WW PHILLY: FRED VAN LENTE ON MARVEL ZOMBIES 3

[MattBrady]

by Vaneta Rogers

By definition, zombies never die.

And in the case of Marvel Zombies, not only are they back, but they're crossing over into the regular Marvel Universe.

Marvel Zombies 3 is a four-issue mini-series by Fred Van Lente and artist Kevin Walker (Annihilation: Nova) that kicks off in October. In the third installment about the alternate universe where superheroes have become flesh-eating zombies, Marvel Zombies 3 will show what happens when the Zombie-verse crosses over with Marvel's 616, aka, the mainstream Marvel Universe.

Featuring characters that give the series more of a "horror" slant, Marvel Zombies 3 will interact with one of The Avengers: Initiative’s teams. And according to Marvel editor Bill Rosemann, the story is completely in continuity and puts a "fresh twist to the Marvel Zombie saga."

Newsarama talked to Van Lente to find out more about this "twist," and to clarify what Marvel characters might be affected when the zombie plague hits the 616.

Newsarama: Let's start with how you got this job. Was this something you pursued, or did Marvel come to you with the idea?

Fred Van Lente: Fortunately, Marvel contacted me and wanted to know if I was interested, and I jumped immediately at the chance.

NRAMA: Why? What was it about this universe that appealed to you?

FVL: Well it's sort of bizarre and fun. I mean, the idea of these iconic characters eating each other's brains and having a good time doing it sort of appeals to my punk rock side. It's just so cheeky, and it's surprising how successful the whole thing has been since they first appeared in that Ultimate Fantastic Four arc.

NRAMA: Had you read the first two Marvel Zombies mini-series before you were offered this gig?

FVL: I hadn't, unfortunately. I was aware of them and had read about what was coming in Previews and stuff. But I hadn't actually sat down and read them. So when I got the assignment, before I got any ideas, I ran out and got them all and really enjoyed them. I found this to be a personal challenge. Marvel Zombies 3 would have to be even more shocking, even more gory, even more horrific.

NRAMA: Is that possible?

FVL: [laughs] Well, I'm pushing the envelope. Everything is possible if you put your mind to it.

NRAMA: Is this going to function within the same universe with the same continuity that came before?

FVL: Yes and no. Yes in that it's going to be the same characters and concepts and continuity as the first two Marvel Zombies series, but we're doing something a little bit different this time. This time the Marvel Zombies are invading the Marvel universe.

NRAMA: So this is going to cross over into the 616 universe?

FVL: Yes. It's pretty exciting.

NRAMA: So did they find an inter-dimensional device after all?

FVL: Well, there's this town in the Everglades called Citrusville, and it has something known as the nexus of all realities in the middle of it. This is, of course, where the Man-Thing lives. And one of the zombies manages to stumble into the Marvel Universe through the nexus. And let's just say the Florida Initiative team has a really bad day as a result. And the infection begins to spread through the Marvel Universe, so a team of Marvel heroes has to go into the rift, into the zombie-verse, in a desperate attempt to save the Marvel Universe.

NRAMA: Does this take place mainly in the Marvel Universe, or does it end up taking place mostly in the Zombies universe?

FVL: The whole first issue, most of it takes place in the Marvel Universe, although we cut back and forth. But most of the rest of the series takes place in the Zombie-verse, although it's set in a very specific time period in the Marvel Zombies world. I'd prefer to keep some surprises. We are continuing the continuity, and this story takes place in a specific part of that continuity.

NRAMA: OK. That's fair enough.

FVL: In horror sometimes, what you don't know is better.

NRAMA: Good point. But the 616 characters are actually going into the Zombies universe?

FVL: Exactly. That's the main plotline. There's something in the Zombie-verse that the 616 team needs to get in order to save their own dimension.

NRAMA: And we know the continuity of the first couple series, so we can kind of guess who they run into.

FVL: Well, you know what? I'll just go ahead and tell you. The period of the Marvel Zombies where the Marvel Universe characters come into their universe is the five-year period after the main group has eaten up Galactus and flown into space, but before the people in Asteroid M came down and said, "There are no zombies!"

NRAMA: Aaaah. Between the first two mini-series.

FVL: So it's set in that time period where we get to see what all the other zombies were doing at that time. And it's definitely not going to be what you expect, and it will haunt your dreams. It's so disturbing and grotesque.

NRAMA: [laughs] Just as it should be. Is this a type of story that you've always wanted to tell?

FVL: Yeah. What I'm doing here tapping into my inner James Cameron. The analogy I keep using is that Marvel Zombies 3 is like what James Cameron's Aliens was to the original Alien. We're using the same sort of props, but we're just doing something completely different with them. Marvel Zombies 3 is more of a sort of action/suspence/horror comic. I really want people to care about the protagonists and hope they don't get eaten or infected and turn on their comrades.

It's also exciting because I get to work with one of my all-time favorite Jack Kirby creations, although I can't tell you which one. [laughs] And that's really exciting, because we're going to bring that character to a whole new level with this.

NRAMA: Can you tell us any of the characters from the Marvel Universe who are going to be involved with this story?

FVL: Sure. I'll tell you some. We're going to play with Morbius, the Living Vampire, whose unique blood chemistry makes him a good fit for this operation. We're introducing a brand new agency -- a sister to SHIELD and SWORD, which has existed with them this whole time, but it's been so incredibly secret that no one at Marvel knew about it until now. And this is the the alter-reality monitoring and operational response agency, and yes you guess it, it's acronym is A.R.M.O.R. So now we have SWORD, SHIELD and ARMOR.

NRAMA: Will this touch upon or have anything to do with Secret Invasion?

FVL: It does not. In fact I think we're saying categorically that it happens before Secret Invasion.

NRAMA: It sounds like it's playing with the more "horror" type characters from Marvel?

FVL: Yes, definitely. So we have Man-Thing. We have Morbius. We have Ghost Rider making an appearance, and whether that's 616 or zombie Ghost Rider, I will not say. And some characters that you have not seen in awhile, like Jennifer Kale. I don't know if you remember her, but she's a Man-Thing supporting character who was in the Witches series. She's a member of the Florida Initiative. In fact, the Florida Initiative is almost entirely comprised of old Man-Thing characters, Man-Thing being the major Marvel series to actually take place in the state of Florida.

In the opening sequence, they have a rough time with it. We may only have 49 Initiative teams after Marvel Zombies 3.

NRAMA: So just to clarify, do any regular 616 characters become Zombie characters?

FVL: Yes.

NRAMA: Is there a possibility that this may infect 616 somehow on a larger scale eventually?

FVL: Yeah. Pandemics are terrible things, and they're very unpredictable. They can have long-lasting and permanent effects, and this one definitely will.

[JoeZhang]

They can have long-lasting and permanent effects, and this one definitely will.

That simply had to be untrue - the 616 spiderman is not going to be eating Aunt May's brains, neither are Daredevil et al. So we either get a) watered down zombies who don't get to eat anyone important + cure or b) everything goes to hell and a magic reset button is hit...

[MattZitron]

Sounds good. Shame Kirkman and Phillips aren't doing it, but saying that Van Lente and Walker are both fantastic.

It's nice to see Kev back at Marvel. His style is awesome. And Van Lente is easily one of the best people writing at the moment.

[deworde]

Originally Posted by JoeZhang

That simply had to be untrue - the 616 spiderman is not going to be eating Aunt May's brains, neither are Daredevil et al. So we either get a) watered down zombies who don't get to eat anyone important + cure or b) everything goes to hell and a magic reset button is hit...

I'm thinking one or two of Slott's Initiative might get bit.
Edit: Matt, less quote.

[MattBrady]

Originally Posted by JoeZhang

That simply had to be untrue - the 616 spiderman is not going to be eating Aunt May's brains, neither are Daredevil et al. So we either get a) watered down zombies who don't get to eat anyone important + cure or b) everything goes to hell and a magic reset button is hit...

yeah! either that, or something that doesn't fit into your interpretation of what he said. Leaving the swamps around Citrusville full of zombies and placing the Man-Thing as their "warden", creating a "dead zone" in Florida guarded by SHIELD, killing an Initiative team, gathering up the zombies and putting them in the Blue Area of the moon, or zombifying a MU character or four may not match your tight definition of a long-lasting and permanent change, but regardless, it is a long-lasting and permanent change. As permanent as things get in comics, of course.

