What happens when Earth's greatest heroes are driven by an insatiable hunger?
In short: In an alternate universe designated Earth-2149, a mysterious virus transforms the Avengers and X-Men into flesh-devouring zombies. Unlike traditional mindless monsters, these undead superheroes retain their intellect and powers, creating a terrifying scenario where the world's protectors become its most unstoppable predators.
The Marvel Zombies phenomenon began as a concept by writer Mark Millar during his work on Ultimate Fantastic Four. After introducing a zombie-infested alternate Earth in the "Crossover" story-arc, Marvel sought a dedicated spin-off. They ultimately hired Robert Kirkman to write the series and Sean Phillips to illustrate it. Kirkman, a longtime fan of Phillips' work on DC Comics' Sleeper, accepted the role immediately due to his personal interest in both zombies and the Marvel Universe.
The mechanics of this infection are driven by an entity known as the "Hunger." Unlike the slow-moving, mindless Romero-style zombies seen in Kirkman's The Walking Dead, these characters retain their original personalities and superhuman abilities. They are primarily driven by an uncontrollable urge to consume human flesh, though they eventually discover that eating other zombies is unsatisfying. This hunger is so potent that it can even be described as psychological rather than purely physical.
The narrative takes a cosmic turn when the zombies devour the Silver Surfer, acquiring a portion of the Power Cosmic. This evolution allows them to eventually defeat and consume Galactus, resulting in the group becoming a collective known as the Zombie Galacti. This cosmic-powered group eventually leaves Earth to spread their hunger across the stars, terrorizing distant alien civilizations. The series has since expanded into numerous sequels, spin-offs, and even a 2024 revamp titled Dawn of Decay, which features a fungus-based infection.
The visual identity of the series was shaped by Phillips, who aimed to maintain consistency with the original artwork by Greg Land. While Phillips found drawing superheroes in spandex costumes difficult compared to his usual street-clothes style, he particularly enjoyed illustrating the zombie versions of Captain America and Thor.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Marvel Zombies
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