Judge Dredd Year One: The Cold Light of Day

Judge Dredd Year One #2

by Michael Carroll

Mega-City One, 2080. It is Joe Dredd's first year as a full-eagle Judge. Though he was created from the genes of Eustace Fargo, the 'Father of Justice', Dredd is not long graduated from the Academy, and has yet to establish himself as the metropolis’s toughest, greatest Judge. His reputation will be moulded in the years ahead, but right now he’s a young lawman, fresh on the streets.

A savage killing spree results in the deaths of two highly-regarded Judges, and many consider Dredd to be responsible: a decision he made five years earlier - while he was still a cadet - has come back to haunt him.

With the Justice Department overwhelmed and the city at a standstill thanks to a chaotic and brutal cross-city motorbike race, Dredd must bring the killer to justice and clear his name...

Genres: Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Fiction

110 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 29, 2013

Reviews

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure Dredd that could easily be adapted for 2000 A.D. The spirit of the character is there, as is the aleniation of Mega City One and its inhabitants. A trip to the Cursed Earth to boot!

[David R Shires · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first DREDD novel, I have read 2000AD since 1977 and have always been a fan of DREDD following his adventures through the Cursed Earth, the streets of Mega-City One and well beyond and have grown to know him after over 30 years of reading the weekly adventures so feel i know him as well as the next fan. I picked up Michael Carroll's book with fair expectations, not expecting to be blown away afterall who could know Ol' Stoney face better than me?

If I had to give a one word review it would be WOW, seriously Carroll has captured DREDD perfectly, we are taken back to his roots and can see the not so grizzled face of the future law man as he works a case that takes him back to his first adventure in to the great expanse beyond the wall of Mega-City One, we see him question himself and see him grown an amazing amount within these pages.

Carroll creates a world that immerses you in the grime and shine that is Mega-City One and the Cursed Earth. His character development is next to none and although I 'knew' DREDD very well you can tell even a first time discoverer of the young law man would be pulled in to the world.

As I turned the last page (or more correctly pressed the last button) I was truly sad that the adventure was over for now and I am waiting for him to get his next DREDD tale in print so I can press that first button again.

DROKK that was good!!

[C.A. A. Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This version of Judge Dredd by Michael Carroll is also a hold on to your seat story. By that I mean it is a fabulous hard-hitting SciFi-Post Apocalyptic tale set in this dystopian metropolis called Mega-City One. Judge Dredd is a comic strip hero from the UK's 200 AD comic. Over time the character has become more popular and now there are many novels about the anti-hero. Judge Dredd tackles as many criminals in this America of the future where the East Coast of America is a Hellish giant metropolis of skyscrapers and millions upon millions of people.

This story takes no prisoners and flits back and forth through the time of 2075 to 2080. A crazy prisoner fresh out of the prison cubes is Hell-bent on revenge. The Judges are up against it as this gigantic motorcycle race is being aired across the city. A race that is like the Isle of Man TT on steroids. I highly recommend this story for any Scifi/dystopian world fan.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the "Year One" trilogy "City of Fathers", was a decent read. It was far from perfect (feeling more like a padded 2000ad short story), but I found it enjoyable all the same. "Cold Light of Day" however, is league's above the first instalment. Carroll fully captures the character of Dredd, and he displays a fantastic eye for pacing and narrative.

My main enjoyment from the book , came from it feeling like classic Judge Dredd (something akin to what you would have found in the first 50 progs/Case Files 1), as this is meant to be an "early years" story, the tone and imagery fit perfectly.

Great book, well done to Michael Carroll

[Gareth Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Pure Dredd, it's not all violence and some detective is thrown in for good measure. A perp is using the mega city 5000 race as cover for his vendetta. The story moves along nicely with good use of flashbacks. And Dredd is so blunt and completely without ego its amazing.

[Arn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so this is a bit better than the first Dress book in the omnibus, which was very simplistic. I've not read 200ad for many years now, and it was nice to be reminded of so many parts of the Dredd lore as i remember it, this book was a little more on depth with characterisation than the first book although it's still quite basic. Maybe they don't want to mess with someone else's characters to much? Anyway it's a little fun read and a little nostalgic for me.

[Jesse Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. The humor at the front was on point, the dual narrative (especially the flashback thread) was engaging, and the discussion sprinkled and culminated at the end touched on the philosophical side of Dredd. Good stuff.

[Richard Hakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to appreciate Dread (he is impossible to like) to be able to read the book. But if you do then this is Dread at his most Dreadful!

[Sean Keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is GOOD! Like finding an old 2000AD you’ve somehow managed to miss. Very much a Dredd story. Great Dredd writer, is Mr Carroll.

[Shaun Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 2nd DREDD book. Turns out I actually quite like em