I don't get the rush to interpret something that's hinted at as absolutely happening in a certain way, and then judging that imagined outcome as sucking. I mean, technically, you're judging your own interpretation as what will suck. Why put your own ideas for the story out there like that and then beat yourself up over them?

It was like this on the Lady Bullseye thread - people saying definitely what the storyline and character will be, and how much it will suck. Well yeah, a lot of those proposed ideas from readers did suck, but I didn't understand why people did the "Here's my idea of how it will play out, and my idea sucks." That's like taking poor self-esteem to a new level.

MattB

[Beheader]

Ehhhh... I guess I'll wait and see what it looks like. I thought Marvel Zombies was a fun idea, but one of those things that have a limit. Even the in the second mini-series things seemed to extremely wind down, to where the zombie themselves lost their bite.

[d00gZ]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

It was like this on the Lady Bullseye thread - people saying definitely what the storyline and character will be, and how much it will suck. Well yeah, a lot of those proposed ideas from readers did suck, but I didn't understand why people did the "Here's my idea of how it will play out, and my idea sucks." That's like taking poor self-esteem to a new level.

MattB

How's the rock, Sisyphus?

[comicbookreader]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

NRAMA: Had you read the first two Marvel Zombies mini-series before you were offered this gig?

FVL: I hadn't, unfortunately. I was aware of them and had read about what was coming in Previews and stuff. But I hadn't actually sat down and read them.

Really? So this is how Marvel gives out writing gigs? No disrespect to Fred Van Lente (whose work I really like) but wouldn't you think that Marvel would expect/ask if they've read the first couple of mini-series (which were VERY BIG sellers for Marvel) before handing out an assignment like this. (Kinda reminds me back during World War Hulk, when Texiera was trying to promote WWH: Gamma Corps, and in so doing, admitted that he'd yet to even read Pak's Planet Hulk arc.)

[Renonevada2000]

Eh, personally I'm more excited by the upcoming Max Brooks Zombie Survival Guide graphic novel from Avatar.

[Gepug]

How come Kirkman and Phillips aren't back. This just seems like "filler" and not a sequel, if you ask me.....

[sweetmisery]

Cant wait!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

This will be great, being a BIG zombie fan. MORBIUS baby!

[Ace]

FVL is awesome.

I never thought I'd check out a Marvel Zombies comic after being underwhelmed by the original concept but I'd take this over a Millar or Kirkman take anyday.

[Snowspinner]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

I don't get the rush to interpret something that's hinted at as absolutely happening in a certain way, and then judging that imagined outcome as sucking. I mean, technically, you're judging your own interpretation as what will suck. Why put your own ideas for the story out there like that and then beat yourself up over them?

It was like this on the Lady Bullseye thread - people saying definitely what the storyline and character will be, and how much it will suck. Well yeah, a lot of those proposed ideas from readers did suck, but I didn't understand why people did the "Here's my idea of how it will play out, and my idea sucks." That's like taking poor self-esteem to a new level.

It was stupider in the Lady Bullseye thread, but I have to say, I understand it here - a central appeal of the Marvel Zombies books is that anything can happen. Because they're unfettered by continuity and the need to tell a perpetually ongoing story, they're free to do crazy stuff.

Marvel Zombies in 616 can't do that. There are clear limits to what can be done. That doesn't mean a zombie pandemic in 616 won't be an interesting story - but it's necessarily going to be interesting in a different way from an "anything can happen" alternate reality story. And if what you like about Marvel Zombies is how over the top it is, it's going to be a disappointment in some ways.

[MattBrady]

Originally Posted by Snowspinner

Marvel Zombies in 616 can't do that. There are clear limits to what can be done. That doesn't mean a zombie pandemic in 616 won't be an interesting story - but it's necessarily going to be interesting in a different way from an "anything can happen" alternate reality story. And if what you like about Marvel Zombies is how over the top it is, it's going to be a disappointment in some ways.

Eh, again, that's judging it based on your assumptions. Yeah, I'm an optimist about such things, but as for something like this, I'd see a small, but militant force of heroes holding back an invading zombie army, knowing that there's about a 1% chance of them succeeding another option (and even if they win, they'll probably be locked in with the zombies in the end) for a possible story, and something that could be done well, given Van Lente's previous work.

