Judge Dredd: End of Days

by Rob Williams, Henry Flint, Arthur Wyatt

The grand new collection of the adrenaline-pumping and hugely-popular modern classic storyline by writer Rob Williams ( Suicide SquadJudge Small House and Judge Control .

Judge Dredd is the top lawman of Mega-City One, but now it seems as though the end has come – he must face off against the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse! Luckily he has an unexpected ally at his side in the form of meta-normal cowboy killer Ichabod Azrael.

The Dredd epic of the year has arrived as Rob Williams (Judge Control) teams up with Henry Flint (Judge The Small House) and Colin MacNeil (America) to bring you this revelatory tale of the harbingers of the Final Judgement facing off against Mega-City One’s toughest Judge. This collection is rounded out with epilogue stories from Rob Williams, Arthur Wyatt, Boo Cook and Dan Cornwell.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

144 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2021

Reviews

[Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't up to the standard of any other Dredd that I've read.

It just misses the mark due to what I believe to be poor, rushed writing, and ridiculous artwork I places, such as the depictions of the Four Horsemen. They just look ridiculous.

I felt like the additional stories at the end of the main story were better.

Disappointing.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always vastly preferred the more low-key stories about day-to-day lawmanning, such as The Pit, over these massive world-changing epics like Necropolis or Day of Chaos. This one seemed so much like it would fall solidly into the latter camp... but then again, billing itself as The Absolute Final End Of Humankind And Everything Etc. simply was not going to happen - especially when John Wagner wasn't involved - and sure enough, it ended up not doing much anything at all for the setting.

But it does feel like it should have done something, doesn't it? It was basically an apocalypse scenario, after all, narrowly averted. There should be some manner of fallout, but I honestly doubt there will be. Even Judgement Day was just utterly forgotten once it was done - billions died and it warranted barely a mention afterwards.

Like Judgement Day, it's a crossover - this time with the Grievous Journey of Ichabod Azrael, which, unlike Strontium Dog, this was my first encounter with. It didn't leave a terribly good impression of him in my mind. The horsemen are each a little more inventive - especially the last one, with a cute if predictable twist - and I like how the Russians were allowed to bring one down, reminding us that Dredd isn't the only capable person in this post-apocalyptic hellscape world. Also, some screentime for Giant is always appreciated. At the opposite end, Anderson was a pretty low point - her psychic abilities had little rhyme or reason or internal logic to them.

Honestly... the more I think about it, the more I liked this story, or at least didn't dislike it. It takes the character away to places I don't prefer, but it pulls it off better than many others of his. It might even have been a better crossover than Judgement Day was - at least it didn't leave us with billions of entirely forgotten corpses - though I guess I'd still prefer it if the next crossover was a bit more low-key and less a super special This Changes Everything thing. Oh, there was the one with Rogue Trooper that was kind of like that. Maybe ABC Warriors next?

[Dustin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably the worst Dredd story arc I have ever read. Utterly terrible. I have no idea what the writers were going for apart from ripping off Preacher and trying to outdo the Apocalypse War, Judge Child and Judge Death. Juvenile rubbish in the worst possible sense.

[Alex Sarll]

Unlike other recent mega-epics, which had been seeded (sometimes very subtly) within earlier strips, this one seemed to come out of nowhere, and I can't help wondering whether it was a desperation tactic to draw people after the hit of lockdown (which, to their credit, 2000AD kept publishing right through, unlike US comics companies). Sadly, its main effect on me was (especially in combination with the lacklustre Hershey series immediately preceding it) to start me wondering whether Rob Williams needs a break from Dreddworld, because having done some brilliant work (Low Life, Titan, The Small House), he feels a lot like he's running on fumes here. 2000AD's anthology format has always meant it can do crossovers without having to spoil the surprise by trailing them, but where something like the recent meeting between Dredd and Zombo made me squeak with delight, this one elicited a sighed 'Huh?' when it introduced Ichabod Azrael, star of Williams' not-exactly-missed supernatural Western series, bringing an angel's head and a message of doom to Mega-City One. Having the Four Horsemen loose just feels like duplication in a world that already has the Dark Judges, although granted things do pick up a little once we start meeting them, where Williams brings his fondness for savage satire into play – so Famine is in Brit-Cit, piggybacking on a scheme which had planned to make the poor able to survive without food. Alas, that's as good as it gets. A further crossover appearance lends the whole thing an unwelcome air of Helter Skelter which, given End Of Days already had strong Judgment Day vibes, leaves it recalling two of the weaker Dredd epics to date – and out-sucking both. Flint and Macneil, two of the best current Dredd artists, do their best to make it drag less, but unlike Joe himself, there's only so much they can achieve against impossible odds. The climax deepens suspicions that the whole business is basically retreading the Dark Judges, except rubbish, while also recalling the piss-poor conclusions of Mark Millar's inglorious stint on Dredd. In particular, there's an attempt at a 'Gaze into the fist of Dredd' moment which is so transparent it's just embarrassing. One long-time 2000AD reader friend quit the title during the course of this, and frankly I don't blame him; had it not been for some of the other strips with which it coincided (the Halo Jones-esque The Out; the macabre chuckles of a new Caballistics spin-off; even a 3riller whose likenesses provided the unexpected spectacle of Anthony Reynolds from Jack facing off against Jacob Rees-Mogg), I might well have been tempted to do likewise, especially since these progs also featured the return of Sinister sodding Dexter.

