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Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #1
Judge Dredd: America
The classic Judge Dredd story in a US edition for the first time!
IN MEGA-CITY ONE, THE JUDGES ARE THE LAW – acting as judge, jury, and executioner. But how do the citizens really feel about a system where they are powerless? America Jara and Bennett Beeny grow up as best friends, living a fairly trouble-free life in a dangerous city… bar the odd encounter with a Judge. Time draws them apart, and when they are brought back together, Beeny is a successful singer and America has become involved with a terrorist organisation – with the Judges in its sights! Written by John Wagner (A History of Violence) with art by Colin MacNeil (Judge Dredd: The Chief Judge’s Man) this dark and complex tale is a true 2000 AD classic!
IN MEGA-CITY ONE, THE JUDGES ARE THE LAW – acting as judge, jury, and executioner. But how do the citizens really feel about a system where they are powerless? America Jara and Bennett Beeny grow up as best friends, living a fairly trouble-free life in a dangerous city… bar the odd encounter with a Judge. Time draws them apart, and when they are brought back together, Beeny is a successful singer and America has become involved with a terrorist organisation – with the Judges in its sights! Written by John Wagner (A History of Violence) with art by Colin MacNeil (Judge Dredd: The Chief Judge’s Man) this dark and complex tale is a true 2000 AD classic!
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2015
14 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
John Wagner
1,281 books188 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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
December 11, 2022
This story is about a character called America Jara, it's not told from the viewpoint of Dredd, which was unorthodox because it's different from all of the Dredd that I've read and I was left slightly disappointed because of that.
There was another three short stories thrown in that wasn't connected to America, which redeemed it somewhat.
I'm still going to continue with the next installment!
There was another three short stories thrown in that wasn't connected to America, which redeemed it somewhat.
I'm still going to continue with the next installment!
August 30, 2017
The first of the three stories in this (titled the same as the collection, America) is probably as close to perfect as a Judge Dredd story is going to get, especially prescient in our current dystopian political landscape. That said, the two follow up stories (Fading of the Light and Cadet) really miss the mark that the first really set. It’s not that they’re bad, it’s just that...all the interesting ideological questions of the first, give way to a convoluted and ultimately forgettable plot. If I had just read the first story only, this would’ve been 5 stars. As it stands as a whole, I’ll have to bump it down to 4.
March 15, 2021
I recommend this. Even if you don’t think it’s for you; it is.
This is very smart writing. I feel like this is what everyone acts like Watchmen is; nuanced, multifaceted social commentary that’s more relevant today than ever before. This is the best, most poignant and most observant political comic books I’ve ever read.
Also... killer art. Great writing. Lots of time, care and talent went into this. Please don’t miss out on this excellent collection.
This is very smart writing. I feel like this is what everyone acts like Watchmen is; nuanced, multifaceted social commentary that’s more relevant today than ever before. This is the best, most poignant and most observant political comic books I’ve ever read.
Also... killer art. Great writing. Lots of time, care and talent went into this. Please don’t miss out on this excellent collection.
January 15, 2023
Dredd is a very intriguing character. As you read, from issue to issue, you switch between hating him and rooting for him. There were several storylines in this compilation. I think, generally speaking, they start off mediocre but get better and better until the final issues are vertiably gripping. Perhaps the vision of the character requires a certain amount of time to be clarified to the reader. The "America" storyline, featuring Benny, the musician, was intriguing. It captured the moral ambiguity of the Dredd's world. The art is great. It's not as glossy as contemporary Marvel and DC. It's more visceral, raw, and indie in spirit. There seems to have been a fair amount of art change from issue to issue. Anyway, I'm hooked. I was already a fan of the films. Now I'm even a bigger fan of the comics now.
February 10, 2021
3,5*
My first Dredd book- if you expect a few episodes read in my early teens, not understanding what it was actually about- and it came out as quite unexpected.
I've always been picturing Dredd as a kind of british Robocop with a poker up his arse fighting criminals without a smile in what would turn out to be outrageously violent- yet tongue-in-cheek funny- stories. (I’m pretty sure the aforementioned episodes were from the Judge Caligula storyline, which would explain my twisted perception of the book at the tender age of 13 or so)
Well, I didn’t expect the american- not british, my mistake- fascist state which laws he swore to uphold. I thought the Judges were the terrors of criminals, not of the entire population of Mega City One. I see the point but wasn’t expecting that. And the book wasn’t very funny too.
But good nevertheless. Collecting various stories revolving around the fight for democracy in MC1, it culminates with the longest one of the book, "America", as much a tragedy than a political statement. I don’t know if it’s the best entry point for discovering Dredd- and even if it’s representative of the series- but it’s quite a good story on the need- or not- for democracy for the majority opposed to some enlightened elite.
"Democracy? We tried that already. It didn’t work."
My first Dredd book- if you expect a few episodes read in my early teens, not understanding what it was actually about- and it came out as quite unexpected.
I've always been picturing Dredd as a kind of british Robocop with a poker up his arse fighting criminals without a smile in what would turn out to be outrageously violent- yet tongue-in-cheek funny- stories. (I’m pretty sure the aforementioned episodes were from the Judge Caligula storyline, which would explain my twisted perception of the book at the tender age of 13 or so)
Well, I didn’t expect the american- not british, my mistake- fascist state which laws he swore to uphold. I thought the Judges were the terrors of criminals, not of the entire population of Mega City One. I see the point but wasn’t expecting that. And the book wasn’t very funny too.
