Marvel Studios is now known for releasing spooky titles in the run-up to Halloween. Ever since the studio brought the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Disney Plus, we've seen specially-themed releases for the occasion, like MCU series Agatha All Along and the Special Presentation Werewolf by Night. As acclaimed as those projects are (and deserved to be), they remained enjoyable for people of all ages - which is Marvel's recognizable brand. This year's Marvel Zombies, however, took things a whole lot further when it came to horror and violence.
The series is rated TV-MA for a reason, and that's because it is based on the iconic Robert Kirkman comic book series of the same name, imagining a world in which the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe fell to a zombie apocalypse. The MCU's ongoing Multiverse Saga allowed for a project like this, as it takes place on a separate, parallel earth within the multiverse (the same one, in fact, that What If...? season 1 explored in its sixth episode). And that means the series can do whatever it likes when it comes to killing off particular characters. Believe us when we say: It does!
With that in mind, if you'd like to know which Marvel characters meet their end in Marvel Zombies (or have already met their end), here are all of the Disney Plus show's major deaths in order.
Episode 1 opened with some unexpected demises
The first episode of Marvel Zombies may have been the least violent of them all, as it built up to the surprises, but there were multiple already-zombified Avengers that we will be including on our list because, well, RIP to them. There were also some genuinely surprising character deaths as it seemed like these respective heroes would be a bigger part of the show.
- Hawkeye: A zombie before the series began, he has been hunting the streets of New York for years. The undead version of him dies in the season finale.
- Iron Man: Missing a head, his body is now used as a vehicle for AI F.R.I.D.A.Y., ally of Ironheart. It's not clear if he was zombified before his death, but it's not likely that Riri would be using his zombified corpse for FR.I.D.A.Y.'s body if he were.
- Captain America: Already a zombified monster, only the upper half of Steve Rogers' body remains intact. He becomes a part of Wanda's undead before he eventually is killed by Red Guardian in the last act of the episode.
- Captain Marvel: Already a zombie battling Ikaris in the sky for all of eternity. Impossible to defeat but dead - or undead - as possible.
- Ikaris: Also an eternal zombie (see what we did there?!), he battles Captain Marvel in a never-ending fight.
- Kate Bishop / Hawkeye: The big surprise of the episode, Kate is wiped out by an energy blast from Captain Marvel, killing her instantly.
- Riri Williams/ Ironheart (implied): It's apparent that Riri dies upon being surrounded by zombies during the battle, but the events of the season finale would suggest she might still be alive.
- F.R.I.D.A.Y.: Tony Stark's beloved AI refused to lose another master and went back into battle to save Ironheart. It's implied that F.R.I.D.A.Y. also perished, but again, the season finale might suggest otherwise.
- Wanda Maximoff / the Scarlet Witch: As we saw in What If...?, Wanda has already succumbed to the zombie virus, but she also seems to have mastered it; with her unbelievable powers allowing her to appear human at the same time. She's known as the Queen of the Dead, but she's also very much alive.
- Okoye: Another MCU star who became a member of the undead prior to the series' release, Okoye is Wanda's second-in-command, leading them into almost every battle. She presumably perishes in the season finale's big showdown.
- Ava Starr / Ghost: Although Ghost has had a big year in Thunderbolts*, this version of her has become a zombie - and a zombie that can disappear and reappear is a lethal enemy. That isn't enough to stop Blade Knight, who slices Ghost into pieces in a matter of seconds.
- Emil Blonsky / the Abomination: He doesn't have a large role, but the episode confirms that the giant monster has become a zombie. He perishes in the season finale.
- Melina Vostokoff: The mother of the Black Widow family, Melina was able to control the minds of zombies and make them work for her. But that cutting-edge technology was counteracted by Wanda's energy. She ultimately falls when she's impaled by Okoye's spear.
Episode 2 dials back the deaths but makes them much more gruesome
The second episode of Marvel Zombies took some time to introduce us to other characters who would become a major part of the show. Among them were Shang-Chi and Katy (with Simu Liu and Awkwafina reprising their roles to voice the characters). That meant we got to see some of their backstories, which included one major death, as well as their introductions to Ms. Marvel and her new Avengers buddies. In the end, however, all roads led to another run-in with the Marvel Zombies.
The episode's final act saw a zombified Namor break into The Raft, which was being operated by Baron Zemo, and it very quickly led to a lot of blood being spilled.
- Wenwu: The primary villain of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings went out in similar fashion to how he did in the MCU movie, saving the life of his son with the Ten Rings. Upon realizing that Shang had been bitten, he used the power of the rings to prevent the infection from spreading any further. He then told his son to survive as he was eaten alive by a horde of zombies. (This was a flashback to the day the apocalypse began).
- John Walker / US Agent: He doesn't play a major role in the show as he is there to support Zemo, but he is pulled to pieces by Namor.
- Namor: Another character who turned into a zombie before the series kicked off, he tore onto The Raft looking for a fight. Ms. Marvel is eventually able to destroy his head with her powers.
