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Judge Fear's Big Day Out and Other Stories
New anthology collecting the very best prose stories from the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!
New anthology collecting the very best prose stories from the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!
A shopping mall where droids sell organs harvested from street trash...
A murderous imaginary friend...
A psychotic composer drafting music from pain...
All in a day’s work for the Lawman of the Future.
Edited by and with an introduction by Dredd veteran Michael Carroll, Judge Fear’s Big Day Out and Other Stories gathers the very best short stories from more than a decade of the Judge Dredd Megazine, including stories by legends Alan Grant, Gordon Rennie and Simon Spurrier, among countless others…
New anthology collecting the very best prose stories from the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!
A shopping mall where droids sell organs harvested from street trash...
A murderous imaginary friend...
A psychotic composer drafting music from pain...
All in a day’s work for the Lawman of the Future.
Edited by and with an introduction by Dredd veteran Michael Carroll, Judge Fear’s Big Day Out and Other Stories gathers the very best short stories from more than a decade of the Judge Dredd Megazine, including stories by legends Alan Grant, Gordon Rennie and Simon Spurrier, among countless others…
416 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2020
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16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 17, 2021
Overall this was a good read. There are 33 short stories here, featuring all walks of life, differing Mega-City locations and narratives. I'm not going to bore you with which are good and bad, you need to decide that for yourself if you read, but for me personally, the title story stands out. Mainly because it's really well written, but also because of the juxtaposition of the two main characters involved. And if you have existing knowledge of Dredd comics then this story will hit the spot, if you don't you'll be left wondering 'what's the big deal?'
This book is quite restricting for its audience. If you like and follow Judge Dredd comics, and let's face it there are a lot of them, this book if for you. It's a great roll of snapshots from all over the big Meg. But drokk, if you know stomm about Dredd then Grud help you, 90% of this book is going to go right over the head of the average norm.
This book is quite restricting for its audience. If you like and follow Judge Dredd comics, and let's face it there are a lot of them, this book if for you. It's a great roll of snapshots from all over the big Meg. But drokk, if you know stomm about Dredd then Grud help you, 90% of this book is going to go right over the head of the average norm.
September 2, 2025
It was OK. I'm not a huge Judge Dredd fan so people who are might like it better. Good narrator for Dredd's voice though.
December 13, 2020
I was never one for short stories, but have grown to appreciate them as I've got older. They still need to have an end though, I hate a cliffhanger ending. Anyway, the short stories in this book brought back a cosy blanket feeling of love of Judge Dredd and Megacity 1 and the horror within. There are a few misses in this book, but mostly they are really enjoyable. I liked the title story in particular, and the concise yet horrific contributions by Alan Grant. I am now going to dig out all my old progs and revisit my childhood.
November 25, 2020
Excellent collection of short stories set in the Dredd universe. Humorous and darkly entertaining.
January 14, 2021
In 1977 Britain, revolution was in the air. The Sex Pistols were singing about Anarchy in the UK, inflation stood at 16.5%, unemployment was at 5.5% and technology was on the cusp transforming our lives with home computers, robots and user-powered cars (sadly, C-5 never did take off though).
Against this backdrop, the slyly political, shrewdly subversive and hugely entertaining sci-fi British comic 2000AD was born, a comic which enjoys as much popularity today as it did 44 years ago. And central to the comic’s success has been the mainstay of the publication; Judge Dredd, a futuristic police officer who is judge, jury and executioner in the claustrophobic post-nuclear world of Mega City One.
Why Judge Dredd worked so well, and still works well, is because what it did was take the themes and concerns of modern life and ratcheted them up to 100 in a science fiction future; mass anarchy and disaffection, unemployed at 99%, technology invading every aspect of life.
Whilst a merciless fascist, dispensing justice as ruthlessly as the judges rule the city and the people within it, Dredd’s heroism and unyielding determination to keep rule-abiding citizens safe has garnered him cult status, two films (one terrible, one marvellous) and a number of novels - not to mention helping to keep 2000AD afloat during the ‘difficult 90s’. But what he has never enjoyed is a book of short stories - until now.
Fundamentally, Judge Fear’s Big Day Out shouldn’t work, just like any written word adaptation of the Judge Dredd universe shouldn’t really. Dredd, or as ‘Old Stoney Face’ as he has come to be known, is a visual comic book character, laid down in illustration and panels and bubble speak. However, what Judge Fear’s Big Day Out shows is the power of the written word when delivered by the hands of talented writers.
