Steve Niles has single-handedly created some of the most original and exciting horror comic titles in recent memory, everything from 30 Days of Night to Criminal Macabre to Giant Monster and many more. So when Fox Atomic announced he’d be writing the premiere graphic novel from Fox Atomic Comics, 28 Days Later: The Aftermath, their cred was instantly upped by about 40%, give or take.
And for good reason, it turns out. Instead of going the usual comic route of producing short issues that are eventually compiled into a full graphic novel, Fox Atomic Comics have jumped right to the book format. A good call on their part, especially for the consumer, since this book takes place over four distinct stages of the rage virus outbreak that has caused all those issues in Danny Boyle’s original. If they had come out as regular comic books it would’ve been too confusing, since all the stories are different.
Dennis Calero does the art for the first story, "Development," which gives the back story of how the virus was created in the first place and the fate of those responsible for it. I really enjoyed the cinematic quality this story’s art had overall; there was nothing exaggerated and it had a great overall atmosphere of impending doom from the first few pages.
The next tale, "Outbreak," tells of a family dealing with the spread of the rage virus across London. Out for a family picnic at the request of the mother, the youngest spots the same monkey from the movie in a tree and becomes one of its first victims. Things just get worse from there. Diego Almos and Ken Branch worked together on the art for this entry, helping to bring Niles’ realistic family to life by keeping it simple. I really enjoyed the story as it gives a look at the immediate aftereffects of the rage virus outbreak, something only barely hinted at in 28 Days Later.
Then we have "Decimation", set during the same time frame as the film. It follows one survivor as he battles against a masked man for what he believes is the right to call London his own. Why he’d want a city full of infected maniacs is something you’ll have to figure out for yourself. The entry is different for the simple fact that Niles had no intention other than to tell a cool story with a great ending that’ll make you smile. For evil reasons, of course. Nat Jones, one of my personal favorite artists working today, provided the gritty, dirty artwork for "Decimation" and his skills couldn’t have been more suited for this story.
Article comments
1 - Jeoff
I think I'm one of two people I know who bought this book but I loved it though I would disagree that art for part three was best. Part 1 was by far the best art and story, followed by part 2.
2 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net , which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States, and to Boston.com. Nice work!