SHIPPING LIST: OCTOBER 29, 2008
You can probably find complete shipping list updates on most major comics sites. Consider this an opportunity to either do all your info-shopping in the one place, or get a speculative perspective on what might be worth checking out. These are untested reads. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths can offer no guarantee or endorsement of quality. These are simply titles that may be of potential interest. Some items may ship late.

The Infinite Wars now has a gift shop!
Now you'll find Amazon purchase links to hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and other collections, not only on regular entries -- but also new releases at the bottom of the Shipping List, and now a whole catalogue of potential purchases via the Infinite Wars: Amazonian Gift Shop. [Men are also welcome!] By shopping with Amazon via our purchase links, you not only find yourself a great deal, but also sponsor future entries on the Infinite Wars.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Little Big Kirkman...
JUN082250 ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #9 $2.99
AUG084553 BAT MANGA SECRET HISTORY OF BATMAN IN JAPAN SC $29.95
SEP083910 BOYS #24 (MR) $2.99
AUG083789 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS HC VOL 01 ENGINES OF DESIRE (MR) $34.99
AUG080012 HELLBOY IN THE CHAPEL OF MOLOCH ONE SHOT $2.99
AUG082260 KICK DRUM COMIX #2 (OF 2) $5.99
AUG083796 NO HERO #2 (OF 7) (MR) $3.99
JUN083801 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #7 (OF 7) $2.99
JUL083862 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS VOL 02 THE SUPREMACY #0 (MR) $1.00
JUN082270 SAVAGE DRAGON #139 $3.50
AUG082243 SCREAMLAND TP VOL 01 $16.99
JUL084422 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 22 $12.95
AUG084228 TICK THE COMPLETE EDLUND $35.00
SEP083683 TIM SALE HEROES VILLAINS BABES SKETCHBOOK $25.00
AUG083930 ZEN INTERGALACTIC NINJA #0 $0.99

Thin and Crispy...
AUG082334 CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR OPERATION ZERO POINT $3.99
AUG080113 DC UNIVERSE DECISIONS #4 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG082355 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #19 $2.99
AUG080233 KILL YOUR BOYFRIEND NEW PTG (MR) $5.99
AUG082348 MARVEL 1985 #6 (OF 6) $3.99
AUG082386 NOVA #18 SI $2.99
AUG082381 SECRET INVASION THOR #3 (OF 3) SI $2.99
AUG080121 SUPERMAN BATMAN VS VAMPIRES WEREWOLVES #2 $2.99
AUG080111 TRINITY #22 $2.99
AUG082421 X-MEN FIRST CLASS GIANT SIZE SPECIAL #1 $3.99

The Deep Dish...
- AUG082320 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #575 $2.99
Amazing arguably continues it's retraction, pushing lingering Brand New Day plot threads into an inconsequential annual, whilst returning the core-title further into the Marvel Universe. Hammerhead's got some kind of Mr. Negative wacky upgrade. I doubt he'll be miraculously curing cancer with his touch, but that's fun. Great cover. Still has an air of irrelevance.

- AUG082377 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #18 SI $2.99
I can't help but feel The Initiative both as a title, and concept, really struggled to live up to all that promise. The series in particular failed to interest beyond the first few issues, but [Dan] Slott and the gang deserve familiar kudos for making good use of oft neglected properties in the Marvel Universe! Continuing the approach that endeared him to fans during his time on She-Hulk and Thing -- Slott delivers the Skrull Kill Krew to long waiting fans! PLUS -- a chance that Thor Girl might just be a Skrull. *phew*

- AUG080161 CHECKMATE #31 $2.99
DC aren't forecasting any subsequent issues on their website, which makes me wonder if Bruce Jones' gathering of characters in China might not be the swansong. Really disappointing given the promise the title showed in it's inaugral year, and the unique take on the superhero genre it provided. I'm not sure blind dedication to Rucka's version was warranted, but Jones might not have been the best choice to take over. Changes were notable.

- AUG080117 FINAL CRISIS RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS #1 $3.99
Blackest Night is next year and Geoff Johns is keeping the Lantern train rolling with the eagerly anticipated Rage of the Red Lanterns! Sinestro's in the firing line for his crimes, but he might yet slip through the cracks as both the Red Lanterns and the Guardians seek vengeance!

- AUG082353 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #122 $2.99
Monetary constraints have sadly prevented the Infinite Wars from really reflecting Hercules as the 2008 MVP, but at least we can tell you here! Hercules' questing across America hasn't been the smartest comics you'll ever read, but it's been good comics! The fun times head to the beach where the Incredible Herc clashes with Infinite Wars favourite, the Sub-Mariner! PLUS -- there're some angry Amazons running about, and Poseiden in peril!

- JUL080124 JOKER HC $19.99
It feels like it's been quite some time since I've seen an original graphic novel on shelves, but it's here, it's queer, and it's bound to inspire fear. Brian Azzarello returns to Gotham City with his Man of Steel collaborator, Lee Bermejo, to deliver a dark account of the Joker's violent return from Arkham Asylum. Featuring a host of villains and playing to the Long Halloween concept of a city torn between the freaks and the mobsters; Joker unleashes a violent plot to take down both sides of the coin. With the promise of appearances by Batman, Killer Croc, Penguin, Riddler, Two-Face, and Harley Quinn, this is sure to be a must-read for anyone wanting to follow up The Dark Knight with a slice of legitimate fandom! Hey, why not make it a very Joker Christmas? Pick-up The Dark Knight and the Joker OGN from Amazon and enjoy low prices, convenience, and the gift of giving, but helping sponsor future entries in the Infinite Wars!

- AUG082357 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #41 $2.99
Thing and Human Torch volunteering at the zoo? Not super-exciting.
The Collector showing up to claim the hidden exhibit - Devil Dinosaur - which he claims to have won on an intergalactic auction site? VERY exciting!

- AUG080130 SUPERMAN #681 NEW KRYPTON $2.99
I was pretty happy to skip over the special, but after hearing more about it, I'm starting to wonder if the boat wasn't missed. I'm one of those guys who appreciates the 'Last Son' aspect of Superman, so the increasing number of elements used to undermine that always rub me up the wrong way. That said, the notion that one hundred thousand Kryptonians without the Kent virtue have been unleashed on an unsuspecting Earth sounds awfully interesting! PLUS -- the government unleashing Lex Luthor as a weapon? Cool!

