Marvel Zombies: Red Band - Death Story

by Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Jan Bazaldua (Illustrator)

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror

120 pages, Paperback

Published May 19, 2026

Reviews

[Machiavelli]

After finishing the Marvel Zombies TV show on Disney+ (which I really enjoyed), I decided to pick up issues #1 and #2 — and they did not disappoint. This is a blast from start to finish: brutal, funny, and surprisingly smart. The setup with the Fantastic Four leading the apocalypse is genius — turning Marvel’s brightest minds into its biggest threat instantly raises the stakes.

The world-building here is great too, pulling in the Avengers, X-Men, and even a compelling Spider-Man subplot that adds real heart to all the gore. Daredevil’s yellow-and-red suit and Iron Man’s classic armor add a nostalgic charm that balances the chaos perfectly.

Bazaldua’s art and Arciniega’s colors are spectacular — the gore is stylish, the action crisp, and the character work top-tier. Parker and Sheridan clearly had fun crafting this twisted universe, and it shows on every page. That final sequence with Thor and Silver Surfer? Absolutely wild. And issue #2 with the X-Men and Hean Gray and Jewel. Good times!

Marvel really delivered with this series — I’m hooked and can’t wait to see what comes next.

[Justin Soderberg]

It can be a tough task to craft a new, gripping Marvel story with the long history of comics. What makes things a bit tougher is taking a story, such as Marvel Zombies, initially a one-off series, that spawned into many others, and make it feel unique. First introduced years ago, Marvel Zombies seems like it might have run it's course, but writers Ethan S. Parker & Griffin Sheridan, along with artist Jan Bazaldua prove there is more to tell in this disease infested storyline and it's even more horrifying than ever with a red band designation.

It was the most important space flight in the history of the Marvel Universe. Four intrepid adventurers took off into the unknown and returned changed, gifted with great abilities — and hungering for human flesh! Travel back to the birth of a Marvel Universe parallel to our own but chock-full of horror! Which heroes will rise to become the champions we know and love? Which will be torn limb from limb? And which will devour the scraps? Find out in this blood-soaked series that introduces a new era of Marvel Zombies!

Mixing the genre we have come to know with Night of the Living Dead, The Walking Dead , and more with Marvel heroes and using the Fantastic Four as the catalyst may not be groundbreaking, it's where this storyline goes that makes it something original and unique. Not to mention this is some of the most ferocious zombies and fights in Marvel history.

Parker and Sheridan were able to incorporate many different characters from over the history of Marvel Comics which added so much more to this story than I had originally expected. The first three-quarters of the collected edition (or roughly four issues) hit hard and had me wanting more. The final chapter was where things got a little off pace, but that seems like the norm for a Marvel series over the past few years, but this does not take away from the series overall.

The artwork by Bazaldua and colors by Erick Arciniega are super gruesome, gross, and unsettling at moments. Something we don't typically see in a Marvel Comic. However, as this story is designated in the Red Band side of things, the creative team was able to take some liberties not usually afforded to the artists of the main storylines. Something Marvel Zombies needed.

Marvel Zombies: Red Band – Death Story by Ethan S. Parker & Griffin Sheridan proves there is plenty in the tank in this undead corner of the Marvel Universe. Taking our familiar heroes and blending it with relentless horror and pushing the boundaries of what Marvel usually does really makes this series brutally fresh. The artwork by Jan Bazaldua is gruesome, visually rewarding in a story such as this.

The collected edition of Marvel Zombies: Red Band hits your LCS and bookstores everywhere on May 19, 2026 from Marvel Comics.

[Shaun Stanley]

1.5 rounded up to 2⭐️

Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 is a Marvel Comics issue written by Ethan S. Parker & Griffin Sheridan, art by Jan Bazaldua, and colors by Erick Arciniega.

A reimagining of the 1960s era Marvel Universe where when the Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm return to Earth after their groundbreaking space flight, they land with new found powers, and an insatiable hunger for human flesh! Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, and Daredevil team-up to protect the citizens of New York from the Frightful Four.

An interesting premise that has some of the worst writing and pacing I have ever read for a Marvel Comic. The first couple Marvel Zombies volumes are absolute classic and they started going down hill fast after that. Those later volumes look like works of Shakespeare compared to this. Events unfold very randomly, similar to some silver age stories. These random encounters feel incredibly forced and unnatural in today’s comic storytelling.

The manga-inspired art also feels flat, lacking depth and attention to detail. In a world of super-powered zombies ripping each other apart, we need to see that grizzly detail.

As always, milage may vary, but I cannot recommend this title at all.

[Mhorg]

Weak and lame. Just more of the same. Will Marvel ever stop with this repetitive trash? This idea ran its course, like The Walking Dead, years ago. But I guess if people insist on reading this pap, they'll just keep having writers write it. As I said in my first line, this is weak. Nothing original here at all. And SPOILER ALERT: the way they killed off Thor just because he could likely kill thousands of zombies with a thought, well, weak comes to mind. Likely not going to spend any more time reading this lame series.

[Heath]

I've read the other Marvels Zombies series and always found them lacking

This one however was more annoying to me because I wanted more

The style is similar to the Life Story styles going through the decades of a character

Spider-Man suffers as always

Symbiotes are overused but who cares they're badass

I think having two issues per decade would've worked a lot better this is the same issue I have with the other life story books

I still think I preferred DCEASED as far as zombie superheroes go not sure if I like the intelligent and talkative zombies but at least this one is unique

[Michael]

Good retelling of the original Marvel Zombies story. Gives across the hopeless mood and atmosphere of the first series. Was intriguing for the first four issues, but falls into the regular Marvel problem of having a lacklustre ending.

I enjoyed the references and callbacks to previous Marvel events and crossovers, but not sure how meaningful or understandable these will be to new readers.

A solid and enjoyable MZ story overall.

[Craig]

This was pretty good, though it did have a whole lot of text to get through and not enough action scenes. A 180-degree turn from the "life story" versions of Spider-Man and others heroes we've seen in recent years, this story attempts to encompass all of Marvel history, with zombies. It's gross and it's fun and it's surprisingly smart, too. Good art work throughout.

[DonHeimscheißer]

I gotta say this was a fun first issue. The art is nice and the story is pretty engaging and enjoyable. Can’t wait to see what the next issue brings. 🧟‍♂️

[Mitchell]

This was a somewhat mediocre installment, marred by too much happening during time skips between issues.

[Logan]

Spider-Man saving the day in another zombie spin-off!! Woo!!

Not sure why they decided to tie the virus to Knull this time around...

[Miga Avalos]

Bloody good fun

[Shayne Lisa]

I thought this was good. Pretty brutal. Great ending.

[Theordinaryhussain]

قصة ممتعة لكن سريعة يعني لو اخذوا راحتهم بتكون 10\10
I hope it was longer man.

[Aiden Carter]

The Marvel Zombies Red Band was a super fun 5 ish mini series. I loved how each book was a different era of Marvels history. I love the artwork, its super bloody and detailed, all the characters look so cool!

[Charles Mennerick]

3.75 stars