JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE, #392

Writers:  Arthur Wyatt; Dan Abnett; Rory McConville; Alex De Campi
Artists:  Jake Lynch; Phil Winslade; Mike Dowling; Carlos Ezquerra; Henry Flint
Colourists:  John Charles; Chris Blythe
Letterers:  Annie Parkhouse; Ellie De Ville; Simon Bowland
Publisher:  Rebellion


If you’re familiar with Judge Dredd through the 2012 Dredd movie, you’re maybe not aware that “angry man enforces the law in sci-fi dystopian city” is just one aspect of the world and character. In the same way that Batman is both a damaged vigilante in a poverty stricken American city and also a guy who sometimes hangs out with aliens on a space station, Dredd’s world encompasses not just post-apocalyptic lawbreakers, but space travel, magic, and talking monkeys. This month’s Megazine is a love letter to this crazy, crazy world.

In Judge Dredd: Krong Island, Dredd travels to the theme park-turned-banana plantation of Krong Island, to investigate the murder of an undercover Judge. Calling on a classic story from way back in Prog 5, when Dredd battled giant robot gorilla “Krong”, and mixing this up with the idea of genetically enhanced apes who live as second class citizens in the slums of Mega City One, which also goes way back to 1977, it’s a story filled with humour, but also allows Dredd to do some genuine detective work and marks the return of a much beloved character.  Dredd's straightfaced observation when faced with some absurd evidence is always fun.

In the isolated offworld colony of Badrock, Marshall Lawless is gathering forces and making concessions to try to keep her settlement together before the Munce Corporation forces them to go to war. Lawless: Breaking Badrock is visually stunning, with Phil Winslade’s line art packed with an almost overwhelming level of detail. Lawless is a story from the very edge of the Dredd universe, where, again, genetically enhanced gorillas live alongside humans, robots and aliens. The law must adapt here, which is tough going for an institution that prides itself on being unyielding, Dan Abnett’s story of people pushed to the edge and making sacrifices to survive is wonderfully compelling, with interesting characters each struggling through their own arc.

The Waugh boy’s are back together in Devlin Waugh: Blood Debt. Since the charismatic Devlin’s first appearance in 1992’s Swimming in Blood, his brother Freddy has remain unseen but frequently referred to, a Mycroft to his Sherlock. With the series now in the hands of script writing machine Rory McConville, who seems to be writing everything now, Devlin’s family life has moved to the forefront. The family reunion isn’t a happy occasion, and we are treated to a series of quick fire flashbacks to Devlin and Freddy’s troubled youth, intercutting some lovely action. With its occult practices, magical realms and vampires, Devlin Waugh is a corner of Dredd’s universe which holds a huge number of secrets.

Beyond the walls of Mega City One lays the lawless desert of The Cursed Earth. Cursed Earth Koburn: The Law of The Cursed Earth, by Rory McConville (told you), and the original Dredd artist Carlos Ezquerra, is an old school western with the misanthropic Marshall Koburn investigating a massacre in the wilderness. Ezquerra's artwork is perfectly suited to the mood.  It's a quiet tale, which suddenly turns around and provides a startling twist.

Since the release of the Dredd movie, fans have been calling out for a sequel and Rebellion has obliged by providing a series of comic book sequels in the movie’s more grounded style. The finalplanned sequel, Dredd: The Dead World will turn the movie universe on its head by bringing in the ultimate in Dredd-related kookiness, the dimension hoping alien superfiends, the Dark Judges. Judge Death and his loyal lieutenants have been reimagined in recent years, bringing a previously untapped level of horror to the characters.  It looks like The Dead World will bring yet another aspect to the characters.  The Dead World opens impressively, expressing a growing feeling of tension in the city as Dredd copes with a runaway arsonist, suicidal school girls, and top secret expirements gone wrong. This looks like it could be exceptional.

This month’s Megazine also includes written articles on The Beatles Story, a comic book retelling of the world’s most famous boy band which will be reviewed on Comics the Gathering soon, and an interview with the artist Duke Mighten, who burned brightly in the 90’s comic book scene.