Published pbr 2/3/08
Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 01
by Jacob Malewitz
Now Judge Dredd may be a signature name, movie and all, dozens of crossovers and all that. But he wasn’t always the big chinned signature hero of British comics. He has always been a thorn in the side of the evil criminal element, always the warrior of Mega-City One. It begins in 2099 AD, with an interesting look at the origins of Judge Dredd all done with many exclamation points and two timing criminals.
For a comic from the late 1970s, it does have depth, it still fits into the mold of an epic story, and, most importantly, it’s still fun. As the story tells, Judges are warriors selected by the people “To enforce the law.” A blast from the past set in the future, the artowkr from the initial story offsets how important comics were during the time, developing into the modern age. The first story tells of a judge being murdered, and Dredd seeking vengeance. He is a smart enforcer of the law, using a combination of brains and brawn to keep the city safe.
The artwork is steps ahead of the time, classic 2000 AD. For a comic in it’s time, it work in a different way. And yes, Judge Dredd has an action scene in each story, but pieces of his character come out as well. Even in the dozens of short stories, Dredd is developed by the writers.
The initial stories lack a ruthless villain, one to give Dredd a real challenge. They deal with small time criminals, some bigger than others, but no Lex Luthor or Green Goblin. It still works. Better yet, villains slowly come to the stories, like evil robots seeking to take over Mega-City One.
Lastly, this is easy to follow, like a good thriller. It works in writing and illustrations, bringing all the pieces together. Yes, the movie was a disappointment. The originals are almost always better. With artwork and storytelling ahead of its time, Judge Dredd Case Files 01 is a worthy addition to any comic book collection. The rise of a cult hero can be found here. And plenty of fun.
Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 01
by Jacob Malewitz
Now Judge Dredd may be a signature name, movie and all, dozens of crossovers and all that. But he wasn’t always the big chinned signature hero of British comics. He has always been a thorn in the side of the evil criminal element, always the warrior of Mega-City One. It begins in 2099 AD, with an interesting look at the origins of Judge Dredd all done with many exclamation points and two timing criminals.
For a comic from the late 1970s, it does have depth, it still fits into the mold of an epic story, and, most importantly, it’s still fun. As the story tells, Judges are warriors selected by the people “To enforce the law.” A blast from the past set in the future, the artowkr from the initial story offsets how important comics were during the time, developing into the modern age. The first story tells of a judge being murdered, and Dredd seeking vengeance. He is a smart enforcer of the law, using a combination of brains and brawn to keep the city safe.
The artwork is steps ahead of the time, classic 2000 AD. For a comic in it’s time, it work in a different way. And yes, Judge Dredd has an action scene in each story, but pieces of his character come out as well. Even in the dozens of short stories, Dredd is developed by the writers.
The initial stories lack a ruthless villain, one to give Dredd a real challenge. They deal with small time criminals, some bigger than others, but no Lex Luthor or Green Goblin. It still works. Better yet, villains slowly come to the stories, like evil robots seeking to take over Mega-City One.
Lastly, this is easy to follow, like a good thriller. It works in writing and illustrations, bringing all the pieces together. Yes, the movie was a disappointment. The originals are almost always better. With artwork and storytelling ahead of its time, Judge Dredd Case Files 01 is a worthy addition to any comic book collection. The rise of a cult hero can be found here. And plenty of fun.
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