Marvel Zombies: Red Band has been nothing short of packed with entertainment, delivering more twists, character beats, and super-fan homages you can shake a stick at. With Battleworld referenced in the last issue, it’s time to dive into Civil War, but with most of the heroes dead or zombies, how on Earth could that work? Leave it to writers Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan to concoct a logical tie-in homage!
Kicking things off in Marvel Zombies: Red Band #4 is Deadpool, who narrates directly to readers as zombies eat every inch of him. The writing team does a great job dropping jokes and references in this opening page, adding a lighter mood to an otherwise dark and depressing series. It’s also fitting he shows up only long enough to wink at us and break the fourth wall, and then promptly exit.
Turning to page 2, the issue immediately crash-lands the remaining living heroes onto Earth, with their absence being two years. Jewel, Doc Ock, Spider-Man in the symbiote suit, and a slightly buggy Ultron are all that’s living on Earth. Like in previous issues, the dialogue and banter are great, never feeling like fluff. In just a few pages, we’re introduced to a new superhero team, mostly alive, and to two differing opinions that cause a rift among the zombies. On one side is Iron Man, who wants to bend the knee to the darkness coming for Earth, and on the other is Captain America, who will never give up the dream, even if he has to eat brains to stay alive.
Great opening page.
Credit: Marvel
There are ample stakes in place here, with mini confrontations for Doc Ock and Peter to overcome. There are also quintessential references to the original Civil War that Jan Bazaldua captures well. Possibly the only negative of this issue is Peter revealing his identity, since the weight of that reveal is relatively inconsequential given most of the world is dead, including those closest to him—props to the creative team for giving Ultron some funny quips and reactions here, though.
As far as gore and living up to the Red Band label, there’s still something to be desired, as was the case in previous issues. There’s a gnarly moment with Wolverine, but mostly the blood and gore is stuff you’d see in a regular Marvel comic. There’s certainly a moment or two that may have been more suggestive, like an angel on Deadpool with his entire ribcage picked clean, but there’s far more gruesome stuff in Marvel’s current Punisher: Red Band than anything here.
Marvel Zombies: Red Band #4 is a clever, confident remix that proves this series isn’t just coasting on shock value or nostalgia. By folding Civil War into a zombie apocalypse with smart character divides, sharp humor, and genuine thematic weight, Parker and Sheridan show they understand both the source material and how to twist it into something fresh. While the Red Band label still promises more carnage than the issue ultimately delivers, the strength of the writing, character dynamics, and inventive worldbuilding more than make up for it. This is Marvel Zombies at its most thoughtful and most fun yet. The trade paperback will be a must-buy.
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