Marvel Zombies Finale Explained: Did Wanda Really Save the World — or Trap Kamala in a Deadly Illusion?

Marvel Zombies is a four-episode animated miniseries that follows Kamala Khan and other surviving heroes as they confront a zombie apocalypse led by Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch. The show links to earlier Marvel pieces, notably the What If…? episode “What If… Zombies?!” and WandaVision, and it ends on a deliberately ambiguous note that leaves key questions open.

1. Series basics and setup
2. Episode 3: the Nova Corps twist
3. Final episode: the ending and final image
4. Facts we know and what remains ambiguous

Series basics and setup

The miniseries runs four episodes and centers on Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) as she travels with a small group to try to stop the zombie outbreak. Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) appears as the primary antagonist, called the Queen of the Dead, and she controls both ordinary undead and undead heroes. Additionally, the story includes a plot thread about the Infinity Stones: the Hulk holds the power of the Stones after a battle with a zombified Thanos that destroyed the original artifacts.

Throughout the series, Wanda uses psychic influence and reality-warping abilities. Meanwhile, Kamala’s power is framed as channeling cosmic energy for constructs, which becomes central to the late episodes.

Episode 3: the Nova Corps twist

In the third episode, Kamala acquires a shrunken S.H.I.E.L.D. device intended to broadcast a distress signal into space. She travels to use it to contact the Nova Corps. However, upon arrival, Kamala finds the Nova Corps already aware of the zombie outbreak on Earth. Instead of offering help, the Nova Corps choose to quarantine Earth and nearly kill Kamala and her allies to prevent contamination.

This moment is the series’ major mid-run reversal. Consequently, it removes the expectation of off-world rescue and leaves Earth’s survivors largely on their own.

Final episode: the ending and final image

In the finale, after a large battle in which many of Kamala’s allies are killed or infected, Wanda approaches Kamala and persuades her to join. Wanda says, “And so the world begins again.” The two join hands, and a burst of energy—visually similar to Kamala’s constructs—spreads across the planet. That energy initially appears to restore normal life: Kamala is shown sharing ordinary moments, such as drinking boba with her friends.

Shortly after, Kamala’s perception shifts back to a ruined landscape with shambling zombies. She sees Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) desperately fighting and begging her not to believe what she sees. The very last on-screen image is the screaming face of undead Wanda.

Facts we know and what remains ambiguous

Factually, the series presents both a large-scale energy event and a final shot that returns to the zombie-infested view. The show credits Bryan Andrews as showrunner and Zeb Wells as writer. The narrative explicitly shows:

• Episode 3: the Nova Corps refuse help and attempt to contain Earth.
• Final battle: Wanda offers Kamala a way to remake the world; Kamala accepts.
• Final imagery: a global energy pulse followed by a return to a zombie landscape and the image of undead Wanda.

However, the series does not state definitively whether the global energy actually restored the world or whether the final peaceful scenes were a perception created by Wanda. Therefore, the ending remains open to interpretation on screen; the show leaves the outcome ambiguous rather than providing a clear, confirmed resolution.

Summary of the concrete points

To recap: the miniseries is four episodes long; Wanda leads the undead; Kamala agrees to join Wanda and a global energy event occurs; episode 3 includes a major twist when the Nova Corps opt to quarantine Earth. The final visuals show both apparent restoration and a subsequent zombie reveal, and the show does not explicitly resolve which of those states is the objective reality.