The Marvel Zombies limited series by Sean Phillips and Robert Kirkman received general praise, but a few factions of the fandom weren't exactly thrilled with the idea. It takes place in Earth-2149, where a Zombie Contagion successfully infects the Avengers. This is both the starting and turning point, because superhero zombies are going to be impossible to survive, let alone defeat.
The storyline was crossed over with other comics, as well as obtained a number of tie-ins and four sequels. Given the nature of the narrative, the entire plot is riddled with tragic moments — whether it's the death of a beloved character, or when the zombies ruminate over the horrifying moral implications of their actions.
10 Magneto Is Caught And Butchered By His Old Allies/Enemies
Magneto is one of the last few human beings left on the planet, mounting a surprisingly effective resistance against powerhouses like Thor, the Hulk, Colonel America, and several others. Unfortunately, Magneto reverts to his classic cockiness, claiming that he "will outlive [them] all."
That's when Wasp pounces on the self-proclaimed Master of Magnetism and bites into his throat. The remaining zombies all converge on their prey and start devouring him. At least Magneto's last words are badass: "I hope you choke on me!!"
9 Spider-Man Relives His Worst Memories Over And Over
When a few superhero zombies begin discussing their biological states in earnest, Spider-Man's senses return to him and the full weight of his sins starts crushing his non-existent heart.
He bemoans the loss of Mary-Jane and May, exclaiming "I ate my wife--my aunt! Why?! Why did I do that?!" Giant Man cruelly tells Spider-Man that "there's not a person here who didn't eat a loved one," and moping about the past isn't a practical solution for their current problem: "that there is no food."
8 Henry Pym Eats T'Challa Piece By Piece
Giant Man tells his zombie compatriots that he needs to locate his wife, Janet, using the detour as a pretext to consume some more human flesh. It's revealed that Henry Pym has kept Black Panther sedated for an undisclosed time, and has been slowly eating parts of him.
T'Challa is shown missing his right lower arm, but he loses his right lower leg to Pym's Hunger in the next few panels. Imagine being kept alive in such an agonizing condition, with no promise of freedom or death in sight.
7 Janet's Description Of The Hunger
Janet Pym helps T'Challa escape her husband's torture chamber, partly because she's just a head, but mostly because Henry Pym is the one who bites it off her shoulders.
She keeps begging Black Panther for "just a nibble", asking him to "cut a piece off--a finger--anything!" which bothers him to the point that he threatens to abandon her. Janet says that "it's hard to explain--the craving--the need" for human flesh. It's a miserable scene all around.
6 The Hulk Chomps The Silver Surfer's Head Off
As coincidences go, the Silver Surfer announcing the arrival of Galactus on a planet infested with zombified superheroes is pretty improbable. But it happens, so the zombies obviously try to make a meal out of the Herald, whose strength initially far exceeds their own.
They gradually wear him down, but he manages to escape at the last second. Right before he can return to the safety of space, the Silver Surfer is rudely attacked by The Hulk, who proceeds to literally bite his head off.
5 Genius Brains Now Used To Procure More Flesh
The Avengers (and others) infected by this mysterious virus have thoughts for nothing other than their own Hunger, which means all their mental faculties are geared towards satiating their needs.
When Bruce Banner starts eating semi-digested food plucked from his own intestines, Colonel America's excitedly says that he's "trying that right now." It gets darker when geniuses like Tony Stark and Henry Pym transform their massive intellects into a weapon that can take down Galactus. So they can eat him.
4 Venom's Surprisingly Touching Farewell
After Galactus falls, the zombies present battle over the "meat," with the Power Cosmic-empowered faction ultimately winning because of their, well, new cosmic powers (from eating the Silver Surfer). Doctor Doom, Juggernaut, Colonel America, Red Skull, the Green Goblin, and a few others are killed, but the saddest moment takes place in Spider-Man vs. Venom.
In an uncharacteristic turn of events, the latter tells his longtime nemesis that he is "no longer" a "suitable host" for the Symbiote. Spider-Man, perhaps flippantly, says that Venom is "breaking [his] cold, dead heart."
3 The Zombies Devour The Known Universe
In the first sequel, Marvel Zombies 2, it is revealed that the zombie superheroes from Earth have scoured their entire universe, bringing death and destruction to countless living worlds. The first couple of pages show a somewhat new set of characters — Pym, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, the Hulk, Wolverine, Iron Man, Firelord, Gladiator, Phoenix, and Thanos.
They stand on what looks like a floating rock at "...the edge of the known universe," forty years after the first infection. Pym states to nobody in particular that he "can't believe [they] ate the whole thing." It's a far more horrific ending than most comic genocides.
2 The Assassination Attempt On Black Panther
As the leader of New Wakanda, Black Panther maintains a small community of humans decades after the zombies leave the planet. However, he is faced with political upheaval when a new faction known as the Acolytes threatens to upend T'Challa's control.
Under the guidance of Malcolm Cortez, a member is sent to kill Black Panther in his private bedroom on Asteroid M. The assassin stabs the old man but is instantly knocked out by mecha-zombie Janet, who then zombifies T'Challa before he can die from blood loss.
1 The Zombies Casually Talk About Breeding Humans
After the conclusion of their universe tour, the zombies return to Earth, encountering a semi-thriving community in New Wakanda. As the Hulk leaps at the humans, Giant Man holds him back, claiming that "there's only a handful of living humans here."
The seemingly positive note quickly spirals into despair when Pym adds that they "could turn this place into a breeding camp... only eat a few at a time." This bloodcurdling statement naturally shocks the New Wakandans, but also forces Spider-Man and Luke Cage to finally change sides.