The Complete Case Files, collecting the episodic adventures of Judge Dredd.

Perhaps one of the most pervasive British science fictional characters ever is the comic character of Judge Dredd. First appearing in 1977, in prog number two of 2000 AD, Judge Dredd has been in every prog since – a further 1627. (Prog is the term for issue in 2000AD parlance.)

As well as appearing in the weekly anthology, he spawned his own comic, The Judge Dredd Megazine, which has since had some 282 issues published and is still ongoing.

Dredd has been everywhere; there are role playing, table top, computer and card games, there was the  Sylvester Stallone Movie, a long series of radio plays, and novels, and the character even adorned  singles covers and appeared on a picture disc, when in 1986 the group Anthrax released 'I am the Law' in tribute to the character.

Dredd was created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, under the stewardship of the editor of 2000 AD, Pat Mills. Set in a post apocalyptic world, what was once the United States is now three huge Mega Cities. Mega City One is a massive eastern seaboard conurbation, incorporating all the major cities into one huge metropolis, walled away from a radioactive desert on the western  side, with the putrefied Black Atlantic on the other.

Dredd, with his totalitarian powers, is able to act as police, judge, jury and executioner, administering Justice in an instant.  From a young age he has been celibate and indoctrinated into a system which is ostensibly there to protect the citizen, but which also protects itself just as determinedly.  All of this is a reflection of the times from which the comic originated – the late seventies – and the power the state can wield.

The comic has included a great deal of tongue in cheek humour, all aimed at pointing out the absurdities of such a system, and of a people who are in many cases devoid of purpose, out of work due to Robots, and seeking either fame, a pastime, or some way of setting themselves apart from the masses.

Dredd also frequently has considerable internal conflict, knowing what he is doing may be wrong, but doing it because that is what he has been taught is right. He is far from a simple character, and over the years there have been many stories which have shown him to be as flawed or possessing self doubt and having to work through a situation mentally as much as dealing with a crime.

Of course, many people just enjoyed the futuristic crime stories that Dredd was faced with, the massive events where a story could go on for over twenty progs and six months, mostly concerning a major threat to Mega City, from such antagonists as a corrupt and insane chief Judge to the risen dead.

Dredd has left his mark in all sorts of ways.  Many of the current creators were themselves fans, and this has been so for a long time; the artist Colin MacNeil was published first in the letter pages.

There is also something quintessentially British about the humour. It's mature, and yet at times surreal, poking fun at a futuristic mirror, and occasionally very dark, and not what one expects in a comic book for kids.   Though there is also some cheese lurking around the corner, and some of the characters, especially in the early days, are a little weak.

In the eighties, a variety of reprint publications were available. Titan Books reproduced the stories, in a random manner, while The Best of 2000 AD comic would also collect stories and regurgitate them.

With Rebellion came a very clear cut Graphic Novel Policy, a uniform look and size, more compatible with what is available in comic shops, and a very high production value. In 2005 they started to produce The Judge Dredd Case Files, reprinting the series in strict order.

In the US, Marvel have been producing Marvel Essentials for twelve years. These are black and white reproductions of classic silver age comics, and in 2005 DC also followed suit with their Showcase editions.

Of course, one of the advantages of Judge Dredd is that nearly the first 500 stories were largely drawn and published in black and white. In those days only the first two pages were in colour.

I caught up with Jonathon Oliver, editor in charge of the graphic novels at Rebellion and asked him about the titles. He confirmed that the first one was and is the best seller, but that the titles seem to effect the collecting urge in readers, and all of the other available volumes are catching up. He was coy about sales figures, but I got the impression this is a very viable use of a resource on Rebellion’s part, and there is no intention of stopping.
 
One of the problems I asked about was what would happen when the stories went full colour. In Volume 10 there are some grey scale reproductions of colour art, and, although only a few pages, it is not the perfect form of reproduction. He assured me that the volumes would be printing in colour, for full colour episodes, cautioning that: 'Obviously this means a slight price hike and drop in page count but it should be worth it.' I tend to agree.

According to Jon, they have yet to calculate the volumes in total, but with Dredd ongoing, and potentially an idea for the stories in the Magazine and annuals, and a schedule of two volumes a year, fans of these reprints will be waiting a while before copy runs out.

The average volume, though, is a who's who of British Comics Creators, and there is no shortage of places where one can enter the series. The first volume is, of course, a logical starting point. Collecting the stories from prog 2 to 60, it has a long contributors list including; Brain Bolland, Carlos Ezquerra, Ian Gibson, Alan Grant, Mike Mc Mahon,  Pat Mills and John Wagner. The story in its infancy grows on the reader, and one can see why Dredd, though not appearing until prog 2 of 2000AD went on to replace Dan Dare, as the lead character of the comic. It also has a distinctively seventies feel about it. All of which helps to make it the perfect starting point.

If you remember reading 2000AD at any stage, you probably remember which 'prog' you started with and going back for the ultimate in nostalgia trips may be in order. The comics clearly show what Progs are contained in each volume, allowing at a glance, to work out where the comics you read many years ago are to be found.

Some volumes contain huge runs, stories running to around 20-25 episodes, a good example of this is The Apocalypse War. Published in 1982, we have a 'soviet' styled enemy who has created a way to get around mutually assured destruction and-hell bent on the destruction of Mega City 1. Very topical, obviously. In 25 episodes we have a fantastic story, all drawn by Spanish artistic legend Carlos Ezquerra, who is renowned for his high work rate. That's collected in Volume 5, but also includes the precursor story, Block Mania with artwork again by Mike McMahon, Steve Dillon, Cliff Robinson and Brian Boland. In one purchase, about eight months of story line is available, in one nostalgia burst.

Or perhaps you remember the the 'OZ' story contained in volume 11, featuring The Judda, and the sky surfer Marlon 'Chopper' Shakespeare.  Running from October 1987 until April 1988, the 26 episodes saw Dredd going to OZ, ostensibly on the hunt for the fugitive Chopper, but also to find and destroy The Judda.

Again, the artist names involved are incredible and when one considerer's where many of these artists are now, working for the big American companies, it makes you feel very lucky indeed.

The books are also aesthetically pleasing, a simple uniform design with a picture of Dredd on the cover, from one of the progs therein. They look stunning lined up on a shelf, and are so easy to dip into, and for those who have read them, the prog numbers on the spine spark immediate recognition  and memories.

Now on to Volume 12!  This is a collection that is truly worth having.