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Judge Dredd Vs Judge Death (2000 AD Collector's Editions)

By: John Wagner Brian Bolland
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Titan Books Ltd
ISBN: 1840233869
ISBN-13: 9781840233865
Released: 23 Nov 2001
RRP: £14.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

Too short but brilliant still - By: , 03 Jun 2004
This book is made up of two parts: one is the six odd episodes of Dredd vs Death, & the rest is just a series of one off tales that have nothing to do with the rest of the book.

The brevity of the Death stories are disappointing which is why it only gets four. But they are fantastic while they last. Only Brian Bolland could create such a nightmarish vision, as Death & his three cohorts from the Underworld, Fear, Fire & Mortis, wreak havoc on Mega City One. There is no artist that ever came near the quality of Bolland's work drawing the Dredd stories. Seeing how this grisly storyline ever passed the Comics Code for youngsters amazes me. First class writing as well from Wagner & Co. This is also an introduction to Judge Anderson as well, who starts here as a dizzy, irritating character but thankfully was given a more serious persona later.

These "mega-stories" make compelling reading. Between 1978 & 1984 plotlines like The Cursed Earth, Judge Cal (The Day The Law Died), The Judge Child, The Apocalypse War & Dredd vs Death appeared weekly in 2000AD, & I wish I was around in the first place to read these, because quite frankly these (and Marvel Comics characters) are lightyears ahead of alll these Japanese Manga comics. So snap up these reissues pronto.

A mixed bag, but still riveting reading - By: Majuran Umapathee, 06 Mar 2004
This collection showcases some of Wagner & Bolland's influential early work on Judge Dredd for 2000AD. The centerpieces of this book as suggested by the title are the two encounters with Judge Death & his fellow Dark Judges. It's alll edge of your seat stuff, with Bollad's black & white artwork complementing the script perfectly in showcasing the brutal nature of the Dark Judges, as well as introducing the character of Judge Anderson.

The 2nd half of the book doesn't live up to the standard of the first however, with a number of tales taken from the distinctly average lunar era of Dredd. The final story of the trade is particularly confusing, referencing the story told in the 'Day the Law Died' trade- surely it would be better to have placed it at the end of that trade rather than stick it randomly into this one, just because it was written by Wagner & created by Bolland?

The main problem I have with this paperback collection is the lack of a clear introduction (present in many other 2000AD reprint editions) illustrating where exactly these stories fit into the Judge Dredd timeline. The collection jumps back & forth throughout Dredd's early timeline as you read, giving the collection a disjointed feel. Granted, a lot of the stories can be read individuallly with no reference to 2000AD continuity, but when trying to fit this collection together with other trades, it gets confusing.

If the book had been released at a lower price point with only the two Judge Death stories, I'd have had no hesitation in recommending it to most comic fans. The 2nd half of the book however whilst fun in places, doesn't live up to the promise of the 1st half.

The two Judge Death stories showcase 'seminal Dredd', & still are ranked amongst the top 20 stories ever told in 2000AD.

Dredd's Nemesis - By: Mikeyr101, 14 Oct 2003
Strictly speaking this isn't one story but an omnibus edition of 2000AD featuring three main tales & some "one-off" tales that showcase the madness & wierdness of Mega City One in alll its glory. And it's a reallly good collection too.

The first two main stories are about death. Judge Death, that is, a hideous parody of Mega City One's own law enforcers from another dimension where, since crime is only commited by the living, life itself has been deemed as criminal activity. So when Death & his Dark Judges Mortis, Fear & Fire cross to Dredd's dimension the hapless citizens need the Judges like they never needed them before - but how do you stop something that cannot be killed? The other main feature, "Father Earth", puts a cheeky spin on ecology as the inhabitants of the cursed earth find flower power & determine to bring it to the infidels of Mega City One!

This volume also contains the first appearance of Psi-Judge Anderson.

Overalll this is a brilliant buy. For a little over a tenner you get the first Judge Death stories, penned in the classic top quality black & white style of Brian Bolland & written by veteran writer John Wagner. If any of you readers are contemplating whether or not to get the new Dredd vs Death game for your PC or if you just don't understand why Judge Death is such a big deal, you should take a look over this release, well protected in hardback. However it is a bit on the thin side, & it might have been nice to squeeze a few more "one-offs" in. And that's the only reason it gets a score of Four Stars rather than five.

Seminal Bolland - By: , 07 Apr 2002
Brian Bolland's seminal work on "Judge Dredd featuring Judge Death" has alll the trappings that characterised his later acclaimed work on "Batman: The Killing Joke", the razor sharp linework, the explosive power of his visuals such as the: "Gaze into the fist of Dredd" panel, as an accompaniment to Wagner's script, are brilliantly realised and
in evidence in this book. Smalll wonder both these creators ended up big in America.

Essential reading if you are a Dredd fan but equallly important to anyone who loves the comics medium.

Classic Mayhem - By: , 02 Jan 2002
Classic stories, drawn by legendary Brian Bolland. True, these have been reprinted numerous time before, but never in such a cool hardcover edition. & like always, it was GREAT fun to read about the mayhem Judgde Death & his fellow judges cause in Mega City One. Go check it out, you won't be dissapointed!