Initial Thoughts
Marvel Zombies: Red Band #5 is the final issue for the rebirth and reimagining of the ever-popular Marvel Zombies line of comics. In this version, the zombie pandemic begins at the very start of the Marvel Universe, when the Fantastic Four are infected with a space version of rage. Throughout the series, writers Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan did a speedrun of a bunch of the classic Marvel storylines (Infinity Gauntlet, Civil War, Secret Wars, and, in this one, the coming of Knull) in this new zombie universe. In the end, however, the series as a whole, as well as Marvel Zombies: Red Band #5, falls short of being a memorable Marvel Zombies story.
The ambitions that the creative team tried to reach were ultimately too much, and there was too much to be covered in just five issues. This isn't to say there weren't some fun and interesting parts to the series and Marvel Zombies: Red Band #5—because a lot of those ideas were great—just not given enough time to breathe and develop. The finish, while optimistic and uplifting, felt rushed and unearned, given the series' pacing and plotting.
What Happened in Marvel Zombies: Red Band #5
After Reed Richards used the Reality Gem to whip out the rest of humanity, making them all into zombies. Peter Parker survived the snap because of his symbiote suit. While trying to figure out a cure for the zombie outbreak, Ultron, Venom, and Peter all get ready for the appearance of the God of the Abyss, Knull. It is now up to Spider-Man and Venom to save what is left of the Earth against Knull.
Knull, the God of the symbiotes, wants to darken the universe one world at a time, and it is now Earth’s turn. In the middle of the fight, Knull recognizes his creation in Peter Parker and is incensed. Ultron sacrifices himself saving Spider-Man, and right before Spider-Man’s end, an old friend comes to the rescue: Jean Grey. After defeating Knull, Peter realizes that, since Jean recovered from being a zombie, there might be a cure for the rest.
Where does Marvel Zombies Go From Here?
Will Peter Parker and Jean Grey create the cure for the zombie virus? Spider-Man has been able to capture all his old friends and place them in tubes, hoping to one day turn them back into the people he once knew. That in itself could be a fascinating story line after Marvel Zombies: Red Band, a sequel that explores the trials and tribulations of Peter Parker and Jean Grey as they try to find the cure to save the Earth, all while fighting off hordes of zombies. That could be a compelling sequel that re-frames these last five issues and make it a more memorable story.
Peter Parker is Always the Shining Light at the end of the Tunnel
I read and reviewed two very different series, both of which featured Spider-Man as a main protagonist: this one and 1776 #3 (review here). While they are two very different stories and versions of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, there is always a consistent characteristic in every adaptation of the web-crawler: his never-ending belief in hope and optimism. That is what ties all of this together. While other heroes might think through a logistical or analytical way, Spider-Man will save every human, every planet, even if there is a .00001% chance he will succeed. That characteristic was front and center in Marvel Zombies: Red Band #5.
Peter Parker could have easily let apathy and Knull take over a decimated Earth, but Spider-Man could not let that happen. He had to fight for an Earth that no longer existed, and he could barely remember, because of the most minuscule chances that he might be able to save his friends and Earth. Peter kept fighting, and at least for now, with Jean Grey's return, there is hope for Earth to be back to normal. For Peter Parker, that is good enough to keep fighting the good fight.
In a world — real and fictional —that is filled with so much doom and gloom, it's good to latch on to something good like this. It reminds us that there is hope, no matter how small it may seem.
Somehow, Reed Richards Disappeared?
Where did Reed Richards go? In Marvel Zombies Red Band #4, we were left with an interesting visual of Mr. Fantastic snapping his fingers, leaving us on a cliffhanger. What did he wish for? What were the repercussions? We found out in Marvel Zombies Red Band #5 that he wished for all remaining humans to be turned into zombies. That was it, huh? Very anti-climactic. I always subscribe to the notion that you need to “show” instead of “tell” your audience when something happens, and this issue falls victim to that.
They didnt even show him in the tubes!! He was the catalyst behind ALL OF THIS. This was a very particular problem that was much broader than the entire series faced across all five issues. The pacing for the entire series was off all series long, and that continued to be true in Marvel Zombies Red Band #5. It felt rushed, and there is still so much meat on those bones-- no pun intended.
The series' ending felt rushed and unearned. It ended in a good place; however, the emotional weight Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan had hoped to build with the return of Jean Grey didn’t hit as hard as they had hoped. And this isn't to blame them. They can only work with the amount of time and space given to them. I'm sure if it were up to them, they would have a 20+ episode series on this that flushes out all the characters and the story to a satisfying conclusion, and I know they have that version. But what we actually got is not that.
So, for how good Peter Parker might have made me feel, the entire rushed series pulled me right back.
The Art Shines
There were no issues with the art in Marvel Zombies: Red Band #5. Knull was fantastically drawn, and his viciousness came across triumphantly. Ripping the Symbiote off Peter Parker and then tearing Ultron in half were eye-popping moments in the issue that was visually addicting. Artist Jan Bazaldua was born to do these types of horror books. Their style fits so well with the series' aesthetic and was the perfect choice to carry the Marvel Zombies flame.
But where Bazaldua truly shines is in the moments of non-horror. I still can't get over the faces they drew on Jean Grey and Peter Parker, and how happy they looked when they finally spoke to each other. I may be a softy, but tiny moments like that in a world of chaos always stand out. The juxtaposition of horror and euphoria is a fantastic tool in storytelling, which is why comics are second to none.
Let's also give a shoutout to colorist Erick Arciniega. The Dark Phoenix in these pages stands out and is so well colored. His usage of black with Knull also stood out as a highlight of this issue. So while the plot might have left us wanting more, the art was on point and was truly the focal point of the book.
The Final Verdict
Ultimately, Marvel Zombies: Red Band #5 and the series as a whole bit off way more than they could chew; they simply could not accomplish what they set out to do in only five issues. The pacing, which had been a problem throughout the run, was at its worst in this final chapter. It felt like a speedrun, which is a shame because this concept deserved more room to breathe; many of these were genuinely great ideas. Major details felt like they were missing, sacrificed for the sake of cramming in yet another major event.
Not all of it was bad. The reason this issue and series feel disappointing is that there were so many significant elements that, if properly developed, could have made for fantastic storytelling. Peter Parker always being the beacon of hope was damn near emotional. He could have easily let Knull take over the world; instead, Spider-Man, his symbiote, and Ultron fought to the very end. That is what this issue should have centered on.
The entire run will be remembered for what could have been, not what was, indicating missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. Do you know how sometimes we get a “Director’s Cut” of a movie that makes the film that much better? I think that would benefit this run immensely. If we could get a director’s cut of this series that fills all the holes and adds layers to the main story, it would do wonders for Marvel Zombies: Red Band.