Marvel Zombies Animated Series Is Aiming To Be A "Pretty Intense" Adaptation Of The Comics

Marvel's animation output has been mostly family-friendly viewing lately thanks to shows like X-Men '97, I Am Groot, and What If…?, but the upcoming Marvel Zombies series is aiming to deliver some "mature" animation in this adaptation of the gruesome comic book series. Speaking to IGN, Marvel Studios head of animation Brad Winderbaum said that fans can expect this series to be "pretty intense" when it arrives later this year.

"In terms of more mature animation, yeah, we're making a Marvel Zombies show right now that is pretty intense [and] that's for sure a TV-MA show," Winderbaum said while comparing it to X-Men '97. "It's trying to honor the comics. And what was so great about the comics was it not pulling its punches. That's certainly what we're going for on that project also."

The original Marvel Zombies comics have some gruesome moments involving Earth's mightiest--and hungriest--mortals after they become infected with a virus that gives them an insatiable craving for human flesh. Almost unkillable by conventional means, a group of these zombies would eventually succeed in devouring the Silver Surfer and Galactus, gained the Power Cosmic in the process, and ate all life in their universe.

An episode of What If…? put a new spin on Marvel Zombies, and featured infected versions of familiar heroes. The new series will be centered around Kamala Khan AKA Ms. Marvel as she helps survivors fend off zombified heroes and villains. Khan will team up with Yelena Belova, Katy from Shang-Chi, Kate Bishop, Red Guardian, Jimmy Woo, Death Dealer, and Shang-Chi to fend off zombie versions of Hawkeye, Captain America, Abomination, Ghost, Scarlet Witch, and Captain Marvel.

Meanwhile, X-Men '97 began last week with a two-episode debut on Disney+ and has been well-received so far. "X-Men '97 is what you expect it to be. It's a fun continuation of a series that was beloved. X-Men '97 has the exact same problems as the original," Mat Elfring wrote in GameSpot's X-Men '97 review. "It's chaotic, storylines are wrapped up too quickly, and characters tend to disappear with no explanation. However, the first three episodes of the series prove to be a great start for a show that many people wanted to see return, and it's a great kickoff, with two of those episodes being the best in the entirety of the series."