@JosephMelia Good call and thanks a lot for the compliments. Of those you mentioned I like Tale of the Deadman and Mechanismo best. I find The Apocalypse War a bit anachronistic but on second thought it's a comic written during the escalation of the Cold War under Reagan and Andropow, so it's indeed an interesting piece of contemporary history.
No America? I'm surprised and amused. What do you think of Young Death and Mandroid?
No America partly because didn't think of it.It's not really a story about Dredd (preparing for outraged mocking backlash)so much about the politics of his world.Admittedly it is an excellent piece.Colin Macneil is class.I loved Young Death,I'm a big fan of Doherty's artwork and it was great to see the origion of the superfiend..As for Mandroid,it felt like filler to me.I liked the Pit and Origions .Loved the whole Rico and Dolman episodes.Gave Dredd a little more depth.
No America partly because didn't think of it.It's not really a story about Dredd (preparing for outraged mocking backlash)so much about the politics of his world.Admittedly it is an excellent piece.Colin Macneil is class.I loved Young Death,I'm a big fan of Doherty's artwork and it was great to see the origion of the superfiend..As for Mandroid,it felt like filler to me.I liked the Pit and Origions .Loved the whole Rico and Dolman episodes.Gave Dredd a little more depth.
No America partly because didn't think of it.It's not really a story about Dredd (preparing for outraged mocking backlash)so much about the politics of his world.Admittedly it is an excellent piece.Wagner + Macneil = class.I loved Young Death,I'm a big fan of Doherty's artwork and it was great to see the origin of the superfiend..As for Mandroid,it felt like filler to me.I liked the Pit and Origins .Loved the whole Rico and Dolman episodes.Gave Dredd a little more depth.
@starcobra123 Well, the book consists of several satiric short stories. But don't expect something as heavy and dramatic as "America". Most stories are awesome like the one where Dredd encounters Santa Claus and some are simply bizarre like Dredd gunning down Bambi. Bisley's take on the characters is cartoonish with beautiful coloring. Overall the artwork is awesome.
Hasn't Judge Jaws eaten him yet? Bring back the Carry On team, all is (nearly) forgiven! Still got my fingers and toes crossed for the new film. Not convinced Urban has the chin for D but he cetainly couldn't be any worse. Could he? Please tell me he couldn't be worse (after the Star Trek film the comedy aspect would certainly fit the bill, lol).
@meanbeetroot Hell yeah! Kenneth Williams in a double role as gay Judge Death and Walter the Wobbot, Charles Hawtrey as Fargo, Sid James as Pa Angel, Hattie Jacques and Joan Sims as Sisters of Death. And, as a special treat for me, Frankie Howerd as Santa Claus.
Actually Urban looks the shit like Dredd. But who knows, when they've got a decent story and good actors...
I liked Urban in Star Trek. He was the only one who came close to his original character.
@DrGull1888 First things first: Where do I get tickets for your version of Dredd? Great cast. I can already imagine the film. Can we have a couple of Loony Toons in there, too? Foghorn Leghorn IS Judge Dredd (I say, I say, I say perp. I AM the Law). Personally my money is on Judge Daffy Duck (Thuffering grud. Juthtith ith therved, cur-reep)!
Urban was great in Trek. He was Bones! I've seen him in a couple of other things and think (hoping, chin aside) he has IT. Whatever the mystical IT is.
@meanbeetroot Come now, Leghorn must be one of the villains like Morton Judd or Nero Narcos breaching the fourth wall to the audience and tattling the whole plot: "I say, I say, I say we gonna clone those sunovabitches and kill the originals." But you are right Daffy must be Judge Dredd. He is the only one tough enough. Elmar Fudd is Meanmachine and Yosemite Sam a Chief Justice. I don't care which one.
What would a Monty Python take on Judge Dredd look like?
@meanbeetroot Haha, the Martian a Klegg! Some kids would get a bad surprise when they see the Martian eat man flesh.
I find Terry Jones should play Judge Dredd and he should use the high voice he had as Sir Bedevere. "...and that, Judge Hershey, is how we know the Cursed Earth to be banana shaped."
@DrGull1888 Perhaps Daffy could be recruited to play Deathy in the Python version: "Alwaythhh look on the bright thhide of Deathh. Da da, dada dada dada. Juthht before you draw your terminal breathh.."
The Chief Judge should be John Cleese (in his Basil Fawlty guise) and as a representative of the Tech Judges Eric Idle would fit the bill (he'd have to steal his lines, mind you, but I think he'd be teaching the rookies: "Perps float, therefore they are made of wood!").
@DrGull1888 Was a reference to adverts the editorial droids put in a few progs urging juvies to turn their parents, teachers, etc, in to the justice department (gifts were on offer for this. Call it a fan club, of sorts).Wasn't a serious thing, just them sharing the 'fascist' joke with the readers. I always wondered if anyone actualy wrote to Judge Pal:) Which brings me onto Tharg (The Editor). I guess all involved in putting 2000AD into the world were warped (along with it's readership).
@DrGull1888 The point of America was a very small comment towards the end when Dredd allowed them to get as far as they did 'to make a point to the rest'. Another point made was when after the cease fire was called anoher judge shot Ami and was put on report. A nice touch about no-one being above the law. Still, Benny knew his place, though. It was possibly more of a totalitarian story than the rest.
A damn fine story (showing how far the writers had come since the inception of 2000AD).
@meanbeetroot I read that John Wagner got pretty concerned about some fan mail of young readers who found the whole Judge system a pretty good idea and to show how questionable, totalitarian and brutal a system is which unites legislative, judiciary and executive in the judges' hands he wrote America. That is why this story doesn't work for me. I'm not a dumb mindfuck who creams his pants when seeing fascists doing totalitarian stuff and therefore I don't need a lesson from Mr Wagner.
