The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has unveiled its latest animated series, **Marvel Zombies**, delivering a blend of graphic thrills and horror. I must confess that I initially overlooked its release; largely due to my lukewarm response to **What If…?**, which necessitated significant suspension of disbelief regarding the established superhero canon.
While **Marvel Zombies** similarly asks viewers to embrace imaginative leaps, it provides a tantalizing glimpse of what the MCU could have achieved within the first two Phases of its Multiverse Saga, had there been a more coherent plan and fewer distractions from ongoing character developments.
If you’re not in the know, the series springs from a storyline presented in **What If…?** The central question is compelling: what if a zombie apocalypse struck before Thanos’s invasion? Who would endure, and which heroes would succumb to the undead?
The show shines a spotlight on characters who have often lingered in the shadows, illustrating their potential to shine if offered the right opportunities.
Kamala Khan’s Missed Team Dynamics
Although **Ms. Marvel** garnered critical acclaim as one of the standout MCU offerings on Disney+, it seems that Kamala Khan’s journey has been put on the back burner in favor of nostalgia-laden returns of beloved characters like Robert Downey Jr. This shift may be a reaction to the disappointing performance of **The Marvels** at the box office.
However, **Marvel Zombies** illustrates the lost potential of Kamala Khan’s character. Iman Vellani delivers an engaging portrayal, infusing the show with her innate charm and empathy. Her habit of expressing candid thoughts juxtaposes nicely against more serious personas, while her powers are pushed to their thrilling limits.
Notably, her dynamic within a trio alongside Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams and Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop is infectious. These three characters bring a freshness that has often been absent in recent MCU narratives, primarily because they’ve largely been isolated in separate projects.
Due to the overwhelming number of releases in Phases 4 and 5, many of these promising new heroes haven’t had the chance to interact onscreen. As of now, their appearance in the upcoming **Avengers: Doomsday** remains unconfirmed. If they do appear, their screen time is likely to be minimal.
It seems there was an initial intention to form a Young Avengers team incorporating these three heroes, but Marvel’s focus shift towards the X-Men and familiar Avengers raises uncertainties about this plan’s execution.
No Blade to Compare To
Interestingly, **Blade** makes an appearance in this show. Initially, creators anticipated that by this point Mahershala Ali would have made his Marvel debut. However, the Blade project remains one of Marvel’s most significant stumbling blocks, having faced multiple delays, changes in directors, and a revolving door of writers.
Blade has had some presence in the MCU, albeit indirectly. The multiverse adventure of Deadpool and Wolverine brought back Wesley Snipes’s iconic portrayal of the character, making it difficult to assess Ali’s take without a live-action comparison.
In **Marvel Zombies**, the character is adapted into ‘Blade Knight,’ a crossover with Moon Knight, perhaps to distinguish this variant from the anticipated main version. This distinction serves as a constant reminder of the uncertainty surrounding Blade’s future in the MCU. While some of his scenes and abilities are visually striking, they provoke questions about whether Ali’s Blade debut will ever materialize, or if it will join other canceled projects.
Shang-Chi Left By The Wayside
And what about the sequel to **Shang-Chi**? The original film was a resounding success, grossing over $430 million globally while earning high ratings from both audiences and critics. Yet, despite this performance, news of a follow-up remains elusive.
Some speculate that the character’s story may have been connected to Kang, whose arc has dramatically shifted following legal issues faced by Jonathan Majors, leading Marvel to pivot towards new villains such as Doctor Doom.
In **Marvel Zombies**, we witness a display of the unique combat style and camaraderie that could have characterized a sequel featuring Shang-Chi. It feels unjust that the character hasn’t been revisited, especially when his solo film showcased some of the franchise’s most impressive fight sequences.
Shang-Chi is set to appear in **Avengers: Doomsday**, but will that film have sufficient screen time to delve into his narrative amidst such a crowded cast? While a sequel is undoubtedly in consideration, the timeline for its eventual realization remains uncertain.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton was expected to return, though he’s currently engaged with **Spider-Man: Brand New Day**.
Regardless, with the universe expanding and evolving, this may mean a prolonged wait for satisfactory closure on these storylines.
All four episodes of Marvel Zombies are now available for streaming on Disney+ – rated for audiences 16 and over.
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