Publisher: 2000 AD
Writers: Alan Grant, John Wagner
Artists: Jeff Anderson, John Cooper, Steve Dillon, Mark Farmer, Ian Gibson, Paul Hardy, John Higgins, Cam Kennedy, Barry Kitson, Gary Leach, Brendan McCarthy, Kevin O’Neil, Jose Ortiz, Kim Raymond, Cliff Robinson, Robin Smith, Ron Smith
Release date: 9 June 2015
Price: £18.99

 

Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 10 reprints stories from 2000 AD issues 474-522, from 1986-1987. A thick wedge of 386 pages, of mayhem, murder and metaphysics, although not necessarily in that order.

Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 10 has some of the best of the best writers in Alan Grant (Batman) and John Wagner (A History of Violence) and top notch artists like Steve Dillon (Preacher), Cam Kennedy (Star Wars) and Kevin O’Neill (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). In essence, Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 10 doesn’t get better than this!

When Dredd is captured by a mutant fake judge, who makes up his own insane laws and threatens to shoot Dredd with his own gun, Dredd coolly stays in character and says: ‘Feel free, meathead, I can take it.’

As fun as it is to watch Dredd kill mutant psychopaths, many of the stories in Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 10 explore different avenues and themes too. Clever conceits abound. A woman who created her own job billing people for nothing (which she proved was legal) is haunted. An artist by the name of “Kenny Who?” whose work Dredd describes as “freak-out, weirdo stuff,” finds out that robots can draw comics as well and cheaper than humans. The story milks the name of all its worth, a funny Abbot and Costello homage. A tale involving “Russell Muscle’s Inflatable Muscles” is so whacky it would have been welcomed in Harvey Kurtzman’s Mad comic book, and the art reminds one of Bill Elder. “There’s only room for one bully in this city, creep—me!” Dredd tells the offending bodybuilder.

Another story investigates the psychological effect on the citizens of Mega City One of severe punishment for petty crimes, which the judges perpetuate. Dredd won’t be swayed. “If a few thousand screwballs is the price we’ve got to pay for law and order, I’m for it.” A Christmas story breaks the fourth wall as the narrator continually alters the characters and plot to make the story more interesting, very reminiscent of animation director Chuck Jones’ ‘Duck Amuck’ animated short for Warner Brothers.

The book also includes two classics. ‘Fists of Stan Lee’ by Grover and Kitson. Where Judge Dredd engages in hand-to-hand combat and doesn’t come out on top. A comment, perhaps, on Marvel Comics dominance in certain industries. The second is ‘Judge Dredd in Atlantis’, a serial story by Grover and McCarthy. This location is a “service pixel” along the Atlantic Tunnel, and a tourist attraction. A murder mystery calls Dredd to the site. It’s very reminiscent of the Chester Gould Dick Tracy stories with the law tracking down serial killers and how they destroy themselves in bloody fashion.

It’s a shame Judge Dredd movies have failed to capture the mix of humour, violence, absurdity and action that make Dredd such a classic comic book character. But at least we have the comics, and thanks to 2000 AD’s classic volumes like this,  Judge Dredd is not going away either……………. creeps.

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker