Okay so instead of my normal blather I'll intro this one with some logistics. Quarter finals. I've matched pairings by taking the highest Seed and putting it against the lowest Seed. One a day (with play-offs running alongside) 3 days for these ones. Winners in the semis, losers into a play-off for positions 12-5... your confused - look I'm running this thing and I'm hanging on by my fingernails too!
Seed 1 America (https://dreddepicsranked.blogspot.com/2020/12/epics-3-1-bitter-end.html) Megs (Vol. 1) 1-7
Vs
Seed 11 Judge Child (https://dreddepicsranked.blogspot.com/2020/12/epics-13-10-nostalgic-favourites.html) - Progs 156 - 181
Still with the simple purity of popping the name of the Epic you prefer in a reply to this thread (remember to mark it clearly so I can spot it - bold tags are good) and then say whatever the heck you like to about these two great stories.
We're 3 day votes for these ones so this one will close first thing in the morning Thursday 8th April - winner advance to the semis - loser goes into the 12th - 5th place playoff vote.
All links go through to AlexF's simply brilliant Dredd Epics Ranked (https://dreddepicsranked.blogspot.com/) blog. You may need to scroll to find his write up of a particular story - but I'd suggest just reading the whole thing anyway - it's fantastic stuff.
Baffled by what's going on here - well we have a a thread for that (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47367.0) - though that might leave you more confused than anything.
Rules (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47367.msg1053448#msg1053448) for what they are worth.
Not sure about anything just ask and I'll blag it.
America
Some might consider America to be the greatest story to ever appear in 2000AD or the Megazine. That's not a bad shout; but it's not an epic.
The Judge Child very much is an epic and a classic one at that. My favourite indeed and so it gets my vote, all day long.
The Judge Child, for being the strip that was running when I made my first "proper return" to 2000AD- the one that cemented the comic as a weekly buy "no matter what" for at least four years.
SBT
Judge Child every day of the week.
I even think the romance between Buggo and Uglika was more convincing than between Ami and Bennett.
AMERICA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6YkXWqsxIA)
The Judge Child Quest.
America is significant and memorable, but it's not an epic nor arguably even a Dredd story. As the other option is definitely both of those, my vote is for The Judge Child.
AMERICA
The Judge Child...
The Judge Child
So much 'America's not an epic' talk. It's not the longest story, no, but even beyond its two direct sequels it introduced Total War, a thorn in the Judge's side for decades to come; it gave us the Terror/Total War cycle, and the six months(!) of aftermath stories that followed in its wake. It gave us maybe Dredd's single most important supporting character and led, in part, to Day of Chaos. That's one hell of a legacy for a 'not epic' story.
Judge Child is a fun picaresque romp about a bald mutant boy, a family of hillbillies and some goofy space shenanigans. Don't get me wrong, I love the Judge Child, but it doesn't have anything like the weight or legacy of America.
America. Mega City 1 Dredd beats Space Dredd by a mile for me. Also, it's America.
Defo Judge Child. But don't think I am America hater. I just don't find it being an epic, nor Judge Dredd story. It's rather a philosophical tale.
judge child
America
Look, these two stories couldn't be more different. And goodness knows I've derived vast amounts of pleasure from both. I will say that of all Dredd epics, these have a case for being the two best drawn, one by a single aritsts, one by a trip of people each at the top of the game and perfectly paired with the material.
But America is better. Plainly so!
If the argument is legacy, and the value is entertainment, then the answer is The Judge Child, and the reason is Mean Machine.
Tough choice.
Judge Child.
I mean America could have run in the prog as Dredd in 6 page instalments and we'd have all lapped it up as a 10 part wagner epic so under the weird rules of this tourney (which I love btw) I'm going to vote America
Those judge child double page spreads are still the bollox tho.
Can't vote against America.
America.
Judge Child
Last week and over the weekend I read 1) The Judge Child, 2) Destiny's Angels, 3) City of the Damned and 4) In the Year 2120 (via Case Files). It was a blast reading it together, all in order - I reccomend it!
Last month I read America (Essential collection) and enjoyed that too obviously; however, I just had way too much reading through The Judge Child saga that today it gets my vote (surprising even me!).
Judge Child for high levels of varied creative fun! America is great, obvs, but a different kettle of fish from your standard epic.
Interesting one this one as the 'Is it an Epic' and 'Is it even Dredd' factors come into play in a couple of votes. Well here you only have today to make your mind up as I'm counting this one up in the morning so get your votes in today if you want to.
And quite right too that the question of "is it an epic?" come into it. After all the question is "which is the best epic?". The question "what is the best Dredd story?" is a different question.
Now the best Dredd epic might also be the best Dredd story but not necessarily. And if the best Dredd story happens not to be an epic, then by definition it can't be the best epic, no matter how good it is.
And if something's not even a Dredd story, then it can't be the best Dredd story nor can't be the best Dredd epic.
Sorry if that's all stating the obvious.😉
America.
I really meant to vote in all the earlier rounds but didn't keep up with it. So, sorry for just jumping in at the business end but my vote is for The Judge Child.
America
VOTING CLOSED
Well this is interesting. I'm not sure how many of those that voted for the winner here
Judge Child
think that its a better story that America BUT rather that its a better Judge Dredd Epic than America. It makes for an interesting discussion. Either way the result has been made and Dead Man must be looking over its shoulder! America goes into the 12 - 5th place play off and Judge Child is our first semi-finalist.
At first I though this was a surprise but then I released a lot of the folk voting for Judge Child read it when it was original published. Nostalgia always gives a lot power to a subject. I only read Judge Child after I read America so in nostalgia factor I will always feel inclined to give America my vote. Judge Child was also one of those strips that had a big premises. From the original epics this was also my favourite.