JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE, #393

Writers: Arthur Wyatt; Dan Abnett; Rory McConville Alex De Campi
Artists: Jake Lynch; Phil Winslade; Mike Dowling; Carlos Ezquerra; Henry Flint
Colourists: John Charles; Chris Blythe
Letterers: Annie Parkhouse; Ellie De Ville; Simon Bowland
Publisher: Rebellion

Dredd’s investigation into a mysterious death on a banana plantation is not going well in Judge Dredd: Krong. Intelligent apes have been a comedic aspect of Dredd’s world for decades, but the character of Harry Heston, the gorilla who wants to be a Judge, gives a new level of depths to this part of the world. Having been captured by an army of angry apes, Dredd and Heston struggle to escape is interspersed with the backstory of the criminal ape-lord they now face. There’s some wonderful dialogue here, as Heston tries to impress his hero, or the disasters of Mega-City One’s past are misremembered. Krong manages to be action filled, funny and sentimental at the same time. We also get a quick look at the barely seen Judges of Euro-Cit and some great design work by artist Jake Lynch

After slowly building the tension on the distant off-world colony of Badrock, violence breaks out this month and the populace are forced to defend themselves against overwhelming force. Lawless: Breaking Badrock has some great writing, which has given real weight to these characters, and there are small moments, just individual panels, amid the chaos of battle when we are reminded of their individual struggles. Phil Winslade’s incredibly detailed art is a real standout. From individual characters to vast landscapes, everything is wonderfully rendered.

Devlin Waugh: Blood Debt comes rushing to a conclusion, as the Waugh brothers are thrown together and all hell breaks loose. The dialogue, as it always should be when Devlin is around, is delightful. Devlin interrupting a monologue with a monologue of his own is hilarious. The balance between gentlemanly quips and extreme violence is a defining aspect of the character, but new writer Rory McConville has given more to Waugh’s world by adding parts of Devlin’s private life which where deliberately concealed before. Despite the somewhat rushed ending there’s real emotion as the quarrelling brothers are forced to confront their feeling.

Cursed Earth Koburn: The Law of The Cursed Earth has the feel of a gritty western, helped no end by Carlos Ezquerra’s evocative artwork. The traitorous Judge Boyle has lured Koburn and Alonso into a trap, but has the dangers of the radiation desert to deal with.

The Dark Judges are slowly being introduced to the movie-verson of Dredd’s world in Dredd: The Deadworld. It’s clear that these Dark Judges are going to be very different from previous incarnations, whether Brian Bolland’s Hammer Horror monsters or Dave Kendall’s creeping terrors. It’s made clear in this issue that the rules of this version of the universe are very different. The tension is gradually built, and new horrors are unleashed, and this more reality-based version of Dredd is transformed.

This month’s Megazine also features an article on new talent who’ll be appearing in these pages this year, as well as an obituary of the artist Jim Baikie, who sadly passed away in December.