But good nevertheless. Collecting various stories revolving around the fight for democracy in MC1, it culminates with the longest one of the book, "America", as much a tragedy than a political statement. I don’t know if it’s the best entry point for discovering Dredd- and even if it’s representative of the series- but it’s quite a good story on the need- or not- for democracy for the majority opposed to some enlightened elite.
"Democracy? We tried that already. It didn’t work."
February 15, 2015
Before this, I was only familiar with the Judge Dredd of my childhood which was fun don't get me wrong, but kind of daft, extreme childish comedy. America completely blew my mind and those initial reactions out the window. It's adult, thought provoking, bitingly satirical and exceptionally clever.
It makes the reader question the validity of a system of totalitarian law at the same time as seeing its necessity in a Nietzschean dystopia where god is dead and everything is permitted - and no its no co-incidence Beeny and America's apartment block is the Fred Nietzche building.
The characters are well realised, interesting and fallible and I love the fact that this mainly looks at the system from the POV of ordinary people rather than Dredd or the judges.
Artwork is punchy and suits the stories perfectly. I was particularly amused by "Snowstorm" in which the drug of choice is sugar (Icing caster, cane etc...) and bad stuff gets onto the street cut with sweetex.
British comics at their finest.
It makes the reader question the validity of a system of totalitarian law at the same time as seeing its necessity in a Nietzschean dystopia where god is dead and everything is permitted - and no its no co-incidence Beeny and America's apartment block is the Fred Nietzche building.
The characters are well realised, interesting and fallible and I love the fact that this mainly looks at the system from the POV of ordinary people rather than Dredd or the judges.
Artwork is punchy and suits the stories perfectly. I was particularly amused by "Snowstorm" in which the drug of choice is sugar (Icing caster, cane etc...) and bad stuff gets onto the street cut with sweetex.
British comics at their finest.
April 11, 2016
Probably one of the most important Dredd stories of all time, which really marked the start of where they made a conscious effort to make Dredd more 'grown up'. Moving away from the silly stories and proving they could do real adult storytelling with him.
And I think still my favourite Dredd story of all time. And this collection was fleshed out with further stories following on from it that I'd not read before, so that was added win.
And I think still my favourite Dredd story of all time. And this collection was fleshed out with further stories following on from it that I'd not read before, so that was added win.
September 14, 2017
A mind-blowing collection of comics. As much as I generally hate this statement... I'm give it six stars out of five. One of the best things I've read in a long, long time.
October 5, 2019
Well here I am about to embark of a huge Judge Dredd adventure - and trip down memory lane. you see this is the first book in the Hachette reprint series of the most famous and influential titles from the course of the 2000AD comic book series (admittedly the series was published in 2017 so there are going to be more stories that have yet to be captured).
Anyway the reason for the trip down memory lane - well one of my friends at the time of attending university was a huge 2000AD fan and introduced me to the varies characters and storylines - from Rogue Trooper to Halo Jones there are many famous British Comic book characters who owe their creation form the pages of 2000AD or at the very least the creative teams who grew out of there.
And of course there is Judge Dredd himself - now I will not go in to the attempts of establishing his name in other media suffice to say that here we have 80 books dedicated to his adventures and world.
So we start with the first America which many cite as being the most important and influential of the series and in fact of the Dredd stories - here you have the basis of what the writers were hoping to portray with the Megacities and the Judges who ensure their continued running. This story shows all the failings and issues in stark contrast and I will admit was a bit of surprise from my memories - however it does go to show that comics and graphic novels still have the ability to surprise and enthral when sometimes it is all to easy to just dismiss them
Anyway the reason for the trip down memory lane - well one of my friends at the time of attending university was a huge 2000AD fan and introduced me to the varies characters and storylines - from Rogue Trooper to Halo Jones there are many famous British Comic book characters who owe their creation form the pages of 2000AD or at the very least the creative teams who grew out of there.
And of course there is Judge Dredd himself - now I will not go in to the attempts of establishing his name in other media suffice to say that here we have 80 books dedicated to his adventures and world.
So we start with the first America which many cite as being the most important and influential of the series and in fact of the Dredd stories - here you have the basis of what the writers were hoping to portray with the Megacities and the Judges who ensure their continued running. This story shows all the failings and issues in stark contrast and I will admit was a bit of surprise from my memories - however it does go to show that comics and graphic novels still have the ability to surprise and enthral when sometimes it is all to easy to just dismiss them
August 23, 2024
In an ideal world, reading "Judge Dredd: America" would serve as a cautionary tale about a potential dystopian future. Unfortunately, the reality depicted in the first half of the novel is almost identical to our present circumstances. Reading this in 2024, while pro-Palestine marches around the world are relentlessly beaten down, was a sobering and depressing experience.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because Judge Dredd's character feels somewhat inconsistent throughout the story, almost as if a chapter is missing. Despite this flaw, "Judge Dredd: America" is, in my opinion, one of the greatest works in its genre and I would recommend it to anyone.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because Judge Dredd's character feels somewhat inconsistent throughout the story, almost as if a chapter is missing. Despite this flaw, "Judge Dredd: America" is, in my opinion, one of the greatest works in its genre and I would recommend it to anyone.
