IDW & 2000 AD Set the Stage for JUDGE DREDD: YEAR ONE

These days, most people should know who Judge Dredd is. With the recent Dredd 3D and that previous attempt at bringing the characters to the big screen, people have an idea what he's all about. Even though Judge Dredd made his first appearance back in 1977 and has appeared in countless stories through 2000 AD, if you were to ask people what his origin was, they probably couldn't answer.

To solve this problem, IDW Publishing and 2000 AD are joining forces to bring that story.

In March 2013, Eagle Award-winning 2000 AD Editor-in-Chief Matt Smith and Dredd veterans Simon Coleby and Greg Staples prepare to deliver the story of a younger Judge Dredd. How will the young and eager Dredd differ from the one we know today?

Smith has previously touched on the early days in Judge Dredd: Year One - City Fathers, an e-novella published earlier this year. It was immediately decided that this makes a perfect period to explore further in the comics.

Matt Smith said the following:

Dredd's a notoriously difficult character to get the voice right—and it becomes even more of a challenge when you're writing him as an eighteen year old, fresh out of the Academy. But it's been great fun charting his early cases, feeding into the stories the elements that will go on to make him Mega-City's most feared lawman. And it's terrific to have Simon Coleby on board, a superb artist and well experienced in portraying the madness of the future metropolis.

IDW and 2000 AD are prepared to deliver Dredd stories the likes of which we've never seen. The bigger question is, did Dredd always have his signature grimace?

Variant covers will be provided by Dave Sim and Dredd co-creator Carlos Ezquerra. Issue one is on sale March 27, 2013. It will be 32-pages with a $3.99 price tag.

It's a shame that Dredd and 2000AD only get coverage after the paired up with IDW

I wouldn't say that, there was some good coverage before, not great, but good enough.

@Jonny_Anonymous said:

It's a shame that Dredd and 2000AD only get coverage after the paired up with IDW

I agree, there are so many spin-off stories and book series; its sad to think that they will, more than likely, go unnoticed. A big one being "A.B.C. warriors", "Rogue Trooper", or "Low Life: Mega City Undercover". Not to mention, that 2000AD is so much more than a Mega City 1 chronicle.

But, I am very excited about this new series. I can't wait to pick it up. I wonder if they will keep him a clone?!?!?!?!?!?

@Jonny_Anonymous said:

It's a shame that Dredd and 2000AD only get coverage after the paired up with IDW

Hopefully things are looking up.

@Jonny_Anonymous said:

It's a shame that Dredd and 2000AD only get coverage after the paired up with IDW

2000AD is quite expensive it the states and it also comes irregularly over here which is why it receives little to no coverage on American comic sites.

@nerdork said:

@Jonny_Anonymous said:

It's a shame that Dredd and 2000AD only get coverage after the paired up with IDW

I agree, there are so many spin-off stories and book series; its sad to think that they will, more than likely, go unnoticed. A big one being "A.B.C. warriors", "Rogue Trooper", or "Low Life: Mega City Undercover". Not to mention, that 2000AD is so much more than a Mega City 1 chronicle.

But, I am very excited about this new series. I can't wait to pick it up. I wonder if they will keep him a clone?!?!?!?!?!?

He's a clone?!?!?!

I always saw Judge Dredd as some kind of a fascist.

@blindisaac said:

@Jonny_Anonymous said:

It's a shame that Dredd and 2000AD only get coverage after the paired up with IDW

2000AD is quite expensive it the states and it also comes irregularly over here which is why it receives little to no coverage on American comic sites.

You can get it every week (as well as Dredds proper monthly book) without fail digitally

@Mucklefluga said:

@nerdork said:

@Jonny_Anonymous said:

It's a shame that Dredd and 2000AD only get coverage after the paired up with IDW

I agree, there are so many spin-off stories and book series; its sad to think that they will, more than likely, go unnoticed. A big one being "A.B.C. warriors", "Rogue Trooper", or "Low Life: Mega City Undercover". Not to mention, that 2000AD is so much more than a Mega City 1 chronicle.

But, I am very excited about this new series. I can't wait to pick it up. I wonder if they will keep him a clone?!?!?!?!?!?

He's a clone?!?!?!

oops, sorry. Yeah. They didn't get his background wrong in the original Judge Dredd movie, got everything else wrong...to say the least. He is a clone of the greatest judge in MC1 history...Chief Judge Fargo.

@bob808 said:

I always saw Judge Dredd as some kind of a fascist.

Fun fact Dredd is a fascist. It is kinda the whole point. Knowing that is the first thing you do need to know to start understanding a good Judge Dredd story.

The most interesting thing about potentially reading about early Dredd is that, a Dredd fresh from the Academy of Justice sees morality in full on Black and White. I'm not saying today's old man Dredd sees morality in many shades of gray, more like he sees Black, Grey, and White.

@Jonny_Anonymous said:

It's a shame that Dredd and 2000AD only get coverage after the paired up with IDW

Bleeding Cool and CBR have been doing a fair bit of 2000AD coverage this year. I think there have been a good dozen-ish interviews. There was one with John Wagner where he was asked why he brought back the Dark Judges and in true John Wagner fashion he said, I'm messing up Mega City One anyway I may as well throw them in as well.

sweet ride

Pretty excited about this.

Oh man that looks great! So getting when its out...I need to backtrack and get Judge Dredd #1.