- Yelena Belova: Another shocking demise, Yelena sacrificed herself by staying behind on The Raft so that her friends could escape. It implied that the zombies were about to eat her, but we later find out that she actually becomes one of them. Her zombified self may have perished in the final battle.
Episode 3 features some of the most violent deaths of all
The third episode of Marvel Zombies takes our heroes to New Asgard in the hopes of finding Thor. Although they do come across the broken down God of Thunder, they also meet King Valkyrie, who has been running things in his absence. We also find out why Thor became a beaten warrior that we meet here and how the events of the What If...? Zombies episode concluded.
Be warned: It's a traumatic reveal!
- Thanos: Although the Mad Titan was already a zombie at the beginning of the series, that didn't stop him from wanting to complete his mission of wping out half the universe. Upon uniting them, he attempted to do just that in Wakanda, but Black Panther heroically pushes him into a pit of vibranium in its raw, purest form.
- T'Challa / Black Panther: Nobody knows Wakanda better than Black Panther, so he knew how to defeat the zombified Thanos. With that, he heroically speared the villain into the pit of molten vibranium, destroying both of them in the process.
- Rocket and Groot: In what can only be described as a jaw-dropping moment, Rocket and Groot were both wiped out by the Infinity Gauntlet in mere seconds, leaving just Rocket's bones behind. We thought we were getting an epic, triumphant moment like the one we saw in Avengers: Infinity War, but it wasn't to be.
- A lot of Asgardians: Wanda tricked the Asgardians into thinking they were eating a feast, but it was actually zombie limbs, zombifiying all of them extremely quickly.
- Baron Zemo: When all hell breaks loose at New Asgard, Zemo is unexpectedly impaged through the heart by a nearby zombie before being ripped to shreds.
- Death Dealer: In the midst of the battle, Death Dealer holds their own against all-comers but they are physically overpowered by a zombie Asgardian, who bashes them to death.
- Jimmy Woo: When he's distracted by the death of Death Dealer, Jimmy is bitten in the neck and very quickly ripped to shreds. His terrified head is thrown into the air as he dies.
- Red Guardian: Suffers the same fate as the rest of the New Asgardians. Although his super-soldier serum allows him to avoid the virus for longer than most, he eventually succumbs to it and transforms into a zombie.
Episode 4 brings death and destruction to end the season
Marvel Zombies' first season closes things out with a final battle for the ages, as Ms. Marvel and her team of Avengers battle Wanda Maximoff's army of the undead. Wanda wants the power of the Infinity Stones that the Hulk has absorbed so that she can reshape the world. Whatever that means is a risk that Kamala Khan can't take. And thus the war reaches a boiling point, with a lot of bloodshed.
- Thor: Between his appearances in episode 3 and 4, Thor loses the fight with Wanda and ultimately becomes one of the most powerful zombies on her massive army, making the Scarlet Witch that much more powerful.
- Janet van Dyne / The Wasp: One of the very first zombies in the apocalypse, Janet has made herself giant and is among the largest warriors in Wanda's army. However, when she attempts to crush Valkyrie, the New Asgard king travels up through her large arm and out through her head, which explodes with the excessive force.
- Hank Pym / Ant-Man: Another patient zero, Hank is still undead as they come, attempting to help Wanda achieve her goal. However, he makes a grave mistake when he sizes himself down and collides with Blade Knight's sword. The Fist of Khonshu slices right through him.
- Hope van Dyne / The Wasp: Although The Wasp was a major character in the What If...? episode that set the stage for this series, she ultimately became a zombie. Scott Lang is dismayed when he sees what she has become as the giant figure reaches down to crush those around her.
- London Master: One of the most surprising additions to the heroes' team in Marvel Zombies was London Master, and he held his own throughout that final battle. Unfortunately, he was wiped out by a bolt of lightning from Thor.
- Sara Wolfe: Another mystic warrior who fought to the end, she too met her demise under a blast of power from the God of Thunder.
- Blade Knight: Nobody could get close to Blade Knight as he continued to slice, dice, and destroy everything that came his way. Unfortunately, Thor took him out as well with another large blot of lightning from above.
- The Incredible Hulk: Bruce Banner became a different kind of beast when he absorbed the power of the Infinity Stones, but the Scarlet Witch was still able to overpower him and absorb his power. It's not known if he dies but considering Wanda has her hand through his chest, it's not looking like he could survive.
- Shang-Chi: One of the show's primary heroes, Shang fights to the end but he ultimately succumbs to a zombie bite. We later see him as a zombie.
- Rintrah: The mystical hero was able to use his might to overpower so many of the undead monsters, but eventually he was overpowered himself - impaled by the zombie warriors around him.
- Valkyrie: The King of Asgard is absolutely unstoppable on the battlefield but she meets her match when she goes out against Okoye, who manages to spear her in the abdomen.
Well, there you have it: Marvel Zombies did not hold back when it came to killing off heroes, villains, and everyone in between. It also didn't hold back on the violence, earning that TV-MA age rating and stunning viewers beyond belief. What a ride!
Marvel Zombies has arrived on Disney Plus.