- AUG082313 ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #1 $3.99
We've got a 2011 date for the Captain America feature film, so this kind of stuff is to be expected. Ultimate Cap vs Ultimate Black Panther isn't bad, but let's face facts: countdown to the resurrection of the "real" Steve Rogers! What do we think? Sometime in 2010? Could they wait until the year of the film? Sure, there'll be plenty of reprints, but c'mon...

- AUG082414 X-FORCE #8 $2.99
X-Force really impressed me when I took a chance on it [#5] and the team of Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost seem to be continuing a vein that makes great use of a lot of familiar X-properties, but spin them into a very different world. The Vanisher is the subject in question this time, something once again cartoon-grade fans will be familiar with, but is sure to go in new ways. I'll be interested to see if there's any connection to Joe Casey's work with the character!


Know Your Trade...
AUG084553 BAT MANGA SECRET HISTORY OF BATMAN IN JAPAN SC $29.95
AUG083789 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS HC VOL 01 ENGINES OF DESIRE (MR) $34.99
AUG082470 ESSENTIAL MARVEL HORROR TP VOL 02 $16.99
JUL080158 GREEN LANTERN IN BRIGHTEST DAY TP $19.99
JUL080214 HELLBLAZER FAMILY MAN TP (MR) $19.99
AUG082440 INCREDIBLE HERCULES PREM HC SECRET INVASION $19.99
JUL080124 JOKER HC $19.99
JUL080163 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA THE NEXT AGE TP $14.99
AUG082431 MMW ATLAS ERA HC VOL 01 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY $59.99
AUG082243 SCREAMLAND TP VOL 01 $16.99
JUL084422 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 22 $12.95
AUG082465 SPIDER-MAN TP A NEW GOBLIN $12.99
JUN080255 SUPERMAN BATMAN SEARCH FOR KRYPTONITE HC $19.99
AUG084228 TICK THE COMPLETE EDLUND $35.00
SEP083683 TIM SALE HEROES VILLAINS BABES SKETCHBOOK $25.00

INFINITE WARS: MARVEL ZOMBIES DEFENSE STRATEGUM!
When zombies munch their way through the Marvel
Universe, who is left to avenge those lost to the
undead plague? Zombie Avengers assemble as we
undermine everything established in Marvel Zombies!

Late July: Robert Kirkman makes the jump in status to 'Image Comics partner,' effectively ending his relationship with Marvel.
Directing his attentions to projects like Invincible, The Walking Dead, and Astonishing Wolf-Man; Kirkman went Guevara on an unsuspecting industry, compelling corporate automatons to throw off the shackles of their oppressors and take control of independent intellectual properties, developed away from their headlining borrowed characters.

With the line now well and truly drawn in the sand, we figure it's as good a time as any to completely dismiss inconveniences established by the writer in Marvel Zombies.

Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness backtracked to elaborate further on the spread of the plague that decimated all life on Earth-2419, following a hapless Bruce Campbell as he interacts with Spider-man, Daredevil, Dazzler, and the other heroes and villains who eventually become infected. The right idea, but as far as we on the Infinite Wars are concerned, the wrong execution.

Infection came to Earth-2419 by way of the Sentry, who himself came from yet another parallel universe. What we discuss today may pertain to the universe from which the plague originated, or, might simply be a tale of another doomed universe. Barring unforseen employment by Marvel, references are not canonical.

Our world isn't entirely different from Earth-2419.
Characters share much in common with their "616" counterparts, but for this world, infection occured during events of the mid-eighties. I suppose the "origin" of the plague remains subject to interpretation, because in this universe, the source of the zombie infection is only implied. On the other hand, the one responsible for carrying the infection to Earth is quite specific: Thor.

Despite finding fan-fiction provoking of violence, we might be persuaded to hatch-out details of this alternate universe in future entries on the Infinite Wars. For the time being, however, we need only assume that Marvel Zombies undermines the competence and super powers of certain characters. Rather than try to no-prize our way to a palatable solution, instead, let us offer up a checklist of heroes who might be a little better suited to opposing the undead than tyrannical instigators like Herr Kirkman would have us believe!

Iron Man (Tony Stark)
Year One: [1963] Group Affiliation: [Avengers]
Win Percentage: [64%] Cumulative Rank: [#3]
Strength: [6] Stamina: [6] Fighting: [4] Energy: [5]

Chew The Fat:
Tony Stark makes you feel he's a cool exec' with a heart of steel, but as Iron Man, he's one of the best equipped heroes to oppose an undead uprising! Not convinced? Read on, culture lover!

As protagonist of the superhero Civil War, situations were organized to set Tony Stark up for a fall. As Director of SHIELD things could've gone a lot more smoothly, but let's not forget, Iron Man's got plenty of experience leading the troops. It's for this reason we jump out of the gates with Iron Man at the top of our Anti-Zombie Avengers, despite the fact he's front-and-dismembered in the Marvel Zombies mini-series.

Stark's a pretty brilliant guy, so he's going to be smart enough to recognise a simple advantage: he's clad head-to-toe in a super-durable suit of armor. Not a bad defense against a menace that has to bite into your flesh to infect you!
With an arsenal of long range attacks at his disposal, Stark has the ultimate combination of offensive and defensive. Combine that with his technological and engineering skills and he might just prove useful in the big picture!

Dr. Doom (Victor von Doom)
Year One: [1962] Group Affiliation: [Latveria]
Win Percentage: [33.33%] Cumulative Rank: [#46]
Strength: [5] Stamina: [6] Fighting: [3] Energy: [5]

Chew The Fat:
Earlier in the month we talked a little about the nature of science and magic based vampires [What if...? #24] and how that alters their ability and composition. I tend to think the same is true of zombies, which makes Victor Von Doom all the more valuable an asset in the onset of such a crisis.

Like Iron Man, Doom is accustomed to garbing himself head-to-toe in impenetrable armor, providing a basic defense even in the event of a surprise attack. While Tony Stark has his wits about him, Doom's genius rivals any of Earth's greatest minds, spanning subjects as diverse as biology... and the occult!