@DrGull1888 Who's still got parenting skills? Perhaps I'm being a little unfair to parents but most of the ones I know don't seem to know that they're setting themselves (and their children) up for a fall. Anyway, that's a topic we won't visit here.
I think it's obvious I liked it but then I learnt to disconnect fantasy from fact long ago (hmm, can I resist a dig at politians and big business? Obviously not. Snigger). And I've been on the receiving end of the real thing.
@meanbeetroot Indeed a point. Who's got good parenting skills? They all try the best and have the best porposes also those who fail.
Nevertheless I found it a very interesting idea to make the representative of a totalitarian system - Dredd - the hero of a comic book series and I always found the anarchic environment of Big Meg and it's citizens would mellow the totalitarian aspect.
@DrGull1888 It was inspired. Up until Dredd all hero's were just that. Dredd turned a new leaf. Do you think they - the writers/artists - thought that Dredd would elicit such sympathy (in the traditional sense)? Do you think that environmental factors and the (as you have previously said) bizare citizenship - and I'm not knocking your comments when I say this - have mellowed the totalitarian backdrop at all? I'm not sure I do. I think they emphasise it, myself. And the art brings it to the fore.
@meanbeetroot Yes, you are right. Dredd isn't just the totalitarian thing and I'd wrong the whole series which has an abundance of memorable characters when I reduced it to that. I shouldn't have overemphasized it. It's just America, you know. When I discuss America I quickly get into a fuss. I can't put my finger on it since I had - to be honest - a feeling of sadness after I read America the first time. Perhaps it's the thing with the fanboys who find such a police-state a good idea.
@DrGull1888 I take your point. Too many people take the comic too seriously (not that it doesn't cover serious subjects or make serious points). It's a comic, not a bible. The fanboys seem to be a 'recent' thing (I haven't been a serious collector for a while now, for one reason or another - been concentrating on the graphic novels. And I've been lax in that of late. Drokk, must pull my finger out). So it strikes me as odd that someone would actually go that route.
@meanbeetroot In a nutshell, America is too bold. Wagner tries too hard to show what someone with a little parenting and education would find out himself: the Judge system is totalitarian at best if not fascistic.
By the way it's my opinion. If others love that story they're ok by me.
@DrGull1888 It's cool to have opinions (or not, as the case may be). Better to hold your own than regurgitate someone else's!
The real question with Meg1 is: Where do they get all the people (consider the radiation levels, and I'm not even adding other polutants into the mix). They must be the unluckiest lucky people around (survive nuclear war over and over again, and the undead, and dimensional fiends, and mad judges, and plots, and other plots and yet more plots. Etc!). A people factory?
@meanbeetroot In spite of the totalitarian Judges I think they're a hedonistic society which grants the citizens the possibilety to live out as long as it doesn't collide with the law. So, I think they can handle bloodshed like Necropolis psychologically very well. As for the supply of peole? Who knows? A people factory as you said? Cloning like the Judda? I dunno.
@meanbeetroot Well, you know, this was not to fathom your political attitude. As I wrote above there's something about America which gets me into a fuss.
You mentioned Young Death in one of your elder comments. I can't say who I like more, his dad or his landlady.
@DrGull1888 No matter how serious the subject under the spotlight I cannot help but take the mick about politics. Must be a kink in my make up!
Very good point you raise about Deathy's dad vs his landlady. Hmm, my money has to be on Mrs Gunderson (I think that was her name). Anyone who can offer JD a cuppa (that's JD as opposed to JD, just to clear that up) and live to tell the tale is alright in my book.
@meanbeetroot Haha, yes, and don't forget her statement "I'd say you're tall, a little bid on the thin side but very, very handsome." That was killing me.
His dad reminded me of the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors. And when he took his son to work, announcing to the patient that his son will do some work on him that was also great.
@DrGull1888 On another thing. We were both unimpressed about the film. I have to say the thing they almost got right was Mean Machine Angel. That was about the only thing about the film I feel I should compliment them on (and have to be fair to them about. Oh, and Hammerstein. But then I always did like the ABC Warriors).
@meanbeetroot Mean Machine and Hammerstein looked pretty decent. But we saw too little of them. There was no character development, only an introduction by on or two half-sentences spoken by Dredd or Riko. Mean isn't all too smart, pretty irritable and tends to misunderstand his counterpart's words and acts. They showed nothing of this! And they gave no personality to Hammerstein. He was just Riko's loyal dog who does funny noises.
@DrGull1888 Mean is down-right surly if you ask me (or is it a case of "no-one sezens I'm surly less I sez they can say I's surly, or I'm a gonna go up to 4 on ya"?). You're right on both counts (and as we all know Hammerstein didn't work for Rico - nice nose job he had, too). Still, they both looked the part. That is about all I can say for the film, though. I feel I've done my bit for fairness now and need to visit the smokatorium to de-stress. I've gotta add that Joe and Rico were twins. Hmm
I meant to point out that they were clone twins but ran out of characters. Even cheap films have managed to film the same actor as two (or more) characters and present them to the audience in the same frames. Ah, the Aspen get-out clause (let's make it on Earth, that way we don't have to have the surgically altered facial features, etc). Think they 'forgot' they were supposed to be identical? :)
@DrGull1888 PS: After my mate and I walked out of the cinema we dubbed Stalone 'Judge Clouseau' (I am the leur. Where is Judge Minky? And, there is a berm in the Grandhall of Justice, etc). We thought Judge Kato should be the star of the film:)
Satire? Or parody? Perhaps a cynical and cleverly executed observation of the times the comics were written. Especially the politics of the day. Check out some of the future shocks in earlier 2000AD's. And some of the other stories (Buttonman, Savage, Nemesis, Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dogs, etc). Although even Slippery Jim Digriz managed to get a series (The Stainless Steel Rat, Harry Harrison), so it wasn't all caricature. Speaking of early future shocks, how many inspired directors + writers?
@meanbeetroot Yes, you're right but SF in general has always been the adaption of actual events and needs whether they are satirical, dystopian, utopian and so on.
haven't read The Stainless Steel Rat by Harrison yet but Make Room! Make Room! Also a pretty good novel.
@meanbeetroot True, and always looked down on as an art form (as if SF can't reveal anything about the human mind. Pah). HH's SSR was essentially boys own science fiction with the humour/absurdness quotient turned up a notch or four. Read with tongue firmly in cheek.
Can't remember when this one was released (before or after you got turned on to Dredd) but how about 'story of the deadman'? If my brain cell serves me correctly (and I can't exactly check cos all my stuff's in storage) after this came the 'apocalypse war'. And sorry, I've no idea who the villain/s will be. I doubt it'll be Deathy (Young Death, Boyhood of a Super Fiend. Ahh, I'm going all misty eyed, now), too much for younger audience if they're going for the cash. Nor rapture. Orlok? TheJudda?
@meanbeetroot "Story of the Deadman" was a precursor to "Necropolis" and the first one with the Sisters of Death when I'm not mistaken. I pretty liked it. It's so dark with a lot of bizarre creatures populating the Cursed Earth. Dredd reminded me of Clint Eastwood in one of his Western roles. But the search for his identity in a ruined environment reminded me also of the gunslinger in "The Dark Tower".
I think the Apocalypse War must have been before Deadman and Necropolis.
@DrGull1888 Now you say this I realise you're right. Grud, I wish my stuff wasn't in storage (it's been so long, boo hoo. I do miss my 2000ADs, etc). Yep, Apocalypse was early (I seem to recall a calypso ending in 'the whole world going SPLAT'. The first mention of Total Annihilation Devices, if I remember correctly). It's long been believedDredd was modelled on Eastwood (check out his chin). Now he WOULD make a good Dredd (early reader's art of film posters had him andHarrison Ford in the role)
@meanbeetroot Apocalypse War was the duke out between Big Meg and the Sov-Cities.Funny that that Mega City one survived a full scale nuclear assault.
Yeah, Eastwood would have been a great Dredd. And someone who would have done a great Judge Dredd movie is Terry Gilliam. Think of the bizarre sceneries and people in his 1980ies movies Time Bandits, Brazil and Munchhausen.
@DrGull1888 But then the big meg survived Sabat, etc. I'd miss it if they wiped it out, wouldn't you? I'd like to see more progs covering the other megacities, though. They've only ever really skimmed the surface.
Hmmm, Terry G directs JD. Now that put a smile on my face, good thinking.
@meanbeetroot Thank Grudd it survived but with tens of thousands dead after the Dark Judges first appearance, followed by 400 million dead during the Apocalypse War, followed by million dead during Necropolis just to suffer another tens of thousand deads makes me start wondering if there's anything left and from where do they take the time to recover.
With so many storylines to choose from, funny and serious, I'm impressed you can put a Top 10 together. I salute you. That said, who can forget "Gaze into the face of Fear". "Gaze into the fist of Dredd"! Classic. May the new film not be a turkey.
@meanbeetroot At last someone who isn't bitching around that his favourite book is missing. Thanks a lot for your compliment and also thanks for the hint with the movie. I wasn't aware of that.
@DrGull1888 I'm a long time Dredd fan, been reading it since issue 2 (big brothers have their uses). Actually been reading it since issue 1. Grud on a greenie, why bitch? I like the darker storylines but I laugh at the funny ones so much. Very British. Very subversive ('whenever some one bites the head off a bat glider I know where to come: Ozzy Osbourne Block!' It doesn't get better than that). The chap who plays Bones in the latest Star Trek film is Dredd. Apparently doesn't take off his lid.
@meanbeetroot My first one was "Judgement on Gotham". Around 1990, the time when the first Batman movie was released, they translated a lot of Batman graphic novels into German including the Judgement crossover and I got quickly hooked on the dark and - as you correctly stated - subversive humor. Within the time and with a growing collection I came to the conclusion that Judge Dredd is a SF satire - perhaps I'm wrong. I mean simply think about the bizarre citizens and cusatoms at Mega City One.
@DrGull1888 Hmmm, let's wait and see about that one, shall we. I'm not sure he's got the chin for it but fingers corssed (I walked out of the cinema about 20 mins into the last film. A guy can only take so much. Too much packed into too little time, Dredd without his lid, romance - and with Hershey! I could go on). Anyway, so what if a particular story doesn't make it onto a personal faves list? The point is it's a personal faves list. Power to you!
@meanbeetroot Ah yes. His name's Karl Urban. He was also in Lord of the Rings. Well he looks a bit too soft for my taste but we'll see. Do you know anything about a possible villain?
I saw the old one at the movies too and was pretty appalled by the lack of subversive humor. You're right they packed too much into it. I also didn't understand why they killed of so many of Dredd's rogues gallery. Weren't they hoping to do a sequel? At least art directions and costumes were ok. That's not much.