MattB

[FeliciaHardy]

Because it's doing something different than the last two minis, I'll give it a try. It did seem Kirkman was kinda done with MZ2 and id wasnt nearly as good. This, as stated, is more of an action vibe and its using more of the macabre characters...I'll give it a look.

Besides, an outbreak of superhero zombies in Florida ISN'T as bad as New York, where the zombieverse infection broke. Less (and lessER) heroes to infect..I could see it being easier contained.

I just hope some else does covers. I know its Arthur's thing, but I'm kinda looking for someone else's take. I can almost bet that with the characters involved, the covers will reflect those darker characters' books

[Mark Cardwell]

Conflicted. Story-wise, MZ2 wasn't good, felt downright unneccessary. But this is drawn by the brilliant Kev Walker...


So yeah, I'll end up buying it anyway. Dammit.

[Corpulent1]

Haha, SWORD, SHIELD, and now ARMOR. Nice. I passed on the first two Marvel Zombies, but I like Van Lente's writing a lot so I may give this one a try.

[rwe1138]

Hopefully, this mini will final give us an appearance of the Marvel Zombies Simon Garth, aka Zombie Zombie.

[deathshead2]

wait so if the zomibies come through the nexus of all realities, then shouldn't man-thing be kicking there ass before they even get close to any avengers team?

[KirkWarren]

Originally Posted by comicbookreader

Really? So this is how Marvel gives out writing gigs? No disrespect to Fred Van Lente (whose work I really like) but wouldn't you think that Marvel would expect/ask if they've read the first couple of mini-series (which were VERY BIG sellers for Marvel) before handing out an assignment like this. (Kinda reminds me back during World War Hulk, when Texiera was trying to promote WWH: Gamma Corps, and in so doing, admitted that he'd yet to even read Pak's Planet Hulk arc.)

This isn't the first time this has happened. Many writers have never read comics or only read Silver Age stuff and have no idea what is going on in current events and come in and bring fresh, new and exciting ideas that more conventional writers that let themselves get bogged down in continuity can do.

Your example of Texiera and Gamma Corps doesn't really matter either, as it has nothign to do with Planetn Hulk and deals primarily with the new characters of the Gamma Corps. All he needed to know was the premise of WWH. Why would he need to read Planet Hulk? Should Pak have had to read Bruce Jones or PAD's body of work before taking over to write Planet Hulk? Niether had anything to do with his story, so it shouldn't be the difference between the story being good or not.

Also, Marvel Zombies isn't exactly the greatest story ever told. The first one was fun, the second two mini's were like beating a dead horse, but none are exactly so complex and essential that a good writer can't just read them, talk to the creators / editors and formulate a good story afterwards.

Most writers spend there time writing. They don't have time to read eveyr single title released from every publisher in the off chance they get hired to write one of those titles in the future. They'd never get anything done if they were busy memorizing what was going on in the 50 or so monthlies from DC and Marvel every month.

[jayvee]

Originally Posted by deathshead2

wait so if the zomibies come through the nexus of all realities, then shouldn't man-thing be kicking there ass before they even get close to any avengers team?

Could he kick their asses...?!

[Stranger123]

Nooooo. I don't like this idea at all. Makes me more upset that they might actually kill/zombify some characters I like.


I loved Kale in Witches mini.

[WOLVERINE25]

Marvel is gonna milk this thing DRY.

[I.M.C.]

I thought Kirkman had stated before that he already had an idea for what to do for MZ3, I wonder if it just petered out , and Marvel just didn't like it. Also Kirkman's star over at Marvel doesn't seem to be shining as brightly as it used to(Ultimate X-Men anyone ?), so maybe that was a reason for turning his suggestion down. Sounds like a pretty neat idea using Citrusville and the Nexus of All Realities as Ground Zero for a zombie invasion. Glad to see Jennifer Kale dusted off as well for this event. I wonder will her cousins ,Johnny Blaze and Daniel Ketch will be arriving to save the day as well ?

[coolmvm]

I trust FVL, Because he could make a good mini-series and he is a good wirter.

Plus MAN_THING is back in the Marvel U.