REVIEW: ‘Marvel Zombies: Resurrection,’ Issue #1

Marvel Zombies: Resurrection #1 is published by Marvel Comics. It comes from the creative team of writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson, artist Leonard Kirk, colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, and letterer Travis Lanham. The issue begins with a visibly decaying Galactus releasing countless undead heroes into New York City. Spider-Man, along with Val and Franklin Richards, fly through the smoke filled skies attempting to escape. Before they can get clear of the carnage, however, they are attacked by a zombified Human Torch and Spider-Man blacks out.

The perspective then shifts to the present where Spider-Man is revealed to have survived for several years. He is now traveling through the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Accompanying him are Moonstone, Forge, the Richards kids, and a reprogrammed sentinel named Nanny. With Forge leading the way, the group pushes onward into uncertain territory. But with a world conquered by the living dead, no-one and nowhere are truly safe.

Having read the entirety of the original Marvel Zombies run and its spinoffs I wasn’t sure what to expect from this. Thankfully I can report that Marvel Zombies: Resurrection #1 is a strong start and a different type of zombie story than it’s predecessor. Where the original series was focused on a large cast, Resurrection is much more reserved. This helps it to feel more like a horror comic with superheroes, rather than a hero comic with zombies. As a result, it stands as less of a reboot and more of a new story altogether.

The decision to center the story around Spider-Man and the Richards kids was a smart one. Spider-Man’s transformation into a cynic contrasted well against the hopefulness of the kids. Despite his frustration with them, he is dedicated to keeping them safe. Thanks to that there is no shortage of heart on the team.  Many of the strongest moments in this issue come from Spider-Man’s world-weary attitude. Meanwhile, the zombies are a unique blend of smart and barbaric. Not completely berserk, but also clearly not in their right mind.

The art from Kirk is solid, lending dynamism to the action scenes and genuine emotion to the quiet ones. There are also tons of fun and gruesome visual gags, like Forge’s gun made of Cyclops’s skull and visor. This brutality and bleakness carries over into the zombie designs, which are the perfect amount of gory and recognizable. Equally effective are the colors from Rosenberg. Though the majority of the comic takes place at night, the palettes are varied enough to keep things looking interesting.

Lanham’s letters deserve additional praise. Particularly the SFX for the eerie sounds that come from the zombies. At times, the letters have enough charm that they feel like another character altogether.

All in all, I really enjoyed Marvel Zombies: Resurrection #1. It feels like equal parts Walking Dead and love letter to the Marvel Universe. There are enough easter eggs and references to find that it’s worth looking back through once you’ve finished, too. I can’t wait to see what comes next from this series. Fans of horror and Marvel comics should definitely check this out.

Marvel Zombies: Resurrection #1 will be available September 2nd, 2020, wherever comics are sold.