Is there any Judge Dredd story where Judge Dredd is a bit like the Punisher. I have a big chunk of Dredd trade's but they get soooooo boring with all of the dialogue. Too much politics with the megacity mythology
@DrGull1888 I see. There is sooooo much dialogue in the dredd stores. The first 2000AD trade I bought was Origins and it had some good action moments but it was drowned out by sooo much talking and political talk.
@Zamudiokid I dunno if you like it. It has a lot of satire since it's about a huge floating leisure resort with a big load of bizarre hedonistic creatures populating it. I ilke it since I always prefered a satirical approach towards Judge Dredd.
@DrGull1888 So it has humor. I prolly would like it since humor balances a story that is supposed to have a lot of action. What kills my interest in Dredd is how Much Dialogue and politics are involved. The Pitt was long and full of dialogue, though there was action it it. The cool part was the end, where there was a huge gang war against the Judges.
Out of those ive read Emerald isle, which is v interesting to start but dosent keep the pace.
Just get the early case files, all the best things are in there. if anything ever beats dredds best at the start of his run, during the golden era of british comics (1977-1986), ill eat my hat.
That said id gladly look into anything that supposedly does.
@zztoprules1 It is. Another good crossover is "Die Laughing" with the Joker joining the dark judges. The other ones "Vengeance on Gotham" and "The Ultimate Riddle" are forgettable. Judge Dredd vs Predator and Judge Dredd vs Aliens are decent, too.
The apocalypse war. Origins. Mandroid. Mechanismo. America.
But to name a few.
Looks like you have grabbed yourself a few GN's and just compiled a list. I suggest you start collecting the Judge Dredd case files then recompile your list.
true...though i think the dem march (and before that the killing of hester) was just laying the groundwork for dredds own doubts....leading up to the vote
great selection...personally i woulf have had judge child and the 1st appearance of judge Death higher.....and as for satire...why nothing of the democracy movenent...those before the America story i mean..........still,a great job
You mean the Democratic March storyline, when Dredd used any means necessary to stop the democratic movement? Well, well, well, it's a bit too bold, isn't it? The Judges are denounced as fascists, as if none could recognize it before. That's the same problem with America story line. It takes itself too serious and it expects its readers to be icnorrant because the reader doesn't get what a totalitarian state Mega City 1 is. A bit insulting, I think.
Hmm, allthough it's Bishop's and Wagner's favourite Dredd story, I think it's too dark, too tragic and it's lacking the satirical moments I love Judge Dredd for.
Judge Dredd vs aliens incubus is pretty cool too, and the one where Dredd is turning into a werewolf! So much awesome storylines! The movie is so lame!
Thank you, your Honour! I also like the two books you mentioned but I consider "The Apocalypse War" as anachronistic with it's Cold War scenario, while "The Day the Law died" releases in me some bad memories from the movie.
Good list, mine in no real order
The Deadman/Tale of the : Dredd takes the long walk.
THe Art of Geomancy: Dredd is captured and tortured by a beautiful oriental assassin,
Justice One:Dredd plays detective in Deep space with a murderous Judge on the loose.
Top Dog:Dredd comes up against Johnny Alpha and Wulf
Judgement Day:Alpha returns to Dredd's world to capture a necromancer.
Apocalypse War:Sovs nuke half of mega city one and invade,Dredd leads the resistance.
Mechanismo: Dredd vs robojudge
JosephMelia 5 days ago
@JosephMelia Good call and thanks a lot for the compliments. Of those you mentioned I like Tale of the Deadman and Mechanismo best. I find The Apocalypse War a bit anachronistic but on second thought it's a comic written during the escalation of the Cold War under Reagan and Andropow, so it's indeed an interesting piece of contemporary history.
No America? I'm surprised and amused. What do you think of Young Death and Mandroid?
DrGull1888 4 days ago
@DrGull1888
No America partly because didn't think of it.It's not really a story about Dredd (preparing for outraged mocking backlash)so much about the politics of his world.Admittedly it is an excellent piece.Colin Macneil is class.I loved Young Death,I'm a big fan of Doherty's artwork and it was great to see the origion of the superfiend..As for Mandroid,it felt like filler to me.I liked the Pit and Origions .Loved the whole Rico and Dolman episodes.Gave Dredd a little more depth.
JosephMelia 3 days ago
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@DrGull1888
No America partly because didn't think of it.It's not really a story about Dredd (preparing for outraged mocking backlash)so much about the politics of his world.Admittedly it is an excellent piece.Colin Macneil is class.I loved Young Death,I'm a big fan of Doherty's artwork and it was great to see the origion of the superfiend..As for Mandroid,it felt like filler to me.I liked the Pit and Origions .Loved the whole Rico and Dolman episodes.Gave Dredd a little more depth.
JosephMelia 3 days ago
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@DrGull1888
No America partly because didn't think of it.It's not really a story about Dredd (preparing for outraged mocking backlash)so much about the politics of his world.Admittedly it is an excellent piece.Wagner + Macneil = class.I loved Young Death,I'm a big fan of Doherty's artwork and it was great to see the origin of the superfiend..As for Mandroid,it felt like filler to me.I liked the Pit and Origins .Loved the whole Rico and Dolman episodes.Gave Dredd a little more depth.
JosephMelia 3 days ago
@DrGull1888 but is the story and art any good?
starcobra123 2 weeks ago
@starcobra123 Well, the book consists of several satiric short stories. But don't expect something as heavy and dramatic as "America". Most stories are awesome like the one where Dredd encounters Santa Claus and some are simply bizarre like Dredd gunning down Bambi. Bisley's take on the characters is cartoonish with beautiful coloring. Overall the artwork is awesome.