Bringing together the powers of science and mysticism; Dr. Doom is well equipped to lead humanity against any variety of zombie. In fact, given Doom's isolated Latverian headquarters, Castle Doomstadt; his almost exclusively robotic staff; and skills in mysticism, one could almost suppose Doom had anticipated just such a scenario. If nothing else, it's a compliment to a character I do not regard as accurately portrayed by instances of baseless villainy.

Crucial to his role in the 'Anti-Zombie Avengers' is a deeply personal concern for the people of Latveria, and an underlying sense of self-sacrifice that may outwardly present an arrogance, but masks a man whose isolation is a grand contingency.

Sure, there are drawbacks, and they prevent Doom from being leader:
- There's a good chance he'd willingly sacrifice that accursed Richards.
- Tension caused by arrogant characters tend to have dire effects on the success of survival groups in zombie movies. He might be more effective alone.
- The moment success becomes apparent Doom immediately becomes a potential threat whose nationalist motivations could range from using the situation to cripple the American economy, or simply eradicate it's imperialist superheroes.
- Should the situation become mathematically dire, Doom would likely deploy technologies to decimate large portions of Europe, creating a barren landscape surrounding Latveria. Given the chance, he may even tear the continent apart to render Latveria a self-sustained techno-island.

Fortunately; Doom's best interest is to protect the globe, to protect his people. Of course, this is the type of scenario that leads to World War Doom, as he attempts to protect humanity from it's own moronic self.

Wolverine (James "Logan" Howlett)
Year One: [1974] Group Affiliation: [Secret Avengers]
Win Percentage: [45.16%] Cumulative Rank: [#6]
Strength: [3] Stamina: [6] Fighting: [6] Energy: [1]

Chew The Fat:
We've breached the subject many times, but it warrants repeating: Wolverine's healing factor combats infection.

Like almost the entirety of this list, Wolverine factors prominently into the Millar/Kirkman construct of the Marvel Zombies, and that's not necessarily an error. While Wolverine's healing factor should render him immune to infection, there is that little matter of the mystic zombie. Unfortunately for Wolvie, the science base of his super-immune system is completely incapable of combatting conceptual laws that only require a statement of fact.

"Daednu si enirevlow!" -- a crude example of how easy infection could be.

As a typically indescriminate killer who might be immune to the undead plague, Wolverine's a value player. Of all on the list, he is the biggest risk thus far, however. Traditional infection drastically reduces the effectiveness of players like Iron Man and Dr. Doom because their greatest weapons are their minds, but in the case of Wolverine, his healing factor and other animalistic skills provide the making of a super-zombie, even with eventual deterioration.
And in the case of occult zombies that facilitate infection, there's no guarantee his physical integrity couldn't still be maintained by the healing factor!

Invisible Woman (Susan Richards)
Year One: [1961] Group Affiliation: [Fantastic Four]
Win Percentage: [60%] Cumulative Rank: [#10]
Strength: [2] Stamina: [4] Fighting: [4] Energy: [2]

Chew The Fat:
It's kinda funny that the Fantastic Four were the first Marvel Zombies we met, because as a team, they are perhaps the most inherently protected against a traditional threat.

Invisible Woman's our pick for the Anti-Zombie Avengers for a few reasons.
It doesn't hurt that here on the Infinite Wars we've seen her galvanized by post-apocalyptic scenarios before: [What if...? #54; What if: Enemy of the State]. Then there's the broad practicality of her powers. In the event of massing hordes there are few abilities more valuable than 'energy projection,' but Sue Storm goes one better! Impact spheres, tubular shunts, and forcefield walls are just the ticket for cutting a path through a swarm of undead, but in more delicate situations, she can even render an entire team invisible! Invaluable to those moments where sneaking into the Baxter Building might be the difference between life and death with zombies lurking on the horizon!

Against traditional attacks the entire FF would be welcome!
Mr. Fantastic's extreme elasticity means actually taking a bite out of him is easier said than done. The Human Torch's flames mean getting close enough without being incinerated is highly unlikely, and the Thing's rocky hide means any undead missing out on the house special during clobberin' time breaks their jaw on their own time. HERBIE - also welcome cannon fodder. Stupid bucket of bolts!

Besides, clearly all a zombie needs is a woman to sort them out. (Haw!)

Dr. Strange (Dr. Stephen Strange)
Year One: [1963] Group Affiliation: [Secret Avengers]
Win Percentage: [40%] Cumulative Rank: [#72]
Strength: [2] Stamina: [5] Fighting: [2] Energy: [6]

Chew The Fat:
If you're skipping through to your favourite characters, you might want to go back and get the basic building blocks of what we're supposing. This is the part of the entry where we typically start to skim through, and I have to admit, this entry is no different.

As Sorcerer Supreme, Dr. Strange somehow manages to get a bit of a raw deal. If he isn't providing the all encompassing solution of a deus ex machina, he's getting pushed aside by something far beneath him. I'm all for a bit of balance in powerful characters, but consistency has not been Marvel's strength over the past few years, be it in general, or with the good Doctor.

Since I want some mileage out of these entries we haven't told you the nature of the zombie threat, which means, in cobbling together an Anti-Zombie Avengers team, we need to cover all bases! No man in the Marvel Universe is more qualified to deal with the occult, mystic, and voodoo, than Dr. Strange!
A convoluted intrusion would probably prevent Strange from scooping the zombie populous into a pocket dimension, but come story end, that might be option. Wong might find that vital lost book and Strange might be able to shift the zombie plague to make it Dormammu or Arkon's problem! It never works with the Hulk, but eh... That's what the marketting department calls franchise potential.

Thin Man (Bruce Dickson)
Year One: [1940] Group Affiliation: [Invaders]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative Rank: [#60]
Strength: [2] Stamina: [4] Fighting: [4] Energy: [1]

Chew The Fat:
How do you spell self-indulgence? T-H-I...

I was a big fan of Allan Jacobsen and CP Smith's work on New Invaders, and admittedly, will probably try to work one of those characters into just about any feasible situation. Sub-Mariner's a little too impetuous for a zombie invasion, but fortunately for me, Thin Man is just the bastard you want fighting in your corner!

