When the real Judge Dredd arrives on scene he is appalled to see this corrupted version of his justice system and is soon bringing everyone to Justice.
Highlight: The true highlight of this tale was the artwork and character design. I loved the muties especially spit.
Paid with Thanks - After a body falls from a city block, we get treated to flashbacks of Joe Dredd's day and the case that led to the falling body. Following his investigations Dredd finds a professional biller (some who charges strangers for writing a bill), has billed a recently deceased person and is now a victim of an unusual haunting.
Highlight: The artwork. The story is pretty weak due to it being a ghost story and I fill they can be hit and miss. I am personally a fan of Q. Twerks art so I am glad to see it once more.
After being turned down for a job Kenny is left hanging out in a bar when suddenly a Big 1 advert appears announcing a brand new art droid, conveniently drawing in Kenny Who's art style. Realizing that he has been cheated Kenny Who goes on a mad rampage with a fire axe. Now he just has to get the last train home before Dredd gets him.
Highlight: The whole tale. It is such a great read and you end up feeling for poor old Kenny, in a world of Droids what hope do you have of getting a job!?
You are Judge Dredd Spot the Perp - a sweet two page image of a standard MC-1 corner. Getting to play spot the perp is fun! Wonder why they didn't do these more often.
Russell's Inflatable Muscles - A sucker is born every minute in MC-1. When a new inflatable muscle brand enters the market you can guarantee trouble.
Highlight: The wimps are the true heroes of this tale.
The Dredd Syndrome - When an ordinary citizen commits an offence and doesn't admit it, it can lead to complete mental breakdown. The main hospital in MC-1 has a whole "Dredd" ward and we get to witness the affects first hand, and how Dredd's image has become the face of Justice.
Highlight: Bit of a filler piece so no real highlight.
Perp Aid / The Urge - Skid Mullard is a repeat offender, convicted 30 times for minor offences and has spent 12 years in total in a holding cell. Today is his last chance at freedom, commit one more crime and the Judges will lobotomize him. Lucky for Skid Perp aid is on hand to offer assistance, unlucky for Skid so is Dress.
Highlight: Bit of a harsh tale this one Skid is genuinely trying to better himself and Dredd purposely targets him and the help group. This shows the fascist side of the Justice system.
Highlight: Dredd getting his arse kicked. Doesn't happen often but when it does it is a great read.
Atlantis - Atlantis is the half way station between MC-1 and Brit-Cit. Here the two forces combine strengths in the fight against crime. This main stop between cities has grown to be quite the attraction, drawing visitors from both cities. Unfortunately whilst Dredd is there a murder is discovered. It is now up to Dredd and Gomery (Brit-Cit) to workout what is going on.
Highlight: The whole story. Artwork was stunning, but it was great to see first hand Atlantis and secondly get to witness Brit-Cit Judges in full kit and finally the different departments and how all the different Judges look.
Block Rite - An awkward tale set within the twin towers. The two blocks have felt a rising tension building, reaching a point of near block war. The rival block committees decided enough is an enough. Each block fearing a block war instead pick on member of their block to fight in a one on one fist fight. It seems to be the only way to defuse the tension and it seems Dredd agrees.
Highlight: Has to be Max Normal. I love the pinstripe loony and the fact he is always getting into trouble.
The Peeper - Watt Le Fung has a dirty secret, he's a peeper! For the last nineteen years he has peeped across the way, he has done it for so long he truly believes these people are his friends. After witnessing a murder, Dredd tracks down the peeper and drags him into the local Sector House. Here they discover Watt has been withholding over 700 arrest able offensives.
Highlight: Watt turning into a Justice Department informant. Not that he has a choice as he was facing 15 years in an ISO cube.
Attack of the 50ft women - It's Belisha Beck's birthday and her partner Frank has sent her chocolates. Unfortunately for Belisha they are actually growth hormones and after eating them all, poor Belisha is transformed into a 50 foot giant. Soon Dredd is on hand to take control.
Highlight: Dredd getting whooped (again! twice in one issue) and ending the tale head to foot in bandages.
The Dead Ringer - When the rich and powerful near death sometimes they fail to die. Some freeze themselves in hopes of a cure. Some use Stookie glands and hope to not get caught. Whilst some turn to the underworld for assistance, these desperately rich folks risk it all with a brain transplant. You just have to hope Dredd isn't on to you!
Highlight: The classic scifi/horror brains in a jar ending. Pretty obvious but that's what you need sometimes.
Phantom of the Shoppera - A local sector shoppera has an urban myth, the Phantom. A mysterious figure which most people have never seen, the Judges in true police state fashion play down the myth. That is until the Phantom kidnaps a sale rep.
Highlight - The phantom is a construction droid that has been missing for three years and gone haywire. Now in love with the human sales clerk the droid wants nothing more than to be married to his kidnapped victim.
Highlight- Anderson is back, if only for a sort while. The real highlight though is the artwork of Ian Gibson, just love it.
Hell's Packers - A gang equipped with hoverpacks is terrorizing a local juve club. It is up to Dredd and a specialized Justice Department squad to stamp down hard on them.
