dreddone
In an all-new adventure from Joe Dredd's early days as a Mega City-One Judge, writer (and Eagle-award-winning 2000AD Editor) Matt Smith presents a tale where "all the young juves, carry the news," only in this case, the news is delivered with a lethal blow!

Received in ebook format from www.netgalley.com. DRMd, too big to be sent to a kindle, had to be read using ADE on a laptop. Unfortunately ADE on a laptop is not the easiest format to read these stories - in "actual size" the font is virtually unreadable (bad for something this text heavy), but if you magnify, the scrolling becomes so slow as to be unresponsive....both PG-DN and cursor scroll both mean that each page can take over 10 minutes to progress through. (I have read other graphic novel content on an ipad, and it has been a joy and a delight to read, so to be presented in this format is highly disappointing).

To the story itself: Dredd has been on the streets for approx a year after 15 years in the academy. Psi-Division is not long established. Seemingly random Psi events kick off around the city, where teens that would have previously rated "zero" for psychic ability are producing. Dredd is learning from more experienced Judges such as Goodman and Riorden - the latter being the Psi-Cop leading on the investigation. Between them Dredd and Riorden end up at a children's home where Dredd enters the psychic rift that has opened up recently in the building.

Dredd finds himself facing a version of Meg City one that has been decimated as his own, but empty of people - a situation he has never confronted before, and it makes him nervous. He meets up with some judges that have been forced underground by the psy-kids that took the city over the previous year, under the guidance and direction of something that calls itself "The Four Mothers". Meanwhile, the Judges in Dredd's reality are attempting to find him and pull him back with forewarning of potential issues to come through a time link to the future.

Graphics are good - the other MegCity One in particular - it's very word heavy (Dredd speaks!) and I will consider getting a paperversion of this

Apart from the title, which evoked a pleasant sense of déjà vu, the first thing that struck me about Judge Dredd: Year One was the art. It, too, evoked a pleasant sense of déjà vu because I have seen its like before, many moons ago, on Green Lantern, the Spectre and a certain caped crime-fighter of great fame. Simon Coley is very much school of Neal Adams. Since that school is more or less the Oxford University of comic art it’s not a bad institution to inhabit. The pictures are gobsmackingly gorgeous throughout and, just as important, tell the story very clearly. I should add that the fine ink work is distinctly enhanced by the colouring of Leonard O’Grady.

The excellent story is by Matt Smith and it goes like this. Some juveniles in a certain area of the city have started exhibiting psi powers: levitation of themselves and objects first and then, when Dredd gets involved, ripping a man to shreds. The kids have never before had such abilities and it seems they are channels for some outside force. Dredd is put on the case and gets to visit Psi-Division for the first time - it’s year one, remember - and is not keen. Their premonitions tend to be woolly and inaccurate while he likes things clear, plain, black and white. No surprise there. The plot thickens and unrest among the juves gets worse as more and more of them develop powers. The security of Mega-City One is under threat and drastic measures may have to be taken.

As with all the best Dredd stories - and probably all the best science-fiction stories - it’s really about problems here and now. Should the long arm of the law bash in children’s heads with a truncheon or are there better methods? If the young are trapped in hopeless situations with no prospects and no future what else can they do but turn to crime? On the other hand, you don’t want to let them get away with it. No prizes for guessing where Joe Dredd stands on these issues.

Judge Dredd: Year One might seem a bit of a batty idea (geddit?) but in fact, it’s a very good one. For any long-established character, it’s worthwhile to examine the time before they became a living legend and have a look at their beginnings. Fresh out of the Academy, with less than twelve months experience, Dredd is given to quoting the principles he learned there. It stands him in good stead. I am not ashamed to proclaim that this volume is as worthy as any other crime fighter’s year one story, which is high praise indeed for those who know. A treat for the eyes and the mind of the discerning graphic novel fan. Very definitely recommended.

( )

It starts out referencing Dredd as a rookie. He has been on the job for a year. The twists are good and the ending leads to many other questions. I have not read many comics. But this was easy and very graphic which was great. I like the ending very much and as a starter to the Dredd universe I would recommend it.
Made available by NetGalley ( )