Judge Dredd: Year One #1 Review

Full disclosure: I'm a Judge Dredd fan. I've been carefully combing through the old comics for a while now, discovering the character and his violent, madcap world. Recently, IDW has handled the property well enough, but the idea of a Year One tale was very exciting. A young, inexperienced Dredd fresh out of the academy without his normal clout and stature? Sounds great! The thing is, this comic isn't that. It's just another Judge Dredd comic book, which isn't a bad thing, but it's not exactly the change of pace readers were promised.

The story revolves around random psychic events popping up through out Mega City-One. Matt Smith writes a Dredd pretty much they the same way he is written in any of his other titles. Apparently he's younger here, but he doesn't act or look young or inexperienced. He's just Dredd. If you are looking for another fun Judge Dredd comic book, this one ain't bad. If you are looking for something different, a new spin on the character, you won't find it here. So far, Dredd's first year is playing out very much like all his other years.

Simon Coleby's art ranges from awesome to stiff throughout this issue. There's a gorgeous level of detail on nearly every page that helps to breathe life into the dark and crazy world of Judge Dredd. Dredd himself looks fantastic, but many of the other characters look awkward and posed. Lots of panels look photo referenced to the point that they have a mannequin like quality. It's a bummer, because when this comic looks good it looks really, really good.

"Out there! Out out out! On the horizon! Onward, onward!" - Benjamin, after like seven root beers. Follow Benjamin on Twitter @616Earth, or find him on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com