Cover: Dave Kendall & Emily Roach
Publisher: Rebellion
Judge Rico
Script: Ken Niemand
Art: Jake Lynch
Colours: Emily Roach
Letters: Annie Parkhouse
Fargo, Locke and Jeremiah roam the city in search of Dredd, and once they drive away a gang of youths, Jeremiah tastes their blood, unlocking the hint of where Dredd is. Fargo then calls Judge Giant to enlist him in the search.
That page where Giant’s subordinates desperately beseech him for orders is monumental. The guy just wants some peace and quiet, but that’s not what seniors like him get, so when Fargo calls him away, I totally get why he jumps at the chance.
The thrust of Judge Rico has stumbled recently, in my opinion, but now that the gang have a destination in mind, I hope they act with more conviction and purpose.
Brink
Script: Dan Abnett
Art: INJ Culbard
Letters: Simon Bowland
Kurtis and the Chief privately talk about the meeting from the previous episode. The Chief talks about her aunt, who was in the FBI, and about how her aunt had documents containing terms which would be used by the Sect today. They’re called away by Lind, but before they leave, the Chief takes something out of her jacket and swallows it.
I’m coming around on Brink. In a new setting, Kurtis and the Chief bond in a way that they couldn’t in the office. Kurtis’ bedroom, soaked by sunrise, gives the two an intimacy, and I want to see more of this, more variety in locations, to allow us to see different sides of the characters. For example, I wonder what Cutwell is like on her days off? Does she apply the same rigour and rigidity to the way she organises her baseball cards? That’s a crap idea, don’t steal that, Abnett, and if you do, I want royalties, but you get what I mean: it’s nice to step out of the office.
The Fall of Deadworld
Script: Kek-W
Art: Dave Kendall
Letters: Simon Bowland
As usual, Deadworld is utter chaos, and I’m loving it.
Judges Death, Fire and Mortis set off for Sector 13, where we last saw Ava Eastwood. As Ava recovers, Fairfax opens fire on Judge Fear. Fear’s body is ruined, but the spirit escapes, which is only a momentary reprieve, as a Justice Department Space Plane swoops in for a bombing run.
It’s mad stuff. It’s full of action and character as the Dark Judges jostle for domination and Ava and Eastwood clash even as he rescues her. The art carries it all beautifully, with The Dark Judges painted disgustingly, but convincingly, making them all the more terrifying. It truly feels like a battlefield in the middle of the apocalypse, and I’m gobbling it up like a gluttonous sinner.
Nightmare New York
Script: Kek-W
Art: David Roach
Colours: Jim Boswell
Letters: Annie Parkhouse
Lil and Mose break into the Museum of the Grotesque, where their enemies lie in wait, via the Crooked Lanes, an interstitial magical area which Lil hesitates to use. Inside, they are ambushed by the Shevet.
Kendall seamlessly passes from the real world into the Crooked Lanes, aided by his skill with a brush. His brushwork makes New York feel so solid, so when the crack that leads to the Crooked Lanes opens up, it’s like the rug is pulled out from beneath us. Inside, the museum gives Kendall the opportunity to draw all sorts of magical gubbins, showing us that he really can draw everything: old New York, monsters, and characters too. Speaking of characters, I’m enjoying the villains. They’re all archetypical “baddies” just now, but they’re clearly defined and distinct, with their own motivations. Charlie is out for revenge, having been burned by Mose; Denham is more of a bog-standard henchman, and Mr Orlac is a moustache-twirling leader type. Having said that, I notice that Denham didn’t get involved with the scuffle this part, so maybe he has a more benign role to play in future.
Anderson, Psi Division
Script: Liam Johnson
Art: Rob Richardson
Letters: Rob Steen
Cassandra probes young Lucas’ mind and finds the same monster which lives in her nightmares. While Judge Nash covers them, Cassandra delves into the boy’s psychic landscape.
I’m in. I was a bit iffy on last part’s pace, but information is delivered at a good clip here: Lucas is a nascent psychic and harbors a monster. Sorted.
Richardson smashes it here, showing his versatility. Not only is he a gifted line artist, he can also paint, and using a variety of skills helps to show the different planes of existence going on here. I’m buckled in and ready to be thrilled.
Overall: 8/10
Tony Holdsworth is a comics writer based in Dundee, Scotland, who reviews 2000AD each week.
His comics can be found here: https://tonyholdsworth2.wordpress.com/category/portfolio/
