Overview
Eric Voss breaks down the trailer for Marvel Zombies, an upcoming four-part animated series on Disney Plus, highlighting new characters, plot developments, and connections to previous Marvel stories and comics.
Trailer Analysis & Visual Style
- The trailer opens with a creative use of the TV MA rating, immediately establishing a darker tone.
- The environment integrates the rating text, creatively impacted by in-scene action (e.g., an arrow slicing the text).
- Red blood is prominently featured, contrasting with the muted colors in previous Marvel Animation due to the mature rating.
Music & Tone
- The trailer uses "From Me to You" by Babymetal featuring Poppy, with lyrics aligning thematically with the zombie infection storyline.
- The music's aggressive style emphasizes the show's darker, more mature approach.
Story & Continuity Connections
- The series spins off from the 2021 What If...? episode "What If... Zombies?" and adapts Robert Kirkman’s 2006 comic run, though not directly.
- Key backstory: A quantum virus originating in the quantum realm triggers the zombie outbreak, infecting heroes including the Avengers.
- The fate of Bruce Banner/Hulk is uncertain, and elements from the original What If...? plotlines continue.
Character & Cameo Highlights
- Kate Bishop is featured as Hawkeye, with Haley Steinfeld listed as a voice actor.
- Zombie versions of familiar characters like Clint Barton, Steve Rogers, Wanda Maximoff, and Abomination appear.
- Newcomers include Blade Knight (Blade/Moon Knight variant), Zombie Namor, and Camala Khan, among others.
- Some characters' timelines are adjusted to fit the apocalypse, notably Camala Khan’s.
- Several others, including Death Dealer, Jimmy Woo, and members of the Thunderbolts, are confirmed or speculated.
Thematic & Plot Speculation
- Zombie Wanda may control a red-eyed horde, with Namor potentially as one of her minions.
- The significance of the Raft prison is discussed, with theories about mutant prisoners potentially being key to the cure.
- The show could introduce mutants and explore their MCU origins.
- The possibility of zombie Eternals is raised, particularly with a zombified Icarus appearing.
Animation & Character Design Critique
- Characters’ animated designs closely match their live-action voice actors, leading to some visual confusion among similarly styled characters.
Spectacle & Action
- Notable action scenes include Spider-Man decapitating zombies, Blade’s precise attacks, and clashes involving zombified superheroes and villains.
- The trailer teases Elizabeth Olsen’s return as Wanda with expectations for significant flashbacks.
Cast & Representation
- Notable cast members include Elizabeth Olsen, Tessa Thompson, Dominique Thorne, and Wyatt Russell, with hints at future Thunderbolts and Skrull appearances.
Recommendations / Advice
- None explicitly provided, though the host encourages fans to subscribe for more breakdowns and commentary.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- What mutant or superpowered inmates are on the Raft, and how will they affect the storyline?
- How are characters like Camala Khan integrated, given timeline adjustments?
- What is the full extent of Wanda’s influence and the abilities of new zombie variants?