How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse in the Marvel Universe

The dead walk… and they hunger!

Zombies have long tormented big cities and small towns with their insatiable desire for flesh. In the Marvel Universe however, you run a real risk of encountering not just any zombie, but a super-powered one. What is there to do when faced with a horde of zombie super heroes? Boarding up your windows might not be enough.

As the hungriest undead take over the silver screen in Marvel Animation’s Marvel Zombies, we looked through Marvel Comics history and assembled a handy guide to try ensure your survival in a zombie apocalypse, the mighty Marvel way. Here are some of the most unique and creative strategies you could employ to stay alive, using everything the Marvel Universe has at its disposal to stave off insatiable hordes of super-powered zombies.

1. Have Galactus eat an infected planet

Perhaps the greatest match for a planet of devourers is a devourer of planets. With his cosmic appetite, Galactus could eat the planet hosting a zombie infection – given that survivors have a way to get off-world fast enough, of course. The zombies Galactus would consume might not taste great, but a little indigestion never slowed down the World-Eater for long.

As outlandish as it might sound, this almost happened in MARVEL ZOMBIES (2005), which saw Galactus and the Silver Surfer visit that universe’s Earth for the first time. Unfortunately, the Surfer became the zombies’ next meal and they subsequently gained the Power Cosmic from consuming the Great Devourer’s herald. With this significant upgrade, the undead swarmed and ate Galactus too. Not a foolproof plan, it might seem.

2. Use the Infinity Gauntlet

Anyone who wields all six Infinity Stones and binds them together with the Infinity Gauntlet gains the power to completely rewrite the laws of time, space, and reality. With a single snap of his fingers, Thanos wiped out half of all life in the universe in an instant, as seen in INFINITY GAUNTLET (1991). Since then, the heroes have been incredibly wary about using the Infinity Stones, fearful of their devastating potential.

In a zombie apocalypse, however, a fully powered Infinity Gauntlet could be the key to survival. The Stones could be used to wipe out all the Marvel Zombies with the mere wave of a hand, erasing them from existence like drawings on a chalkboard. Of course, there is also the very real risk that the Marvel Zombies seize control of the Infinity Gauntlet themselves, as occurred in a Season One episode of Marvel Animation’s What If…?

3. Use chaos magic to wish the zombies away

"No more zombies," anyone? Theoretically, chaos magic could be used to purge the zombie infection from those affected. That is if the Scarlet Witch has not been turned into a zombie herself, as was unfortunately the case in Marvel Animation’s What If...? episode, "What If... Zombies?"

True to its name, chaos magic is one of the most unstable supernatural forces in the Marvel Universe. In what was perhaps the greatest display of Wanda Maximoff’s powers, she used chaos magic to rewrite the rules of reality not just once, but several times. In HOUSE OF M (2005), the Scarlet Witch reimagined the world as one ruled by mutants under her father, Magneto. Before restoring reality, Wanda nearly de-powered every single mutant on Earth.

4. Hide out on Asteroid M

The key to survival in a zombie apocalypse might be floating in outer space. In 2005’s original MARVEL ZOMBIES comic, Magneto survived as the last uninfected person on Earth… but what about off Earth? In the now-iconic comic series, Magneto’s mutant Acolytes hid themselves away on Asteroid M, their orbital headquarters, while the planet was overrun by hordes of the undead. Magneto designed this base to be undetectable and gave it the facilities to support him and his Acolytes. Of course, this means its denizens also had to avoid the notice of any zombies capable of spaceflight. While a small contingent of Acolytes returned to Earth searching for Magneto, they came to find that the zombies overwhelmed and ate the mutant leader in MARVEL ZOMBIES (2005) #1.

5. Escape to the Quantum Realm

The Marvel Universe is home to awe-inspiring scientific advances, including Hank Pym’s signature size-changing Pym Particles. If individuals looking to avoid zombies get their hands on Pym Particles, they could shrink themselves down and turn microscopic. Securing enough Pym Particles could lead a small group of survivors to hide out from the regular-sized zombies in the subatomic Quantum Realm.

However, many uncharted dangers lurk in the darkest depths of the Quantum Realm. In the "What if... Zombies?" episode of Marvel Animation's What If...?, the zombie virus that plagued this universe originated from the subatomic world.

6. Travel back in time

Another potential option to hide from zombies may be to travel across the space-time continuum itself. Many heroes and villains in the Marvel Universe have utilized different methods of time travel over the years. One such high-tech device is Doctor Doom’s Time Platform, which takes users to preprogrammed points in history, as seen in FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #5.

Armed with knowledge of their post-apocalyptic future, people could travel back in time to hide from or prevent the zombie outbreak from becoming uncontrollable in the first place. Just make sure the zombies don’t get onboard or you might risk contaminating the entire timeline.

7. Transform into a machine

If zombies crave human flesh, it stands to reason that a person could solve for that by transferring their consciousness to a non-organic vessel, like an advanced android or computer program. The Marvel Universe has no shortage of characters who live through computer programs and robotic bodies, from Vision to Arnim Zola. Tony Stark even created an A.I. model of his consciousness to mentor Ironheart when his body was in a coma. It might not be ideal, but it’s the kind of outside-of-the-box thinking that could help ensure a survivor’s safety.

8. Unleash the Ultimate Nullifier

The Ultimate Nullifier is one of the most devastating devices in the Marvel Universe, a weapon so powerful it convinced even Galactus to leave Earth alone. With the Nullifier capable of wiping out most of the known universe, Galactus occasionally stored it on his worldship so it couldn’t be used against him. In the most dire of circumstances, survivors of the zombie apocalypse could venture to find the Ultimate Nullifier and use it to stop the contagion from eating its way through the universe.

9. Make a deal with Mephisto

Like many heroes and villains in the Marvel Universe, survivors of a zombie apocalypse could try make a deal with the devil, Mephisto. From saving Aunt May’s life to creating a world without Avengers, the cunning Mephisto can rewrite reality on a whim – and at a cost. Be warned, however. Trading your soul to save your flesh might not be the bargain you expect it to be…

Watch Marvel Animation's Marvel Zombies, the original TV-MA series, on Disney+ tonight!