Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 03 (2013)

Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 03 (2013)

Authors: Alan Grant / Peter Milligan / Dan Abnett / Andy Lanning  |  Illustrators: Arthur Ranson / Steve Sampson / Charles Gillespie / Angel Unzueta / Ian Gibson / Trevor Hairsine / Eddy Cant / Mick Austin / Anthony Williams  |  Page Count: 304

"Funny, though. 'I protest'. That's all he said. But I kinda knew what he meant."

Alan Grant drags Anderson even deeper into the realms of philosophy and religion in Volume 03. Her hitherto discoveries about her past, coupled with a recent changed perception of what 'Justice' is, have opened her consciousness to previously unexplored concerns affecting Mega City One. She begins to experience visions that lead her into the unknown. The iconography used will be familiar to everyone, but the associations are Anderson specific.

There’s quite a lot of Dredd in this one. It’s interesting to see Old Stony in Anderson’s world. It distances him a little from the typically masculine arena he usually embodies. Grant knows that Joe needs to present the appearance of a non-conformist with a controlling influence (because you can take a Judge to water but you can’t make him think), but there’s also an almost parental guiding attitude present. He won’t accept failure from Anderson but he’s more than happy to step aside to let her prove herself, or team-up if the Law permits.

The two main artists are Arthur Ranson and Steve Sampson. I've mentioned my love for Ranson in previous reviews, so I’ll skip over that this time. Steve Sampson has a radically different style. His use of thick, bright colours contrasts with Ranson’s more subdued, realistic palette, but it works beautifully. Sampson’s portrayal highlights a different side of Cassandra. She has a glow about her, as if her emotions are shining out from within like a beacon or a redeeming light. His panelling is equally vibrant when necessary; the more space he allows himself the more impressive his final product. He's my second favourite Anderson artist.

As usual there's some random one-shots from annuals and yearbooks to close the book that are welcome but neither match up to the main stories in terms of quality or continuity.

Includes the stories:

Something Wicked (Judge Dredd Megazine 2.74-2.80)

Satan (Judge Dredd Megazine 3.01-3.07)

The Protest (Judge Dredd Megazine 3.14)

Wonderwall (2000 AD Progs 1045-1049)

Crusade (2000 AD Progs 1050-1061)

Danse Macabre (2000 AD Prog 1076)

Witch (2000 AD Progs 1087-1089)

The Great Debate (2000 AD Prog 1090)

Lawless (2000 AD Progs 1102-1103)

Dear Diary (2000 AD Annual 1988)

Colin Wilson Block (2000 AD Winter Special 1988)

Confessions of a She-devil (2000 AD Annual 1990)

Exorcise Duty (Judge Dredd Annual 1991)