This video serves as a comprehensive recap of "What If... Zombies?!," the fifth episode of Marvel Studios' What If...? series, in preparation for the new spin-off show, Marvel Zombies. The recap details the origin of the zombie apocalypse, which began when Hank Pym unknowingly rescued a zombified Janet van Dyne from the Quantum Realm, unleashing a quantum virus upon the world. The narrative follows a small band of surviving heroes, including Spider-Man, Hope van Dyne, and Bruce Banner, as they journey to find a cure. Along the way, they face zombified versions of their former allies like Captain America and Falcon, suffering heavy losses. Their journey leads them to Vision, who has discovered the Mind Stone repels the undead and has even cured Scott Lang. However, a dark secret is revealed: Vision is keeping a ravenous, zombified Wanda Maximoff alive, leading to a tragic confrontation and Vision's self-sacrifice. The episode concludes on a major cliffhanger, with the last few survivors escaping towards Wakanda, only for the audience to see that a zombified Thanos, wielding five of the six Infinity Stones, is already there. The video also lists numerous additional MCU characters set to appear in the new series.
Recapping the Zombie Apocalypse: What to Know Before 'Marvel Zombies'
0:00:02 Introduction: This video provides a recap of the What If...? episode "What If... Zombies?" to prepare viewers for the upcoming four-episode series, Marvel Zombies, which expands on this alternate reality.
0:00:46 New Characters Revealed: The new series will feature a host of additional MCU characters, including Shang-Chi, Yelena Belova, Kate Bishop, and Ms. Marvel. Notably, Mahershala Ali's Blade will appear as an avatar of the Egyptian god Khonshu, a role held by Moon Knight in the main timeline.
0:02:54 The Outbreak's Origin: The zombie plague began when Hank Pym traveled to the Quantum Realm to rescue his wife, Janet van Dyne. He found her infected with a quantum virus, which then spread to him. Upon their return to Earth, they quickly spread the infection.
0:03:35 The Survivors Assemble: A small group of heroes manages to survive the initial outbreak, including Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Hope van Dyne (The Wasp), Bucky Barnes, Okoye, and Sharon Carter.
0:03:55 Journey and First Losses: While traveling by train to a potential safe zone, the group is attacked by zombified versions of Hawkeye and Falcon, leading to Happy Hogan's infection. Shortly after, an undead Captain America attacks, fatally wounding Sharon Carter.
0:04:45 Hope's Sacrifice: After becoming infected herself, Hope van Dyne sacrifices her life. She enlarges to a giant size to fight off a horde of zombies, allowing the remaining survivors to escape to Camp Lehigh.
0:05:03 A Potential Cure at Camp Lehigh: The survivors are met by Vision, who reveals the Mind Stone in his forehead emits a frequency that repels zombies. He has successfully used its energy to cure Scott Lang, who is now a disembodied head in a jar.
0:05:41 Vision's Dark Secret: It is discovered that Vision has been keeping a zombified Wanda Maximoff captive. Unable to cure her or bring himself to kill her, he has been luring survivors to the camp to feed her, having already amputated T'Challa's leg for this purpose.
0:06:01 Wanda Unleashed & Vision's Sacrifice: Wanda breaks free from her containment and kills several survivors. Wracked with guilt, Vision rips the Mind Stone from his own head, destroying himself but giving the remaining heroes a chance to take the stone to Wakanda and broadcast its curing frequency worldwide.
0:06:45 A Devastating Cliffhanger: As Spider-Man, T'Challa, and Scott Lang's head escape towards Wakanda, the last bastion of humanity, the scene reveals that a zombified Thanos has already arrived there. He is in possession of a nearly complete Infinity Gauntlet with five of the six stones.