Dredd: The Illustrated Script and Visuals (2014)

Dredd: The Illustrated Script and Visuals (2014)

Author: Alex Garland  |  Illustrator: Jock  |  Page Count: 240

"You were shit out of luck when you ran into the Ma-Ma clan."

If there'd been a poll asking what people would like to see in a book titled 'Illustrated Script and Visuals', everything that's already included would be on my list. As someone who enjoys reading Dredd comics, screenplays, and can happily waste an hour studying concept art, it seems almost tailor-made.

On the left hand pages is Garland's script, laid out in the usual format. It's also where you'll find trivia, concept art depicting various stages of evolution and full colour production stills, not all of which were used in the final version (unused hall of justice, judge badges, etc), with brief passages of text describing what each one is and how it fits into the overall structure. It's the 'Visuals' half of the book.

Dredd (2012)

Dredd (2012)

Dir. Pete Travis / Alex Garland (uncredited)

The Dredd film deserved more success than it got. It drew comparisons to Dir. Gareth Evans' The Raid (2011), with both films set inside of a single tower block, but I've not seen The Raid, so for me Dredd felt fresh and interesting.

The filmmakers made some minor changes to the comic's aesthetic, (e.g. the Lawmaster, Lawgiver, and iconic Judge costume each got a slight redesign, mostly for practical purposes), but crucially it remained faithful to the essence and core values of its esteemed comic source.

Even the poster art (pic right) takes inspiration from the page - recreating the stance of a towering Judge statue, a symbolic reminder for the citizens of Mega-City One that Judges are the ultimate law, perhaps most notably used to that effect in the classic America (2008) story.

Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 05 (2016)

Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 05 (2016)

Author: Alan Grant  |  Illustrators: Arthur Ranson / Dave Taylor / Boo Cook / Robin Smith / Darren Douglas  |  Page Count: 320

"Best thing you can do is shoot me full of synthi-caf an' point me at the streets!"

The bulk of the content in Volume 5 first appeared in the Judge Dredd Megazine; the two bonus entries at the end of the book are the only exception.

The opening story is excellent. A single dialogue bubble adorns the page because it's all that's needed. It's as if Alan Grant was setting a renewed precedent for himself that everything afterwards attempts to equal, with varying degrees of success.

That same story is also the only one in the collection to be drawn by series regular Arthur Ranson. Most of the artwork thereafter is handled by Boo Cook.

I wasn't familiar with Boo's art prior to reading, but have since discovered that, like many 2000 AD artists, he started out by illustrating Future Shocks. They must have impressed Tharg, because Boo quickly moved onto ABC Warriors! Not long after he was drawing for Dredd and now Anderson.

Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 04 (2014)

Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 04 (2014)

Author: Alan Grant  |  Illustrators: Steve Sampson / Arthur Ranson  |  Page Count: 304

'Fear is for scaredy cats. I say it to myself ten times. But I sleep with the light on.'

Anything goes (usually illegally) in Mega-City One, but esoteric concerns have always been better suited to Judge Anderson's corner than that of the typical street judges. There's a lot of that kind of thing in Volume 4 and she's at the centre of it.

The first part finishes Steve Sampson's excellent run on art duties. He returns the reins to series regular Arthur Ranson for a multi-part epic that manages to be set present day (for the Meg) and simultaneously be tied into an event that happened prior Necropolis. It could've been a mess but it isn't, it works and it references a lot of history while doing so. It's also bloody and gruesome in places.

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.

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.

Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 01 (2009)

Judge Anderson: The PSI Files: Volume 01 (2009)

Authors: Alan Grant / John Wagner  |  Illustrators: Brett Ewins / Cliff Robinson / Robin Smith / Barry Kitson / Jeff Anderson / Will Simpson / Mark Farmer / Mick Austin / David Roach / Arthur Ranson / Carlos Ezquerra / Kim Raymond  |  Page Count: 384

'I’m hurting inside, deep down in my mind, in the secret places only the PSIs know.'

When something is considered too weird for the regular Judges of Mega-City One to deal with they’ll often step aside and call in PSI Division. The PSI Judges have abilities that enable them to literally get inside the minds of criminals.

The best of them, Judge Cassandra Anderson, is a psychic and a telepath with some limited precognition powers. Being receptive to the thoughts of others makes her a little eccentric. She’s accountable to the law the same as everyone, but sometimes PSI Judges are granted special dispensations; she's been known to take advantage of such things.

Since Rebellion acquired 2000 AD they’ve been re-releasing some long out of print material in very attractive editions with a large page count that would make any shelf envious. The first Anderson volume collects together her earliest adventures in chronological order (see end of post for full list).

Judge Dredd: Necropolis (1998)

Judge Dredd: Necropolis (1998)

Author: John Wagner  |  Illustrator: Carlos Ezquerra  |  Page Count: 192

"If you bring them back, th-thousands will die!"

"I disagree. You’re setting your sights too low. All will die. Total annihilation – it’s the best way!"

In light of some poor decisions by the Justice Department, Chief Judge Silver makes another one that leaves the Big Meg vulnerable. Elsewhere, a door is being opened to a place where judgement of the guilty and the innocent returns the same sentence…the Sisters of Death are ready to move.

Ah, Necropolis. There have been bigger and some would say better Dredd epics since then but it remains my favourite for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it's not Dredd specific. The story, by original creators John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, is much too big for one man to carry on his own, even one with shoulders as broad and solid as Joe Dredd's.

Furthermore, the nature of the invasion means PSI Division plays an important role, which means Judge Anderson's talents are needed.