July 19, 2024
I don't generally read comics. Graphic Novels and popular Manga? I can make time for those; a few volumes of a self-contained story really beats having to dissect a back catalog. Who has time to dive into dusty old piles of serials looking for something that isn't corny or played out anyway? That just doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. That's why I am a fan of these collected anthologies, I love it when a comics' publisher aggregates the best issues and story arcs into a series of volumes and saves us the trouble. That said, I still know my way around the comics shop, and I'm not keen to read another Superman v Lex story even if it is part of an anthology; there needs to be more going on.
That's the case with Judge Dredd for sure. Whether it's the character who first appeared in 2000 A.D. or the Dredd of the comics which his popularity spawned in 1983. He's an extreme take on the tough-cop stereotype, the faceless embodiment of a justice that he defines. Perhaps it's due to Dredd never fully rising above its cult status (thank you Stallone) or the influence of the alternative UK publisher, or maybe it's just the subject itself, but this comic has stayed true to its artistic vision. In fact, this comic has run for nearly 50 years while telling one continuing story, and Essential Dredd: America is a story pulled right from the center of that run.
Despite only featuring in maybe half of the selected issues, this story was the perfect introduction to the character of Judge Dredd. America tells the tale of a popular movement towards re-establishing democracy within the ultra-dense future metropolis of Megacity 1. This movement is met by resistance from Dredd and the Justice department, the de facto rulers of Megacity 1, who see democracy as a source of chaos and disorder. Dredd takes on the role of the villain as he attempts to dismantle the democratic movement by any means necessary. The America storyline is iconic among fans of the series, despite being billed as an anti-hero, audiences had never seen Dredd operate outside the confines of his narrow definition of justice. In fact, my research indicates that this entire story was conceived as a way to drive the point home to readers who were vocally supportive of Dredd’s philosophy that Dredd is NOT the hero.
I really liked the composition of the story, the choice not to include Dredd in every issue save for his looming presence and instead focus on the city and the democrats is a bold choice that pays dividends. This is another aspect of this volume that carries more generally to the series; Judge Dredd may be the titular character, but these comics are about the people and the city itself just as much as they are about him. Atmospheric is the word that best describes the world, so much of the flavor of the series is coming from background characters and the functions of this future society. It's so much more interesting to observe the force and presence of the character, to watch him imprint onto the city and its people, and likewise to watch the city and the people imprint upon Dredd himself.
I'll be up front about how narrow my frame of reference is for the character of Dredd, which is mainly the 2012 Dredd 3D film (which is an action masterpiece worth watching even divorced from the Dredd IP). What makes this Volume a standout is that even with my limited familiarity, I was able to pick up on the granularity of change to his character that so many other readers find compelling. Like I said, it's been a nearly 50 year run, and to have this personification of the system remain unchanging and stone-faced while balancing the need for a character to grow along their arc, is a needle that you can tell has been threaded with care and precision. Dredd changes his mind over the course of this Volume, and it's this gradual erosion to his faceless facade of justice that has fans hooked on his continuing story.
In closing, this is an exceptional comics series and this anthology run has picked a perfect storyline to establish the character of Dredd for new fans of the comics. It's rare to find a series that trades in nuance like Dredd does within the comics medium, and despite the pulpy feel of this series, I think it's cerebral enough to keep even the pickiest readers engaged. I didn't get a chance to comment at length on the art of the series, I'll just say that it's exceptional and retro-futuristic; if you love those vintage DAW SF paperback covers, you'll love the visual style here.
_________
Thank you for reading! This review is marginally significant, and I thought I'd mark the occasion. This is my hundredth long-form review since I started with The Urth of the New Sun; what started as a way to keep all these stories straight morphed into something I look forward to doing every time I finish a book.
I write these reviews mainly for myself, but thank you to anyone who takes the time to read these. Who knows, by the time I get to 200 reviews, I might need more than two hands to count my readers.
That's the case with Judge Dredd for sure. Whether it's the character who first appeared in 2000 A.D. or the Dredd of the comics which his popularity spawned in 1983. He's an extreme take on the tough-cop stereotype, the faceless embodiment of a justice that he defines. Perhaps it's due to Dredd never fully rising above its cult status (thank you Stallone) or the influence of the alternative UK publisher, or maybe it's just the subject itself, but this comic has stayed true to its artistic vision. In fact, this comic has run for nearly 50 years while telling one continuing story, and Essential Dredd: America is a story pulled right from the center of that run.
Despite only featuring in maybe half of the selected issues, this story was the perfect introduction to the character of Judge Dredd. America tells the tale of a popular movement towards re-establishing democracy within the ultra-dense future metropolis of Megacity 1. This movement is met by resistance from Dredd and the Justice department, the de facto rulers of Megacity 1, who see democracy as a source of chaos and disorder. Dredd takes on the role of the villain as he attempts to dismantle the democratic movement by any means necessary. The America storyline is iconic among fans of the series, despite being billed as an anti-hero, audiences had never seen Dredd operate outside the confines of his narrow definition of justice. In fact, my research indicates that this entire story was conceived as a way to drive the point home to readers who were vocally supportive of Dredd’s philosophy that Dredd is NOT the hero.
I really liked the composition of the story, the choice not to include Dredd in every issue save for his looming presence and instead focus on the city and the democrats is a bold choice that pays dividends. This is another aspect of this volume that carries more generally to the series; Judge Dredd may be the titular character, but these comics are about the people and the city itself just as much as they are about him. Atmospheric is the word that best describes the world, so much of the flavor of the series is coming from background characters and the functions of this future society. It's so much more interesting to observe the force and presence of the character, to watch him imprint onto the city and its people, and likewise to watch the city and the people imprint upon Dredd himself.
I'll be up front about how narrow my frame of reference is for the character of Dredd, which is mainly the 2012 Dredd 3D film (which is an action masterpiece worth watching even divorced from the Dredd IP). What makes this Volume a standout is that even with my limited familiarity, I was able to pick up on the granularity of change to his character that so many other readers find compelling. Like I said, it's been a nearly 50 year run, and to have this personification of the system remain unchanging and stone-faced while balancing the need for a character to grow along their arc, is a needle that you can tell has been threaded with care and precision. Dredd changes his mind over the course of this Volume, and it's this gradual erosion to his faceless facade of justice that has fans hooked on his continuing story.
In closing, this is an exceptional comics series and this anthology run has picked a perfect storyline to establish the character of Dredd for new fans of the comics. It's rare to find a series that trades in nuance like Dredd does within the comics medium, and despite the pulpy feel of this series, I think it's cerebral enough to keep even the pickiest readers engaged. I didn't get a chance to comment at length on the art of the series, I'll just say that it's exceptional and retro-futuristic; if you love those vintage DAW SF paperback covers, you'll love the visual style here.
_________
Thank you for reading! This review is marginally significant, and I thought I'd mark the occasion. This is my hundredth long-form review since I started with The Urth of the New Sun; what started as a way to keep all these stories straight morphed into something I look forward to doing every time I finish a book.
I write these reviews mainly for myself, but thank you to anyone who takes the time to read these. Who knows, by the time I get to 200 reviews, I might need more than two hands to count my readers.
August 12, 2025
*nathan explosion voice* brutal
May 7, 2022
He's Dredd for a reason. Compilation of the more quality stories. A couple shockingly stood out to me.
Worth a read for Dredd fans.
MY GRADE: B to B plus.
Worth a read for Dredd fans.
MY GRADE: B to B plus.
February 17, 2017
Judge Dredd is a futuristic cop who has appeared in the 2000AD comic since 1977 & has spawned his own comic as well as many books and even a couple of films. America is the first in a collection of 80 hardback comic books that will be published over the next three years and will feature stories that have already appeared in 2000AD & its spinoffs. The America of this title doesn't exclusively refer to the country of that name, but to the first story's main character, America Jara. That opening story originally appeared in 1990 and it focuses on a love story between Jara and a friend from her block named Bennett Beeny.
Unusually, Judge Dredd is only a marginal character in this opener, which follows the journey of Jara & Beeny from youth to adulthood. Both end up on different sides of the law & both cross paths with Dredd from time to time. The next three stories in this volume further develop characters and events from this story, though some work better than others. All four stories were written by John Wagner & drawn by Colin MacNeil, but each differs in terms of its writing and particularly its visual style. My favourite of this collection was the one called Cadet, which also worked well as a detective story. The book concludes with three short strips that seem to have been added on as filler. This first part of Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection is a high quality hardback in full colour with around 200 pages and seven tales of varying length & quality. Part One is available at a special low price & is well worth picking up, though the mega cost of the whole collection is definitely not zarjaz.
December 9, 2024
Essential Judge Dredd: America - 4/5
Collects the main "spine" of the democracy storyline which featured in 2000AD's Judge Dredd strip from the mid-80s to the early 90s, where efforts are made to bring democracy back to the fascist-run streets of Mega-City One. Got 6 stories here, almost all fairly good:
Letter From A Democrat - 6/5. 2000AD Prog #460, Written by John Wagner, Art by John Higgins
A classic, one episode story that manages to ground the world of the strip and realise that whilst Dredd might be fighting deranged Mega-City inhabitants, science experiments gone wrong, and Dark Judges bent on wiping out all life he's still a fascist who imprisons countless people for minor infractions and belongs to a system which is thoroughly corrupt and rancid. I definitely feel the response it was meant to be against those idolising Dredd or the Judges, and it works so well in a way only one-off stories can often do.
Revolution - 5/5. 2000AD Progs #531-533, Written by John Wagner & Alan Grant, Art by John Higgins
You can hear Grant's voice here as Dredd and the Judges get up to their nefarious scheme to disrupt the pro-Democracy march. Really shows the highly satirical and pointed side of Dredd in his hands, being a caricature more than anything. It works really well here, and I love how explicit it is in the well-worn tactics they use to get their way against protesters.
Politics - 5/5. 2000AD Prog #656, Written by Alan Grant, Art by Jeff Anderson
Alan Grant's Dredd unrestrained from John Wagner's more character-focused beats. A really strong and very dark one episode comedy about the lengths the Justice Department will go to suppress the growing democracy movement. Grim in the way the best Dredd satires can be. Makes me wonder what Dredd would've looked like if Grant had become the primary Dredd writer over our own, John Wagner led, timeline.
America - 3.5/5. Judge Dredd Megazine #01-07, Written by John Wagner, Art by Colin MacNeil
The main event. Dredd always works well as a looming background threat, one which truly reveals the inhuman and horrible nature of the Judges in regards to the average citizen. I love the noir feel a lot, and especially seeing flashes of the main characters life as various events in Mega-City history unfold, but the culmination of this first arc of the democracy storyline is really good. It's not subtle, and I know the fact that one of the characters is called America and that name is used to hammer home the point the story is making really irritates some readers, but it works really well for me. We don't deserve subtilty.
My main issue is the treatment of the character of America. She’s a symbol, she exists as a kind of exoticised image in the main character’s head, both in a political and in a sexual sense. She’s not a character but an idea. At no point does she get to breathe on her own but is an object pursued by both the main character and Dredd, her body is more important than her personhood. Things happen to her, and at times she’s reduced to biological functions like her ability to have kids and it all feels very eh. In the end she has less of an individual character than the one-off person introduced in Letter From A Democrat. It's an issue not unique to this story, or even how comparable people are framed in real life, but it being so central here really got at me, and it’s why I reduced my rating.
However, if you can get passed that then there is a really solid story worth reading here and I highly recommend it.
"The Devil You Know..." - 3.5/5. 2000AD Progs 750-753, Written by John Wagner, Art by Jeff Anderson
Gearing up for the Referendum on democracy. Here there are issues just in terms of what is and what isn't included. The story itself is fine, if a little convoluted for what it's trying to tell, and it gets at the heart of Judge corruption which constantly raises its head. The issue is that in this collection we don't see the change in Dredd, why he's shifted from his hardline anti-Democracy stance (which he was so committed he'd break the law itself to stop it) and towards being the main Judge supporting a referendum on democracy.
Now most of that is a gradual shift between America and this story, with most the change happening in the huge Dredd epic Necropolis which has a whole Essential Collection to itself, but it does feel jarring here nevertheless, especially if this is where new readers are jumping in with the Essential Collection releases. Even a short continuity note detailing that shift in Dredd would be good.
As it is though this is still a decent story and continues the themes on well.
Twilight's Last Gleaming - 2/5. 2000AD Progs 754-756, Written by Garth Ennis, Art by John M. Burns
This is the story I'm most mixed on. I don't hate the resolution to the referendum itself, makes sense. My issue comes with the reaction of .
Those issues really hurt this final story, and without them it would be a far stronger ending, both of this story and of the primary democracy storyline in the Dredd timeline.
Overall - 4/5
A really strong collection let down at the end by a wet fart of a final episode. Still, it remains highly recommended for the rest of the stories here!
Collects the main "spine" of the democracy storyline which featured in 2000AD's Judge Dredd strip from the mid-80s to the early 90s, where efforts are made to bring democracy back to the fascist-run streets of Mega-City One. Got 6 stories here, almost all fairly good:
Letter From A Democrat - 6/5. 2000AD Prog #460, Written by John Wagner, Art by John Higgins
A classic, one episode story that manages to ground the world of the strip and realise that whilst Dredd might be fighting deranged Mega-City inhabitants, science experiments gone wrong, and Dark Judges bent on wiping out all life he's still a fascist who imprisons countless people for minor infractions and belongs to a system which is thoroughly corrupt and rancid. I definitely feel the response it was meant to be against those idolising Dredd or the Judges, and it works so well in a way only one-off stories can often do.
Revolution - 5/5. 2000AD Progs #531-533, Written by John Wagner & Alan Grant, Art by John Higgins
You can hear Grant's voice here as Dredd and the Judges get up to their nefarious scheme to disrupt the pro-Democracy march. Really shows the highly satirical and pointed side of Dredd in his hands, being a caricature more than anything. It works really well here, and I love how explicit it is in the well-worn tactics they use to get their way against protesters.
Politics - 5/5. 2000AD Prog #656, Written by Alan Grant, Art by Jeff Anderson
Alan Grant's Dredd unrestrained from John Wagner's more character-focused beats. A really strong and very dark one episode comedy about the lengths the Justice Department will go to suppress the growing democracy movement. Grim in the way the best Dredd satires can be. Makes me wonder what Dredd would've looked like if Grant had become the primary Dredd writer over our own, John Wagner led, timeline.
America - 3.5/5. Judge Dredd Megazine #01-07, Written by John Wagner, Art by Colin MacNeil
The main event. Dredd always works well as a looming background threat, one which truly reveals the inhuman and horrible nature of the Judges in regards to the average citizen. I love the noir feel a lot, and especially seeing flashes of the main characters life as various events in Mega-City history unfold, but the culmination of this first arc of the democracy storyline is really good. It's not subtle, and I know the fact that one of the characters is called America and that name is used to hammer home the point the story is making really irritates some readers, but it works really well for me. We don't deserve subtilty.
My main issue is the treatment of the character of America. She’s a symbol, she exists as a kind of exoticised image in the main character’s head, both in a political and in a sexual sense. She’s not a character but an idea. At no point does she get to breathe on her own but is an object pursued by both the main character and Dredd, her body is more important than her personhood. Things happen to her, and at times she’s reduced to biological functions like her ability to have kids and it all feels very eh. In the end she has less of an individual character than the one-off person introduced in Letter From A Democrat. It's an issue not unique to this story, or even how comparable people are framed in real life, but it being so central here really got at me, and it’s why I reduced my rating.
However, if you can get passed that then there is a really solid story worth reading here and I highly recommend it.
"The Devil You Know..." - 3.5/5. 2000AD Progs 750-753, Written by John Wagner, Art by Jeff Anderson
Gearing up for the Referendum on democracy. Here there are issues just in terms of what is and what isn't included. The story itself is fine, if a little convoluted for what it's trying to tell, and it gets at the heart of Judge corruption which constantly raises its head. The issue is that in this collection we don't see the change in Dredd, why he's shifted from his hardline anti-Democracy stance (which he was so committed he'd break the law itself to stop it) and towards being the main Judge supporting a referendum on democracy.
Now most of that is a gradual shift between America and this story, with most the change happening in the huge Dredd epic Necropolis which has a whole Essential Collection to itself, but it does feel jarring here nevertheless, especially if this is where new readers are jumping in with the Essential Collection releases. Even a short continuity note detailing that shift in Dredd would be good.
As it is though this is still a decent story and continues the themes on well.
Twilight's Last Gleaming - 2/5. 2000AD Progs 754-756, Written by Garth Ennis, Art by John M. Burns
This is the story I'm most mixed on. I don't hate the resolution to the referendum itself, makes sense. My issue comes with the reaction of .
Those issues really hurt this final story, and without them it would be a far stronger ending, both of this story and of the primary democracy storyline in the Dredd timeline.
Overall - 4/5
A really strong collection let down at the end by a wet fart of a final episode. Still, it remains highly recommended for the rest of the stories here!
February 4, 2015
This is the first issue in an 80 issue run by Hachette Partworks. Each book will contain a theme and is approximately 200 pages. They are also in Hardback and each have a spine that will produce a new image.
America is the first collection of stories. I read this when it first came out in the Judge Dredd Megazine - and i really enjoyed it back then. I have since been away from 2000AD and Judge Dredd, and this is the perfect collection and starting point to get back in there.
There are 3 fairly meaty stories, starting with America, and finishing with Cadet. It tells a complete story of this specific family.
The book ends with a couple of episodes from 2000AD which focuses of Dredd and his family. They are interesting, but not essential for the America story.
All in all, this was a great start. I know there are better stories to come so I have given it a realistic 4 stars.
This is going to look great on my bookshelf.
America is the first collection of stories. I read this when it first came out in the Judge Dredd Megazine - and i really enjoyed it back then. I have since been away from 2000AD and Judge Dredd, and this is the perfect collection and starting point to get back in there.
There are 3 fairly meaty stories, starting with America, and finishing with Cadet. It tells a complete story of this specific family.
The book ends with a couple of episodes from 2000AD which focuses of Dredd and his family. They are interesting, but not essential for the America story.
All in all, this was a great start. I know there are better stories to come so I have given it a realistic 4 stars.
This is going to look great on my bookshelf.
August 10, 2018
Easily one of Dredds greatest stories, even if he's barely in it. It was through these stories we really got to see 2000ad grow up as a publisher, moving away from doing satire of British politics and authoritarianism and instead beginning a genuine two way discussion on the merits of freedom vs justice. The characters are all fully fleshed out and enjoyable to read and the story is encased in interesting metaphors and impossible questions of morality. The art is gorgeous too, with part one of the trilogy featuring an especially beautiful gritty painted look.
Well worth a read for anyone who loves a good story.
Well worth a read for anyone who loves a good story.
February 17, 2015
I was never really a huge fan of Dredd, my 2000AD period being more about the old Starlord heroes! However this first part of the collection, America, was a story I remembered and liked And also included two follow up stories. As far as a collection goes it's pitched nicely and kept me reading. If only every issue was only £1.99
August 20, 2015
Wonderfully adult Dredd stories, ones I'd never read before. Definitely not for kids, these particular stories, but still brought me back to my misspent youth. I can't wait to read more of these books!
April 13, 2018
First Dreds comic I have read, but extremely fucked up as only Dredd can provide.
August 4, 2025
This was my introduction to Judge Dredd and I found it was the perfectly curated collection to pull me into Dredd’s Megacity. It starts with a few quick issues where Dredd acts as the periphery oppressor against revolutionaries. They felt like dystopian parables outlining the tactics at play when a racism regime holds all of the cards.
America really is the magnum opus and when I found this in a comic shop it was Colin MacNeil’s art that made the purchase inevitable. Rendered in deep neon noir, but with a soft pastel texture I couldn’t have imagined a more authentic depiction of the haze-soaked cyberpunk aesthetic, perfected in Blade Runner. As with the leading issues Dredd remains a periphery character and provides the means for the main character Benny Beeny to betray his estranged love America Jara. This seems to be a real passion project for John Wagner as he elevates the scope of his characters. Oddly I found the effortless political commentary of the other issues left to the wayside in favour of this more 90s sci-fi romance, which makes the collection all the more complimentary.
The third section of this collection is written by Garth Ennis and finally features Judge Dredd as the lead character. It does a great job of making the audience root against their values. Dredd enacts a referendum between continuing Judicial rule or reverting back to Democratic rule. There is something inherently heroic about him standing for his extremely cynical values. He comes against conflict with other Judges who aren’t as steadfast in their power over the populace. By the end I was more compelled to see Dredd succeed than fascism thwarted and storytelling that can pull my values through that horrifying journey is what will bring me back to Megacity one.
My favourite panel is in America and it’s when America outs herself as a revolutionary in the classroom. The wide shot with where America is depicted in silhouette through a pink haze in the background while some classmates joke about in the foreground. What a beautiful use of colour and atmosphere. MacNeil takes his opportunity in the first act to explore the bright colours of cyberpunk by daylight and it really left a mark, really punctuates an incredible palette.
America really is the magnum opus and when I found this in a comic shop it was Colin MacNeil’s art that made the purchase inevitable. Rendered in deep neon noir, but with a soft pastel texture I couldn’t have imagined a more authentic depiction of the haze-soaked cyberpunk aesthetic, perfected in Blade Runner. As with the leading issues Dredd remains a periphery character and provides the means for the main character Benny Beeny to betray his estranged love America Jara. This seems to be a real passion project for John Wagner as he elevates the scope of his characters. Oddly I found the effortless political commentary of the other issues left to the wayside in favour of this more 90s sci-fi romance, which makes the collection all the more complimentary.