DrGull1888 2 weeks ago
What is heavy metal dredd like? Is it any good?
starcobra123 2 weeks ago
@starcobra123 It's very tongue in cheek.
DrGull1888 2 weeks ago
hey wheres America that's a great Judge Dredd story
JayDee284 2 months ago
Cool video. I'm liking that tune too, haven't heard it before, it rocks.
WizzSpell 2 months ago
@WizzSpell Thank you. I had to change the tune due to copy right claims. I originally used something orchestral from the movie soundtrack "Robocop".
DrGull1888 2 months ago
Hasn't Judge Jaws eaten him yet? Bring back the Carry On team, all is (nearly) forgiven! Still got my fingers and toes crossed for the new film. Not convinced Urban has the chin for D but he cetainly couldn't be any worse. Could he? Please tell me he couldn't be worse (after the Star Trek film the comedy aspect would certainly fit the bill, lol).
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Hell yeah! Kenneth Williams in a double role as gay Judge Death and Walter the Wobbot, Charles Hawtrey as Fargo, Sid James as Pa Angel, Hattie Jacques and Joan Sims as Sisters of Death. And, as a special treat for me, Frankie Howerd as Santa Claus.
Actually Urban looks the shit like Dredd. But who knows, when they've got a decent story and good actors...
I liked Urban in Star Trek. He was the only one who came close to his original character.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 First things first: Where do I get tickets for your version of Dredd? Great cast. I can already imagine the film. Can we have a couple of Loony Toons in there, too? Foghorn Leghorn IS Judge Dredd (I say, I say, I say perp. I AM the Law). Personally my money is on Judge Daffy Duck (Thuffering grud. Juthtith ith therved, cur-reep)!
Urban was great in Trek. He was Bones! I've seen him in a couple of other things and think (hoping, chin aside) he has IT. Whatever the mystical IT is.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Come now, Leghorn must be one of the villains like Morton Judd or Nero Narcos breaching the fourth wall to the audience and tattling the whole plot: "I say, I say, I say we gonna clone those sunovabitches and kill the originals." But you are right Daffy must be Judge Dredd. He is the only one tough enough. Elmar Fudd is Meanmachine and Yosemite Sam a Chief Justice. I don't care which one.
What would a Monty Python take on Judge Dredd look like?
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 "Let us not go to Mega City 1, for it is a silly place"
"Stupid Britcit K-nig-uts!"
PS: What role would the Martian hold? A Klegg? (And wouldn't Daffy be dangerous with a lawgiver?).
meanbeetroot 11 months ago
@meanbeetroot Haha, the Martian a Klegg! Some kids would get a bad surprise when they see the Martian eat man flesh.
I find Terry Jones should play Judge Dredd and he should use the high voice he had as Sir Bedevere. "...and that, Judge Hershey, is how we know the Cursed Earth to be banana shaped."
DrGull1888 11 months ago
@DrGull1888 Perhaps Daffy could be recruited to play Deathy in the Python version: "Alwaythhh look on the bright thhide of Deathh. Da da, dada dada dada. Juthht before you draw your terminal breathh.."
The Chief Judge should be John Cleese (in his Basil Fawlty guise) and as a representative of the Tech Judges Eric Idle would fit the bill (he'd have to steal his lines, mind you, but I think he'd be teaching the rookies: "Perps float, therefore they are made of wood!").
meanbeetroot 11 months ago
@meanbeetroot Two weeks ago I watched with my GF "The Expendables" with Sly Stallone. I think he'd be a decent Judge Dredd. Oh, wait...
DrGull1888 11 months ago
Rat on that perp. Speak to Judge Pal!
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Eh?
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 Was a reference to adverts the editorial droids put in a few progs urging juvies to turn their parents, teachers, etc, in to the justice department (gifts were on offer for this. Call it a fan club, of sorts).Wasn't a serious thing, just them sharing the 'fascist' joke with the readers. I always wondered if anyone actualy wrote to Judge Pal:) Which brings me onto Tharg (The Editor). I guess all involved in putting 2000AD into the world were warped (along with it's readership).
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Ah, I get it, denouncing your family at the authorities.
You know, not all got the totalitarian setting of the Judge system and therefore they wrote America.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 The point of America was a very small comment towards the end when Dredd allowed them to get as far as they did 'to make a point to the rest'. Another point made was when after the cease fire was called anoher judge shot Ami and was put on report. A nice touch about no-one being above the law. Still, Benny knew his place, though. It was possibly more of a totalitarian story than the rest.
A damn fine story (showing how far the writers had come since the inception of 2000AD).
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot I read that John Wagner got pretty concerned about some fan mail of young readers who found the whole Judge system a pretty good idea and to show how questionable, totalitarian and brutal a system is which unites legislative, judiciary and executive in the judges' hands he wrote America. That is why this story doesn't work for me. I'm not a dumb mindfuck who creams his pants when seeing fascists doing totalitarian stuff and therefore I don't need a lesson from Mr Wagner.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 Who's still got parenting skills? Perhaps I'm being a little unfair to parents but most of the ones I know don't seem to know that they're setting themselves (and their children) up for a fall. Anyway, that's a topic we won't visit here.
I think it's obvious I liked it but then I learnt to disconnect fantasy from fact long ago (hmm, can I resist a dig at politians and big business? Obviously not. Snigger). And I've been on the receiving end of the real thing.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Indeed a point. Who's got good parenting skills? They all try the best and have the best porposes also those who fail.