[Stephan Brusche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, not great either.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the apocalypse has come, it’s the end of days. Not much to say other than what’s already been said. The writing is pretty rushed and art takes a downward tumble as the story progresses.

Since there’s no numbering system I’ll make up my own but the collection does have an Act system in the back.

Chapter one: Cowboys and Angels

A cowboy arrives by the name of Ichabod Azriel, seemingly an angel and God killer from the past, here to warn them to kill the Horsemen beside his decapitated angel friend, uhh Mr Angel no-name. No really this all important Angel gets no name.

Whenever the angel talks there’s no special text or speech bubble indicating its him, it’s just a free-floating circle and it can get confusing as to who is talking. The angel head warns them that they need to kill Famine, Pestilence, War, and Death.

Famine is up first, possessing a scientist who helped engineer a trial drug that keeps people from being hungry. Due to the Horseman’s influence it begins to eat people alive from the inside out. No further explanation is given and it’s more of a supernatural thing as the fellow judges begin to become infected when they are sent to Brit-Cit to try and kill the Horseman.

Dredd becomes infected- as does Anderson, but the robot Judge saves them with Ichabod‘s help. It’s not very climactic and lasts only two pages before we get a rather deep throwaway interaction between the time traveler and the robot.

Essentially, Ichabod takes in the robot and remarks how it was built for killing. Jonas, The robot, replies that they are built for upholding the law. Ichabod replies that the capacity for death, pain, and meaning is considerable, and no soul to corrupt within?

This chapter also had a really cool message about being hungry is not limited to food, as Dredd hungered for justice. Unfortunately it wasn’t really given more time and falls flat.

—

Chapter 2. The art takes a dive.

Ignoring the previous issues about a nuclear holocaust and a weather system on the fritz, the gang goes to Antarctica. The art no longer has black crisp shadows, now it’s awkward lighting and coloring. Also as they approach Pestilence they get sicker, skinnier, and thin.

They accidentally released some kind of toxin underneath the ice, we get a quick reminder that Mega City One is being hit by a tornado, and the gang eject from the air ship into the water. Pestilence is in the body of a scientist who was trying to develop a virus, Dredd handcuffs her and sends her into the ocean.

Anderson and Patrick go to the scientist’s laboratory and Anderson telepathically brings the virus into the lab. Yes you read that right. Patrick sacrifices herself in a way that feels way too gruesome and unnecessary.

Since their ship is toast, Dredd calls in his bounty to the Sov Nation and they come in their Little boomerang UFO’s to pick them up. No one has recovered so everyone is still skinny, and we get to hear a little bit more about Ichabod‘s past.

Chapter 3. War is here
So the Russians weren’t successful at stopping their own nukes. They did however manage to capture War…and then kill it unceremoniously. It’s also revealed that Death is on the moon. Death plans to uh…slam the moon into Earth, using rockets on Luna-1. Death just…kills people, no explanation given. “What killed them?” “Death” “Yeah, that usually does it.”

Chapter 4. Death is Dredd
Nice twist. The art is better for the reveal. Ichabod was sent through time to kill Death via a ghost lady who I guess gave him the angel head. Less good of a twist. Then its revealed that Anderson made a deal with the head for them to become one. Also the angel still won’t get a name they just keep calling it Angel.

The four horsemen are written to our reality so Anderson went back in time to deliver the head to stop them- alright…sure I guess.

It’s also revealed that none of this matters because the golden gun that Ichabod has can separate the horseman from their host. Also I guess the angel head is what allows people to time travel?? And then it just ends…great…

So to summarize the End of Days, you could’ve just had a cowboy appear with a warning. You didn’t need an Angel head or time travel, since only his gun was important. The action moved on by far too quickly and no one was given ample time to fight.

It could’ve been so much better if it was given more time to develop the horsemen’s goals and give an introspection on war and famine - etc, but alas. When you read the pitch at the very end that has Arcs, it ended on a more poetic note so it’s a shame that it kind of fumbled to the finish line.

2/5.

—

Extra comic 1: Carry the Nine with Boo Cook’s art. This is essentially how Mega City is trying to repair itself. There’s a brief Spider-Man cameo that made me giggle. Judge Maitland has a think piece about converting the city’s budget to education.

