and the Atlanteans to the group, using Kamala’s allies as bait to weaken both sides.

The ambush costs dearly. Yelena makes the ultimate sacrifice, holding off Namor long enough for the others to escape.

The survivors reach New Asgard, clinging to the hope of contacting the Nova Corps. Valkyrie resists at first, her mind clouded by Wanda’s control. But once freed, she joins the mission, seeing in Kamala the same courage she once saw in Thor. The God of Thunder is also present in New Asgard, but similar to Avengers: Endgame, he failed to stop Thanos in this universe and is essentially dead to the world.

Their plan to broadcast across the stars fails. The Nova Corps answers, not with help, but with rejection. Earth is quarantined, cut off from the galaxy, abandoned to rot with its plague.

Forced back to the ground,, Kamala and her team realize there is no cavalry coming. The only chance left is to stand and fight against Wanda and her army of fallen Avengers.

Queen of the Dead

The true villain of the series is Wanda Maximoff, who drives the zombie plague forward. Wanda has a purpose. She believes the Infinity Gauntlet can rewrite reality itself. The zombie horde is her weapon, and every battle brings her closer to seizing both Kamala’s key and the Gauntlet.

Wanda insists she can forge a better world—one without loss, one where her grief no longer rules her. But her “better world” depends on bending others to her will. The Hulk alone contains the Gauntlet’s raging energy, and his resistance keeps her from victory.

This leads to the final clash: Sorcerers, Spider-Man, Ant-Man, and scattered Avengers rally against their zombified friends and allies. The fight is brutal and unrelenting, culminating in an extraordinary teenager at its center. Kamala Khan has already lost family, friends, and peace of mind. The question becomes devastating and straightforward—how much can Kamala endure before even her hope burns out?

Marvel Zombies Final Thoughts

Marvel Zombies takes one of Marvel’s wildest comic book concepts and adapts it into a series that is both harrowing and heartfelt. By centering the story on Kamala Khan and her fellow Young Avengers, the show avoids becoming just a gore-fest. Instead, it delivers a tale about hope, resilience, and the crushing weight of sacrifice.

The series thrives because it’s willing to push boundaries. Heroes die in brutal, uncompromising ways, and victories are often fleeting. The animation leans into that grim tone, crafting set pieces that are as horrifying as they are spectacular. Yet, in the middle of that chaos, the humanity of the characters shines through.

Vellani anchors everything with a performance that balances youthful idealism with hard-earned pain, making Kamala one of the MCU’s most compelling figures. Strong supporting turns from Harbour, Liu and the introduction of Blade give the series both variety and weight, even if a few subplots feel rushed or underdeveloped.

Marvel Zombies is not a series for everyone. It is bleak, often devastating, and refuses to offer the easy comfort of a happy ending. However, for those willing to embrace its darker vision, it stands as Marvel’s most daring animated project to date. Like X-Men ’97, it proves that animation can expand the MCU in ways live-action cannot.

Bleak, bloody, and unforgettable, Marvel Zombies cements itself as one of Marvel’s best projects in years.

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