Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness
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| Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness | |
 Cover to Marvel Zombies vs.The Army of Darkness #4. Art by Arthur Suydam. |
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| Publisher | Marvel Comics Dynamite Entertainment |
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| Schedule | monthly |
| Format | Limited series |
| Publication date | May 2007 - September 2007 |
| Number of issues | 5 |
| Main character(s) | The Marvel Zombies Ash Williams |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | John Layman Robert Kirkman (creative consultant) |
| Artist(s) | Fabiano Neves June Chung |
Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness is a comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics in association with Dynamite Entertainment, an intercompany crossover in which Ash Williams, hero of the popular Evil Dead film and comic book, finds himself in the Marvel Zombies setting, a world of flesh-eating zombified Marvel Comics heroes. The comic is a five issue limited series. The crossover is continuous with the Marvel Zombies prequel Marvel Zombies: Dead Days and explains events happening in the prequel (such as information regarding the zombified Sentry, which initially spread the plague).
Prior to the release of the first issue, Newsarama published a preview, [1] revealing the birth of the zombified Avengers, Ash's descent into the Marvel Zombie universe, and the infection of Spider-Man.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
[edit] Issue 1: Earth's Mightiest Zero
This issue picks up where Army of Darkness #13 left off. The issue begins with a disoriented Ash landing in a dumpster in New York City. While witnessing a fight between Daredevil and Thunderball - it is later revealed that the entire Wrecking Crew escaped from Ryker's Island - he is approached by a Deadite-possessed bag lady. She warns him of the impending doom of Earth-2149. He responds to this news by punching her in the face. Daredevil notices this and, assuming that Ash is attacking a human woman, promptly punches Ash in the face. Daredevil is then thrown against a wall by Thunderball's wrecking ball. Thunderball thanks Ash for his assistance, and they part company.
Later, while reading a Daily Bugle, Ash realizes his error and decides to pass the Deadite's warning along to The Avengers. He arrives at Avengers' Mansion, and proceeds to shoot the intercom at the mansion's gate with his "boomstick". The Avengers, consisting of Colonel America, The Vision, Scarlet Witch, Thor, Luke Cage (in Power Man garb), Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel, arrive to investigate the disturbance, and Ash begins to tell his story. They initially listen, but by the way he explains (and mentions being locked in the "loony bin") quickly dismiss him as insane. The Scarlet Witch teleports him away from the mansion and into a pond.
Back at Avengers' Mansion, Jarvis informs The Avengers that there is a major disturbance in Midtown, and they depart to investigate. Pink lightning erupts over the city as Ash arrives on the scene. He begins screaming to the public at large, that the end-of-times have arrived. The Avengers follow close behind him, and Spider-Man arrives shortly thereafter. After asking what he can do to help, Spider-Man is next seen swinging away, with a webbed-up Ash in-tow.
Ash begins to relate the story of how he landed in Earth-2149, to Spider-man. He tells him that, following his "death" in Army of Darkness #13, The Sentry also arrived in the afterlife and, after eating those waiting to pass through Heaven's Gate, hit Ash, causing him to fall into Earth-2149. They both look back and see that the zombified Sentry has quickly dispatched The Avengers, who begin returning as undead. Most likely leaping from a building, Colonel America attacks and bites Spider-Man, who was speaking with Ash about the impending apocalypse. This causes him to fall to the ground, dropping a still webbed Ash in front of a zombified Luke Cage, Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel.
[edit] Issue 2: Marvel Team-Ups
Issue 2 starts with the assembled zombies arguing over who will get to eat Ash. Spider-Man attempts to lay claim to him, and threatens to eat Hawkeye if the other heroes don't comply. They do, even though they are puzzled as to why Spider-Man would care about one man when they have an entire world to devour. Spider-Man swings off with Ash in tow, depositing him on a nearby rooftop. Ash quickly attacks Spider-Man, but stops when he lifts off his mask to reveal that he's still human, something he simply attributes to his powers fighting off the infection. As Peter and Ash survey the chaos occurring in the streets below, Peter suddenly realizes that he has to make sure his wife and aunt are safe, leaving a beleaguered Ash stranded on the roof. (Marvel Zombies: Dead Days, picks up just as Peter is getting home, and eats Mary Jane and Aunt May)
Moments after Spider-Man leaves, The Punisher arrives and asks Ash what he's doing. When Ash explains about the Necronomicon and his plan to save the world, Punisher agrees to help if Ash helps him with something first. They enter the building, descend several floors and emerge into the Kingpin's office, where he is in the middle of a meeting with his under-bosses, including Hammerhead. When Punisher naturally explains that he's there to kill them, Fisk attempts to appeal to him by saying that they need to work together to help improve humanity's chance for survival against the zombie attack. The Punisher is unmoved by Kingpin's words, and shoots the gangsters dead before leaving to deal with the zombies, with a very shocked Ash following behind him.
