Figure I might as well write it all out- I've been aware of Judge Dredd since I was young, but for all the wrong reasons.
Being in the United States, comic book figures I was familiar with were characters from DC and Marvel properties. My first encounter with Judge Dredd was from the SNES/Genesis tie in to the Stallone movie, though I was too young to be aware of a movie (much less watch it). I received the game as kind of a lazy gift from a relative who probably picked it up from a bargain bin, and didn't think much of it then. Played through it a few times but never finished it. It got me interested in the world though it remained in the back of my mind.
Wasn't until I was older and pieced together what the game was based off because of the bad reputation of the movie- but this was further messed up since I thought the game was just based off the Stallone movie, and not that the movie not based on anything in particular. Yeah, I wasn't too bright, this was before I had a computer to look these things up.
My interest in Dredd didn't really pick up again until I got towards the end of high school, I began to really look around the internet for some sci-fi themed works, since I thought Judge Dredd was just a glorification of the police. Of course I found this not to be the case that there was a lot of messages in Judge Dredd critical of that, as well as its own humor. Not only did I learn Dredd had a long history as a comic character, he was but one of many features in 2000AD.
A year back, feeling that Judge Dredd had some good potential for my bookshelf. I ended up looking at this forum for some recommendations as to where to start reading. Unfortunately I didn't have much luck finding them in comic stores here in my part of Texas (just a second part of "The Day the Law Died" for some reason), and the prices on the internet were too rich for my blood. So I left it again, but kept the recommendations on hand for later when I finished my courses at university.
It wasn't until a few months back in May I ended up finding some of the case volumes in both comic stores and even some book stores (which seemed to have been printed for American markets in mind since they only had US and Canadian dollar amounts on it), which I guess was due to some of the increased interest from the pending release of the movie. I was able to grab Case Files 2 and 5 from this store and liked what I read- Cursed Earth, The Day the Law Died, Block Mania, and Apocalypse War. I managed to pick up Case Files 14 later on the internet on the cheap, so I got necropolis down too. From there I read up on some of the other arcs to plug in the gaps.
I coincidentally ended up seeing the new movie with some friends, though interestingly it was my friend who wanted to see it more (he had heard good things about it). I liked it, but it's kind of odd being with people who couldn't pick up on some of the small references- like the chopper graffiti for example that I spotted as they were going up in the elevator. I'm disappointed the movie didn't do too well here, as it means it will be difficult still to get Dredd stuff outside the internet here. I've tried to get some of my other friends to see the movie (Three liked it, one didn't, and another didn't bother to see it, saw Taken 2 instead!) and even lend them some of my collections, but I've got none to bite yet unfortunately to go beyond the movie.
I'm looking into expanding my collection of Judge Dredd, Tour of Duty looks interesting to me as does Origins. I've heard good things about Day of Chaos from this forum and some blogs, so hopefully it'll get collected soon in a tpb. I guess I could get some of the issues through the app too though, but I'd rather have them all in one go. I've also been trying to find a good copy of America since that gets recommended a lot, but the prices are ridiculous many times- would love to see all of these as digital purchases one day!
Thankfully, while I can't get progs easily in print, the digital subscriptions have been a godsend and I'm looking into getting it. I have an ipad (yeah yeah, I know), and I downloaded the 2000AD newsstand app just a few hours ago and will get around to looking at some of the progs. Kind of weird since I'm 22 going on to 23 in a few days (with comics seen as a teenage thing at best), but I've always gotten the vibe that the comic crowd for 2000AD is more mature. I hope that I can acquire some of the case files one day through a digital download here- much more convenient for me to have them all in one place. Hope to also go beyond Judge Dredd too- Strontium Dog looks pretty interesting from what I've read up on it.
Sorry for droning on, but I look forward to posting here more.
Quote from: MercZ on 02 November, 2012, 03:52:02 AMKind of weird since I'm 22 going on to 23 in a few days (with comics seen as a teenage thing at best), but I've always gotten the vibe that the comic crowd for 2000AD is more mature.
You've been misinformed: we're not more mature, just
old. So very,
very old. I'd guess that 23 puts you in the lower 20% of the readership - I've forgotten the details, but I suspect the modal age bracket here is 35-45.
Welcome to the forum, it's always interesting to read about the troubles American readers have to go to to get hold of material, and good to hear that digital distribution may finally be addressing that.
Good to here you get there in the end despite all the barriers. Have fun catching up with Dredd so much to enjoy and then you can start on the rest of 2000ad illustrious history you lucky so n so you.
Welcome aboard
welcome to the forum - you've started with some real classic Dredd stories there, glad you enjoyed them. America is definitely worth tracking down - Dredd barely appears in it but his presence is felt throughout. I can't recall any other comic were the 'hero' is painted in such an unflattering light. Great stuff.
And yes, there are many more wonders to be discovered fronm the House of Tharg, from surreal weirdness, gothic horror in space, future war, galctic bounty hunters, vampires in WWII, mind-bending time travel, robot warriors, and just about anything sci-fi related that you can think of. More and more US versions of trades of Dredd and other stuff are coming out these days, so have fun catching up!
Welcome aboard!
Welcome aboard, MercZ :wave:
Great to read your post, and to see that collecting 2000ad/Dredd has gotten a wee bit easier for the far-flung Squaxx, of late.
Thanks for the welcome guys. I think the internet has helped for Dredd and co. to spread better, and maybe overcome the stigma the name is tied to because of the Stallone movie.
Welcome to the board Mercz...I only recently de-lurked myself. Interesting to read about the struggles in the US to get Dredd exposure, as I'm moving over there in the new year. Thankfully the new digital 2000ad options should ensure I don't struggle to maintain my fix, otherwise there would've been quite the tantrum, I can tell you.
I look forward to telling any american that will listen, that they should be reading Dredd. Until they deport me.
Welcome to the board. I joined at Christmas at pretty much the same time as I started back reading the prog after many years of wandering in the wilderness. This is a good place with good people and good advice at finding those avenues rich with maximum thrill power.
Enjoy.