Nevertheless I found it a very interesting idea to make the representative of a totalitarian system - Dredd - the hero of a comic book series and I always found the anarchic environment of Big Meg and it's citizens would mellow the totalitarian aspect.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 It was inspired. Up until Dredd all hero's were just that. Dredd turned a new leaf. Do you think they - the writers/artists - thought that Dredd would elicit such sympathy (in the traditional sense)? Do you think that environmental factors and the (as you have previously said) bizare citizenship - and I'm not knocking your comments when I say this - have mellowed the totalitarian backdrop at all? I'm not sure I do. I think they emphasise it, myself. And the art brings it to the fore.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Yes, you are right. Dredd isn't just the totalitarian thing and I'd wrong the whole series which has an abundance of memorable characters when I reduced it to that. I shouldn't have overemphasized it. It's just America, you know. When I discuss America I quickly get into a fuss. I can't put my finger on it since I had - to be honest - a feeling of sadness after I read America the first time. Perhaps it's the thing with the fanboys who find such a police-state a good idea.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 I take your point. Too many people take the comic too seriously (not that it doesn't cover serious subjects or make serious points). It's a comic, not a bible. The fanboys seem to be a 'recent' thing (I haven't been a serious collector for a while now, for one reason or another - been concentrating on the graphic novels. And I've been lax in that of late. Drokk, must pull my finger out). So it strikes me as odd that someone would actually go that route.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot In a nutshell, America is too bold. Wagner tries too hard to show what someone with a little parenting and education would find out himself: the Judge system is totalitarian at best if not fascistic.
By the way it's my opinion. If others love that story they're ok by me.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 It's cool to have opinions (or not, as the case may be). Better to hold your own than regurgitate someone else's!
The real question with Meg1 is: Where do they get all the people (consider the radiation levels, and I'm not even adding other polutants into the mix). They must be the unluckiest lucky people around (survive nuclear war over and over again, and the undead, and dimensional fiends, and mad judges, and plots, and other plots and yet more plots. Etc!). A people factory?
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot In spite of the totalitarian Judges I think they're a hedonistic society which grants the citizens the possibilety to live out as long as it doesn't collide with the law. So, I think they can handle bloodshed like Necropolis psychologically very well. As for the supply of peole? Who knows? A people factory as you said? Cloning like the Judda? I dunno.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 Truely a comic book world. But still I love it. And no, I don't cream myself on totalitarianism, either. Although, one bullet, one child?
You have a point with the hedonism. As long as they can enjoy themselves then all is fine with the world. The law will look after the righteous.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Well, you know, this was not to fathom your political attitude. As I wrote above there's something about America which gets me into a fuss.
You mentioned Young Death in one of your elder comments. I can't say who I like more, his dad or his landlady.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 No matter how serious the subject under the spotlight I cannot help but take the mick about politics. Must be a kink in my make up!
Very good point you raise about Deathy's dad vs his landlady. Hmm, my money has to be on Mrs Gunderson (I think that was her name). Anyone who can offer JD a cuppa (that's JD as opposed to JD, just to clear that up) and live to tell the tale is alright in my book.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Haha, yes, and don't forget her statement "I'd say you're tall, a little bid on the thin side but very, very handsome." That was killing me.
His dad reminded me of the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors. And when he took his son to work, announcing to the patient that his son will do some work on him that was also great.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 Good point, well made. He did, didn't he?! A bedtime story for all children, methinks!
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 On another thing. We were both unimpressed about the film. I have to say the thing they almost got right was Mean Machine Angel. That was about the only thing about the film I feel I should compliment them on (and have to be fair to them about. Oh, and Hammerstein. But then I always did like the ABC Warriors).
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Mean Machine and Hammerstein looked pretty decent. But we saw too little of them. There was no character development, only an introduction by on or two half-sentences spoken by Dredd or Riko. Mean isn't all too smart, pretty irritable and tends to misunderstand his counterpart's words and acts. They showed nothing of this! And they gave no personality to Hammerstein. He was just Riko's loyal dog who does funny noises.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 Mean is down-right surly if you ask me (or is it a case of "no-one sezens I'm surly less I sez they can say I's surly, or I'm a gonna go up to 4 on ya"?). You're right on both counts (and as we all know Hammerstein didn't work for Rico - nice nose job he had, too). Still, they both looked the part. That is about all I can say for the film, though. I feel I've done my bit for fairness now and need to visit the smokatorium to de-stress. I've gotta add that Joe and Rico were twins. Hmm
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Come now. They must be twins. Think of their bad English. "I am ta Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwww!"
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 And the expected return comment is..
.."I nu you were gonna say that!" Ta da!
I meant to point out that they were clone twins but ran out of characters. Even cheap films have managed to film the same actor as two (or more) characters and present them to the audience in the same frames. Ah, the Aspen get-out clause (let's make it on Earth, that way we don't have to have the surgically altered facial features, etc). Think they 'forgot' they were supposed to be identical? :)
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Perhaps one of those two had a terrible household accident and needed plastic surgery. But that's only my assumption.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 PS: After my mate and I walked out of the cinema we dubbed Stalone 'Judge Clouseau' (I am the leur. Where is Judge Minky? And, there is a berm in the Grandhall of Justice, etc). We thought Judge Kato should be the star of the film:)
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Is Judge Cato Rob Schneider? If so I wonder if there's one single film with him that's watchable?
DrGull1888 1 year ago
Satire? Or parody? Perhaps a cynical and cleverly executed observation of the times the comics were written. Especially the politics of the day. Check out some of the future shocks in earlier 2000AD's. And some of the other stories (Buttonman, Savage, Nemesis, Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dogs, etc). Although even Slippery Jim Digriz managed to get a series (The Stainless Steel Rat, Harry Harrison), so it wasn't all caricature. Speaking of early future shocks, how many inspired directors + writers?