Highlight - The Flying Squad. Specifically trained for combat in air this jump pack equipped squad take no quarter and brutally deal with threats.
Highlight - Believe something enough and you can even convince a Judge!
A Real Xmas Story - Lame filler Xmas tale and a really bad one at that. Let us ignore this lackluster story and move on.
Highlight- The artwork once again is the highlight. This time by Kevin O'Neill, truly great to view.
On the Superslab - The Superslab aka Megaway 500. A 12 lane super highway traversing all of MC-1 from North to South. Somewhere on this super stretch a criminal meeting of mobsters is taking place. Their goal, to end the blood shed and equally divide up the Superslab.
Highlight- The Superslab. Such a mess and so crazy I can actually imagine it happening in the states somewhere.
Slick Dickens - Slick Dickens is the smoothest, mastermind criminal out there loved by everyone. Turns out he is an imaginary character designed by author under arrested by Dredd.
Highlight - After admitting attempting all of the crimes first hand to write a more accurate tale. Judge Dredd convicts the author to another three crimes based off the books themes.
They Shoot DJs, don't they? - In the city of MC-1 most medical issues can be cured. Cuth Hartley for example suffered from headaches and black outs, now with his new implant he no longer has to worries, but why can hear a radio? Jump forward three months and poor Hartley is on a killer mission to bring down Johnny Cool.
Highlight - The idea you could never turn off the radio and it is stuck on one of the worst stations. I think any of us would flip.
The Taxidermist - Don Giovanni Lambretta has just lost his son to gang warfare. Now the mourning mobstar wants a poor old taxidermist to recreate a more heroic death for his son. Whilst the taxidermist works Don Giovanni ends up getting himself killed, leaving the Taxidermist the awful job of disposing the newly mad bodies.
Highlight - Dredd himself unknowingly destroying evidence in a public grinder for the aged Taxidermist.
The Beating Heart - Earl Lacwing local wimp has fallen unhealthy in love with Karine. Only problem is Karine loves Brad. Suffering a full mental breakdown, Earl kills Brad and cuts out his heart. Believing his rival to be defeated Earl takes the heart home with him. But why is the heart still beating!?
Highlight - Just a classic crazy killer tale. I love these as it's nothing too far fetched it's just a classic investigation tale.
The Comeback - Jaxon Prince was popstar then in 2009 he cytogenetically froze himself, leaving instructions to be awoken in 2109 and to perform a show on the same day! Sadly no one expected the brain deterioration, now barely able to hold a tune Jaxon will perform tonight but how will the crowd handle this comeback?
Highlight - Completely ripping into Micheal Jackson and Prince. Weird tale to read. Not sure how I feel. I can see it being funny when written, maybe it just hasn't aged well.
The Genie - Garfield Brose has inherited a lamp. This lamp is special for it contains a genie. For Garfield's first wish he asks for riches. Sadly in a city controlled by judges and welfare this is quickly noticed and soon Dredd joins in the action.
Highlight - Dredd wishing Garfield and the genie to serve sentences. Such a dull man is our Dredd.
The Shooting Party - From outside the rich and powerful citizens of Golum Heights live a very comfortable life. To comfortable to be honest which ultimately led to boredom. To stave of the boredom the citizens started a shooting club only problem is they hunt humans!!
Highlight - Dredd was actually undercover with a tracer, but when it fails he has to prove he is king of the jungle.
Highlight - A filler piece but pretty comical. These short crazy tales do amuse me.
Night of the Ripper - A crazed time travel expert has completed a time machine and desires to bring Jack the Ripper to MC-1. Why? To discover his identity of course. Unfortunately for the scientist the Ripper does not wish to be discovered and kills his captor before fleeing into the streets.
Highlight - The attempt to explain why the ripper stopped attacking in real life. But who was he?
The Interrogation - The SJS smash into Dredd's Rowdy Yates apartment and drag him in for interrogation. Here they subject him to torture and questioning to discover what Dredd is guilty of.
Highlight - It was a scheduled random street judge test and lucky for us readers Dredd passed.
Blood Donor - Due to on going wars in the colonies MC-1 needs blood donors. So lucky citizens have been given a choice donate one pint of blood or go to the cubes. Unfortunately for our chosen citizen he hates the idea of blood giving and needles.
Highlight - In an attempt to escape, our poor cit crashes into the blood collection spilling thousands of litres onto himself and the judges.
Ten Years On - Remember Whitney and Devil Island? Nope. No surprise there neither does Dredd. This tale is exactly 10 years after Dredd issue 1. And his original prep is lose in the city looking for revenge.
Highlight - Nice return to an original tale.
So You Want to Be A Judge - A great inside tale of how a child can choose to become a Judge and an educational video showing them the wonders of being a judge. It's truly ruthless.
Highlight - If a child or parent change their mind about joining after the video they are free to leave following a 100 cred donation to the Justice department.
And with that the case file is finished (there was one other tale but I covered that in the restricted files so I won't post it again). Overall for me this was a great casefile, the artwork was some of the best I have enjoyed so far and all the stories were short and quick reads, perfect for some one looking after a newborn.
Have you read this tale? Let me know below and remember to follow me using the links to side.
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