Oh my Grud this was hilarious.
Finally, an Aliens crossover that keeps the Aliens as much a horror and a threat as they were in the original film. These are the Xenomorphs as we all love them best. They are terrifying, ruthless, and nearly unstoppable. Deaths by them are excruciating, bloody, gory, horrifying, and frequent.
The art in this book reminds this reader a little of he MacFarlane inspired art of the mid nineties, in the best way. Characters are truly characters. Every gory, slimy detail is lovingly shown for all to appreciate, hanging from characters, set details, panel edges. The Xenomorphs are gorgeously rendered in beautiful detail that carefully appreciates and imitates Giger's original creature design. And they are frightening.
Wagner, the original creator of Judge Dredd and his world, has grown a lot since the early black-and-white days of everyone's favourite fascist. And fascist he is. Therefore, it is essential to read this, and any Dredd book, as satire of the sharpest order. The camp and ridiculousness of the writing is intentional. The beauty of the writing in this book is that it takes place entirely in the campy, fascistic, ridiculous, over-the-top world of Dredd, while somehow allowing all Aliens elements to remain completely serious. The Xenomorphs are a horror. The Judges are clowns. We get to watch lots of cops die, in exquisite and painful details. Excellent.
And disgusting.
And brutal.
And exactly what it needed to be.
There are also a lot of Easter Eggs in the book. Names of Judges are often other comics writers and sci-if novelists. There are many call backs to the films. Careful readers will enjoy it.
Recommended to fans of Aliens who already know and understand the world of Judge Dredd, and are willing to see their beloved creatures in a gory, campy, colourful, yet ultimately respectful crossover