Judge Fear’s Big Day Out is a smörgåsbord of stories from Mega City One, some hilarious, some gruesome, some terrifying, others deeply moving, but all terrifically written and keenly compiled by frequent 2000AD contributor Michael Carroll.
Judge Fear’s Big Day Out provides to the reader an even deeper appreciation of the complexities of life within Mega City One, both as a judge but also a citizen living under the constant fear of crime and those trying to protect people from criminals. It provides colour, insight, depth, added perception beyond the comic, not to mention the voices of a whole host of new writers who will rarely get the opportunity to add their take on Mega City Life in comic book form, seeing as there’s only one slot for a Judge Dredd story each week in 2000AD (although the Judge Dredd Megazine gives readers another five each month).
The stories are short enough to devour in a tea break or a twenty minute rest on the sofa, but each pack enough action, adventure and emotion to leave you pondering for the rest of the day. And there are a LOT of them. Rebellion, the publisher, have been very generous, unlike judgement by Dredd and his fellow judges.
And whilst there are some stories here which feel vaguely reminiscent of previous Dredd stories from the comics (the title story ‘Judge Fear’s Big Day Out’, for example, is essentially a replay of Judge Death’s encounter with almost blind Mrs Gunderson after Necropolis - Mega City One was taken over by the Dark Judges and Sisters of Death: read Necropolis!), there’s so much talent on show here that every story has plenty for even the most discerning fan of Dredd to celebrate.
For too long comics have been regarded as the lesser poorer cousin of the written word medium (entirely incorrectly - read Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns or, on brand, Dredd’s Chaos Day, for proof) . Perhaps Judge Fear’s Big Day Out will help to elevate both Dredd and 2000AD to a more recognised and celebrated literary position among the truly great stories and publications of the twentieth and twenty first centuries - and a wider audience too. Which can only be a good thing for everyone involved. Just don’t tell Dredd - comic book selling is illegal in Mega City One.
Against this backdrop, the slyly political, shrewdly subversive and hugely entertaining sci-fi British comic 2000AD was born, a comic which enjoys as much popularity today as it did 44 years ago. And central to the comic’s success has been the mainstay of the publication; Judge Dredd, a futuristic police officer who is judge, jury and executioner in the claustrophobic post-nuclear world of Mega City One.
Why Judge Dredd worked so well, and still works well, is because what it did was take the themes and concerns of modern life and ratcheted them up to 100 in a science fiction future; mass anarchy and disaffection, unemployed at 99%, technology invading every aspect of life.
Whilst a merciless fascist, dispensing justice as ruthlessly as the judges rule the city and the people within it, Dredd’s heroism and unyielding determination to keep rule-abiding citizens safe has garnered him cult status, two films (one terrible, one marvellous) and a number of novels - not to mention helping to keep 2000AD afloat during the ‘difficult 90s’. But what he has never enjoyed is a book of short stories - until now.
Fundamentally, Judge Fear’s Big Day Out shouldn’t work, just like any written word adaptation of the Judge Dredd universe shouldn’t really. Dredd, or as ‘Old Stoney Face’ as he has come to be known, is a visual comic book character, laid down in illustration and panels and bubble speak. However, what Judge Fear’s Big Day Out shows is the power of the written word when delivered by the hands of talented writers.
Judge Fear’s Big Day Out is a smörgåsbord of stories from Mega City One, some hilarious, some gruesome, some terrifying, others deeply moving, but all terrifically written and keenly compiled by frequent 2000AD contributor Michael Carroll.
Judge Fear’s Big Day Out provides to the reader an even deeper appreciation of the complexities of life within Mega City One, both as a judge but also a citizen living under the constant fear of crime and those trying to protect people from criminals. It provides colour, insight, depth, added perception beyond the comic, not to mention the voices of a whole host of new writers who will rarely get the opportunity to add their take on Mega City Life in comic book form, seeing as there’s only one slot for a Judge Dredd story each week in 2000AD (although the Judge Dredd Megazine gives readers another five each month).
The stories are short enough to devour in a tea break or a twenty minute rest on the sofa, but each pack enough action, adventure and emotion to leave you pondering for the rest of the day. And there are a LOT of them. Rebellion, the publisher, have been very generous, unlike judgement by Dredd and his fellow judges.