The third section of this collection is written by Garth Ennis and finally features Judge Dredd as the lead character. It does a great job of making the audience root against their values. Dredd enacts a referendum between continuing Judicial rule or reverting back to Democratic rule. There is something inherently heroic about him standing for his extremely cynical values. He comes against conflict with other Judges who aren’t as steadfast in their power over the populace. By the end I was more compelled to see Dredd succeed than fascism thwarted and storytelling that can pull my values through that horrifying journey is what will bring me back to Megacity one.
My favourite panel is in America and it’s when America outs herself as a revolutionary in the classroom. The wide shot with where America is depicted in silhouette through a pink haze in the background while some classmates joke about in the foreground. What a beautiful use of colour and atmosphere. MacNeil takes his opportunity in the first act to explore the bright colours of cyberpunk by daylight and it really left a mark, really punctuates an incredible palette.
February 20, 2022
America is often praised as one of the best Dredd stories but I have to disagree. I am with the other reviewers who say "This is not Dredd" or "This is Dredd for people who don't like Dredd". The main story is not the tone of a typical Dredd story. It is a story of people fighting for democracy in a world gone bad. Typical Dredd is told form the POV of Dredd and is over the top dark violence. This main story is from the perspective of the people fighting for democracy. Even the art style is too much 90's for me when they thought "let's paint everything and it will be artsie".
Thankfully the last two stories are more typical Dredd. With the more typical art and the POV from Dredd. They both tie together because there is a referendum on the Judge's rule and people get to vote if they want democracy again. Dredd set this in motion and he is targeted by other Judges because of it. The last story is the outcome of the vote. These stories are what makes Dredd interesting to me. Anyone could tell the "America" story. A future gone bad where some rebels are fighting to overthrow a fascists regime. Only Dredd can tell the last two tales and make it about the fact "yeah the Judge rule sucks but people suck more and would vote it back". That kind of pessimistic look with Judge Dredd being the protagonist is what makes Dredd unique. Sure it is dark but it makes the point more effectively than "America" which does it in a more obvious "isn't losing democracy bad?" kind of way.
Overall this is NOT my fav Dredd but the last half of this collection was.
Thankfully the last two stories are more typical Dredd. With the more typical art and the POV from Dredd. They both tie together because there is a referendum on the Judge's rule and people get to vote if they want democracy again. Dredd set this in motion and he is targeted by other Judges because of it. The last story is the outcome of the vote. These stories are what makes Dredd interesting to me. Anyone could tell the "America" story. A future gone bad where some rebels are fighting to overthrow a fascists regime. Only Dredd can tell the last two tales and make it about the fact "yeah the Judge rule sucks but people suck more and would vote it back". That kind of pessimistic look with Judge Dredd being the protagonist is what makes Dredd unique. Sure it is dark but it makes the point more effectively than "America" which does it in a more obvious "isn't losing democracy bad?" kind of way.
Overall this is NOT my fav Dredd but the last half of this collection was.
August 18, 2025
8.5/10
Pretty different from my normal reads, its also my first time reading Dredd. This book focuses on the political nature of the Dreddverse and I think its pretty interesting to see the perspectives on the Judge's from both sides.
Dredd is a morally dubious character as from one perspective he's an oppressive facist who will arrest his own mother (Don't think he has one tbf) if he thought she was causing unrest and from another perspective, mainly his, he's doing it for the good of the people as from his point of view the people of Mega-city One need a strict and fast acting set of leaders to stop the city falling into further chaos.
The main story of the collection 'America' was pretty solid as I thought it perfectly illustrated how civilians fear the Judges and how that can cause some of them to become rebellious and go on to cause massive destruction down the line. The main character in Benny/Beeny was another morally questionable one as while he obviously loves Ami he betrays her to save himself which is pretty cowardly and then he literally wears her skin which is disturbing to say the least. The side stories also found in this collection were also fairly solid and I liked how they stayed relevant to the main plot rather than just going off into a tangent.
The art on show here is brilliant at points, I like how at one moment it can look like an Alex Ross esque panel and the next its a bit more cartoony.
Pretty different from my normal reads, its also my first time reading Dredd. This book focuses on the political nature of the Dreddverse and I think its pretty interesting to see the perspectives on the Judge's from both sides.
Dredd is a morally dubious character as from one perspective he's an oppressive facist who will arrest his own mother (Don't think he has one tbf) if he thought she was causing unrest and from another perspective, mainly his, he's doing it for the good of the people as from his point of view the people of Mega-city One need a strict and fast acting set of leaders to stop the city falling into further chaos.
The main story of the collection 'America' was pretty solid as I thought it perfectly illustrated how civilians fear the Judges and how that can cause some of them to become rebellious and go on to cause massive destruction down the line. The main character in Benny/Beeny was another morally questionable one as while he obviously loves Ami he betrays her to save himself which is pretty cowardly and then he literally wears her skin which is disturbing to say the least. The side stories also found in this collection were also fairly solid and I liked how they stayed relevant to the main plot rather than just going off into a tangent.
The art on show here is brilliant at points, I like how at one moment it can look like an Alex Ross esque panel and the next its a bit more cartoony.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2023
This is THE Judge Dredd story imo. Even though he’s barely featured throughout a large portion of the collection, you can feel his shadow across every page.