I'm quite inclined to give Jacobsen's sinister interpretation of the character the respect of being definitive. This probably means Thin Man's going to be more of an honorary member of our Anti-Zombie Avengers, affecting the course of battle from the clandestine pocket of sub-dimensional space he can freely transition to.

As comics' original stretchy superhero, Thin Man has similar pliable advantages to Mr. Fantastic, making him difficult to get a bite into. Not that you'd get the chance. His super dexterity gives him all the twisty maneuverability in the world, and, as already mentioned, the ability to slide into sub-space ensures he can remain present in the zombie-infested world, without being vulnerable to it!

Already a willing killer; Thin Man could potentially be a valuable man on the frontlines, but his freedom of movement makes for a vital component in street-level intelligence, albeit an occasionally uncooperative component.
Bouncing off of New Invaders, it's quite possible Thin Man might actually operate as part of a self-invested US Military organization. Although, his allegiance to such a collective would likely be less than true, and conclude with his disappearance in the event that the undead hordes are defeated.

Vision
Year One: [1968] Group Affiliation: [Young Avengers]
Win Percentage: [33.33%] Cumulative Rank: [#242]
Strength: [5] Stamina: [6] Fighting: [2] Energy: [5]

Chew The Fat:
The beauty of robots is that they aren't susceptible to infection. Of course, Vision is a synthezoid, and contains bioorganic components that might very well make him vulnerable to partial infection. In that event, I'd like to think the time afforded by his mechanics would give Vision the chance to go out in a spectacular blaze of self-sacrificing glory - but it might not come to that!

Kitty Pryde might be a popular choice among many readers, but as advantageous as it is to be intangible, it doesn't offer much in the way of an offensive. Vision possesses similar capabilities as Sprite, but with a far finer touch of control that also allows super-density as an offensive strategum against the frail undead.

Long range attacks are always welcome and Vision also possesses an arsenal of techno-weaponry to combat those already lost to the plague. In many respects he is one of the most sure selections we could make for the team, and even in the event of the death of his creator, there's always Doom and Stark for repairs.

Unus (Angelo Unuscione)
Year One: [1964] Group Affiliation: [Brotherhood of Mutants]
Win Percentage: [50%] Cumulative Rank: [#217]
Strength: [4] Stamina: [6] Fighting: [3] Energy: [2]

Chew The Fat:
Having led with the leaders of the group, I suppose this could be deemed the section of grunts. Unus might not traditionally be the most intimidating figure in the supervillain community, but for lack of a better term, he's the ultimate common denomenator in a world where the harbingers of humanity's downfall need to make contact.

Unus' mutant powers allow him to effortlessly maintain a personal forcefield that has proven impenetrable to some of the Marvel Universe's strongest forces. A veritable Italian Batallion -- all Unus really needs is a baseball bat and a few hours to slug his way through a cluster of undead zombies.

Ever a cool customer, the only real concern about this untouchable is the integrity of his character. Having been shown to have no true allegiances, there's every chance Unus might sell his fellow humans up the creek, content to live in just about any environment behind the safety of his forcefield.

Living Laser (Arthur Parks)
Year One: [1966] Group Affiliation: [The Hood]
Win Percentage: [NA] Cumulative Rank: [NA]
Strength: [3] Stamina: [6] Fighting: [3] Energy: [6]

Chew The Fat:
Having undergone different interpretations over the years, it takes settling on more recent versions of the Laser to really make him a valid inclusion in the team.

It's easy to forget that Living Laser is a pretty sharp scientist, but in a think-tank with Victor Von Doom, Tony Stark, and Dr. Strange, his greatest strengths mirror his role as an absurdly descriptive villainous henchman. As a living laser, Arthur Parks can burn off chunks of the zombie hordes, while using the energy of his own body to prevent any undead getting through to bite him. Incineration is his ultimate defense, much like the previously mentioned Human Torch.

Arthur Parks is not without his redemption, having even worked briefly for his mortal nemesis' company, Stark Industries. That said, we are entering the more fragile corner of the psyche, where a villain might not be trusted in the pressure cooker of a world facing the apocalypse.

Juggernaut (Cain Marko)
Year One: [1965] Group Affiliation: [X-Men]
Win Percentage: [0%] Cumulative Rank: [#571]
Strength: [6] Stamina: [7] Fighting: [3] Energy: [1]

Chew The Fat:
For a lot of characters who appeared as undead in Marvel Zombies we can make concessions, but in the case of Juggernaut, I struggle!

Despite appearing on the Infinite Wars as both a vampire and zombie; Juggernaut is among the best equipped humans to resist infection.
Possession of the Ruby of Cyttorak renders Cain Marko a veritable powerhouse of unstoppable force. The magic properties of the ruby grant him physical invulnerability, as well as powerful safeguards against magic. In this respect, he is well protected against zombies of any origin.

Clubbing fists are a pretty slow way to combat numerical superiority, but given enough time, the Juggernaut could likely cleanse the Earth on his own. A favourite What If? story, unfortunately not yet featured on the site, depicts just such a world, where Juggernaut's invulnerability renders him among the last men alive on a world decimated by a phantom disease. A very specific reference, but one I enjoy recalling, none the less.

Grey Gargoyle (Paul Pierre Duval)
Year One: [1964] Group Affiliation: [The Hood]
Win Percentage: [0%] Cumulative Rank: [#427]
Strength: [5] Stamina: [5] Fighting: [3] Energy: [1]

Chew The Fat:
They say the best defense, is a good offense. Sounds fair!

A chemical accident gave Paul Pierre Duval the powers of the midas touch, only, instead of gold, all he touches turns to granite. The Grey Gargoyle marks yet another specialist superpower whose unique abilities are especially suited to an outbreak that requires a zombie to make contact with it's victim.

Any zombies attempting to chow down on the Gargoyle will be instantly turned to granite, making the perfect set-up for any other heroes or villains to shatter them into pieces. Furthermore, Duval's common state as a mobile stone man might very well render him undetected by the flesh-gorging masses of undead.
Hiding in plain sight, this selective invisibility could allow him to decimate zombie numbers in the thousands simply by strolling through the crowd!

Punisher (Frank Castle)
Year One: [1974] Group Affiliation: [NA]
Win Percentage: [33.33%] Cumulative Rank: [#237]
Strength: [2] Stamina: [4] Fighting: [4] Energy: [4]

Chew The Fat:
On the strength of the already mentioned What If...? #24, if not the entire run of the series, we have to mention the Punisher!

Despite lacking any inherent defenses from the plague, Punisher might just be one of the most prominent components of a human uprising. Already inclined to shoot-first, it'll be difficult for any undead to get the jump on the vigilante, and once he is aware of the outbreak, an arsenal of weaponry and safehouses littered throughout New York City sponsors his resistance.

The claustrophobia of lower Manhattan may claim even graceful defenders, like Daredevil or Moon Knight, but the Punisher's readiness and expertise in urban warfare could very well turn the cramped infrastructure to his advantage.
Panel vans, machine guns, shotguns, pistols, and explosives are the Punisher's weapons, and perhaps above all else, a willingness to die fighting. Under the right circumstances, even a zombie Punisher might continue his war on crime.

Batroc (Georges Batroc)
Year One: [1966] Group Affiliation: [The Initiative]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative Rank: [#65]
Strength: [2] Stamina: [4] Fighting: [5] Energy: [1]

Chew The Fat:
Dark times give chance to shine a light on some of the most unlikely heroes. Batroc might not be first call to the Anti-Zombie Avengers, but his supreme skills in the art of savate make him a formiddable fighter. Plus, the beauty of it is, as a zombie, he's completely useless. Not unlike most French militants.

There's a whole cast of B and below that could make the cut. The Taskmaster comes to mind as a particularly ample combatant, but we'd be here all day, and have a series devoid of name-value zombies. Which wouldn't be fun. So un-die, Batroc. Un-die like the surrender-monkey you are, you bastille bastard!

Blade (Eric Brooks)
Year One: [1973] Group Affiliation: [MI: 13]
Win Percentage: [50%] Cumulative Rank: [#70]
Strength: [3] Stamina: [5] Fighting: [5] Energy: [3]

Chew The Fat:
The undead are flooding onto the streets and spreading their infection throughout the Earth's populous. Sound at all familiar?
It's a hard ask to overlook Blade in a situation like this. His expertise in combatting opponents far more dextrous than zombies, but similarly inclined to bite, makes him a well trained assassin.

Mathematics is the only thing really working against Blade, whose obssessive war against vampires is dependent on hand-to-hand prowess, and the limited membership of most vampire organizations. Considering zombies can amass in the thousands, it might simply be too overwhelming even for Blade. Then again, pair him up with a well armed resistance fighter like the Punisher, and your odds drastically improve.

Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)
Year One: [1972] Group Affiliation: [NA]
Win Percentage: [66.67%] Cumulative Rank: [#56]
Strength: [5] Stamina: [5] Fighting: [3] Energy: [5]

Chew The Fat:
When the dead rise, there's an inevitable biblical significance.
If the incursion of zombies truly is a reflection of the end of days, then who better to fight the infernal struggle on our behalf than a demon of vengeance pledged to protect the innocent?

There's something fitting about a character straight out of seventies macabre stepping up to fight the zombie hordes. Thematics aside; Ghost Rider comes ready to mow zombies down by the hundreds with hellfire, and includes mystic chains, capable of binding occult undead, or slicing and dicing garden variety.

Kirkman's Zombies may have included Dan Ketch, but if the Rider remains in control of the host body, can a demon actually be infected? I guess it's a risk that comes with Ghost Rider's inclusion, to say nothing of the distractions fellow sinful members like Juggernaut or Dr. Doom might pose.

Heck! Does zombification bring with it some sort of escape clause? Does the plague absolve the recently deceased of their actions? Will Ghost Rider even be inclined to fight them? We might have to rethink his inclusion, because if the zombies aren't subjected to the damnation of his penance stare - we might be!
I'm suddenly feeling very Jungian... We're all responsible! Armageddon!!!

Silver Surfer (Norrin Radd)
Year One: [1966] Group Affiliation: [Galactus]
Win Percentage: [57.14%] Cumulative Rank: [#26]
Strength: [6] Stamina: [6] Fighting: [3] Energy: [7]

Chew The Fat:
Get outta here, Mr. Kirkman. Get the heck outta here!
Brian Bendis might have initially missed (or ignored) certain subtexts of Robert Kirkman's independent call-to-arms, but I have to borrow a term from the follicly-challenged writer when described events from Zombies #3 -- goofy!

As appreciated as the high-concept irony of zombies devouring Galactus was, this is Kirkman reaffirming his own aspertions about work-for-hire at it's worst! You can't tell me the Silver Surfer wouldn't have himself a big old undead cookout before the G-Man comes for dinner! Get outta here!

Descending from the heavens, Silver Surfer could potentially be one of Earth's greatest defenders, if he sticks around long enough to know we still need saving. He has been out of the neighbourhood for quite some time, now, and I don't think they get good cell coverage out there on Rigel-3.

Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)
Year One: [1977] Group Affiliation: [SHIELD]
Win Percentage: [50%] Cumulative Rank: [#223]
Strength: [3] Stamina: [4] Fighting: [4] Energy: [3]

Chew The Fat:
What good is a gimmick-infringing puny woman, you say?
Whoa now! Stay thy insolent tongue, heathen-mortal!

Ask yourself a question, true believer. What motivates the zombie?
In maintaining the fear enducing madness of the genre, few examples make any effort to explain the bloodlust or thought processes of the undead. What if we attempt to look at it from their perspective, though? What drives them?

Despite their gurgling stupor, the importance of the brain to a zombie has become a well established trope of the folklore. Let us suppose that the hunger stems, at least in some cases, from the underlying survival instincts of most living creatures. Digestive functions may have broken down as a result of the infection, granting zombies minimal nutrition from foods they devour. Perhaps, given their tastes, they may also be riddled with unrelated illnesses that contribute to their ugly disposition.

All of this is a round-about way of inferring that certain grades of zombie might still function in basic ways. Which means their instinctive primal state makes them perfect prey for Spider-Woman and her manipulative pheremones.
Okay, there's a danger the loss of decorum might result in a new strain of randy-zombie that tries to hump anything curvy and red, but with a bit of control, Spider-Woman might even be able to influence the undead. A puppeteer pulling the strings on a carrot on a string, if you will.

