Judge Dredd: The Killing Zone — Big Finish Audio Review

Welcome back, audio law-lovers, it’s been way too long since our last deep dive! So, let’s put the Law back in your ears with Judge Dredd: The Killing Zone. A story that follows Judge Dredd and brings back one of my absolute favourites from the comics: PSI Judge Janus!

The Details

Title: Judge Dredd: The Killing Zone

Author: Dave Stone

Cover Artist: Henry Flint

Director: Nicholas Briggs

Cast Highlights:

Toby Longworth – Judge Dredd / Legal Disclaimer / Slorley

Holly Chant – Judge Janus / Door Unit / Mommy / Kid / Alert Voice

Stephen Greif – Efil Drago San

Nicholas Briggs – Nix / Demon

Mark Donovan – The Commentator / Goran / Reporter / Auto-Pilot

Jeremy James – Sikoryak / Solan / Carter

Regina Reagan – Enigma Smith / Madwoman

John Wadmore – Traven

The Setup

Bodies are piling up across Mega-City One. Each is a victim of The Killing Zone, an underground holo-vid sensation where death is entertainment. Half a billion citizens are tuning in to watch this snuff-sport, and the Justice Department’s reputation has never been lower. The man behind it all? Crime lord Efil Drago San, who’s turning the Law into a laughing stock. To shut him down, Dredd has to team up with two unlikely allies: a rogue Wally Squad operative with a serious attitude, and a volatile Psi-Judge, none other than Judge Janus.

But can Dredd trust them... or is he just another piece on Drago’s bloody gameboard?

Chronological Placement: July 2124

Review

Big Finish once again nails the atmosphere of Mega-City One. The audio design is electric, the hum of the city, the chaos of newsfeeds, and the constant tension all pull you straight into Dredd’s grim world. The story itself is a classic setup: Drago, fresh from Brit-Cit, launches his brutal holo-vid game show, where contestants face off in a deadly maze while the masses place bets on who will die first. But ratings drop, and Drago needs a twist, so he throws Judge Dredd into the Killing Zone.

Meanwhile, Dredd teams up with a rather eccentric Wally Squad Judge and the always fascinating Psi-Judge Janus. You can guess what comes next: gunfire, explosions, and a rising body count.

Highlights

Efil Drago San: A fantastic villain from the Armitage series. He never truly wins, but he always manages to drag things into a messy draw. Exactly the kind of chaos Mega-City One thrives on.

Judge Janus: I’ve always loved her as a side character. It’s great hearing her again, and it made me nostalgic for her old 2000 AD run. Time for me to catch up on those back issues!

Sound Design: Big Finish does it again. The atmosphere, the ambient chaos, the news chatter: it’s like standing right in the middle of MC-1. Nobody captures that madness better.

Lowlights

The Story: A bit too linear. No major twists or surprises. Just solid but safe storytelling (poor me lol).

Janus & Dredd Dynamic: Judge Dredd’s distrust of psychics is legendary, so having him so casually allow PSI Judge Janus to probe his mind felt off-character.

The Wally Judge: A bit flat for my taste. Lacking the depth or quirkiness of other Wally favourites like Lenny Zero or Dirty Frank. It’s a missed opportunity for comic relief or a moral contrast.

Verdict

While not the strongest Judge Dredd audio out there, The Killing Zone is still a solid atmospheric listen. The production shines, the cast delivers, and it’s always a treat to hear Janus back in action. If you’re a Big Finish or a Judge Dredd fan, this one’s worth your time. Just don’t expect any big surprises.

Have you listened to The Killing Zone? What did you think of Janus’ return? Drop a comment below. The Law demands it!