Ryan Shoots First: What If… Zombies?! (S1 Ep5)

This is a big one, of all the comic mini series the what if show is adapting this is the one people are probably somewhat familiar with seeing. Marvel Zombies was a pretty interesting mini-series and it will be interesting to see how it is adapted into the show and MCU. Let’s get to it! 

First this episode featured some really cool moments and some amazing shots. As I was grabbing screenshots I couldn’t help but feel how bad-ass some of those zombie models of our heroes looked. The story differs from the comic quite a bit but fits into the MCU nicely. As I mentioned in previous reviews for Marvel’s movies they seem to be back to mirroring popular genres within the MCU. Shang-Chi being a Kung Fu film and Black Widow a spy thriller. This is an albeit short version but the essential zombie movie framed within the Marvel universe. It has all the hallmarks of the genre including a voyage across a zombie torn wasteland and members of the team slowly succumbing to the zombie hoard. Being What If though we always have to go back to the big moment that changed things from our current timeline. While this week isn’t really a big decision made by a person it is more just a change in the way things played out in our universe. It’s not terribly interesting but it serves its purpose to give us that sweet sweet zombie action. I was surprised by the gore that was on display, being animated, they can get away with a little more than if it were live action but these are still heroes we all know and love dying in some pretty gruesome ways. 

SPOILER ZONE

For me seeing how the various heroes reacted to this turmoil was the interesting aspect of this episode. Seeing Peter somewhat rise as the voice of reason and the de facto leader of the team was cool to see. I loved the way Vision was portrayed, every zombie movie needs that moment when our heroes think they are safe only to learn they are possibly in more danger than ever and Vision after losing his wife to the virus lost what humanity he had. These two have some real strong love for eachother that they both turn to villains as soon as something bad happens. The Wanda and Cap reveals were both very cool as we saw them hyped up as serious threats, that brings the coolest aspect of this scenario is the heroes still having access to their immense powers while being flesh crazed zombies. A super soldier fueled zombie or a zombie who can shrink to the size of an ant or the size of a skyscraper is a pretty crazy thing to have to deal with. I enjoyed the episode. It was a fun exercise and seeing Zombie Thanos with almost all the stones was terrifying. I have to imagine the Funko Pops from this episode are going to be very popular. 

Observations

• Really cool reveal in the opening.
• Pym again… dude needs to lighten up. 
• The Spidey aspect is hilarious
• I love seeing the remaining heroes that haven’t been infected. 
• Happy saying Blam when using his repulsor is all of us. 
• Pretty graphic with some of these kills on zombified heroes props to them. 
• Bucky v. Zombie Cap is deep on a few levels
• Woah! That’s a cool kill and again pretty graphic
• Playing of Peters obsession with applying movie logic to situations is perfectly used here. 
• Is no one concerned for giant Hope Zombie?
• I’m having Futurama flashbacks
• Man, at some point we need a deep dive into Wanda and Visions toxic relationship not with each other but with everyone else. 
• In an episode of cool reveals Wanda’s may be the coolest. 
• Told ya to ya about Hope
• Ohhh Snap…
• That’s two straight weeks the universe is pretty much destroyed.