The first half takes a much closer look at the people living under the Judges and their iron fisted rule. It serves to act as a deconstruction of the character and the world these people live in while taking obvious queues and inspiration from real world issues happening at the time of publication. Its not just the story of a badass judge fighting corruption and evil, it’s what it’s like to live in a world where the judges rule and I think it’s done so well.
The second half is much more classic Dredd, as it shifts back to his POV and asks why the people living in this world might allow someone like Dredd to rule over them. It paints Dredd as a much more heroic figure and shines a light on the people in this city and just why they might vote for the judicial system over democracy.
The MAJOR highlight for me by far is the America section of this collection. MacNeils art and colouring is probably my favourite of any comic I’ve ever seen, and Wagner’s story is as good as it gets.
Overall it’s an excellent collection and probably one of my favourite collection of comics I’ve read yet. If you’re looking for a place to start with Judge Dredd, this is it.
The first half takes a much closer look at the people living under the Judges and their iron fisted rule. It serves to act as a deconstruction of the character and the world these people live in while taking obvious queues and inspiration from real world issues happening at the time of publication. Its not just the story of a badass judge fighting corruption and evil, it’s what it’s like to live in a world where the judges rule and I think it’s done so well.
The second half is much more classic Dredd, as it shifts back to his POV and asks why the people living in this world might allow someone like Dredd to rule over them. It paints Dredd as a much more heroic figure and shines a light on the people in this city and just why they might vote for the judicial system over democracy.
The MAJOR highlight for me by far is the America section of this collection. MacNeils art and colouring is probably my favourite of any comic I’ve ever seen, and Wagner’s story is as good as it gets.
Overall it’s an excellent collection and probably one of my favourite collection of comics I’ve read yet. If you’re looking for a place to start with Judge Dredd, this is it.
March 23, 2021
Haunting, gut-wrenching, and all too real. People have called this Judge Dredd's Dark Knight Returns, but I don't think that's quite right... this is less a contemporary recontextualizing of Dredd than it is an ultimate summation, an overt statement of the subtext and the messaging that's been there from the start. This is what Dredd and the world of Mega-City One always WAS; the only difference is, this time it's not played for black humor. (Also, unlike Frank Miller's magnum opus, the fascism is not valorized here.)
A potent and chilling parable of dreams and ideals shattered by cowardice and cruelty. John Wagner and Colin McNeil remind us that all oppression needs to survive is the complacency and fear of the oppressed-- and that tyranny likes to cloak itself in the garb of righteousness.
A potent and chilling parable of dreams and ideals shattered by cowardice and cruelty. John Wagner and Colin McNeil remind us that all oppression needs to survive is the complacency and fear of the oppressed-- and that tyranny likes to cloak itself in the garb of righteousness.
May 29, 2021
It is to my eternal shame that I have only ever read Judge Death, so the discovery of a trilogy of Essential books seemed the prefect jumping-in point.
And boy is it.
"Contextualised with contemporarily thematic stores" (nope, me neither), these are the biggest, most important stories in Dredd's world, and if this book is anything to go by the other two should be great.
Taking in Letter From A Democrat, America and The Devil You Know, this first volume takes us through the uprising of democracy in Mega City One - threatening the rules of the Judges.
The stories could not be more relevant, taking in politics, celebrity and radicalisation.
The artwork is gritty and dark, with some absolutely stunning show pages, with the stories gripping and immersive.
It really is the perfect introduction.
And boy is it.
"Contextualised with contemporarily thematic stores" (nope, me neither), these are the biggest, most important stories in Dredd's world, and if this book is anything to go by the other two should be great.
Taking in Letter From A Democrat, America and The Devil You Know, this first volume takes us through the uprising of democracy in Mega City One - threatening the rules of the Judges.
The stories could not be more relevant, taking in politics, celebrity and radicalisation.
The artwork is gritty and dark, with some absolutely stunning show pages, with the stories gripping and immersive.
It really is the perfect introduction.
February 22, 2021
No one does moral ambiguity quite like Judge Dredd, and this collection of linked stories is no exception. Unfortunately, most of the writing here is relatively unsophisticated and doesn't make its point very well, coming off as mean spirited and nihilistic. The final story (written by Garth Ennis) is the only one that makes the point (about whether liberty and security can coexist, and whether an apathetic society can be trusted to choose between them) in a way that works on a dramatic and emotional level, and it goes a long way towards redeeming the rest of the book.
March 29, 2022
The original America story is the best of the Dredd stories I've read (which isn't many). It's an interesting take to look at your protagonist as the villain he'd be in real life rather than the hero he's usually portrayed as. The later two stories seem to have completely missed the point of the first as they move the fascist judges back to the forefront and make the revolutionary freedom fighters into terrorists. It's an odd story choice coming from the same creative team.
December 18, 2022
This is good comics.
Dredd is easiest to comprehend when he’s contrasted against other non-Judge humans. That this installment is heavily focused on a citizen under the thumb of the Judges is what makes it such a great starting point.
Dredd first-timers will get a good sense of the world, the Judge, and politics of the series.
Looking forward to reading other top-tier Dredd arcs.
Dredd is easiest to comprehend when he’s contrasted against other non-Judge humans. That this installment is heavily focused on a citizen under the thumb of the Judges is what makes it such a great starting point.
Dredd first-timers will get a good sense of the world, the Judge, and politics of the series.
Looking forward to reading other top-tier Dredd arcs.
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