28 Days Later: The Aftermath
Encyclopedia
28 Days Later: The Aftermath is a graphic novel
, as a continuation of the hit film 28 Days Later
, written by Steve Niles
and distributed by Fox Atomic Comics
. It was released on April 3, 2007.
The book bridges the gap between the original film and its sequel film, 28 Weeks Later
. It explores four interconnecting stories and delves deeper into the development of the Rage virus
, the battle for survival that ensued once it was unleashed in London, and what it finally took to restore order in the ravaged city.
28 Days Later: The Aftermath was the first graphic novel released by Fox Atomic Comics
.
footage of crimes which had taken place in London the previous night. Two scientists, named Clive and Warren, are attempting to develop an inhibitor which can be used to control aggressive impulses in humans.
Warren is able to secure a violent criminal as a human test subject by bribing
a police captain. When the subject proves uncontrollable, Warren and Clive are forced to kill him and hide his body. Despite his misgivings, Clive is now irrevocably tied to the project.
Warren decides that the only feasible means of widely disseminating their inhibitor is by using a contagion
agent. He genetically modifies the Ebola virus
to carry the inhibitor, against Clive's strong objections. Weeks later, however, the virus has mutated, reversing the inhibitor's effect—the Rage virus has been born. After a satirical commentary by Clive about how Warren created the very opposite of what they were trying to develop (inverse consequence), Warren attacks Clive, but Clive defends himself and then quits the project. Later, he makes a call from a public telephone to an eco-terrorist
group called the Animal Freedom Front, and then shoots himself in the head. This gives the reader an insight of how infection started and brought the devastation to Britain.
The story then shifts to Warren, who is sitting at his desk, talking to an unknown person on the telephone. Warren informs him that the inhibitor has had a reverse effect. The man enlightens Warren that this could have "other applications" when the telephone suddenly cuts out. Warren at this moment hears a strange noise coming from down the hall and seems distressed by it. He approaches a door noticing it was left open. Upon entering the door, Warren is abruptly ambushed by an ape that vomits in his face infecting him with "Rage". This is the end of the chapter. In the movie, this is shortly after the animal terrorists 'save' the chimps.
in a tree; the ape assaults him and vomits blood in his face. The boy's father, Roger, subdues and kills the animal. A team of paramedic
s happens to be nearby, attending to a bicyclist with a minor injury. They rush to the aid of the boy and load him into their ambulance, instructing the family to follow in their own vehicle as they rush the child to a hospital in London. The family, trailing the ambulance, witnesses scenes of carnage along the way as the infection precedes them.
Inevitably, Liam becomes infected, and he infects the two paramedics riding with him. When the driver opens the ambulance's back doors, Liam and the paramedics assault him. Liam's family then realizes that something is terribly wrong.
Days later, the four surviving family members are hiding out in a barricaded dwelling in London. The news on the radio is dire, announcing that the Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency as the virus overwhelms the city, but the signal cuts to static. Elder son Sid suggests they try to escape to safety up the Thames River. They reach Westminster Bridge
with some of the Infected hot on their trail. Parents, Roger and Barb, urge their children to jump down to the abandoned, but functional, motorboat
s floating below, promising to follow after. Instead, they remain on the bridge for a last stand, allowing Sid and Sophie to escape upriver undetected.
and an SA80
rifle which he looted from a military blockade
.
The comic begins with one of the Infected attacking a person in silhouette, only to find out it is a mannequin
doused with perfume. This confirms that the Infected use their sense of smell to track humans and distinguish them from the horde. Among other things, trace amounts of chemical products such as shampoo and perfumes seem to attract the Infected.
Before Hugh can gloat, however, he is attacked by another survivor wearing SWAT gear and a hockey mask. Evading the assailant's hail of fire, Hugh makes for safety and plans to eliminate this apparent threat. Stocking up on ammunition (and perfume), Hugh sets out for the hunt.
After being ambushed by Hugh, the other survivor retreats to his vehicle—a commandeered military transport. Hugh douses the vehicle with about a gallon of perfume from his rooftop perch, and before the other survivor can question the meaning of the act, he is set upon by the horde, which infects him before tearing him apart. Hugh shoots the vehicle until he ignites its petrol tank, killing a large number of Infected. Behind him, though, he hears an unfamiliar sound and turns to see several US Navy F-14 Tomcat
s making a low pass over central London.
center and been taken in. Sophie now volunteers at the makeshift hospital, where she meets a new arrival brought in from one of the city hospitals. It is the scientist Clive, who has survived his suicide attempt. He initially attempts to explain his involvement directly, but quickly decides to hide his responsibility for creating the virus. Instead, he explains what he can do about the virus, revealing only that he is a scientist himself.
Sid, meanwhile, becomes friends with another new arrival: Hugh. Hugh initially refused to be brought to the camp, and he explains his misgivings to Sid. Eventually, Hugh is able to convince Sid, Sophie, and Clive that the military has ulterior motives and that they must escape. They steal some uniforms and weapons and they head for the hills, but they are detected. Sid and Hugh volunteer to remain behind to hold off the soldiers following them; they are both killed in a fusillade
of gunfire.
Higher up the hill, Clive stops Sophie and reveals that he was on the team which developed the virus that killed her family and warns that it could possibly mutate again. He tries to ask her to help him find a way to make things right. Instead, Sophie kisses him, and then shoots him in the head. Smiling, she drops her pistol
, and allows a sniper
aboard the pursuit helicopter to kill her with a rifle shot through the head.
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
, as a continuation of the hit film 28 Days Later
28 Days Later
28 Days Later is an acclaimed 2002 British horror film directed by Danny Boyle. The screenplay was written by Alex Garland, and the film stars Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, and Christopher Eccleston...
, written by Steve Niles
Steve Niles
Steve Niles is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre, Simon Dark, Mystery Society and Batman: Gotham County Line....
and distributed by Fox Atomic Comics
Fox Atomic Comics
Fox Atomic Comics was formed in late 2006 as the graphic novel publishing arm of Fox Atomic. In partnership with publisher HarperCollins, Fox Atomic Comics produced and distributed graphic novels tied to Fox Atomic theatrical releases as well as original content. It closed, along with Fox Atomic,...
. It was released on April 3, 2007.
The book bridges the gap between the original film and its sequel film, 28 Weeks Later
28 Weeks Later
28 Weeks Later is a 2007 British/Spanish film sequel to the 2002 post-apocalyptic horror film 28 Days Later. 28 Weeks Later was directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and released in the United Kingdom and United States on 11 May 2007...
. It explores four interconnecting stories and delves deeper into the development of the Rage virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
, the battle for survival that ensued once it was unleashed in London, and what it finally took to restore order in the ravaged city.
28 Days Later: The Aftermath was the first graphic novel released by Fox Atomic Comics
Fox Atomic Comics
Fox Atomic Comics was formed in late 2006 as the graphic novel publishing arm of Fox Atomic. In partnership with publisher HarperCollins, Fox Atomic Comics produced and distributed graphic novels tied to Fox Atomic theatrical releases as well as original content. It closed, along with Fox Atomic,...
.
Plot
The Aftermath is divided into four stories ranging in setting from shortly before the outbreak to several months afterward. The first three stories each follow separate groups or individuals; the fourth story brings the survivors of these stories together for their ultimate fate.Stage 1: Development
The first stage begins an unknown amount of time before the initial outbreak. It opens in parallel fashion to 28 Days Later, with a montage of violent acts, which are soon revealed as video footage on a bank of television screens, in this case, CCTVClosed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
footage of crimes which had taken place in London the previous night. Two scientists, named Clive and Warren, are attempting to develop an inhibitor which can be used to control aggressive impulses in humans.
Warren is able to secure a violent criminal as a human test subject by bribing
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
a police captain. When the subject proves uncontrollable, Warren and Clive are forced to kill him and hide his body. Despite his misgivings, Clive is now irrevocably tied to the project.
Warren decides that the only feasible means of widely disseminating their inhibitor is by using a contagion
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
agent. He genetically modifies the Ebola virus
Ebola virus
Ebola virus causes severe disease in humans and in nonhuman primates in the form of viral hemorrhagic fever. EBOV is a Select Agent, World Health Organization Risk Group 4 Pathogen , National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Category A Priority Pathogen,...
to carry the inhibitor, against Clive's strong objections. Weeks later, however, the virus has mutated, reversing the inhibitor's effect—the Rage virus has been born. After a satirical commentary by Clive about how Warren created the very opposite of what they were trying to develop (inverse consequence), Warren attacks Clive, but Clive defends himself and then quits the project. Later, he makes a call from a public telephone to an eco-terrorist
Eco-terrorism
Eco-terrorism usually refers to acts of violence or sabotage committed in support of ecological, environmental, or animal rights causes against persons or their property....
group called the Animal Freedom Front, and then shoots himself in the head. This gives the reader an insight of how infection started and brought the devastation to Britain.
The story then shifts to Warren, who is sitting at his desk, talking to an unknown person on the telephone. Warren informs him that the inhibitor has had a reverse effect. The man enlightens Warren that this could have "other applications" when the telephone suddenly cuts out. Warren at this moment hears a strange noise coming from down the hall and seems distressed by it. He approaches a door noticing it was left open. Upon entering the door, Warren is abruptly ambushed by an ape that vomits in his face infecting him with "Rage". This is the end of the chapter. In the movie, this is shortly after the animal terrorists 'save' the chimps.
Stage 2: Outbreak
The second story begins the day after the break-in at the laboratory. A family of five is picnicking at a park in Cambridge, bickering over trivial things. Youngest son, Liam, sees a chimpanzeeChimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
in a tree; the ape assaults him and vomits blood in his face. The boy's father, Roger, subdues and kills the animal. A team of paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s happens to be nearby, attending to a bicyclist with a minor injury. They rush to the aid of the boy and load him into their ambulance, instructing the family to follow in their own vehicle as they rush the child to a hospital in London. The family, trailing the ambulance, witnesses scenes of carnage along the way as the infection precedes them.
Inevitably, Liam becomes infected, and he infects the two paramedics riding with him. When the driver opens the ambulance's back doors, Liam and the paramedics assault him. Liam's family then realizes that something is terribly wrong.
Days later, the four surviving family members are hiding out in a barricaded dwelling in London. The news on the radio is dire, announcing that the Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency as the virus overwhelms the city, but the signal cuts to static. Elder son Sid suggests they try to escape to safety up the Thames River. They reach Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster on the north side and Lambeth on the south side, in London, England....
with some of the Infected hot on their trail. Parents, Roger and Barb, urge their children to jump down to the abandoned, but functional, motorboat
Motorboat
A motorboat is a boat which is powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gearbox and the propeller in one portable unit.An inboard/outboard contains a hybrid of a...
s floating below, promising to follow after. Instead, they remain on the bridge for a last stand, allowing Sid and Sophie to escape upriver undetected.
Stage 3: Decimation
The third story takes place 29 to 32 days after the initial outbreak (roughly the same time as the bulk of the film 28 Days Later). A lone survivor named Hugh, decked out in a mishmash of protective clothing, has inherited London. He spends his days hunting the Infected with a macheteMachete
The machete is a large cleaver-like cutting tool. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet, though it is less commonly known...
and an SA80
SA80
The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
rifle which he looted from a military blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
.
The comic begins with one of the Infected attacking a person in silhouette, only to find out it is a mannequin
Mannequin
A mannequin is an often articulated doll used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, and others especially to display or fit clothing...
doused with perfume. This confirms that the Infected use their sense of smell to track humans and distinguish them from the horde. Among other things, trace amounts of chemical products such as shampoo and perfumes seem to attract the Infected.
Before Hugh can gloat, however, he is attacked by another survivor wearing SWAT gear and a hockey mask. Evading the assailant's hail of fire, Hugh makes for safety and plans to eliminate this apparent threat. Stocking up on ammunition (and perfume), Hugh sets out for the hunt.
After being ambushed by Hugh, the other survivor retreats to his vehicle—a commandeered military transport. Hugh douses the vehicle with about a gallon of perfume from his rooftop perch, and before the other survivor can question the meaning of the act, he is set upon by the horde, which infects him before tearing him apart. Hugh shoots the vehicle until he ignites its petrol tank, killing a large number of Infected. Behind him, though, he hears an unfamiliar sound and turns to see several US Navy F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
s making a low pass over central London.
Stage 4: Quarantine
The final story takes place 38 to 42 days after the initial infection. Sid and his sister Sophie have reached a refugeeRefugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
center and been taken in. Sophie now volunteers at the makeshift hospital, where she meets a new arrival brought in from one of the city hospitals. It is the scientist Clive, who has survived his suicide attempt. He initially attempts to explain his involvement directly, but quickly decides to hide his responsibility for creating the virus. Instead, he explains what he can do about the virus, revealing only that he is a scientist himself.
Sid, meanwhile, becomes friends with another new arrival: Hugh. Hugh initially refused to be brought to the camp, and he explains his misgivings to Sid. Eventually, Hugh is able to convince Sid, Sophie, and Clive that the military has ulterior motives and that they must escape. They steal some uniforms and weapons and they head for the hills, but they are detected. Sid and Hugh volunteer to remain behind to hold off the soldiers following them; they are both killed in a fusillade
Fusillade
A fusillade is the simultaneous and continuous firing of a group of firearms on command. It stems from the French word fusil, meaning firearm, and fusiller meaning to shoot....
of gunfire.
Higher up the hill, Clive stops Sophie and reveals that he was on the team which developed the virus that killed her family and warns that it could possibly mutate again. He tries to ask her to help him find a way to make things right. Instead, Sophie kisses him, and then shoots him in the head. Smiling, she drops her pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
, and allows a sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
aboard the pursuit helicopter to kill her with a rifle shot through the head.