There is a new wave of dissent in Mega-City One. Politicians are calling for an end to summary justice only to be silenced by a new and deadly force. However, this is no renegade: this is The Justice Killer, a deadly puppet whose strings lead back to the very heart of the Grand Hall of Justice itself!
This arrived in the mail today and I tore straight into the cardboard envelope to read it. It’s so cleverly written, especially for a comic. Then again, Judge Dredd is not your ordinary comic. Much like Judge Dredd is no ordinary human.
This is the first Dredd story I’ve read. Although I couldn’t decide which one to start with, I’m glad it was this one! The three chapters are all drawn by different artists, so there’s a different style each chapter. The twist comes early in the story, but it took a while for me to figure it out! It also takes a while for the Judges to crack the case & catch the perp. Plus, there are some fantastic one-liners that add a little humour to an otherwise serious story (“I never knew he took it off” being one).
And, I love that Dredd is seen with his helmet off at one point, but - to keep with the tradition of the readers never seeing his face in full - the artist hid most of it in shadow. I think the reason behind keeping the face of our hero hidden is genius! And to have him susceptible to injuries, unlike a lot of classic comic-book heroes, is a refreshing touch. Yes, there are other heroes, even some super ones, who are still susceptible to wounds, but Dredd is different. Twice in this story, he ends up in the Speedheal unit. The second time he was roughed up so bad by the perpetrator that a fellow Judge said it looked like he’d been hit with a truck. And yet he came back to solve the case.
I think it’s safe to say that Judge Dredd is quickly becoming my new favourite comic-book hero. Sorry, Captain America.
Keep reading then Earthlet, John Wagner always delivers the goods.