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Yes, you're right but SF in general has always been the adaption of actual events and needs whether they are satirical, dystopian, utopian and so on.
haven't read The Stainless Steel Rat by Harrison yet but Make Room! Make Room! Also a pretty good novel.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot True, and always looked down on as an art form (as if SF can't reveal anything about the human mind. Pah). HH's SSR was essentially boys own science fiction with the humour/absurdness quotient turned up a notch or four. Read with tongue firmly in cheek.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Yes, SF and comics have always been underestimated and sneered.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
Can't remember when this one was released (before or after you got turned on to Dredd) but how about 'story of the deadman'? If my brain cell serves me correctly (and I can't exactly check cos all my stuff's in storage) after this came the 'apocalypse war'. And sorry, I've no idea who the villain/s will be. I doubt it'll be Deathy (Young Death, Boyhood of a Super Fiend. Ahh, I'm going all misty eyed, now), too much for younger audience if they're going for the cash. Nor rapture. Orlok? TheJudda?
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot "Story of the Deadman" was a precursor to "Necropolis" and the first one with the Sisters of Death when I'm not mistaken. I pretty liked it. It's so dark with a lot of bizarre creatures populating the Cursed Earth. Dredd reminded me of Clint Eastwood in one of his Western roles. But the search for his identity in a ruined environment reminded me also of the gunslinger in "The Dark Tower".
I think the Apocalypse War must have been before Deadman and Necropolis.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 Now you say this I realise you're right. Grud, I wish my stuff wasn't in storage (it's been so long, boo hoo. I do miss my 2000ADs, etc). Yep, Apocalypse was early (I seem to recall a calypso ending in 'the whole world going SPLAT'. The first mention of Total Annihilation Devices, if I remember correctly). It's long been believedDredd was modelled on Eastwood (check out his chin). Now he WOULD make a good Dredd (early reader's art of film posters had him andHarrison Ford in the role)
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Apocalypse War was the duke out between Big Meg and the Sov-Cities.Funny that that Mega City one survived a full scale nuclear assault.
Yeah, Eastwood would have been a great Dredd. And someone who would have done a great Judge Dredd movie is Terry Gilliam. Think of the bizarre sceneries and people in his 1980ies movies Time Bandits, Brazil and Munchhausen.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 But then the big meg survived Sabat, etc. I'd miss it if they wiped it out, wouldn't you? I'd like to see more progs covering the other megacities, though. They've only ever really skimmed the surface.
Hmmm, Terry G directs JD. Now that put a smile on my face, good thinking.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Thank Grudd it survived but with tens of thousands dead after the Dark Judges first appearance, followed by 400 million dead during the Apocalypse War, followed by million dead during Necropolis just to suffer another tens of thousand deads makes me start wondering if there's anything left and from where do they take the time to recover.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
With so many storylines to choose from, funny and serious, I'm impressed you can put a Top 10 together. I salute you. That said, who can forget "Gaze into the face of Fear". "Gaze into the fist of Dredd"! Classic. May the new film not be a turkey.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot At last someone who isn't bitching around that his favourite book is missing. Thanks a lot for your compliment and also thanks for the hint with the movie. I wasn't aware of that.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 I'm a long time Dredd fan, been reading it since issue 2 (big brothers have their uses). Actually been reading it since issue 1. Grud on a greenie, why bitch? I like the darker storylines but I laugh at the funny ones so much. Very British. Very subversive ('whenever some one bites the head off a bat glider I know where to come: Ozzy Osbourne Block!' It doesn't get better than that). The chap who plays Bones in the latest Star Trek film is Dredd. Apparently doesn't take off his lid.
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot My first one was "Judgement on Gotham". Around 1990, the time when the first Batman movie was released, they translated a lot of Batman graphic novels into German including the Judgement crossover and I got quickly hooked on the dark and - as you correctly stated - subversive humor. Within the time and with a growing collection I came to the conclusion that Judge Dredd is a SF satire - perhaps I'm wrong. I mean simply think about the bizarre citizens and cusatoms at Mega City One.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 Hmmm, let's wait and see about that one, shall we. I'm not sure he's got the chin for it but fingers corssed (I walked out of the cinema about 20 mins into the last film. A guy can only take so much. Too much packed into too little time, Dredd without his lid, romance - and with Hershey! I could go on). Anyway, so what if a particular story doesn't make it onto a personal faves list? The point is it's a personal faves list. Power to you!
meanbeetroot 1 year ago
@meanbeetroot Ah yes. His name's Karl Urban. He was also in Lord of the Rings. Well he looks a bit too soft for my taste but we'll see. Do you know anything about a possible villain?
I saw the old one at the movies too and was pretty appalled by the lack of subversive humor. You're right they packed too much into it. I also didn't understand why they killed of so many of Dredd's rogues gallery. Weren't they hoping to do a sequel? At least art directions and costumes were ok. That's not much.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
Is there any Judge Dredd story where Judge Dredd is a bit like the Punisher. I have a big chunk of Dredd trade's but they get soooooo boring with all of the dialogue. Too much politics with the megacity mythology
Zamudiokid 1 year ago
@Zamudiokid Try Doomsday on Dredd and Dommsday on Megacity One. Both have a lot of action.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 I will check it. Do you have the Carlos Esquerra collection?
Zamudiokid 1 year ago
@Zamudiokid Nope. But I have a lot of single issues and paperbacks drawn by him.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 I see. There is sooooo much dialogue in the dredd stores. The first 2000AD trade I bought was Origins and it had some good action moments but it was drowned out by sooo much talking and political talk.
Zamudiokid 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 What about satans island?