“The philosophical foundation of the justice system is the assumption that the citizens are no better than animals. Utterly depraved and unable to control themselves without the guiding influence of the Judges.”

Maitland prepares to send files to a journalist about how the council can fix the crime rate by increasing education rather than hiring more police -Judges. They disagree and begin monitoring her, even thinking about killing her. She goes and sees Dredd about her concerns, he tells her he will talk to the counsel about it again on her behalf. Not agreeing or disagreeing with her concerns or beliefs.

The counsel is satiated and leaves the insurrection threat alone. The End. 5/5

--

Extra comic 2: They shoot horses, don’t they?

Great, the talking horse gets its own comic. Anderson and Dredd are thrown down a well into a pit with spiders while hanging upside down. They save themselves and the horse is given to the Russians to helped them in the main comic. It’s actually kind of sweet. 3/5

[Nerdmaling · Rating 2 out of 5]

Helt ok serie för dig som gillar dystopiska berättelser med action, kaos och en oförlåtande hjälte men samtidigt har jag nästan glömt vad den handlar om såhär dagen efter. Jag gör ett försök till sammanfattning:

I denna berättelse står Mega-City One inför en av sina största prövningar någonsin. Apokalypsens fyra ryttare hotar världen, och Dredd måste stoppa dem innan mänsklighetens undergång är ett faktum.
Med sig har han en odödlig cowboy och psy-judge Andersson såklart.

Jag kan tycka att Judge Dredd fungerar mer "jordnära" (filmen Dredd från 2012 är ett bra exempel. Den utspelar sig typ i ett kvarter i mega city 1) men också utflippade historier som de om Judge Death.

Den här är något sorts mittemellan och hyfsat underhållande men kanske inte riktigt så att når en 3:a. Den här utgåvan lider av lite utfyllnad också i form av några andra serier som var lite sådär.

Gillar den talande hästen dock.

[Pryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mixed bag. The main story "End of Days" feels rushed and not developed nearly enough. You're just sort of rammed in to the thick of the story and not enough is fleshed out or explained. It has very little emotional impact as a result. It just isn't good enough to have the same impact as the other Dredd epics. It falls short.

I thoroughly enjoyed the other two stories in this collection though. "Carry The Nine" was especially good. And "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" Was fun

The artwork is excellent for the most part.

[Marianna Sharktooth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer! Έχω δει τη σειρά, και ο Δικαστής Ντρεντ δεν με εντυπωσίασε. Οπότε ακολουθεί κριτική με κάποια προκατάληψη.
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο δεν βοήθησε στο να μου γίνει συμπαθής ο ήρωας. Συμβαίνει καμιά φορά. Άλλοι έχουν δύναμη, άλλοι χιούμορ, άλλοι υδροχοϊκό εγκέφαλο... Το μόνο σαγηνευτικό σημείο του δικαστή είναι το στραβό στόμα, που από μόνο του δεν είναι αρκετό.
Η ιστορία ήταν μια από τα ίδια και δεν μου έκανε κανένα κλικ. Θα ήθελα όμως κάποια στιγμή να διαβάσω την ιστορία του από την αρχή, γιατί για κάποιο λόγο νιώθω ότι του αξίζει μια καλύτερη ευκαιρία.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judge Dredd is back and this time he's up against the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. This was a great story since we are just starting back from 2020's COVID 19. I enjoy Judge and wish they would write more books with him.

[Timo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I have never liked Ichabod Azrael and crossover between him and Judge Dredd made me shiver, Williams made it work.
Maybe it was the large scale devastation, maybe it was the great art (Henry Flint is always good), maybe it was just the great writing, but I really liked this one.

[SmarkDent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and action packed Judge Dredd graphic novel, however I was expecting things to have moved on a little from the 1980s in terms of style and character development.

[j d townsend · Rating 2 out of 5]

Left my head in a daze...

Been reading Dredd since the early 80's and a one-time owned a complete 1-500 issue collection of 2000ad. Digitally I have pretty much all of them. So this story is another one of those mega epics but sadly with this author I find it's bit of a hit or miss situation and this is one of those misses. A big miss. It's like one of Mark Millar or Garth Ennis late 90's early 2000's abominations!

The art doesent help either in places it's rushed and rough but of greater concern is the artistic choices for which I assume both writer and artist is to blame. The four horsemen look ridiculous! The effect of their plagues are laughable and It's kind of like a 10 year old wrote and drew some bits. Avoid this like the plague (sorry) and dismiss this as a non canon sleep machine dream malfunction. The 'aftermath' stories at the end were much better than the main story but not worth the price of admission!

[Jason Cook · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was kinda hard to get through and confusing to read, ngl.