Marvel Apes is a four-issue limited series by comics publisher Marvel Comics which started publication in October 2008 . The series is written by Karl Kesel with art by Ramon Bachs and covers by John Watson .
50-452: The Marvel Apes reality is designated as Earth-8101. Marvel Apes was first suggested as a successor to Marvel Zombies by artist and fan Mark Walsh during a convention Q&A session with Joe Quesada . As with Marvel Zombies before it, Marvel Apes takes place in an alternate universe , in this case a simian -dominated counterpart to Earth-616 that hosts anthropoid versions of popular Marvel superheroes and villains . As with
100-584: A Marvel Zombies: A Zombicide Game – Promos Box, the Sentinel Strike, and the massive Marvel Zombies: A Zombicide Game – Galactus the Devourer Kickstarter exclusives, including even more Super Heroes and Zombie Heroes. The four expansions also had more Kickstarter exclusives, adding to the number of with Super Heroes and Zombie Heroes ( https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/351817/marvel-zombies-a-zombicide-game/expansions ). In addition to this
150-580: A Rulebook. The line also has four expansions in smaller boxes: Clash of the Sinister Six, Fantastic 4 - Under Siege, Guardians of the Galaxy and Hydra Resurrection, each with additional Super Heroes and Zombie Heroes ( https://www.cmon.com/product-line/marvel-zombies-a-zombicide-game/ and https://www.cmon.com/products/marvel-zombies-heroes-resistance-2/ ). Part of the Kickstarter campaign were also
200-525: A limited series, "this term primarily applies to a connected series of individual comic books. A limited series refers to a comic book series with a clear beginning, middle and end". Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics refer to limited series of two to eleven issues as miniseries and series of twelve issues or more as maxiseries, but other publishers alternate terms. A limited series can "vary widely in length, but often run from three to ten issues. They can usually be distinguished from ongoing series by having both
250-583: A player comes in second place, he or she would get a card of Captain America. All participants got a copy of the Marvel Zombies card. The zombies in the game had a unique theme of destroying themselves to activate an effect. At the end of the turn, they would return to play. Limited series (comics) In the field of comic books , and particularly in the United States , a limited series
300-599: A single creative team, but in cases where there are changes, it is usually the writer who remains constant throughout the run, while the artist(s) may change. The number of issues is usually determined by some combination of the writer's plotting and editorial mandate. In 1979, in the process of recovering from the DC Implosion , publisher DC Comics experimented with a new format in the World of Krypton "miniseries", as DC termed such short-run works. The new format allowed
350-534: A still-living Black Panther . The Panther has escaped from the lab of the zombie Giant-Man, who has been keeping him alive as a food source, as a result of which the Panther is now missing an arm and a foot. Zombie Wasp gets into an argument with her husband when she discovers he was hoarding the Black Panther. He promptly decapitates Zombie Wasp by biting off her head, which remains sentient. After observing
400-460: Is a comics series with a predetermined number of issues. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is finite and determined before production, and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues. The term is often used interchangeably with miniseries ( mini-series ) and maxiseries ( maxi-series ), usually depending on the length and number of issues. In Dark Horse Comics ' definition of
450-648: Is also a Marvel Zombies: Heroes' Resistance from 2022, not a full core game, but a stand-alone game with 6 Super Heroes and 4 Zombie Heroes, as well as Bystander and zombie cardboard standees, and 4 Experience Dials instead of the plastic dashboards ( https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/366023/marvel-zombies-heroes-resistance ). The game is played much like the standard Zombicide game, however either playing as Super Heroes against Zombie Heroes and zombies, or Zombie Heroes against Super Heroes and SHIELD. Missions are either in Hero Mode or Zombie Mode. The gameplay in fact follows
500-650: Is en route to devour the planet. The zombies attack the Silver Surfer, who is overpowered and devoured by several of the former superheroes: Captain America , Iron Man , Giant-Man , Spider-Man , Luke Cage , the Hulk , and Wolverine . After acquiring a portion of the Power Cosmic, they slaughtered most of the remaining zombies, intent on satiating their hunger despite the latter's unpalatability. The Acolytes return to Earth to find Magneto, but instead, discover
550-589: Is inducted into the Ape-Vengers. Fiona is sent to ask for Reed Richards ' help in returning to Earth-616 ; she discovers that in the Marvel Apes reality the cosmic storm that gave the Fantastic Four their powers also gave a human appearance to Susan Storm . Gibbon is at first excited to become a member of the Ape-Vengers, but after witnessing the brutal lynching of Doctor Ooktapus , he questions
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#1732780780011600-708: Is killed by the Red Skull , and then proceed to devour Galactus. Giant-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Spider-Man and Wolverine are then infused with Galactus' power cosmic', the group thus becomes collective Galacti. Five years later, Black Panther, the Acolytes, and the Wasp, restored with a cybernetic body, return to Earth to find the planet depopulated. Unknown to them, the Zombie Galacti have taken their hunger to
650-516: Is merely a distraction to keep Doom occupied while Reed Richards targets Doom's power source. There are several trade paperbacks collecting the various stories: Other related collections include: There is a range of supporting merchandise based on the characters. Diamond Select have produced Marvel Zombie Minimates , action figures and a number of mini-busts. Wizkids ' HeroClix has had appearances of zombie versions of Spider-Man , Captain America, Hulk , and Wolverine as Chase figures in
700-487: The Invaders into vampires as well, Blood became the leader of the Ape-Vengers and uses their bloody lynching of supervillains as a way to feed. Gibbon, with the help of a cadre of dissident heroes, finds the real Captain America, still frozen in ice, and thaws him to lead the last free heroes against their vampiric foe. Baron Blood and the vampiric Invaders are destroyed, but the portal is destroyed after Gibbon, Fiona, and
750-544: The Legion of Super-Heroes , and the Green Lantern Corps . With the success of the miniseries format, DC followed by experimenting with longer stories and concepts outside their universe of superheroes. Debuting in 1982, Camelot 3000 was the first limited series to run to 12 issues. DC coined the term "maxiseries" as a promotional description for this. It did not take long for other publishers to begin using
800-617: The Ultimate Fantastic Four and survivors escaped back to the Ultimate universe. After a battle with the zombies, Magneto learns that the Acolytes and Forge are still alive on Asteroid M . However, before he can reach them, he is attacked once again, killed and eaten by the zombies, though he manages to behead the zombified Hawkeye . The Silver Surfer arrives on Earth and informs the zombies that his master Galactus
850-628: The " Crossover " story-arc, featured in issues #21-23. Marvel Comics liked Millar's idea so, as he wrote the issues, Marvel sought out pitches for a spin-off miniseries featuring that world entitled Marvel Zombies . To revisit the zombie world, Marvel hired Robert Kirkman to write and Sean Phillips to illustrate it. Kirkman was Marvel's first choice to write Marvel Zombies , an offer Kirkman immediately accepted because of his love for zombies and Marvel comic books, feeling that he couldn't pass up such an opportunity. He also expressed excitement upon learning which artist would be in charge of illustrating
900-521: The "Deadpool" set. Additionally, a generic Skrull, Super-Skrull , Mole Man , Morbius , Gladiator , Red Skull , Magneto , Doctor Doom, and a Zombies Team Base were released in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" set. The "Wizkids Marvel" set contains a zombie Galactus colossal figure, which does not have the same Z-Virus keyword as the rest of the Marvel Zombie characters. These newer Z-Virus figures are all of rare 'Chase' or 'Convention Exclusive' with
950-421: The "Supernova" set. In the "Mutations and Monsters" set, there was an Iron Man, Giant-Man, Spider-Man, and a Galactus-Powered Wolverine. There was also a Janet Pym bystander token in the "Mutations and Monsters" set. More recently HeroClix released a Zombie Villains series of figures. These included Deadpool , Kingpin , Rhino, Green Goblin , Electro , Doctor Octopus , Venom , Sabretooth , and Juggernaut from