Given the very base state the zombies are, telepaths are likely useless, but Spider-Woman's natural geographic methods could prove vital! To say nothing of her prowess as a highly skilled fighter, strategist, and energy projector!

Mystery Champion
Year One: [1984] Group Affiliation: [NA]
Win Percentage: [40%] Cumulative Rank: [#??]
Strength: [4] Stamina: [3] Fighting: [2] Energy: [2]

Chew The Fat:
Ooo, who is the mystery champion with a secret connection to the zombies? Sometime in the future we might return to the subject of the Marvel Zombies to elaborate further on the circumstances of how they operate and where they came from.

Don't like horror comics?
Consider it a survival guide, Mr. Phoenix!

COVER TO COVER: HALLOWEEN MYSTICS!
With our reviews of the month centred heavily on vampires and zombies, I thought it fitting to overlook those obvious options in the C2C this year, to look elsewhere in the spectrum of comic book archetypes.

It's difficult to broach the subject of mystics and magicians in comics without pondering the origins of the superhero genre. We've talked at length before about Superman's union-suited predecessor, The Phantom, but what Lee Falk's creation who trumps even the Ghost Who Walks?

Beating the Phantom into print by two years; Mandrake the Magician used his powers of illusion and hypnotism to fight a range of evils traditionally associated with the medium. As with any early superhero, it's hard to ignore the pulp undertones of the character, but even more intriguing is Mandrake's ties to the then popular practise of magic. Allegedly inspired by Leon Mandrake, this strong inspiration of celebrity echoes practises of modern comics that sometimes draw parallels between the exploits of superheroes and real world celebrity reference points.

Mysticism's endless battle with science to occupy the share of fiction continues. Zatara, (Mandrake knock-off father of Zatanna), shared the pages of Action Comics #1 (1938) to debut alongside the better recognised, Superman. As if by meta-karma, Zatara's obscurity hasn't gone unavenged, leading to the oft discussed conundrum of a Superman's existance in a world of the undermining principles of magic.

Collected here are just some of the battles previously featured on the Infinite Wars, boasting powerful mystics including; Dr. Strange, Dr. Fate, Dr. Occult, Zatanna, and more.

Strange Tales #111 (August 1963)
"Face-to-Face With the Magic of Baron Mordo" Lee/Ditko
Somewhere in the mountainous regions of Tibet lives The Master, ancient master of the occult and mentor to Earth's Sorceror Supreme -- Dr. Strange! The final line of defense against all things mystic, occult and supernatural!

Though Dr. Strange's name inspires intrigue and fear, there is yet another name still that sends an even colder chill down any man's spine. He was once the Master's disciple, but he was seduced by the dark arts, and so he became the exile. The man who could have been the Sorceror Supreme, Baron Mordo.

Using his astral essence to travel undetected into The Master's lair, Mordo uses hypnotic suggestion to command his faithful servant to poison his food!
Unaware of Mordo's act of treachery, Strange sends his own astral form to visit the Master in lieu of new experiments, and finds him besieged. Can Strange overcome Mordo and save his mentor, or is Earth's eldest champion doomed?

JSA #64 (October 2004)
"Night Terrors" Johns/Ordway
In the 1940s Sanderson Hawkins was adopted by wealthy socialite Wesley Dodds; also known to citizens of New York City as the crime-fighting mystery man, the Sandman! Hawkins would soon find himself involved in Dodds' clandestine operation, eventually leading to accident that would turn him into a horrible silicon monster! Dodds placed his ward in suspended animation in an effort to protect both Sandy and the world from his mistake.

Resurrected in the modern era, Hawkins is cured, and inherits the JSA Brownstone and leadership of the team in a new age. Alas, Hawkins' time for this world was brief, and when the forces of Mordru, Obisidian and Eclipso unite their powers, Sand perishes in a heroic sacrifice to protect the Earth from multiple earthquakes -- or so it seemed! Forces far beyond this dimension had other ideas, and so, Sandy Hawkins enters a state of suspend animation once more, waiting to be woken from his nightmarish dreamstate...

Justice League Unlimited #14 (December 2005)
"Everybody Limbo!" Beechen/Barberi
Whenever an animated world finds itself in peril and the threat is too great for one hero, the collective forces of the Justice League are there to step in and save them!

When Wonder Woman starts checking herself out in the mirror, the League have cause for concern, but all is not as it seems! The Amazon warrior is possessed by the wandering spirit called - Deadman!

Deadman is in search of the League's help to combat the upstart menace of the demons three, but this isn't a job for Green Lantern or Flash. This special case calls for the collection of magically experienced heroes affectionately referred to as - the Trenchcoat Brigade!

Seven Soldiers: Zatanna #4 (December 2005)
"Zor!" Morrison/Mahnke
In this Seven Soldiers mini-series, Zatanna has been adventuring within herself, and the world of magic, as she comes to terms with all that she is, and all she can be.

With her powers failing her, Zatanna travels with a mysterious new apprentice called Misty, who exhibits great magical potential, and has a little magic die that seems to serve her every whim.

Encountering the legendary Ali-Ka-Zoom, Zatanna learns more about her own past, and the history of her young friend, on her way to find council with seven unknown men. What she finds, is Zor.


Street Fighter Alpha Vol.1 (June 2007)
"Round. 5" Masahiko Nakahira
For practitioners of an unnamed ansatsuken fighting style, mastery brings great power through the focused energies of ki through practise of hadou. Wielded by a skilled warrior, the hadou can be channelled into fireball projectiles and devestating ki-sponsored attacks, but these powers do not come without risk.

After defeating legendary Muay Thai fighter, Sagat; Ryu struggles with the inner darkness that was unleashed when he delivered the shoryuken that toppled his opponent, and scarred Sagat forever.

Having been taken over by the evil intent of the dark hadou once before; Ryu reluctantly agrees to accompany Interpol agent, Chun-Li, in attempting to uncover the recruitment of underground martial artists by a villainous organized criminal empired called Shadaloo!
Unbenknownst to Ryu, other forces have a stake in his fated confrontation with darkness and the villain called Bison. Watching from afar is Rose, whose tarot predicts an uncertain destiny for the Japanese martial artist.

