Young Death: Boyhood of a Superfiend

Judge Dredd

by John Wagner, Peter Doherty

Journalist Brian Skuter's got one of the biggest scoops of all time - an interview with Judge Death! Probing deep into Death's past, he'll find the boy behind the monster... and the whole, horrible truth about the most evil force in Judge Dredd's world! Out of print for over a decade, now Rebellion has brought back a true classic. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry… you’ll beg for mercy!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Horror

Paperback

First published September 17, 1992

About the author

John 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)

Reviews

[Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book collects the twelve part story from the first volume of the Judge Dredd Megazine, the anthology comic from 2000AD set in the Judge Dredd universe. The story was written by Judge Dredd creator John Wagner. The art was the first introduction of Peter Doherty to a wide audience. Doherty has continued to illustrate stories in 2000AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine but does not seem to have done much beyond this.

I love Judge Death stories for two reasons. First of all they tend to feature an appearance of psi-Judge Anderson who I adore. Secondly he is, in many ways, the archetypal villain for Judge Dredd in the same way that the Joker is for Batman. I think that there are many similarities between the Joker and Judge Death: the fixed rictus grin; the disregard for human life; the dark humour associated with the characters. The humour in this story ranges from the lightly comical, in the shape of Death's extremely short-sighted landlady, Mrs Gunderson, to the extremely black exploration of Sidney's childhood environment. Although this a very good story, I have never been convinced that it was really necessary. I am happy to accept the Dark Judges for what they are and the detailing of an origin does little for my perception of the character - it is hard to imagine ever feeling sympathy for any of the Dark Judges and the choices they made. However, it is still a classic story that is worth reading if you like your humour on the black side and for the art of Peter Doherty.

[Rachel Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot more framing story than I recall there being but the overall story is good and it's a nice way to revisit the concept of the Dark Judges and their origins. Of course in these modern times of the fantastic Deadworld series this book pales in comparison but for its time it was perhaps the definitive piece of the leader of the Four Lawmen of the Apocalypse.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hack reporter finds himself with the dubious honour of being invited to interview Judge Death, the undead fiend in hiding from Mega-City One's Judges. Judge Death then candidly lays out the story of his origins as a sadistic child, his development into a murderous Judge and, ultimately, into an undead creature dedicated to ending all crime by eradicating all life.

If ever there was an example of dark humour in graphic novel form, then this is it.
2000AD stories, the Judge Dredd ones in particular, were always known for dark humour but this book takes that and turns it up to eleven. There is no shortage of genuine horror in the story of how a derranged child grows up to declare war on all life, featuring vivid scenes of torture and murder, but at the same time there's just as much humour on offer, such as Death's suprisingly charming relationship with his near-sighted elderly landlady.
It feels very uncomfortable to read scenes of absolute sadism alongside elements of genuine comedy, but that uncomfortable feeling is clearly deliberate and, in a hard-to-define way, is this book's best element.

Threaded throughout the book we see Hershey, Dredd and Anderson all attempting to catch up to Death and the book ends on a nicely-played unresolved note; something which would normally bother me but which doesn't here.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com/ *

[Damian Herde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judge Death is iconic. This revisit of his rise to power on Deadworld is comedic, camp and cringey.
Presented in the style of ‘Interview with the Vampire’, Judge Death gives an interview to a sleazy tabloid reporter, explaining how he survived his defeat at the hands of the Judges and his plan to give people the option of giving up life at his hands before he leaves Earth. He describes his psychopathic childhood under his serial killer father, and choice to join his world’s version of the fascist Judges.
The tone of the story felt off to me, as well as the highly contrived actions of Death, hiding out as a lodger in order to provide an interview so that people could hear his story.

[Hillingdon Libraries]

Find this book at Hillingdon Libraries

[bluetyson]

isbn,original

[Flavio Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely underrated graphic novel. Its violence, wit and outrageous humor will shock you and entertain you.

[Jennie Rigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far my favourite of all the stories in which Judge Death appears, this fizzes with black humour. One I return to often.