Marvel Zombies 3 is a four-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics beginning in October 2008. It is part of the Marvel Zombies series. The series is written by Fred Van Lente, penciled by Kev Walker, with covers by Greg Land.
Plot
Zombies invade Earth 616—the mainstream Marvel Universe—by entering through the Nexus of Realities in Florida. Siege, Jennifer Kale, Wundarr and the Conquistador, local members of the 50 State Initiative, investigate but are attacked by what appear to be non-powered zombies and a zombie Deadpool.
Machine Man and Jocasta accept a mission from A.R.M.O.R. to travel to the Marvel Zombie universe to find DNA from an uninfected human, and Portal transports them there. It is revealed that Michael Morbius, one of the scientists working with A.R.M.O.R., is actually one of the Marvel Zombies who has substituted himself for the real Morbius, whom he has held captive in secret. The zombified Morbius is part of a bigger conspiracy that threatens the Marvel Universe or as Morbius gleefully puts it “to spread the gospel”, which echoes a sentiment made earlier by the zombified Reed Richards in Marvel Zombies, who initiated such a plan to zombify the Marvel Ultimate Universe.
Aaron and Jocasta are transported to New York Central Park in the Zombieverse, only to be attacked by the zombie Falcon, Angel, Beak, and The Vulture. Machine Man however, makes short work of the enemy and dispatches them all with glee. Elsewhere two more zombie supervillains bring back cans of food (and cat food) from remote areas to pay tribute to the zombie Kingpin. Jocasta is repaired from damage she sustained during the fight by Aaron. They find what they think is the last vestiges of humanity in the zombieverse, but the Humans are in fact clones of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, generated by the Kingpin’s resources and the zombie Jackal’s science, and used as a buffet, for zombie Inhumans. Kingpin, who was shot and killed by The Punisher earlier and then turned into a zombie, has formed an alliance with the other zombified superheroes and villains of that universe, installing himself as their new leader.
While watching the slaughter, Machine Man and Jocasta stumble upon The Kingpin’s wife, who has not been affected by the zombie plague. She goes on to tell the two that the Kingpin is keeping her safe, and that the food offerings to the Kingpin were for her. She allows Jocasta to get a blood sample, but chooses to stay behind to be with her husband, and the two begin to return to the drop zone.
Looking at the dead and dying bodies in the pit, Machine Man momentarily visualizes them as robots. Identifying the carnage as the way he sees humans treat artificial lifeforms, he separates himself from Jocasta, goes into battle mode and attacks the zombies. A full scale battle erupts as Machine Man destroys the clones out of mercy and incurring the wrath of the zombies. The zombies counter attack Machine Man, who dispatches them quickly with his weaponry. A zombified Doctor Strange appears, having survived Magneto’s defense when he was crushed under a pile of cars. Strange uses his ability to see into other dimensions and reveals A.R.M.O.R.’s operations on Earth 616 which Machine Man sees. Kingpin explains that Morbius is actually from their universe and working as a double agent, having kidnapped the Morbius from Earth 616 and using Deadpool to create a distraction.
He reveals their true plans in which their Morbius will inoculate the superheroes of 616 but actually infect them with use of the DNA sample Jocasta obtains. Meanwhile back at A.R.M.O.R., a female team member finds the real Morbius captive just before the infected version attacks and turns her. She then proceeds to attack another team member, causing a full scale battle to erupt at their headquarters as people are turning quickly. Back at the Zombieverse, Machine Man continues to battle and quickly massacre the infected just as a zombified Ghost Rider tries to attack but he is dispatched quickly. Machine Man escapes with his motorcycle, just as several of the zombified superheroes and villains chase after him.
Meanwhile, the agent from A.R.M.O.R. who is to pick up Jocasta and Machine Man returns, only finding Jocasta and they’re about to head back. Machine Man, far worse for wear and having nearly destroyed himself completely when Ghost Rider’s bike explodes in battle, calls out for her.
Jocasta and Portal manage to return to A.R.M.O.R., not knowing that it has already fallen to the zombies. When Jocasta goes to give the sample to Morbius, she finds his zombie version eating several bodies. Portal orders her to protect the teleporter bays and make sure they are not used by the zombies to escape; unfortunately, a single zombie was able to access the teleporters to a random location.
Later, in the zombie universe, we see a group of zombies have found Machine Man and as they are about to destroy him, its revealed that his remains are actually a hologram, and that he is complety intact and kills the zombie group, leaving only the zombie version of Lockjaw, who Machine Man uses to teleport back to A.R.M.O.R., where he quickly takes care of the zombies there, but he is caught off guard by the zombie Morbius, who in the end is killed by the 616 Morbius. The duo is reunited by Jocasta and Portal. Jocasta and Machine Man reconcile and kiss. All of this is being watched by zombie Black Bolt, who states it’s for the best. Talking a bit too much for Kingpin’s liking. A zombie Doctor Strange informs in his own garbled language to Black Bolt that he remembers one last spell with the necrosis rotting his brain. It then rains manna from the sky. Black Bolt states that it’s not flesh but they can feed off of it, by this point it’s too late, Kingpin has already fed on his wife, stating that he eats when he’s upset.
But it is stated in the end that it is not over, first Jocasta and Machine Man have been summoned back to SHIELD, possibly for the beginning of the Secret Invasion, then it is revealed that someone used the teleporters to escape the base. Morbius volunteers to form and lead a team to deal with this. The director accepts his offer and asks him who the members of the team are. Morbius then states that his former group, the Midnight Sons, must return.
Sequel
It has been stated in the end of the final issue, that Marvel Zombies saga will continue in Marvel Zombies 4: Midnight Sons.
Covers
Unlike the prior Marvel Zombies series covers, which were zombie variations of past Marvel comics covers, Marvel Zombies 3 covers are variants of well known movie posters
- Issue #1 is a reference to the Army of Darkness movie poster.
- Issue #2 is a reference to the 28 Days Later movie poster.
- Issue #3 is a reference to The Evil Dead movie poster.
- Issue #4 is a reference to the US Shaun of the Dead movie poster.
Reception
Paul Brian McCoy reviewed the first issue for Comics Bulletin and was happy with the story although he knocked off half a point for the ending. The writing “briskly paced, humorous, and loaded with references that makes me think we read the same comics growing up” and the measure up well against predecessor with McCoy suggesting it was “rough-hewn and hearkens back to Philips’ work on the previous series, but lacks the detailed gore of those stories”. Timothy Callahan at Comic Book Resources agrees, stating that Van Lente’s writing “balances the sick humor with an engaging plot, providing a few twists and turns in just a single issue” and Walker’s contribution is “streamlined an effective, with a kind of blocky Steve Dillon vibe.”
Collected editions
The series will be collected into a hardcover volume:
- Marvel Zombies 3 (104 pages, May 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3635-5)
