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New Essential Judge Dredd graphic novel line launches in September

Started by IndigoPrime, 09 January, 2020, 11:23:56 PM

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IndigoPrime

The ultimate introduction to the ultimate lawman – Essential Judge Dredd launches this September!

Rebellion Publishing is pleased to announce a new graphic novel line focusing on the indispensable stories of the greatest lawman of the future, beginning with a blistering tale where the terrorists want only one thing – democracy!

Perfect for new readers and retailers, the Essential Judge Dredd line of graphic novels will focus on the key stories that have established and confirmed Dredd's place as one of the most complex and nuanced characters in comics.

The first collection in the new line, Essential Judge Dredd: America, includes work by John Wagner (A History of Violence), Garth Ennis (Preacher), Alan Grant (Batman), Colin MacNeil (Judge Dredd), John Higgins (Watchmen), John M Burns (Modesty Blaise), and Jeff Anderson (Transformers).

Out in September 2020 and retailing at £19.99 / $25, this 160-page paperback in larger format (276mm x 210mm) collects the America storyline, which focuses on the lives of ordinary citizens living under Justice Department's despotic system.

Time drew childhood friends America Jara and Bennett Beeny apart, but when they reunite Beeny discovers America has become involved with the terrorist organisation 'Total War'. This dark and complex tale is considered to be one of the best stories to ever come out of the Judge Dredd universe.

Now contextualised with contemporarily-thematic stories, the collection will also feature new colour by renowned Watchmen colourist John Higgins.

The series continues in November 2020 with Essential Judge Dredd: Origins, the unprecedented epic that sees Wagner and Ezquerra return to tell the origin story of their greatest creation.

First appearing in 1977, Wagner and Ezquerra's fascist future cop has become the byword for dystopian law enforcement and has inspired generations of artists, writers, filmmakers, and musicians. Patrolling the streets of Mega-City One on America's Eastern seaboard 122 years in the future, Dredd is judge, jury, and executioner in a blackly funny, often challenging, and always riotous satire of 'law and order' politics, whose underlying message has only become more relevant in the 21st Century.

Ben Smith, head of Rebellion Publishing, said: "Not only is America one of the most amazing Judge Dredd stories ever told, this incredibly prescient look at the demands society must make for democracy and what a state will do to protect itself couldn't be more contemporary. This is not only the ideal first story for any reader new to Dredd, it's something everyone should read in this year of all years. Make sure you read it before you vote, citizens!"

Fungus

Interesting, and feels primarily targeted at the US ?
In these reprint-heavy times, doubtful I'd pick anything up, but keen to see how the (B&W) classics fare when coloured by John Higgins. Should turn the heads of those US readers 😜

Rogue Judge

Sounds interesting...as long as the Complete Case Files continue, I'm a happy squax.


Rately

Sounds lovely, and interested to see John Higgins colourise classic stories.

Am I wrong in saying that September is the month that the 2000AD Ultimate Collection comes to an end?

Dark Jimbo

Quote from: Rately on 10 January, 2020, 08:32:28 AM
Am I wrong in saying that September is the month that the 2000AD Ultimate Collection comes to an end?

Yep - it got a 30-book extension!
@jamesfeistdraws

Lorenzo

Err, isn't this just a reprint of this



and Origins is still available from the usual sources...


Unless someone can tell me what "Now contextualised with contemporarily-thematic stories" means, I guess there's nothing different here?

Rately

Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 10 January, 2020, 09:17:51 AM
Quote from: Rately on 10 January, 2020, 08:32:28 AM
Am I wrong in saying that September is the month that the 2000AD Ultimate Collection comes to an end?

Yep - it got a 30-book extension!

Looking forward to explaining my new subscription to the wife!

Damn you Rebellion! Damn you straight to hell!

Bolt-01

Lorenzo - without knowing exactly which stories are included, I imagine that the 'America' volume contains more than the core America Beeny tales - take a look at the list of creators:

The first collection in the new line, Essential Judge Dredd: America, includes work by John Wagner (A History of Violence), Garth Ennis (Preacher), Alan Grant (Batman), Colin MacNeil (Judge Dredd), John Higgins (Watchmen), John M Burns (Modesty Blaise), and Jeff Anderson (Transformers).

Now, to me that says we are getting much more than in the earlier collection.

Dark Jimbo

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 10 January, 2020, 09:39:51 AM
Lorenzo - without knowing exactly which stories are included, I imagine that the 'America' volume contains more than the core America Beeny tales - take a look at the list of creators:

The first collection in the new line, Essential Judge Dredd: America, includes work by John Wagner (A History of Violence), Garth Ennis (Preacher), Alan Grant (Batman), Colin MacNeil (Judge Dredd), John Higgins (Watchmen), John M Burns (Modesty Blaise), and Jeff Anderson (Transformers).

Now, to me that says we are getting much more than in the earlier collection.

Yep, what you're not getting is The Complete America; sounds like more of a newbie-friendly 'primer' collecting a bunch of Democracy-based Dredds.
@jamesfeistdraws

Rately

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 10 January, 2020, 09:39:51 AM
Lorenzo - without knowing exactly which stories are included, I imagine that the 'America' volume contains more than the core America Beeny tales - take a look at the list of creators:

The first collection in the new line, Essential Judge Dredd: America, includes work by John Wagner (A History of Violence), Garth Ennis (Preacher), Alan Grant (Batman), Colin MacNeil (Judge Dredd), John Higgins (Watchmen), John M Burns (Modesty Blaise), and Jeff Anderson (Transformers).

Now, to me that says we are getting much more than in the earlier collection.

Jokes aside, I think it will be a lovely way to hook more readers in, and to let lapsed readers like myself catch up on some of the little stories and pieces I may not have picked up yet, or got to in my collecting of the Complete Judge Dredd volumes.

Really looking forward to the other volumes being announced.

TordelBack

This looks like a serious attempt to crack the US nut, more power to Rebellion's elbow.  Intrigued to see Higgins on the crayons, any chance he'll take a crack at unCraddocking Fading of the Light?  See also: The Pit.

(Acknowledging that Alan was working at the dawn of digital colouring in the UK, and the limitations that implies, and aware of the the dangers of tinkering with works of art, but I'd still like to see II able to stand between I and III with its head held high.  But yes, I'm being mean).

Rately

Quote from: TordelBack on 10 January, 2020, 09:48:42 AM
This looks like a serious attempt to crack the US nut, more power to Rebellion's elbow.  Intrigued to see Higgins on the crayons, any chance he'll take a crack at unCraddocking Fading of the Light?  See also: The Pit.

(Acknowledging that Alan was working at the dawn of digital colouring in the UK, and the limitations that implies, and aware of the the dangers of tinkering with works of art, but I'd still like to see II able to stand between I and III with its head held high.  But yes, I'm being mean).

It does feel mean, but it would be an interesting experiment if they did decide to re-colour some of the work.

Mind you, Colin MacNeil in Black and White would be equally lovely.

Tomwe

The 'larger size' is current Prog size, so that'll be a draw for some.

Dark Jimbo

Quote from: TordelBack on 10 January, 2020, 09:48:42 AM
Intrigued to see Higgins on the crayons, any chance he'll take a crack at unCraddocking Fading of the Light?  See also: The Pit.

...I'd still like to see II able to stand between I and III with its head held high.  But yes, I'm being mean).

In a 160-page book that includes (presumably, going by the creator line-up) the likes of Twilight's Last Gleaming and Democracy Now, I'd be very surprised if you get anything other than America Book I in there.
@jamesfeistdraws