SMASH HITS: MARILYN MANSON


Marilyn Manson & The Sneaker Pimps - Long Hard Road out of Hell (1997)
So, we come to the end of our Halloween Smash Hits! Through the wonders of the internet you might actually be able to watch this one, despite [Universal] record company's intent not to advertise their music with expensive videos.
(Or not. Click away, Meryl!)

The video this time comes from the soundtrack to the 1997 Spawn feature film! Fans will remember the movie for it's compromises to the adult nature of the character, transforming the hellspawn into an action-packed PG-13 alternate that actually wasn't as bad as some would have you believe.

Preceeding Blade by a year, and the subsequent flood of superhero movies; Spawn pushed then contemporary high-end CG (and prosthetics) to an audience that was on the verge of tiring of cheap tricks. Actually, the effects served the film relatively well, and while Martin Sheen negated McFarlane's obssessive cultural messages, his presence was still something of a Hollywood coup.

John Leguizamo arguably stole the show as an almost unrecognisable fat-suited Clown, playing opposite Michael Jai White who, with some acting classes, might've been a fitting replacement for departing Terrence Howard's role as Jim Rhodes.

This kind of action movie might have fizzled out by the end of the nineties, but the soundtrack remains a high point for the Spawn film. Pairing heavy metal artists with electronic influences (including Moby, of all people), the soundtrack's production values rival the film's. It also pioneered a trend of collaborations that was followed by the Blade sequel.

It's Marilyn Manson, so viewer discretion is advised.
Misbehaving children will not be visited by the Great Pumpkin this year if they defy parental standards. Incidentally, I'm not a huge fan of the video, but it's a great track, just the same.

ZOMBIES versus ZOMBIES
Marvel Zombies Conclusion (Marvel)
Where: Marvel Zombies #5 When: June 2006
Why: Robert Kirkman How: Sean Phillips

The Story So Far...
Earth 2419: A frightening twisted version of the Marvel Universe, infected by the decay of an alien virus that turns all infected into decomposing, viracious zombies.

With the Earth's population decimated by the super powered zombies, food supplies begin to run low.
Failing to follow their zombified Fantastic Four into a parallel universe (Earth-1610), the zombies finish the last active snack, Magneto, before the heavens present a miracle.

The timing of his arrival affected by unknown elements of this universe; the Silver Surfer descends in present-day to assess the viability of the Earth for consumption by his master - Galactus: Devourer of Worlds. Irony smiles upon the fortunes of Earth, however, and the Surfer is quickly devoured by the once heroic collective of Avengers, granting them the alien energies of the power cosmic!

With their newly aquired powers the zombies seek to feast on Galactus himself, but first they must face the zombie horde of those who opposed them in life. Freed of the moral constraints that spurred their infinite war, the rabid heroes march against their enemies in a battle to the undead-death.

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hulk 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Dr. Doom 6 (Genius)
Speed: Colonel America 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Juggernaut 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Super-Skrull 6 (Rubber)
Fighting Ability: Wolverine 6 (Warrior)
Energy Power: Super-Skrull 6 (UWMD)


- The zombie-heroes are: Colonel America, Luke Cage, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-man, and Giant-Man.

The Avengers were the first to fall before the zombie infestation of Earth-2419.
Carried by an alternate universe Sentry who had escaped from the gates of the afterlife; the plague spread to even the most powerful members, benefitting from the powers of the likes of Thor to spread the undead plague throughout the superhero community.

Despite retaining cognitive function, the heroes quickly abandon their morals, driven mad by the bloodlust of hunger, to lay waste to the Earth's population.
The few who remain uninfected whittle the zombies number, among them; Magneto, the Acolytes, Black Panther, and Reed Richards of Earth-1610.

Eventually the zombies themselves decimate their own in desperation, leaving only Hulk, Spider-man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Power Man, and Giant-Man, to devour and absorb the powers of Galactus, becoming the interdimensional menace called The Galacti.

As the Galacti they possess the immense energies of the power cosmic, while the many zombies previous retained their abilities from life, with a deminished physical integrity and penchant for bouts of mindless violence caused by the hunger.

- The zombie-villains are: Red Skull, Mole Man, Green Goblin, Super-Skrull, Rhino, Juggernaut, Venom, Dr. Octopus, Stilt-Man, Lizard, and Dr. Doom.

Like their heroic counterparts, the villains of Earth-2419 succumbed to the spread of the zombie plague. Their already questionable morals were altered far less than their counterparts, but in a world where the ravenous hordes quickly became the mainstream, their struggles are on an even kilter.

As with the hero zombies; the villains possess all the abilities they had prior to infection, albeit with a dramatically reduced physical integrity due to decay. Likewise, they are also susceptible to the intellectual haze caused by hunger.

Math: Villains (Ttl) Heroes (Avg) Ranking: Iron Man (#3)

What Went Down...
With Galactus toppled by the cosmic powers of the heroic zombies, the villains who played an integral part in the assault find themselves at odds with their traditional foes. The two factions face off to fight for their food, with the first shot fired by a cosmically endowed Colonel America, who blasts the head clean off of Mole Man's shoulders!

The two sides clash, but the villains quickly find themselves outmatched by the heroes who gained control over the power cosmic by devouring Silver Surfer [Marvel Zombies #3].

Spider-man endures a slash from the taloned fingertips of Venom, only to return fire with a blast of cosmic energy. The costume recoils from Eddie Brock's body, revealing the zombie corpse to be an insufficient host for the symbiotic creature.

Meanwhile, the armored Juggernaut scoffs Wolverine's one-armed stand.
With his healing factor decimated by decomposition, Wolverine's own adamantium laced claws tore through his now missing limb. The already dimwitted Juggernaut suffers for his boast as Wolverine plunges his clawed hand into the exposed mouth of his magically endowed foe, only to blast his decrepid flesh with a swelling mass of cosmic energy!

The raging X-Man turns his attentions to his undead nemesis, Sabretooth, while Giant-Man does away with Rhino with a decapitating blast of the power cosmic.

Colonel America has his own personal showdown, facing off in a physical mismatch with the Nazi, Red Skull. Already his physical superior, the zombified Skull provides little challenge for the zombie icon.

At close quarters, Red Skull loses an arm for his troubles, but delights in the Colonel's absent mindedness. Having had the top of his head sliced open by Magneto [Marvel Zombies #1], the Colonel's wounds provide Red Skull the ultimate equaliser. Tearing at the rotting remnants of Colonel America's brain, Red Skull puts an end to the undead life of the zombie super-soldier.