And whilst there are some stories here which feel vaguely reminiscent of previous Dredd stories from the comics (the title story ‘Judge Fear’s Big Day Out’, for example, is essentially a replay of Judge Death’s encounter with almost blind Mrs Gunderson after Necropolis - Mega City One was taken over by the Dark Judges and Sisters of Death: read Necropolis!), there’s so much talent on show here that every story has plenty for even the most discerning fan of Dredd to celebrate.
For too long comics have been regarded as the lesser poorer cousin of the written word medium (entirely incorrectly - read Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns or, on brand, Dredd’s Chaos Day, for proof) . Perhaps Judge Fear’s Big Day Out will help to elevate both Dredd and 2000AD to a more recognised and celebrated literary position among the truly great stories and publications of the twentieth and twenty first centuries - and a wider audience too. Which can only be a good thing for everyone involved. Just don’t tell Dredd - comic book selling is illegal in Mega City One.
July 6, 2023
Oh this was fun. I discovered Dredd around 40 years ago when a friend introduced me to the wonders of 2000ad.
This collection is a fine helping of Dredd's law in Mega City One in the aftermath of the Chaos Bug.
There's enough violence, scares, humour, lunacy and pure genius to keep the old and new fans of this chisel jawed deliverer of justice very happy indeed
This collection is a fine helping of Dredd's law in Mega City One in the aftermath of the Chaos Bug.
There's enough violence, scares, humour, lunacy and pure genius to keep the old and new fans of this chisel jawed deliverer of justice very happy indeed
May 15, 2021
A solid read with the amount of violence that you would expect from anything dealing with Judge Dredd.
Fast, fun and brutal.
Fast, fun and brutal.
October 1, 2024
4.5 stars
November 7, 2024
A bit of a Grud-damned slog, but enough fun material to make it worth your time.
October 2, 2025
A mix of all Dredd goodness!
Big day out is a fairly big collection of 2000AD/ Dredd short stories previously published in magazines. The utterly over-the-top world Dredd inhabits is told in all it weird glory in this 10 hour audio-collection. In all there is a large mix of stories with a mix of humor, horror, detective, dystopian, action and even Christmas themes mixed in.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it to SF fan who wants to take a trip on the OTT side of the fence. Dredd is always an entertaining character, but with a slew of other characters an indept picture is painted of MegaCity 1. Being mostly new to 2000AD/ Dredd, I more than likely missed quite a few references to larger storylines, but I never felt I couldn't follow the story because of it. Just the atmosphere and feel of the stories alone gave enough context to get everything I needed to enjoy the story and revel in the weirdness contained within.
Big day out is a fairly big collection of 2000AD/ Dredd short stories previously published in magazines. The utterly over-the-top world Dredd inhabits is told in all it weird glory in this 10 hour audio-collection. In all there is a large mix of stories with a mix of humor, horror, detective, dystopian, action and even Christmas themes mixed in.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it to SF fan who wants to take a trip on the OTT side of the fence. Dredd is always an entertaining character, but with a slew of other characters an indept picture is painted of MegaCity 1. Being mostly new to 2000AD/ Dredd, I more than likely missed quite a few references to larger storylines, but I never felt I couldn't follow the story because of it. Just the atmosphere and feel of the stories alone gave enough context to get everything I needed to enjoy the story and revel in the weirdness contained within.
May 17, 2022
Overall good stories but starting and stopping every 15 to 20 minutes with a brand new narrative made it a slog to get through. Short stories are great but hard to relax when compiled in one book right after another.
Pair this book with some longer form Judge Dredd books. Start each day off with a new short story and then continue on with longer narritives to keep you engaged with both books. So many short stories you may end up pairing with multiple longer books. If I did this I would have enjoyed the shorter stories better.
Pair this book with some longer form Judge Dredd books. Start each day off with a new short story and then continue on with longer narritives to keep you engaged with both books. So many short stories you may end up pairing with multiple longer books. If I did this I would have enjoyed the shorter stories better.
April 19, 2021
A very solid collection of tales from Mega City One. The real standout, though, is Bernard which is so twisted and so delightfully wrong that it almost justifies buying this book on its own.
June 9, 2023
Lots of stories. Some good, some not so. Stand out for me was the titular story. Good narration though, captures Dredd well.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews