Tags
2000 AD, Dredd, IDW, IDW Publishing, Judge Dredd, Judge Dredd Under Siege #1, Judge Dredd Under Siege #1 review, Mark Russell, Max Dunbar, Mega City One
Judge Dredd Under Siege #1
Review by Paul Bowler.
All hell breaks loose in Judge Dredd Under Siege #1 when contact with the Patrick Swayze Block is suddenly lost. What initially seems like a routine mission quickly goes awry when Dredd and Judge Beeny’s investigation finds the rundown development has become the first stage in an attack on Mega City One itself!
This dark, satirical new four-part Judge Dredd series from IDW Publishing continues to build on IDW’s successful relationship with Rebellion – the UK publisher of 2000 AD. Judge Dredd Under Siege #1 brings all the familiar hallmarks of the iconic character to the fore as writer Mark Russell (The Flinstones, God is Disappointed in You) and artist Max Dunbar (Gears of War, Micronauts) weave a gritty action-packed storyline barbed with edgy humour.
From its powerful opening scenes there’s no doubting that the Law is indeed everywhere in Mega City One. Following a quick visit to the Grand Hall of Justice this issue quickly gathers pace and sets Dredd on his mission to the Patrick Swayze Block to find Judge Beeny. With the building on lockdown and overrun with mutants, the atmosphere and tension builds steadily as Dredd and Beeny find some unlikely allies. Its ingenious how writer Mark Russell also blends such a pointed social commentary into the script via the sci-fi prism of Mega City One to give us all food for thought, especially how neglect and the breakdown of society has turned the Patrick Swayze Block into a living nightmare for its residents to such a degree the shit has piled up so high – quite literally in fact – that its about to bite everyone in Mega City One on the ass.
Max Dunbar’s artwork, together with the vibrant tones and shades of colorist Jose Luis Rio, complements Ruseel’s tautly structured script perfectly. The seamless, free-flowing page layouts effortlessly conveys the drama and tension, Dunbar’s impressive realization of the exteriors and interiors of Mega City One and the Patrick Swayze Block look as ominous as they are futuristic, and his rendition of Dredd is also powerfully striking. Likewise, the depiction of the waste channel is equally shocking, as are the mutants and their leader Talleyrand, and the fire fights as Dredd and Beeny engage the insurmountable threat they face is also well staged and draws you right into the heart of the action.
The issue throws several curve balls your way as it builds to a thrilling cliff-hanger. Judge Dredd Under Siege #1, with its great story by Mark Russell and artwork by Max Dunbar, delivers on every level. I’ve been really looking forward to this new Judge Dredd series from IDW and I’m happy to saw it exceeded all my expectations, and then some!
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer: Mark Russell / Artist: Max Dunbar
Colorist: Jose Luis Rio / Letterer: Simon Bowland
Cover A: Max Dunbar / Cover B: Alan Quah
Sci-Fi Jubilee 
I was thinking of trying this out. Sounds pretty decent.
Well worth checking out, its a great new Judge Dredd story. Really liked the artwork as well.
I finally just saw the Dredd movie from a couple years ago recently. Really fun, intense movie that feels like it’s somewhere between a superhero movie and Die Hard. Not sure if I’m interested enough to read a comic, but this sounds like a fun issue.
I really liked the Dredd (2012) movie as well, it really got the vibe of the Judge Dredd character and 2000AD original sereis spot on. Judge Dredd Under Siege #1 is very much in the same vein, so if your enjoyed that movie, I’s say you’d probably enjoy this four-part comic sereis as well. Great creative team working on this one as well, worth checking out if you get the chance 🙂
I’ve generally not been a fan of IDW’s Dredd titles (other than Year One, and that was written by 2000ad editor Matt Smith with art by Simon Coleby), for me they’ve lacked that special something that makes the Rebellion original so good…not to mention the art on the IDW Dredd’s has largely been awful.
That being said, I like the look of this and your review has me interested so I’ll check it out when it’s been collected!
Agreed, some of IDW’s earlier Dredd titles haven’t quite hit the mark, especially where the artwork is concerned. However, the creative team on Judge Dredd Under Siege have done a great job in capturing that 2000AD vibe so essential to making the character work. The art in this sereis is top notch as well. Glad you enjoyed the review, thought it be nice to focus on something a bit different for a change. I’d certainly recommend checking out this sereis when its in trade as well 🙂
Wow, pretty high praise from you.
It was a very good issue, and I’m a big fan of Judge Dredd, so was pleased with how this IDW issue turned out. Great artwork as well.