1000-433: The Ape-Vengers methods. Meanwhile, Fiona and the ape Mr. Fantastic are able to recreate a gateway back to Earth-616. Captain America then reveals that he is actually the simian counterpart of the vampire Baron Blood , who in this reality was able, by sampling Captain America's blood in the forties, to take over his appearance and powers. The super-soldier serum also removed Baron Blood's vulnerability to sunlight. After turning
1050-652: The Living Vampire , Werewolf by Night , and Mephisto among others). Marvel Zombies 5 is a five-issue direct sequel to Marvel Zombies 4 , published in June and ending in October 2010. Marvel Zombies Return is a five-issue miniseries begun in September 2009, and is a direct sequel to Marvel Zombies 2 that wraps up the original zombie plotline. Several other sequels and spin-offs have been produced. In 2006,
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#17327807800111100-515: The Marvel Zombies is called the Deadlands where it, Ultron's domain, Perfection, and Annihilation's realm, New Xandar, all are separated from the other Battleworld domains by a wall called SHIELD, which is mostly made from Ben Grimm. The zombies and Ultron's drones spent several years battling until they formed an 'alliance'. They start by targeting the Deadland resistance, led by surviving heroes
1150-519: The October issue of Wizard magazine featured a one-page Marvel Zombies comic by artist Sean Phillips called "Eat the Neighbors". It parodied Hostess pastry advertisements featured in the Marvel titles in the 1970s, which showcased Marvel superheroes defeating villains by offering them snacks. In this instance, Spider-Man, Captain America and Iron Man serve two children as "Hostees Meat Pies" after
1200-527: The Spider-Monkey, appeared in the 2023 feature film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse . He is depicted as a member of Miguel O'Hara 's Spider-Forces. Marvel Zombies Marvel Zombies is a five-issue limited series published from December 2005 to April 2006 by Marvel Comics . The series was written by Robert Kirkman with art by Sean Phillips and covers by Arthur Suydam . It
1250-503: The Vision, Wonder Man, and Jim Hammond, who gather those exiled beyond the Wall into a secure city they have established. At the time of the attack, the three heroes have managed to rescue a version of Hank Pym exiled from a Wild-West-era zone, who is able to use his counterpart's notes to devise a means of shutting down the hive mind of Ultron's drones despite his more primitive background, at
1300-621: The Wasp's head begging for the flesh, Black Panther reasons that hunger is more psychological than physical. Meanwhile, the zombies have decided that the flesh of other zombies just isn't satisfying. Galactus then arrives on Earth and is attacked by the zombies, but he repels them easily. Giant-Man, Iron Man and Bruce Banner create a device that amplifies the powers they gained from the Silver Surfer, and together with Captain America, Luke Cage, Spider-Man and Wolverine they are able to injure Galactus. The cosmic-powered zombies fight off zombified versions of several supervillains, although Captain America
1350-505: The ape version of Speedball are sent through. Recovering from the battle, they prepare for the possibility of residents of the ape universe finding another way into their reality. Marvel Zombies: Evil Evolution , a sequel that pits Earth 2149's Marvel Zombies against their alternate meta-simian equivalents entitled, was released, as well as four other one-shot issues: Speedball , Amazing Spider-Monkey , Grunt Line , and Prime Eight . The Marvel Apes incarnation of Spider-Man, known as
1400-479: The blood of the victim, usually through a bite by an infected individual. The zombie superheroes largely retain their intellect, personality and superpowers, and are able to function regardless of the damage to their brain, although they are consistently driven by the "Hunger" for human flesh. The series begins where the Crossover story-arc ended, with Magneto destroying the cross-dimensional transporter after
1450-531: The children mistake them for legitimate superheroes. Another humorous one-shot comic book was also published in 2007 featuring the alternate universe animal hero Spider-Ham and titled Ultimate Civil War: Spider-Ham . Spider-Ham accidentally crosses over into Earth-2149 and becomes, as J. Michael Straczynski puts it, "Undead Ham". The Marvel Zombies universe was featured in the 2015 Secret Wars storyline where it also had its own tie-in miniseries, Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies . The Battleworld domain of
1500-513: The comic books and the game feels very thematic all in all. However, like in the standard Zombicide games, the plastic game figures are not painted as the HeroClix figures. In the Vs. System trading card game , the Marvel Zombies have three cards in the tournament Promo set Age of Apocalypse. If a player won the tournament where they came from, he or she would get a copy of Spider-Man as a Zombie. If
1550-457: The company to tell stories that may not have fit into an ongoing series and to showcase characters in a short story without the risk and obligations of an ongoing monthly. In 1980, DC followed World of Krypton with the three-issue series The Untold Legend of the Batman , by Len Wein , John Byrne , and Jim Aparo . DC produced three more limited series in 1981, featuring another Krypton series,
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1600-627: The cost of sacrificing the Vision and Wonder Man to make the machine work (although Wonder Man's android lover is reconfigured so that she can die in Hammond's place). During the core Secret Wars miniseries, Black Panther uses the zombies as an army to attack the now-all-powerful Doctor Doom in the final stand, using his new 'King of the Dead' status and the Siege Perilous to take the zombies directly to Doom's castle, although even this number
1650-405: The current issue number and total issue number on the cover and/or in the indicia ". The limited series has a single story to tell. It follows the standard plot set-up of beginning, middle and end. Usually, all plot points are covered by the end of the series. There have been limited series done in an anthology format, but only a few of these have been produced. Limited series are often done by
1700-770: The exception of Headpool who is also the only figure who does not fit on the Zombies Team Base. CMON or CMON Limited ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMON_Limited ) put on Marvel Zombies - A Zombicide Game on Kickstarter in January 2022. It was funded in February 2022 and shipped in June 2023. The line is two core games Marvel Zombies - A Zombicide Game, and Marvel Zombies: X-Men Resistance, both in massive boxes each with 6 Super Heroes and 6 Zombie Heroes, Bystander figures, various cards and tokens, plastic dashboards, double-sided tiles, 6 dice and additional contents including
1750-492: The heroes are frustrated by his ineptitude and even Princess Python , previously a caring and deeply devoted wife, is now fed up with the meek loser that Gibbon has become. Out of boredom and depression, he replies to an ad posted in the Daily Bugle by Fiona Fitzhugh, a spunky and cheery young scientist hoping to study the nature of super-powered individuals. Upon hearing that Gibbon had his powers since birth (as opposed to
1800-544: The huge character cast Kirkman assembled. Within the Marvel Multiverse is an alternate Earth designated Earth-2149 , which contains alternate zombie versions of Marvel superheroes. The story begins as an unknown superhero from another dimension, brought by the "Hunger", crash lands before infecting the Avengers , X-Men , Fantastic Four and almost all other superheroes. The infection spreads by contact with
1850-750: The introduction of Marvel Zombies in Ultimate Fantastic Four , the Marvel Apes universe is visited by an existing Marvel character, in this case Gibbon . He is accompanied by a female scientist named Fiona Fitzhugh in what has been described by Kesel as a " The Lord of the Rings -style sprawling epic". Martin Blank, the Gibbon , having been restored to his simian appearance, is left with his personal life in shambles. His attempts to side with
1900-503: The last page of #27 first, and encounter the Earth-616 Fantastic Four. A sequel to the original series, the five-issue Marvel Zombies 2 , was published from October 2007 to February 2008, and Marvel Zombies 3 a four-issue series, commenced October 2008. Marvel Zombies 4 is a four-issue limited series published over the summer of 2009, and features characters from Marvel's horror comics ( Man-Thing , Morbius
1950-569: The limited series format. In 1982, Marvel Comics published its first limited series, Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions , followed shortly thereafter by miniseries' featuring the X-Men 's Wolverine and the Avengers ' Hercules , and then The Vision and the Scarlet Witch . At first, Marvel used the limited series format to feature popular characters from team titles and put them in solo adventures. Contest of Champions brought forth