Spider-man spots the showdown too late to intervene, but scores a vengeful blow for his fallen leader, decapitating the cackling Red Skull with an energy blast, leaving the head to burst like a tomato beneath the heel of Giant-Man.

Green Goblin falls to the cosmic power of Spider-man, while Super-Skrull is stretched to breaking by Giant-Man, who also decimates Dr. Doom with the power cosmic. Finally, Wolverine finishes Dr. Octopus, severing the two remaining mechanical arms, before ending the villain.

The heroes stand triumphant as Galactus rises, crackling with energy. Little does the great devourer know, he faces an enemy like none he has ever seen... [Marvel Zombies #5]

The Hammer...
The Marvel Zombies win! Fatali... Er, you get the idea.

Alright, let's work out how this went down.
Colonel America killed Mole Man; Spider-man took out Venom & Green Goblin; Wolverine killed Juggernaut, Sabretooth, (& Dr. Octopus); Giant-Man killed Rhino, Red Skull, Super-Skrull, and Dr. Doom; and Red Skull killed Colonel America (downgrading his contribution to an assist).

For the trainspotters: Lizard and Stilt-Man go almost unnoticed, but if you look carefully enough, you'll know they're there. The action is really focused on key skirmishes, but Philips works in enough background detail to imply vital input from heroes like Luke Cage and Iron Man, and the presence of these mostly obscured villains.

I don't want to get too wrapped up in the 'game' aspect of the Infinite Wars, but it's probably worth elaborating on the ranking aspects for those who came in late.
Our interpretation is that these alternate universe versions of characters fairly contribute to the win/loss tally by representing elements of unlocked potential. For versions deemed definitively removed (ie; Superboy-Prime) we accept a seperate ranking, but in the case of Earth-2149, only zombie infection differentiates the basic make-up of the characters.

It's a fine line that might be subject to change, and if you have an opinion on this aspect of the blog, you should feel encouraged to drop a comment. It's a discussion we usually prefer to avoid, but it doesn't hurt to hear your thoughts.

As you might have gathered Marvel Zombies is just another perfect contribution to our October spookfest here on the Infinite Wars. As is becoming characteristic of the site, our schedule is running a week behind, suitably enough this time because I had an infection of my own. We're not here to hear about that, though.

Whilst sick I fell in love with zombies all over again whilst watching plague films like Doomsday, Resident Evil, and the Dawn of the Dead remake (which turned out to be much better than I had imagined). Of course, while this immersion in the genre made it easy to come back to Marvel's version of the undead, it did shine further light on the gaping weaknesses of the series.

For a high-concept spin-off from the Ultimate books [ie; UFF #23]; Zombies probably deserves some accolade for grafting something very similar to a plot to the mini. However, after seemingly attempting to take back the derogatory 'Marvel Zombie' descriptor, the series has come to encompass the type of oveworked brand serviced by those very same mindlessly dedicated fans.

I feel a little inside-out talking about the series in negative terms.
To be fair, the most recent incarnation [Marvel Zombies 3] manages to lend gravitas to the brand by admirably introducing it to the Marvel Universe proper. This kind of investment in the concept is what I believe will win Geoff Johns' inevitably compared Black Lanterns kudos, benefitting from the more immediate sense of meaning. It's a point that encompasses Marvel's situation.

I think it's retroactive perspective that has me looking far more negatively upon the first series, which was at the time, fun enough, if already clichéd.

As if presenting a fasttrack guide to Marvel's historic development processes; the Zombies series have arguably found their narrative strength the farther they've gone. Millar's original required only a vague antagonising concept akin to the anonymous threat best associated with zombies, while Kirkman elaborates on the very same characters immediately after Millar's work, indulging moreso in retro superheroes, whilst perhaps saving the good ideas for his own series (Image's; Walking Dead).

The concept of superhero zombies is a very interesting one.
Kirkman, whilst doing little to use the strong conventions of the sub-genre, offers some justification with the simple exploration of the superhero zombie. By keeping elements of the characters intact he really does tell more of a macabre superhero story than a zombie thriller, but even this has it's own merits. I have to at least acknowledge this version's conceits of cognitive function -- which deteriorates with the rise of hunger, but is diminished (in Zombies 2) with a clarity provided by longterm starvation. It provides a chance, albeit a shallow one, to look at zombies with some sense of existential self-awareness.

This only goes so far, however, leaving questions of sustainability and other reflections provided by the genre to his creator-owned work. Not that I say that with any contempt. I haven't read the stuff, but arguably because I anticipate a competence I would not want influencing me in my own aspirations to explore the genre in comics. [Is now a bad time to plug my $1.99 comic?]

On that self-indulgence; there's the matter of the origins of the zombie plague. Later series awkwardly bound the Marvel Zombies to licensed contributions from Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise, a fact sure to bite them in the arse in decades to come (so buy now if you want it), but still answered some questions about the spread. The origins, of course, like so many zombie tales, remain obscured, provided by an interdimensional introduction similar to our first meeting with the concept (in Millar's Crossover arc of Ultimate Fantastic Four).


As a bit of a fan for procedural detail, I think the most fascinating concept not yet hammered in to the ground by zombie comics and film is the origin story. Not so much the cause of the plague, which was given a competent sci-fi origin in Resident Evil, but how traditional zombies can achieve their terrifying hordes. While I have to admit, the concept lends a slow burn potentially fatal to audiences, but it's a concept I'd very much like to explore.

With any luck we'll talk speculatively a bit more about what history might lie behind the history of the Marvel Zombies. Probably a refreshing change from the repetitive brow furrowing these entries tend to devolve into.

The Fight: 4.5 The Issue: 4.5

Are you a dedicated Marvel Zombie? Want to avoid those inevitable rights struggles that render the backstory out-of-print? Dive in now and take advantage of Amazon's online purchases! By using links provided you help sponsor future entries in the Infinite Wars, and open yourself up to a world of financial exploitation through our Gift Shoppe. Let's face it. You like comics, I like comics. Why not? Collected editions featuring most issues reviewed are available! Hey, it beats being part of the effectless mass! C'mon!