Ash and the Punisher reach the street in time to watch the Blob being chased away by a pack of zombies. Castle gives his bag of extra weapons to Ash, instructing him to throw him more clips whenever he runs out of ammunition. Ash recognizes an uninfected Thunderball desperately trying to save himself. He pleads for the Punisher to save him, but Castle refuses. He then bursts out onto the street and opens fire upon him and the assorted zombies, but fails to do much damage, if any. He calls out to Ash, who doesn't respond, and is overcome by the zombies.
Ash, meanwhile, is running for his life through the streets, determined to solve the zombie problem by himself. He's distracted, however, when he happens upon Dazzler and rescues her from a zombie Winter Soldier. When Ash explains to her (in between sexual advances) about the Necronomicon, Dazzler quickly takes Ash to Greenwich Village, to Dr. Strange's mansion. While Dazzler is explaining to Ash about Strange's credentials in the dark arts, she fails to notice Ash being pulled away from behind by a pair of red-gloved hands. When she turns around, she sees a zombified Howard the Duck happily eating Ash's brains.
[edit] Issue 3: Night of the Livid Dead
We are introduced to 'Ashley G. Williams', of the Marvel Zombies universe. Unlike the "real" Ash, this Ash lived in a world full of heroes and never battled the Army of Darkness, but always felt he was destined for greater things than being a shopping clerk. When the superhero zombies appeared, he saw his chance, taking his familiar chainsaw and shotgun and rushing out to combat them. He managed to kill a few zombified heroes such as Hulkling and Jamie Madrox. However, he was confronted with the sight of Ashley J. Williams of the Army of Darkness Universe, accompanied by Dazzler, just as the duo arrived at Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum. Distracted and shocked at seeing his alternate self, Ashley G. Williams was killed from behind by a zombie Howard the Duck. This provides an explanation for the dead Ash seen in the last issue having two flesh hands and no facial scars, having never encountered the Necronomicon and hence never losing his right hand or sustaining any other related injuries.
It shows that in the previous issue Ash was grabbed by the Scarlet Witch, who wanted answers from Ash about what he was ranting about earlier. Wanda informs that all the Avengers have been infected because of a S.O.S. sent by Colonel America calling all active and reserved Avengers to meet at the Avenger's Mansion, which was a trap. Ash and company enter Dr. Strange's mansion and find Dr. Druid, who has now become a zombie. (Elsewhere, within the pages of "Marvel Zombies: Dead Days," it is revealed to the reader that Dr. Strange is missing from the Sanctum because he was zombified aboard the SHIELD Helicarrier due to the machinations of a now insane Reed Richards). Through Strange's library, a book tells Ash that the Necronomicon lies in Latveria. They go outside to fly the Quinjet when the Power Pack, now zombified, is attacking citizens and blocking their way. Luckily they are distracted by Nextwave (the book humorously states that the entire superhero team is killed off-panel moments after their appearance), while the heroes go aboard the Quinjet to go to Latveria. When they get there they see that Doom's fortress is under siege by Black Goliath.