Zamudiokid 1 year ago
@Zamudiokid I dunno if you like it. It has a lot of satire since it's about a huge floating leisure resort with a big load of bizarre hedonistic creatures populating it. I ilke it since I always prefered a satirical approach towards Judge Dredd.
DrGull1888 1 year ago
@DrGull1888 So it has humor. I prolly would like it since humor balances a story that is supposed to have a lot of action. What kills my interest in Dredd is how Much Dialogue and politics are involved. The Pitt was long and full of dialogue, though there was action it it. The cool part was the end, where there was a huge gang war against the Judges.
Zamudiokid 1 year ago
Judge Dredd and Marshall Law are my favorite comic characters by a long way.
LEAVE THEM ALONE HOLLYWOOD
gnark1ll1us 1 year ago
Out of those ive read Emerald isle, which is v interesting to start but dosent keep the pace.
Just get the early case files, all the best things are in there. if anything ever beats dredds best at the start of his run, during the golden era of british comics (1977-1986), ill eat my hat.
That said id gladly look into anything that supposedly does.
longdongriver 1 year ago
where judge dredd vs predator?!
ScorpioX19 2 years ago
My first one was Judgement on Gotham. I got hooked by the satirical approach to the villeins.
DrGull1888 2 years ago 2
@DrGull1888 I just read Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham. Both the writing and art are fantastic. Sincerely, Aj.
zztoprules1 4 months ago
@zztoprules1 It is. Another good crossover is "Die Laughing" with the Joker joining the dark judges. The other ones "Vengeance on Gotham" and "The Ultimate Riddle" are forgettable. Judge Dredd vs Predator and Judge Dredd vs Aliens are decent, too.
DrGull1888 4 months ago
There almost 30 years between the Burger Wars and Supersize Me. Attitudes and zeitgeist changed in that time.
DrGull1888 2 years ago
@DrGull1888 thats your opinion not a fact, butt thankyou for posting this very much
markstar777 1 year ago
The Judge Child was my fave!
spookymcfuzzy 2 years ago
What do you think of the "The Cursed Earth"?
FFAnime 2 years ago
It's a good comic. Has a lot of satire. Think of the "burger wars".
DrGull1888 2 years ago
Lol the big burger companies managed to stop "burger wars" from ever being published again, hence its absence in complete case files 2
DakeyrastheSlayer 2 years ago
There's also a Burger War in Frank Miller's "Martha Washington".
DrGull1888 2 years ago
I love Judge Dredd! especially the game DRedd vs Death that game is awsome!
spookymcfuzzy 2 years ago
BIG JOBS! BIG JOBS!
AllOfTheRestWillFlow 2 years ago
America was a great story but seriously depressing...
booster330 2 years ago
Too depressing.
DrGull1888 2 years ago
The apocalypse war. Origins. Mandroid. Mechanismo. America.
But to name a few.
Looks like you have grabbed yourself a few GN's and just compiled a list. I suggest you start collecting the Judge Dredd case files then recompile your list.
rugow 2 years ago
I wrote above why I didn't include America and Apocalypse War. I suggest you scroll a few comments upwards.
As I wrote in the description it's my Top 10list so it's o.k. when you have other preferences. Thanks for commenting.
DrGull1888 2 years ago
All i read was Dredd vs Death and Judgement on Gotham and they were great. I'll look for some of these.
mindthegapmindthegap 2 years ago
true...though i think the dem march (and before that the killing of hester) was just laying the groundwork for dredds own doubts....leading up to the vote
malarky321 2 years ago
great selection...personally i woulf have had judge child and the 1st appearance of judge Death higher.....and as for satire...why nothing of the democracy movenent...those before the America story i mean..........still,a great job
malarky321 2 years ago
You mean the Democratic March storyline, when Dredd used any means necessary to stop the democratic movement? Well, well, well, it's a bit too bold, isn't it? The Judges are denounced as fascists, as if none could recognize it before. That's the same problem with America story line. It takes itself too serious and it expects its readers to be icnorrant because the reader doesn't get what a totalitarian state Mega City 1 is. A bit insulting, I think.
DrGull1888 2 years ago
Oh, and thanks for the compliment.
DrGull1888 2 years ago
Where is America the absolute Dredd classic from John Wagner and Colin MacNeil!
michielsinger1962 2 years ago
Hmm, allthough it's Bishop's and Wagner's favourite Dredd story, I think it's too dark, too tragic and it's lacking the satirical moments I love Judge Dredd for.
DrGull1888 2 years ago
Judge Dredd vs aliens incubus is pretty cool too, and the one where Dredd is turning into a werewolf! So much awesome storylines! The movie is so lame!
judgedreddisthelaw 2 years ago
Yeah, the movie sucked ass. I think 1995 was a terrible superhero movie year. First Batman Forever then Judge Dredd.
DrGull1888 2 years ago
judgment day ? the pit ?? doomsday ??? fetish ???? but yes good call overall
fshcake 2 years ago
You are right about "Fetish" and "The Pit". But with "Doomsday" I had the feeling that I've already read something like that before.
DrGull1888 2 years ago
@fshcake Did they rerelease both Doomsday stories? Is the rereleased one mechanismo?
Zamudiokid 1 year ago
Nice work citizen but "the apocalypse war"
and "the day the law died"are missing! By
the way, you choose really good stories!
judgedreddisthelaw 3 years ago 3
Thank you, your Honour! I also like the two books you mentioned but I consider "The Apocalypse War" as anachronistic with it's Cold War scenario, while "The Day the Law died" releases in me some bad memories from the movie.
DrGull1888 3 years ago