28 Days Lateris back with28 Years Later, a harrowing film about what it means to come of age three decades after the Rage virus outbreak. Critically acclaimed and a box office success to boot,28 Years Lateroverlooked a villain that debuted exclusively in the world of comics, with the franchise’s future leaving room for his return.
More of a man vs. self story rather than a tale that pits our protagonist against a specific bad guy,28 Years Latertook a commendable approach to its zombie-tinged story, with Spike, played by the young Alfie Williams, embarking on a journey of self-realization that was equal parts violent and heart-wrenching.
But before28 Years Laterwas ever a twinkle in director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland’s eyes,a28 Days Latercomic seriesintroduced a ruthless Rage virus survivor and gangster named King Dixon, a villain whocouldstill appear in a new28 Years Laterproject — film or otherwise.
The 28 Days Later Comic Series Introduced the Villainous King Dixon of Edinburgh
28 Days Later - 2010 (Michael Alan Nelson and Alejandro Aragon)
Set between the original28 Days Laterfilm and its sequel28 Weeks Later, the 24-issue28 Days Latercomic followed the continued exploits of Selena after splitting ways withCillian Murphy’s Jimsometime after the end of the first film — a new story set in loose continuity with the movies.
Now a refugee in Norway, Selena soon joins up with reporter Clint Harris, who’s looking to cross over into London to get to the bottom of what really happened during the Rage virus’ initial outbreak. Entering the quarantine zone, Selena and her crew are eventually met by the notorious King Dixon, a drug lord who takes his throne seriously.
Traveling through Edinburgh after a particularly gut-wrenching series of events results in Clint’s cameraman, Derrick, sacrificing himself to save Clint and Selena froma horde of infected, the pair are soon captured by Dixon’s second-in-command, Raj, and brought before his “majesty.” Acriminal turned self-proclaimed King of Edinburgh, “King Dixon” immediately showed why he was a great villain.
King Dixon Was a Ruthless Leader Who Didn’t Always Treat His People Well
Dixon Uses Physical Threats and Foul Language To Get His Way
Teased on the final page of28 Days Later #14,after Selena and Clint come across multiple dead bodies strung up underneath a bridge with the sign “Glasgow Go Home” hanging above them, Dixon makes his official debut in the following issue, withRaj describing Dixon as a “drug dealing, murdering gangster.”
Another comic-exclusive story,28 Days Later: Aftermath, was released in 2007.
Saying that as long as Dixon’s subjects show fealty and “do as he asks” he’ll keep everyone alive and safe, Raj brings Selena and Clint before Dixon, only to be forced to spend the night in the “mannequin,” a cage surrounded by a ravenous horde of infected, with Selena clearly being traumatized by the event.
Giving off the kind of sociopathic vibes that would makeThe Walking Dead’s Neganproud, Dixon was technically in a “good mood” when Selena and Clint met him, with Dixon and his people mixed up in a resource war with the equally as violent and disturbed survivors of the nearby city of Glasgow.
King Dixon Could Still Appear in a New 28 Days Later Project or 28 Years Later Sequel
King Dixon Was Never Explicitly Killed in the Comics
Eventually caught up in one of their many battles with their Glaswegian enemies,King Dixon and his Edinburgh followers’ final fate was left up in the airfor a potential return to the28 Days Laterfranchise, with Dixon technically only featured in a couple of issues beforeSelena and Clint escapeand move on in their travels.
Since this comic sits in a grey area ofestablished28 Days Latercontinuity— some events line up with film lore while others like the timeframe of when the infected overran the U.K., do not — there’sstill room for King Dixon to make his return to comicsin a story that skews closer to current movie canon.
So while there’s no confirmation or even rumor of King David making his live-action debut in either the upcoming28 Years Later: The Bone Templefilm or its untitled in-development sequel, the28 Days Laterseries can still work using solely the infected as antagonists, something28 Years Laterproved perfectly.
