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Judge Dredd
Judge Dredd: Dark Justice by John Wagner
THE LIFE-HATING SUPER-FIEND FROM DEADWORLD RETURNS!
Having previously been destroyed by nuclear fire and dragged to hell by the vengeful spirits of those he had murdered, Death has managed to return to the world, ready to resume his mission in destroying all life.
United once more with his ‘brothers’ – Judges Fear, Fire and Mortis – the quartet of terror have invaded The Mayflower - a starship populated by four thousand of Mega-City One’s richest citizens. Psi-Division’s Cassandra Anderson discovers that Death has returned and now she and Judge Dredd must travel into deep space in an attempt to stop the Dark Judges once and for all.
This fully painted graphic novel comes with an extensive gallery and sketch section.
Having previously been destroyed by nuclear fire and dragged to hell by the vengeful spirits of those he had murdered, Death has managed to return to the world, ready to resume his mission in destroying all life.
United once more with his ‘brothers’ – Judges Fear, Fire and Mortis – the quartet of terror have invaded The Mayflower - a starship populated by four thousand of Mega-City One’s richest citizens. Psi-Division’s Cassandra Anderson discovers that Death has returned and now she and Judge Dredd must travel into deep space in an attempt to stop the Dark Judges once and for all.
This fully painted graphic novel comes with an extensive gallery and sketch section.
Hardcover
First published May 26, 2015
6 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
John Wagner
1,283 books190 followersJohn Wagner is a comics writer who was born in Pennsylvania in 1949 and moved to Scotland as a boy. Alongside Pat Mills, Wagner was responsible for revitalising British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has continued to be a leading light in British comics ever since. He is best known for his work on 2000 AD, for which he created Judge Dredd. He is noted for his taut, violent thrillers and his black humour. Among his pseudonyms are The best known are John Howard, T.B. Grover, Mike Stott, Keef Ripley, Rick Clark and Brian Skuter. (Wikipedia)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 27, 2022
The story here is average however the artwork by Greg Staples elevates it into something that can be enjoyed.
Every panel is so rich in detail and quality, both in terms of the characters and the backgrounds.
Very alien-esque in it's setting but with that Dredd feel.
This was a quick and enjoyable read.
I'm looking forward to starting Dark Justice: Dominion: Volume 2, but in the meantime, my next one will be Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 01.
Every panel is so rich in detail and quality, both in terms of the characters and the backgrounds.
Very alien-esque in it's setting but with that Dredd feel.
This was a quick and enjoyable read.
I'm looking forward to starting Dark Justice: Dominion: Volume 2, but in the meantime, my next one will be Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 01.
October 15, 2018
It's the same old story, as usual, with a space horror Doom/Aliens/Dead Space/Jason X/Ghostbusters (the containment trap reference was great) theme twist this time: Judge Death returns again, calls back the other Dark Judges, they go on a killing rampage until Dredd and Anderson stop them until next time...
but who f@%%in'cares???
Art is so damn good that this volume was going to be great even if they published it without balloons!!!
Just scroll down and take a look.
Greetingsss!
Art is so damn good that this volume was going to be great even if they published it without balloons!!!
Just scroll down and take a look.
Greetingsss!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2017
Some days you just really want a Judge Death story and why not Judge Death in spaaaaaaaace. Usual story, Dark Judges meet up, kill a lot of people, get nobbled by Dredd and Anderson. Like coming home to a warm fire and a cold beer. There's the usually grim humour such as Anderson losing her firearm and complaining that there's another weapons infraction on her record. All good stuff.
July 6, 2022
Judge Dredd doesn't work too well with regular villains.
April 16, 2017
As a wee nipper, back when mobile phones were a dreamer's dream and Smash was genuinely a thing, I happened upon a Judge Dredd comic.
And not just any old Dredd comic, oh no. This one had Judge Death in it.
With no internet to research or purchase stuff, and no comic shop within walking distance, this one comic was devoured on a regular basis.
Then came music, girls, more music, booze, even more music, films.... Dredd got kind of pushed into the background.
I'll be honest, Stallone didn't help.
But the recent under-rated film has re-ignited my interest, so imagine my delight when a new Death title suddenly popped up on the many 'you might like' wotsits on amazon.
Pre-order? Don't mind if I do....
And I really couldn't wait to get my hand on it. I mean, look at the cover!
It hasn't disappointed.
As a group of the rich and elite leave the city for a new, inhabitable planet, trouble is brewing. And before long, Death and his cohorts have found a way back and are exacting justice all over The Mayflower - forcing Dredd and Anderson to grab a ship and head out into space.
From the outset, Dark Justice grips you. Yes, the 'we're off to find a new planet' story isn't original, but that matters not a jot. You know what's coming, and you want to get there quickly.
And with every freshly-turned page, the artwork dazzles and delights before your eyes.
It's a graphic novel after all. It has to. But the work of Greg Staples here is simply amazing.
So good, in fact, there's a new tattoo coming. I just need to narrow down the choices.
Now, if you'll excuse me I have a tonne of Dredd books to go catch-up on...
And not just any old Dredd comic, oh no. This one had Judge Death in it.
With no internet to research or purchase stuff, and no comic shop within walking distance, this one comic was devoured on a regular basis.
Then came music, girls, more music, booze, even more music, films.... Dredd got kind of pushed into the background.
I'll be honest, Stallone didn't help.
But the recent under-rated film has re-ignited my interest, so imagine my delight when a new Death title suddenly popped up on the many 'you might like' wotsits on amazon.
Pre-order? Don't mind if I do....
And I really couldn't wait to get my hand on it. I mean, look at the cover!
It hasn't disappointed.
As a group of the rich and elite leave the city for a new, inhabitable planet, trouble is brewing. And before long, Death and his cohorts have found a way back and are exacting justice all over The Mayflower - forcing Dredd and Anderson to grab a ship and head out into space.
From the outset, Dark Justice grips you. Yes, the 'we're off to find a new planet' story isn't original, but that matters not a jot. You know what's coming, and you want to get there quickly.
And with every freshly-turned page, the artwork dazzles and delights before your eyes.
It's a graphic novel after all. It has to. But the work of Greg Staples here is simply amazing.
So good, in fact, there's a new tattoo coming. I just need to narrow down the choices.
Now, if you'll excuse me I have a tonne of Dredd books to go catch-up on...
June 2, 2024
3.5 stars for the story, 4.5 stars for the artwork.
October 24, 2015
5 stars for the art, 3 for the story. Dark Judges stories are always a bit same-same even though this one had again new ideas. But the art: every page, no, every PANEL could be a poster sized painting! Awesome as that is it has the downside of making the action less dynamic, breaking up the flow a bit.
March 16, 2024
You gotta hand it to Greg Staples - he really knows how to hand-paint a comic strip! I have to say, I was expecting something a little more from John Wagner, but I guess a guy can't churn out classic after classic forever, and the pacing is great at least. With a lesser artist this would have been a mediocre Dredd/Anderson/Death strip - but that artwork lifts it to another level!
I sell comics for a living and I usually move them on after reading, but I'm seriously considering keeping Dark Justice.
I'm not sure the script deserves 5 stars, but what the hell.
I believe I'll revisit this at some point, and I might decide that the script is just right. Who knows?
I sell comics for a living and I usually move them on after reading, but I'm seriously considering keeping Dark Justice.
I'm not sure the script deserves 5 stars, but what the hell.
I believe I'll revisit this at some point, and I might decide that the script is just right. Who knows?
May 17, 2018
Probably 25 years since I last read Judge Dredd. Nice to see it still rocks! I was lucky to find this from the local library.
September 28, 2016
Ok, admittedly the story is pretty standard Dark Judges fare and thus a little uninteresting. I guess after so many years there isn't much more you can do with them.
The story really forms more of a showcase for the absolutely breathtaking artwork. According to the afterword by Greg Staples he set out to make it feel like watching a big budget HD movie, but crucially having no digital enhancement on the images whatsoever - everything here is reproduced directly from his original art with no retouching. The quality of what he has achieved is mind-boggling - you often don't even get cover art as good as this, let alone an entire comic filled with the stuff.
For reason of this artwork alone, even given the slightly lacklustre story I think this merits a 5 star rating.
The story really forms more of a showcase for the absolutely breathtaking artwork. According to the afterword by Greg Staples he set out to make it feel like watching a big budget HD movie, but crucially having no digital enhancement on the images whatsoever - everything here is reproduced directly from his original art with no retouching. The quality of what he has achieved is mind-boggling - you often don't even get cover art as good as this, let alone an entire comic filled with the stuff.
For reason of this artwork alone, even given the slightly lacklustre story I think this merits a 5 star rating.
September 1, 2016
Dredd contra els 4 "jutges" de l'apocalipsis, la història és normaleta, però el dibuix és increïble!
February 1, 2020
Člověk dostane to, co od Judge Dredda může dostat. Kresba parádní.
January 4, 2018
I spent my childhood mired in the scripture and verse of "2000AD" and "Judge Dredd", and "The Dark Judges" have always been a perennial favourite amongst fans (myself included), so how could I possibly resist a new story featuring Fire, Fear, Mortis and Death penned by "Dredd" creator himself, John Wagner?
The answer is: I couldn't. And I'm glad I didn't, because this is a beaut. Artist Greg Staples brilliantly renders the characters first penned by Brian Bolland, and his beautiful, wide-screen panels perfectly deliver upon his avowed desire to draw a Dark Judges story in the vein of a multi-million dollar Hollywood blockbuster.
Granted, it's short. But it's a perfect 96 pages or so of demented, action-packed, necrotic, sci-fi lunacy. And as an older fan, I particularly dug the visual nods to Douglas Trumbull's ecological seventies sci-fi epic, "Silent Running".
The answer is: I couldn't. And I'm glad I didn't, because this is a beaut. Artist Greg Staples brilliantly renders the characters first penned by Brian Bolland, and his beautiful, wide-screen panels perfectly deliver upon his avowed desire to draw a Dark Judges story in the vein of a multi-million dollar Hollywood blockbuster.
Granted, it's short. But it's a perfect 96 pages or so of demented, action-packed, necrotic, sci-fi lunacy. And as an older fan, I particularly dug the visual nods to Douglas Trumbull's ecological seventies sci-fi epic, "Silent Running".
April 8, 2018
Good story but rather lame ending, the Dark Judges just drift off into space? Bit of an anti-climax, though they are kind of bogey monster villains in a way, they don't really grow and adapt, they're just doing the same thing time after time. I'm a lot more interested in the ongoing Dark Judge storyline set in the Dredd movie continuity atm, that's showing some originality with the concept. Still the art is superb, it cannot be faulted, if the ending was better then it would have been a five star but it just jumped the space shark.
March 18, 2017
Far from the best
While the artwork is tremendous, the story is less than great. Predictable with a very flat ending and some corny dialogue. I really expect better from John. It may be time to retire the dark judges.
While the artwork is tremendous, the story is less than great. Predictable with a very flat ending and some corny dialogue. I really expect better from John. It may be time to retire the dark judges.
April 19, 2024
Judge Death and co has been seen so many times, but Wagner is such a good writer he makes even many times seen things work. Not forgetting the extremely beautiful art by Staples. That is so nice thing to look at.
Yeah, you should read this space odyssey.
Yeah, you should read this space odyssey.
September 18, 2017
Great stuff simply amazing art 👍
May 7, 2018
The story was good, but the are was incredible.
June 3, 2018
Stellar art and a decent story. Seems like a part 1 however where it left off
October 27, 2021
Good
Yeah enjoyed this comic and the art is really good including the story which kept me interested in reading more.
Yeah enjoyed this comic and the art is really good including the story which kept me interested in reading more.
Read
November 23, 2021El dibujo es tremendísimo, pero la historia...
September 28, 2022
Quite average story, but what a great picture!
You can quite safely throw out all the text from the comic - it would only become better)
You can quite safely throw out all the text from the comic - it would only become better)
December 9, 2024
Great artwork and a good, not great storyline.
January 13, 2025
Goofy ass comic. La trama y los personajes pues son lo que son, pero visualmente está bastante chulo. Solo recomendable si te aburres un rato.
November 7, 2016
Dredd has always been the real villain, but when Death and the other corpse judges are on the rampage, any citizen would turn to a hyper fascist for protection.
Judge Dredd is (nearly) as funny, bizarre and horrific as ever. The art work in this story is amazing, but the writing isn't quite as good as I remember it. I felt like Dredd was let off the hook, he's normally morally ambiguous at best but in this story he's kind of 2D. He just dealt with the bad(der) guys and that was that. Kind of missing the bit about Dredd that makes Dredd worth reading. Still I liked it, and Judge Death is a great character.
Judge Dredd is (nearly) as funny, bizarre and horrific as ever. The art work in this story is amazing, but the writing isn't quite as good as I remember it. I felt like Dredd was let off the hook, he's normally morally ambiguous at best but in this story he's kind of 2D. He just dealt with the bad(der) guys and that was that. Kind of missing the bit about Dredd that makes Dredd worth reading. Still I liked it, and Judge Death is a great character.
Read
March 11, 2015The much-hyped return of Judge Death and his boys started so well, foreshadowing the carnage to come with a doomed voyage of hope. Alas, once the shit hit the fan it rapidly subsided into an Alien retread, with the odd great line insufficient to quell the sense of watching a reunion tour, a once-thrilling quartet going through the motions. Wagner has been doing brilliant stuff with Dredd of late; let's hope this is the last time he lets himself be derailed by hollow exercises in retro.
October 12, 2016
More like a 2.5. Lots of great images. The artwork is fantastic. It's creepy and gory and disturbing. But there wasn't that much substance. It read less like a graphic novel and more like someone tried real hard to make a film into a graphic novel. Too many cutaways. Unclear who the narrator is. Lots of action, not enough substance. Really didn't care about the characters. Sorry for the shoddy review. Cant's bring myself to type out full sentences.
September 28, 2016
Love it, though Death and the Dark Judges were always my favourite enemies of Dredd!
January 17, 2016
Cool artwork, nice pacing and a worthy nemesis for the good judge that kept things lively. Not the most memorable of plots if i might add.
January 27, 2016
This was my first comic with the dark judges and I don't know what impressed me more. The awesome story about the Dark Judges Fear, Fire, Mortis and Death, or the absolutely stunning artwork.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews