Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 02 (2012)

Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 02 (2012)

Authors: Alan Grant / John Wagner  |  Illustrators: Arthur Ranson / David Roach / Kevin Walker / Mark Wilkinson / Charles Gillespie / Xuasus / Ian Gibson / Enric Romero / Mike Collins / Steve Sampson / Tony Luke  |  Page Count: 304

'Nine years old and already they're learning they're a breed apart. [...] They don't take part in life. They watch it. When they grow up, they'll judge it.'

Volume 2 continues the Judge Anderson stories in (mostly) chronological order, and unlike Volume 1 (2009) the majority of it is now in colour.

Cassandra has proved that she can kick ass if she needs to, but a physical response is just a small part of her repertoire. Her stories tend to deal with subjects that are more emotional, cerebral and far-reaching than Dredd's. Old Stony Face pops up occasionally but it's either as fan-service or simply as a device to keep alive a connection to the judicial system. Everyone's favourite asshole, Judge Goon, also pops his ugly head up when least wanted.

Up until now we've primarily viewed Anderson as something that didn't fit comfortably into the world, she was at cross-purposes with her calling and an affront to the times. The book shifts more to her perspective and shows that it's the world that's gone to hell, and in reality she is perhaps the only free thinker in a sea of oppression.

A large part of the volume is about religion. Living life by a code written in a book that's part truth and part lie (which part is which?) is something Cassandra has been doing all her life, so it's a natural fit to bring religion into it, and doing so helped further place her as a tiny speck in the enormity of the world; the mote in God's eye. She often finds herself feeling sympathetic to people with any kind of faith because her own is wavering, and ironically the more truth she uncovers the more her faith collapses (or is subjugated by a large green boot).

The story I most enjoyed in Volume 2 is Shamballa. It's one of Grant's most successful studies of self, and is a perfect fit to the talents of artist Arthur Ranson. I'm going to go so far as to say that Shamballa is the finest Anderson story I've yet read. It's also the only one taken from the pages of 2000 AD. The remainder comes from the Judge Dredd Megazine [sic], with some bonus one shots culled from the Judge Dredd annuals gathered together at the end (1985-88).

The monthly Megazine launched in 1990 and quickly established itself as a platform for more adult orientated content than was typically found in the weekly 2000 AD. The format wasn't afraid to take chances both in narrative and in the art department. There are eleven different artists on display here, and each of them offer a unique view of what Anderson is.

Partway through the book is the Childhood's End storyline. It's not one of my favourites, but it's notable for being a pivotal and critical step in Cassandra's evolution. Afterwards things take a different route, literally. The ongoing narrative manages to be both self-analytical and more open-ended. It's like a road trip that takes regular stops at Cassandra town. Each part is self-contained and also part of the larger arc that takes her deeper into the unknown.

Includes the stories:

Shamballa (2000 AD Progs 700-711)

Blythe Spirit  (Judge Dredd Megazine 2.08)

Reasons to be Cheerful (Judge Dredd Megazine 2.10-2.11)

The Witch Report (Judge Dredd Megazine 2.14)

The Jesus Syndrome (Judge Dredd Megazine 2.22-2.24)

Childhoods End (Judge Dredd Megazine 2.27-2.34)

The Voyage Seeker (Judge Dredd Megazine POSTER STORY 2.37)

Postcards from the Edge (Judge Dredd Megazine 2.50-2.60)

Postcard to Myself (Judge Dredd Megazine 2.73)

The Mind of Edward Bottlebum  (Judge Dredd Annual 1985)

Fistful of Denimite (Judge Dredd Annual 1986)

Golem (2000 AD Annual 1987)

A Soldier's Tale  (Judge Dredd Annual 1988)