REVIEW TUESDAY - In Print: DREDD

A couple months ago I saw the movie DREDD 3D (review HERE) and loved it, so when i went to the NYCC and saw this book DREDD at the 2000 A.D. booth, I wanted it!

In a post-nuclear-apocalypse world, order is kept in the surviving Mega-Cities with armies of law enforcers called JUDGES. If you break the law, a Judge will be the Judge, Jury, and if need be, executioner. Break the law and you could wind up dead! The greatest enforcer in Mega-City One is the legendary Judge Dredd. In this collection, he's been on the streets for forty years and hasn't slowed down one bit.  

Despite the cover this book has nothing to do with the movie. It is, in fact, three Dredd books written about a decade ago and collected under this cover, so I will review each tale separately.

Dredd Vs Death. (written by Gordon Rennie) Anyone who is familiar with Judge Dredd must also be aware of Psi Judge Cassandra Anderson and their arch-nemesis Judge Death (as well as his other Dark Judge Brothers: Mortis, Fear and Fire). It's been ten years since they last faced off, and Judge Death's plan to escape unfolded. In a brazen attack, The Cult of Death attacked the prison that held the Dark Judges and set them free. It's up to Dredd, Anderson, Giant, as well as the rest of the Judges to move quickly before Mega City is laid waste. It won't be easy, as the Dark Judges have some new tricks up their sleeves.

This was some real classic Dredd. Well written. Exciting. A fast paced page turner.

Kingdom of the Blind. (written by David Bishop) An ambitious crime-boss hatched a plan to hold the world ransom using some antiquated tech that can decimate entire populations. Dredd was in usual form as he pursues the creeps and blows away anyone who gets in the way of his job.

To me, this is what I've come to expect from a Dredd story. Smart villains. The tough as nails good guy who never quits until the job is done. Tons of violence, suspense and twists. This story will keep you guessing and glued to the pages. Great book! 

The Final Cut. (written by Matthew Smith) Someone is committing mass murder in Mega-City and the Judges must find out before additional names are added to the list of the dead, especially Dredd's!

This was written in a very different style. The chapters alternated from following Dredd to first-person following Wally Squad Judge Trager. The trouble is, what makes Dredd so likable is his no nonsense way. The law is his way of life. It's black and white. Trager walks in that gray area in between, and frequently breaks the law while trying to uphold it. I found Trager to be a despicable character and I didn't care for seeing the duality of life through his eyes. Additionally, the story is really about Trager and Dredd is merely a support character. I was reading a Dredd book so I can read about Dredd taking down the creeps, not to read about some self-important freak rogue Judge. I didn't care for this story too much. It was dull. Dredd was flat. Trager was too polarizing. Not a great way to end this Dredd collection.

In conclusion, it was interesting to read about the pillar of Law, Judge Dredd, as a older lawman. It takes place about 10 years after the last appearance of Judge Death, and forty years after Dredd first hit the streets as a full bird Judge. He hasn't lost his edge, but does seem more thoughtful despite keeping the same old stony-face. It was definitely fun to read and I would assume Dredd fans would like this book if they haven't already read these stories previously.

Of course, this tome is available on AMAZON.