Andy Naylor reviews Judge Dredd #17…
“‘Cold Cold Ground’ The morgue full of 13 dead Judges were only the beginning of the end!
Dredd’s most vicious and unstoppable enemies the Dark Judges are clawing their way into Mega-City One, determined to transform it into a new city of the dead. That’s right: Judges Death! Mortis! Fire! Fear! (And some new friends!) But the only thing more horrifying than the Dark Judges’ onslaught are drastic measures the Justice Department is willing to take to repel them.”
I have been dreaming of getting my grubbing mitts on this issue since I reviewed Judge Dredd #16, Now Judge Dredd #17 has finally arrived and all hell has been unleashed upon the inhabitants of Mega City One. Judge Dredd has been framed and banished to Titan, thanks to the actions of the repulsive Judge Cal – he really is a slimy, vile, little weasel of a character who has been magnificently brought to life through some superb writing and art.
It’s not just Judge Cal that looks great throughout Dredd #17, the art as a whole is simply fantastic. It fills with me jealously that there are people this talented in the world, able to produce something so strikingly amazing that as a reader you can’t help but appreciate it and be envious of their capabilities all at the same time. Each individual Dark Judge is beautifully horrific in their own unique and terrifying way. However, there are that many that I can’t help but fear that as this plot plays out of future issues we might see the Spider-Man 3 problem raise its ugly head. There may simply be too many bad guys for Dredd to realistically defeat in any way that could leave the reader satisfied. Furthermore, each villain might not get the required amount of page time for us to enjoy thoroughly. Already in this issue there simply isn’t enough Judge Death, to be honest, there isn’t enough Judge Dredd. The star feels like an afterthought, tucked away at the back of the comic like a dusty pair of boots in a wardrobe. But I’m sure as the issues roll out, the big guy will be back to his usual prominent role.
What we see of Dredd is enticing and tense. His position is extremely perilous and I am eager to learn how he can return to Mega City One and save the day, because at present the Dark Judges are a juggernaut of murder ploughing through city with only the self-serving and utterly detestable Judge Cal to look to for help.
Andy Naylor – Follow me on Twitter
Originally published March 14, 2014. Updated April 11, 2018.