2000-555: The majority of mutants who gain their mutation during puberty), Fiona analyzes his aura and hypothesizes that Gibbon may come from another reality in the Multiverse . While attempting to contact such a reality, Fiona and the Gibbon are sucked into a portal that takes them to a world populated by intelligent simians. Gibbon manages to help Spider-Monkey and the Ape-Vengers, simian versions of the Avengers , subdue Doctor Ooktavius, and he
2050-469: The miniseries depicting how they deal with their hunger and how they interact with each other. Like other types of zombies, it was decided to establish how the zombified Marvel characters could specifically be killed in the story's context. Kirkman also added some black comedy to the story, and included some gore like most zombie stories do, expressing some shock at how Marvel allowed him and Phillips to incorporate those elements. An early idea Kirkman had for
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2100-406: The miniseries, Phillips used an art style similar to that he used on Ed Brubaker 's Sleeper . As the story was a sequel to the Ultimate Fantastic Four story featuring the zombie infested world, Phillips kept the look of the characters consistent to how Land drew them, with Phillips drawing them with the same costumes Land gave them but with Phillips' own style. He particularly liked to illustrate
2150-427: The series involved Luke Cage surviving the zombie plague as the sole human protagonist, given the character's unbreakable skin and that Millar's scripts didn't explicitly identify some characters separately. However, after seeing the finished art for Millar's issues, Kirkman discovered that Greg Land had already drawn Luke Cage as a zombie, and the idea was dropped, which Marvel originally objected to. To illustrate
2200-482: The series; Kirkman was a longtime fan of Phillips' work, like in DC Comics ' Sleeper . Kirkman also didn't fear being typecasted as "the superhero guy" or "the zombie guy" due to his work on the series, feeling that there was enough variety in his superhero work to keep things interesting. Kirkman wrote the series in a way that would work for readers who hadn't read the Ultimate Fantastic Four issues featuring
2250-470: The source of the zombie infection in the five-part limited series titled Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness (Marvel) and Army of Darkness (Dynamite). In July of the same year, a one-shot graphic novel, Marvel Zombies: Dead Days provided more story details, and the zombies also appear in a three-part storyline in Black Panther (vol. 4) #28 – 30, although they make their appearance in
2300-433: The stars. In the final scenes, an intelligent alien race on a distant planet is fearful of the coming of Galactus, as they can see the signs of his imminent arrival in the night sky. To their horror, the Zombie Galacti land on their world instead and immediately begin to consume the populace. An intercompany crossover between Marvel and Dynamite Entertainment , published from May to September 2007 provided information as to
2350-454: The zombie universe only for the latter to contain the former from ever coming to his universe. Following an adaptation in the episode " What If... Zombies?! " of the Disney+ animated series What If...? , an upcoming animated series of the same name is in development. While writing Ultimate Fantastic Four , Mark Millar decided to introduce an alternate Earth populated by zombies in
2400-410: The zombie versions of Thor and Captain America . Drawing the superheroes as zombies was the most difficult part of the process for him, as he had grown accustomed at drawing characters in street clothes but was forced to draw their muscles in spandex costumes again. Overall, Phillips enjoyed working with Kirkman in the series, feeling that the most enjoyable part of the process was "playing around" with
2450-551: The zombified superheroes, despite noting that readers of that series would have more insight with spin-off's characters, especially Magneto , due to his larger role in the first issue. Comparing the protagonists with the "slow moving, mindless Romero style zombies" he used in The Walking Dead , Kirkman reasoned that the Marvel characters, either heroes or villains, retained their usual personalities and powers, only driven to devour flesh by their uncontrollable hunger, with
2500-467: Was the first series in the Marvel Zombies series of related stories. The story is set in an alternate universe where the world's superhero population has been infected with a virus which turned them into zombies. The series was spun out of events of the crossover story-arc of Ultimate Fantastic Four , where the zombie Reed Richards tricked his Ultimate counterpart into opening a portal to
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