By Zack Quaintance — The new volume of 2000AD’s excellent Essential Judge Dredd series is out this month with Essential Judge Dredd: Dredd Vs. Death. I was fortunate to have an advanced look at the book thanks to a very cool sponsorship deal we have with the publisher, 2000AD (the support of which is enabling us to put out more content than ever this year, btw). I sat down with the new book a couple nights ago, expecting to read the first section — I finished the entire thing in one go.

My friends, Essential Judge Dredd: Dredd Vs. Death is a fantastic mix of what I love about comics. The lead villain is as excellent as he is heinous. Boasting a character design and concept that clearly went on years later to inspire DC Comics’ The Batman Who Laughs, Judge Death comes from an alternate world, wherein the judges have determined all crimes are committed by the living, and thus the living must be put to death. Now he’s come to another world to render the same verdict, and Judge Dredd is working to stop him. And this story is told via classic Brian Bolland artwork.

Below you will find several preview pages from the book, a complete chapter in fact, followed by credits and a link to order the book…enjoy!

ESSENTIAL JUDGE DREDD - DREDD VS. DEATH

Essential Judge Dredd - Dredd Vs. Death

Essential Judge Dredd - Dredd Vs. Death
Writer: John Wagner
Artist: Brian Bolland
The essential Judge Dredd graphic novel series - the ultimate introduction to the Lawman of the Future!
The crime is life! The Judgement is death! When Judge Death enters Mega-City One from a parallel dimension, his plan is simple: to find every single living cit and sentence them – to death!
The fourth volume in the oversized Essential Dredd series includes the first two Judge Death stories, from John Wagner (A History of Violence) and Brian Bolland (The Killing Joke) presented in stunning black and white, and featuring restored pages. It also includes the first solo Judge Anderson adventure, presented in luscious new colours, also starring Judge Death. The critically acclaimed Essential Dredd Collection is a perfect jumping on point for new readers and this volume introduces Judge Death, the Dark Judges and wisecracking Psi Judge Cassandra Anderson.
Learn More: Essential Judge Dredd - Dredd Vs. Death

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Zack Quaintance is a tech reporter by day and freelance writer by night/weekend. He Tweets compulsively about storytelling and comics as Comics Bookcase.