Trying to find story arc from my teenage years

[sephless]

I'm trying to find a 2000AD story arc that was published in a one off book. Probably an extreme edition.

It revolved around a composer/singer who's sister was part of a rebel group. After a shoot out with judges in front of the empire state building leaves her brain dead, he gets his brain swapped into her body in order to keep her alive in some little way.

I've purchased the issue about a decade ago, lost it not long after and have long since forgotten anything except the basic plot. This is the comic that got me into comics so I would really appreciate it if anyone can give me any details. Issue number, title of series, the author - anything would be helpful.

Cheers

[Professor Bear]

America.  First seven issues of the Dredd Megazine (Vol 1).

[Banners]

2000 AD Bookshop.

M@

[radiator]

It revolved around a composer/singer who's sister childhood friend/object of desire was part of a rebel group. After a shoot out with judges in front of the empire state building Statue of Liberty leaves her brain dead, he gets his brain swapped into her body in order to keep her alive in some little way.

This ring any bells?

[TordelBack]

Yup, America, regarded by many (although not me) as the best Dredd tale of all.  Written by John Wagner, gloriously painted by Colin McNeill. 

There are two subsequent stories collected in the current Graphic Novel linked to above, both fabulous.  You might be interested to know that the current Dredd storyline Tour of Duty running in the weekly 2000ADs is by the same creative team, and features protaganist Bennett Beeny's daughter, now grown up and working as Dredd's deputy.  It's beyond good.

[Eric Plumrose]

Yup, America, regarded by many (although not me) as the best Dredd tale of all.

It's not really a Dredd tale, though, is it?

[TordelBack]

It's not really a Dredd tale, though, is it?

I know what you mean, but it does feature Dredd setting out his stall in way he never really did before - we often got snippets, usually restricted to a single word balloon, but here we have page long manifestos in the man's own words.  Equally, plenty of the greatest Dredd strips (Sunday Night Fever, Midnite Surfer etc.) only feature Dredd in the most tangential way.  However, I don't personally rate America as the 'best' Dredd story precisely because it lacks a lot of what makes the strip what it is - mainly Dredd overcoming adversity by being a hardass and a stickler.

By the way Eric, I've been meaning to compliment you on your superb sig.  Mrs. Souster would be so proud.

[Zarjazzer]

America is dead. This is the real world.


-My favourite last lines in comic books -er mostly as it's the only one really made a big impression on me.

[Jim_Campbell]

but here we have page long manifestos in the man's own words.

Goosebump moment to exceed anything in any movie (to cross-reference to another thread!) is that opening page of America.

"Let me tell you where I stand ..."

Fucking legendary. They broke the mould with that Wagner droid, I tell you. There is no-one, comic fan or otherwise, in front of whom I've put that page who hasn't got to the bottom and just looked up and said "Fuck me ..."

That one strip, on its own, justifies the existence of the Megazine.

Cheers

Jim

[Eric Plumrose]

I find Wagner can at times be a tad sentimental for my tastes, whereas Alan Grant's the one who usually plucks rather than tugs at the heart strings.

AMERICA, however, stays the right side of mawkishness due in no small part to those awesome splash pages giving us Dredd's take on the city's modus vivendi. For the most part, that's where AMERICA's power lies. I'm just not sure it's a Dredd tale, irrespective of how prominent Dredd features in it.

By the way Eric, I've been meaning to compliment you on your superb sig.  Mrs. Souster would be so proud.

Heh. It's the swear box alone that keeps the B&B going when there isn't a commercial traveller around to brain drain.

[sephless]

Brilliant, thanks folks. That's definitely it. I'm glad it's so fondly thought of.

I didn't expect this kind of speedy reply. And a link to the store as well.

Truly, you are the most helpful forum members I've encountered to date!

[Colin YNWA]

America is one of the best, if not the single best Dredd story ever. I've always advocated that any Dredd film should use America as a template. Its a great way to make a film about Dredd's world and the complex reflection it is of ours.  

[Eric Plumrose]

Well, it could if expanded. To encompass, say, 'Total War', although I'm dubious doing so's the best way to relaunch Dredd as a movie franchise.

An audience whose only knowledge of Dredd is having sat through that Stalloathesome raspberry by Tharg* to his plastic cup providers would likely leave the cinema wondering why the film they've just seen was called JUDGE DREDD when it's about some bloke called Bennett's unrequited love for a terrorist sharing the name of that one Nation under Grud.

As good as I might think 'America' is, it's not particularly representative of JUDGE DREDD as an ongoing comic strip. I wonder the impact 'America' would have on me if it was the first Dredd tale I'd ever read.

* Yes, I know it was IPC that sold the rights, then Fleetway that (presumably) made good on the gains. But I never forgave Tharg for reassuring me Stallone would NEVER be cast as Dredd only to renege on his Betelgeusean bond. Bastard.

[Jim_Campbell]

... why the film they've just seen was called JUDGE DREDD when it's about some bloke called Bennett's unrequited love for a terrorist sharing the name of that one Nation under Grud.

It seems to me that simply expanding the Total War side of the plot and playing it much more as a future-cop procedural, interspersed with the odd brutal firefight, would be a perfect way of keeping the budget in check, whilst distancing the franchise from the action no-brainer that Hollywood-by-committee turned the first movie into.

Cheers

Jim

[Eric Plumrose]

I don't doubt it would make for a t'riffic tale, I just need convincing (although maybe not much) it's the best way for Dredd to make his come back on the big screen. Even a well-made police procedural would still need the trappings of Mega-City One if it's to avoid being some generic future cop doing what he does.

DNA Films does seem capable of doing a bang-up job but even 28 DAYS LATER and SUNSHINE had surmountable creative flaws. Terrorism is perhaps a little too relevant for any new production to comment on all-inclusively rather than a thinly-veiled condemnation of radicalized Islam.

Anyway, this belongs in that other thread elsewhere on the board.