Marvel Zombies Season 1 Review: Marvel Animation’s Bold, Bloody TV-MA Leap

Marvel Studios Animation takes a full-on swing with Marvel Zombies Season 1, premiering September 24, 2025 on Disney+. It’s the first Marvel Studios Animation series rated TV-MA, set in the alternate timeline introduced in the What If…? episode “What If… Zombies?!” (2021). This four-episode run forms part of Phase Six of the MCU and expands on the fan-favorite premise of heroes and villains consumed by a zombie virus.

The series features an ensemble stacked with MCU heavyweights: Awkwafina, David Harbour, Simu Liu, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park, Florence Pugh, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Hailee Steinfeld, Tessa Thompson, Dominique Thorne, and Iman Vellani all reprise their roles, joined by Todd Williams as Blade Knight. Directed and produced by Bryan Andrews with head writer Zeb Wells, and animated by Stellar Creative Lab in the What If…? style, the show feels both familiar and daringly new.

A Darker, Bloodier MCU Animated Story

Across four episodes, Marvel Zombies sends a desperate band of survivors across a dystopian wasteland, fighting super-powered undead in search of a cure. The tone is brutal, bloody, and—thanks to Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani)—surprisingly heartfelt. She’s the beating pulse of the journey, the conscience in a world that’s lost its own.

Action That Hits Like a Hammer

If What If…? dabbled in horror, Marvel Zombies dives headfirst. Thor gets jaw-dropping fight sequences worthy of the God of Thunder, while Blade Knight (Todd Williams) slices through the undead with style in his long-awaited animated debut. London Master, a deep-cut character who unexpectedly steals scenes, adds his own brand of cool mysticism to the mayhem. And when Zombie Scarlet Witch shows up, the show fully leans into jump scares and horror-movie imagery—those sequences are as graphic as anything Marvel has ever animated. Episode 4 contains some of the wildest, most spoilery set-pieces yet, and they’re best discovered fresh.

Standouts in a Stacked Cast

Paul Rudd once again steals scenes with irreverent humor and impeccable timing—let’s just say his character’s “unique situation” provides one of the season’s biggest running gags without giving anything away. David Harbour doubles down on his Thunderbolts energy as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian, blending brawny heroics with heartfelt, self-aware comedy that gives the group some much-needed levity.

Todd Williams makes a striking entrance as Blade Knight, channeling Mahershala Ali’s vibe so well you’ll do a double-take. The rest of the returning cast (from Florence Pugh to Wyatt Russell) also click perfectly in animation, making this feel like an authentic extension of the live-action MCU.

Animation, Easter Eggs, and Dream Matchups

Visually, Marvel Zombies is a leap forward for Marvel Studios Animation. The Stellar Creative Lab team goes all-in on gore, scale, and emotional intimacy—switching from sprawling night battles to claustrophobic close-ups that capture the characters’ mental and physical fatigue. Fans will feast on Easter eggs, nods to classic comics, and “dream matchups” that test who really is the strongest Avenger when survival is on the line.

High Stakes and a Cliffhanger That Bites

This series isn’t afraid to turn your favorite hero into the enemy. The TV-MA rating isn’t just for show: decapitations, blood splatter, and horror-movie tension are baked into the DNA. The season wraps on a cliffhanger that sparks endless theorizing—and practically demands an immediate rewatch.

Verdict

Marvel Animation’s Marvel Zombies Season 1 is exactly what fans hoped for and more: bold, bloody, and unexpectedly heartfelt. With Kamala Khan anchoring the story, Harbour and Rudd elevating the ensemble, and animation that dares to go darker, it’s the rare MCU spinoff that feels essential.