[edit] Issue 4: The Book of Dooms
The Zombies continue to wreak havoc across the planet as Nick Fury monitors the events taking place within New York aboard the SHIELD Helicarrier. The situation is still not beyond the point of control until Quicksilver is infected by a zombified Mystique, in the guise of his sister, the Scarlet Witch. Now a zombie, Quicksilver uses his superspeed to spread the infection beyond all hope of containment. This leads to the infection of, among others, Captain Britain in London, Red Guardian in Russia, Silver Samurai and Sunfire in Japan, and even Ka-Zar and his pet sabretooth cat Zabu in the Savage Land. In Latveria, the castle of Doctor Doom continues to be assaulted by Black Goliath. Insulting Doom one too many times, Ash is thrown into a 'safety area' with several other people. Dazzler and Wanda criticize this decision by Doom, who they note is their only hope right now, and should remain on his 'good side'.
Ash escapes Doom's detention cell and disguises himself in order to locate the Necronomicon. Finding the book, Ash demands to know the way to halt the zombie plague, only to be mockingly dismissed. The book confirms that the plague is of an extraterrestrial origin, and that, for the first time, Ash is utterly without hope. Stalking away, Ash is stunned to find a seemingly human Enchantress imprisoned in a force field. Freeing her with hopes of allying against Doom, Ash meets up with Dazzler and Wanda, only to be attacked from behind by the infected sorceress (who used her magic to change her infected face).
[edit] Issue 5: The Stalking Dead
Dazzler saves Ash from the infected Enchantress and uses her powers to distract her and reveals her true appearance to Ash. Unfortunately, the Enchantress bites off Dazzler's finger while she is pointing this out. However, before anyone has time to do anything, Doom arrives and kills both the Enchantress and Dazzler. Doom wants to blast Ash as well, but is soon distracted as all of the remaining Marvel Zombies have formed an army to "recruit" Doctor Doom and to feast upon the Latverian refugees hiding within Doom's fortress. Among the army's ranks is a zombie Punisher, who attacks and feeds upon Scarlet Witch. It is unclear why the Punisher became infected since he is an ordinary human with no super powers.
Doom curses the invaders and believes it to be the work of Hank McCoy and Professor Xavier, to which Beast corrects Doom that it was Reed Richards who helped him reprogram Cerebro to find the remaining humans. Before Doom can truly express his outrage and ongoing hatred of Richards, Mr. Fantastic appears and wraps himself around Doom in an attempt to infect him. Meanwhile Ash gets an idea and runs off to fetch the Necronomicon to summon the Army of Darkness. There is said to be a long and significant battle between both parties, until at last the Marvel Zombies emerge triumphant. In the ensuing chaos Ash and Doom, who has escaped from Reed, manage to construct a rudimentary portal to escape the Marvel Zombie universe, with all the surviving humans of Latveria. Finally only Ash and Doom remain, but Doom cannot join Ash as he reveals he is already infected, and only his impressive will is slowing down the process. Ash escapes as the Necronomicon curses the fact that Ash has escaped its clutches again. The Marvel Zombies enter just as Doom completely destroys the portal. Enraged, the heroes and villains battle. The Hulk then notices the Necronomicon and notes that it might make good toilet paper.
Meanwhile, Ash is able to select a new Earth to visit, skipping alien, prehistoric and post-apocalyptic (in a nod to the original ending for Army of Darkness where Ash oversleeps) versions of Earth before finally finding what he believes to be his own New York. Unfortunately, as he rounds the corner, he discovers a group of Marvel Werewolves feasting on the skeleton of Galactus, mirroring both Marvel Zombies and Ultimate Doctor Doom's fate from Frightful.
[edit] Covers
The cover of each issue of the Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness mini-series is a parody and/or homage of a famous cover from Marvel history, featuring zombie versions of the characters. All cover art is by Arthur Suydam. In each, Ash is spliced in alongside zombified characters or replacing a character on the original cover (i.e. Bucky)
- #1, 1st printing is an homage to X-Men #141 by John Byrne.
- #1, variant printing is an homage to Uncanny X-Men #137 by John Byrne.
- #1, 2nd printing is an homage to Captain America #1 by Jack Kirby.
- #2, is an homage to Uncanny X-Men #268 by Jim Lee.
- #3, is an homage to Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man by Ross Andru.
- #3, variant printing is an homage to The Death of Captain Marvel GN by Jim Starlin.
- #4, is an homage to Captain America #100 by Jack Kirby.
- #5, is an homage to Wolverine #1 by Frank Miller.
[edit] References
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