Hi folks,
Are these worth reading? Got a couple of issues of Dc's 'Judge Dredd' back in the day but never caught up with series. Was round the time UK newsagents were banned from selling american comics on newstands. Think it was due to some licensing issues or something? :)
Of the two series, I recall Legends of the Law being the least bad. The main Judge Dredd one was essentially unreadable, but the other one didn't make you want to punch your own face in, just to distract from the sheer horror of it all. I wouldn't personally bother tracking them down though, unless you're some kind of masochist.
Only worth reading if you have absolutely nothing left to read.
The first four issues of Legends of the Law were written by John Wagner and are well worth reading. The story is about Anderson as a cadet being assessed by Dredd.
I think Legends of the Law is worth picking up, W&G's first story is decent, and it features a rookie Anderson.
The artwork on the series was good too, I have a soft spot for Dan Chichesters academy tale, drawn by Anthony Williams.
If you like to see Chief Judge Fargo in a cardigan, go for it. Am I remembering that properly? Quick Google search. Oh, in the DC version Fargo was originally a "hotshot District Attorney".
Give it a miss.
But do seek out the first four issues of Legends of the Law, written by Wagner and Grant. Underrated. A shame they haven't been reprinted (to my knowledge). It was great having the masters script longer episodes of Dredd and that alone makes them worth seeking out. I recall some excellent pacing that I thought at the time wouldn't be possible in prog sized episodes.
I remember quite enjoying the DC Dredd. I was a kid though.
I'd rather read used toilet paper.
Which, essentially, this is.
I think it's a good read if you want to know how not to write, Joe.
I didn't like the way they played Fargo as some manipulative madman pulling the strings for a lot of the chaos in the book (even going so far as to support Booth) Really disliked the book taking place in the 2040's and they made Dredd too much of a idiot.
I have complete sets of both of these, but have never felt the need to re-read them. I guess the best I can say about them is they are (probably) better than the recent IDW Judge Dredd stuff.
If memory serves that is....
If Andrew Helfer didn't write it, it didn't happen.
Thanks for the feedback guys
:)
Quote from: Richard on 11 May, 2016, 10:51:51 PM
The first four issues of Legends of the Law were written by John Wagner and are well worth reading. The story is about Anderson as a cadet being assessed by Dredd.
That'd make a good idea for a film ;)
As for the actual question - I like Legends of the Law - some pretty good artwork (including covers), but give the main DC title a miss, much like the IDW mini-series vs main title (unless you suffer from the curse of completism).
Quote from: Dreddzilla on 12 May, 2016, 08:28:46 AM
I think it's a good read if you want to know how not to write, Joe.
I didn't like the way they played Fargo as some manipulative madman pulling the strings for a lot of the chaos in the book (even going so far as to support Booth) Really disliked the book taking place in the 2040's and they made Dredd too much of a idiot.
In what way did they depict Dredd in a bad manner? I would appreciate it if someone could give examples.
The titular comic's earlier attempt at writing Judge Dredd "Origins" is a jam of bum-notes but worth a blast from an historical perspective.
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 19 April, 2018, 09:58:41 PM
The titular comic's earlier attempt at writing Judge Dredd "Origins" is a jam of bum-notes but worth a blast from an historical perspective.
I wouldn't even say that - if you weren't there at the time, and you're not a JD completist, don't bother. Re-reading the thread I just don't get the hate for Legends of the Law - like the IDW mini-series, this is often 2000AD creators taking a stab at MC1 tales, often pretty much in-continuity (our continuity, not the main DC/IDW continuity). It was certainly on a par or better than was appearing in the prog and meg at the time.
I didn't read it as a completist – I'm not one and it's the only Judge Dredd DC comic I've read – but as a reader curious to know how another writer tries to "explain" or fill-in what were perceived to be gaps in understanding the original from a non-2000AD perspective – and it had never really been done in any kind of authorial way before. I read it with the same interest as reading the fan-fiction chrononolgy published in the 1984 annual. It also adds to a greater apprectiation of the genuine article.
I know it's not usually a good idea to necropost but since the collected edition came out this week I might get a pass.
My finger is hovering over the 'Add to Basket' button.
2 stories in longer form that usual by John & Alan. I presume the second one, Trial By Gunfire is the Anderson assessment story.
Is Legends of the Law worth a buy?
Quote from: gogilesgo on 15 September, 2022, 06:59:51 AM
Is Legends of the Law worth a buy?
I will read it this weekend and give my 2 cents on it. I actually have no big expectations
My recollection is those strips, even given those involved, just aren't that good. They're decompressed content compared to what we get in 2000 AD, and the art on the first strip isn't exactly stellar. I at the time had complete runs of all the DC stuff but long ago offloaded it.
I bought (and still have) the first four issues, which are by Wagner (and are the Cadet Anderson story). It's good stuff, full of Wagnerian humour and typical MC1 quirkiness, with organ leggers and such. Well worth it I'd say. As for the rest, I have no idea.
I've managed to track down and read a chunk of these...the Wagner story is decent but I found the rest a struggle to read. I typically can find enjoyment with anything Dredd (I even see the sunny side of 90's Dredd & Ennis stories!), but this series is not it for me.