Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Venom War #3! The Fantastic Four It's Marvel's First Family, which means it has a connection to almost every character in the Marvel Universe, no matter how insignificant it may seem. One particularly notable one is someone the Fantastic Four have known since the beginning of their superhero careers and who, despite being a powerless ally for over 60 years, finally gains superpowers of her own.
in preview for The poison war #3 by Al Ewing and Iban Coello, zombies are invading New York and no one is safe, not even the Fantastic Four's oldest ally: Willie Lumpkin aka the Fantastic Four's postman.
Willie Lumpkin is standing in full uniform on the streets of New York, making rounds as he has done for decades when he is suddenly attacked by a zombie. These 'zombie symbiotes' (which infect anyone they bite) were released by Meridius, a corrupted future version of Eddie Brock. Meridius plans to conquer the world, and he does so as he continues The poison war. Now, Willie Lumpkin is the latest victim of this hellish war, and while he's turned into a mindless symbiote monster, he eventually gains some pretty sweet “Venom” powers.
Willie Lumpkin, the Fantastic Four's postal worker, is transformed into a poison-powered zombie
Willie Lumpkin finally has superpowers of his own (but maybe not for long)
In the final panel of this preview, “Poisoned” Willie Lumpkin attacks an innocent civilian and threatens to turn him into a zombie. But before he had the opportunity to attack, he heard a voice behind him: “Hey, postman!” and the preview ends as he turns to see who is yelling at him. Was it Spider-Man, Daredevil, or the Fantastic Four coming to destroy this newly empowered Willy Lumpkin? At this point, it's anyone's guess, but whoever it is could end Willy's reign as Marvel's newest superhuman.
However, even if Willie Lumpkin were defeated by whoever this superhero was, he still wouldn't die – nor would he be permanently killed by the zombie infection. In Black Panther and Deadpool #5, Willie is given a cocktail of healing factors – combined Star Cells and cells taken from Deadpool's body. After meeting his body, Willy became immortal. T'Challa has vowed to find a way to regain his immortality, but has yet to do so. So Willie is all right and can indulge his newfound superpowers without fear of getting killed in the process.
This isn't Willy Lumpkin's first time in a Spider-Man story.
Willie Lumpkin once met May Parker
Although Willie Lumpkin is most famous as the postman of the Fantastic Four, he is certainly wrapped up. Spider man information several times. Back in The Amazing Spider-Man #342, Willie asks out May Parker and the two continue their relationship for quite some time. The two eventually split up (probably because the Marvel writers didn't want to continue this side story), but it was a major part of Willie's character arc. Now, Willie finds himself right in the middle Spider man lore again, only this time, its more terrifying side.
Willie Lumpkin may not be the most notable Marvel Comics character, but he's still a mainstay. That's why he's been a consistent presence in the lives of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, why he's been made immortal, and why he's now the latest member of the zombie horde. And with this terrible update Fantastic Fourhis oldest ally finally gets his superpowers.
Poison War #3 Available October 2, 2024 by Marvel Comics.
Fantastic Four (2022)
“WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FANTASTIC FOUR?” It's the start of a new era for the Fantastic Four… and they're already in a ton of trouble. Something has gone horribly wrong in New York, and Thing and Alicia are traveling across America to get rid of it! But when they spend the night in a small town and wake up the morning before they arrive, they find themselves trapped in a time loop that goes on before they were born… It goes on before they were even born. ..