Judge Dredd - The Complete Cam Kennedy Vol. 2

Released by: IDW Publishing, Inc.
Released on: Apr. 02, 2014

From the late 80's to the title's resurgence in the late 90's and onward the go-to Judge Dredd artist was Cam Kennedy. So here are 19(!) more stories featuring the iconic hero at the hands of one of the best artists to ever draw him.

With a brief but enlightening foreword from long-time Dredd writer Alan Grant this collection shows Kennedy at his best. His style is full of sincere nods to the original 2000 AD run of the character, from Mega-City One's claustrophobic mania to the wasteland openness of other hab-cities. He also has an eye for detail and lushness that evokes the likes of Bernie Wrightson. So this volume is yet another fantastic example of the range of Kennedy's abilities while also showing off the fun, varied stories of Dredd. An absolute must-have for any fan of Dredd.

Here's a list of the stories contained in this volume. Some clock in at pretty short page-counts but others are impressive runs in and of themselves:

• - Cardboard City (the “haves” take it upon themselves to rid their sector of the homeless; Dredd disagrees, especially when it involves his old housekeeper, “Mad” Maria)
• - Beyond Our Kenny (a Scottish artist confusingly named Kenny Who? longs to make it big but once he's in Mega-City One he acts before he thinks when his work is stolen; Dredd does not approve in this, one of the longest stories in the volume)
• - Who's Wally? (Because he certainly can't remember, having been traumatized by a mad bomber attempt; thankfully, Dredd's there to settle the case)
• - The Contract (A mixup at the lab makes a citizen take a contract out on themselves; Dredd not only prevents this but arrests the perp for attempted murder...of himself!)
• - Alien Town's Burning (xenophobic sect wants to retaliate on an alien defending himself - the very alien Dredd's chasing; the sect goes overboard and tries to purge all aliens from Meg-City One but, again, Dredd disapproves)
• - Old Pals' Act (an artist thinks he has the drop on Dredd but the Judge disagrees; the artist “comes to” when it's revealed he's just a brain in a jar now)
• - No Man's Land (tiny sentient robot squads control pests with military precision; they stumble upon a kidnapping in the outlands that Dredd's trying to handle and prove their worth by helping the Judge out. One of the stand-outs in this volume.)
• - Sabs (called “sab-oteurs” by the citizenry but actually a “Surveillance Action Brigade,” this nimble group doesn't like the 24x7 constant surveillance state and takes out the cameras; Dredd disapproves)
• - Bodies of Evidence (“Scottie-hunting” is a leisure sport that's actually just a front for slave-trafficking; Dredd comes on the scene of two trying to escape and gets involved. He finds the rich are swapping bodies so the penalty is clear...)
• - Alien Wedding (Dredd interrupts a wedding, thinking a murder has taken place rather than what's typical for an alien mating/spawning sequence; perp decides to fight this injustice but Dredd is Dredd and kills him)
• - The Bazooka (another long story in the volume, it's a highly entertaining romp about Fat Camps and secret, underground criminal eating contests; when one skinny kid turns out to be a jaw-unhinging prodigy - a “bazooka” - he's kidnapped, drugged and forced to eat in secret contests. Dredd enlists the help of an old eating champ and busts the whole circle wide open.)
• - The Student Prince (Dredd's assigned protection for a snooty, awful member of the Brit-City royals and, soon, finds excuse to throw him into an iso-cube, much to everyone's relief.)
• - It's Deja Vu All Over Again (a lobotomy-practicing sect takes hostages and then forgets why; Dredd, though, knows and handles them accordingly)
• - Block Court (a judge who handles the daily “people's court” takes ill and Dredd is put in his place; this does not agree with Dredd who manages to convince the sick judge to have a miraculous, speedy recovery)
• - The Trial of Orlok (events from The Apocalypse War - an earlier storyline - are dredged up in the defense of a Sov mass-murderer on trial but being defended by an eager young judge; Dredd is tested but thanks to his consistency is thoroughly correct)
• - Big Deal at Drekk City (a ghost town is the scene of a huge, secret card game with every outlander gang vying to rob it; Dredd is out training new recruits and happens across this. With backup too far away he tries to send the recruits back while he and the other chaperone Judge deal with the menace - but they're hopelessly outnumbered and it's not until the recruits decide to follow what's right that justice wins the day.)
• - Who? Dares Wins (and we're back with Kenny Who?, the artist who is back to try his luck with a new anti-Judge character called “The Hoolie.” His character becomes popular with the citizens but not with the Judges so Who?'s soon in court. But he's exonerated, much to Dredd's chagrin.)
• - Blackout (another social activist group is at work, now knocking out power in many sectors across the city, but it's just a cover as Dredd soon learns they're part of Schitty's gang and are springing him from a sector house. No one's crazy enough, it's believed, to attack such a stronghold but the gang not only does so but is successful - that is, until Dredd shows up with reinforcements and saves the day.)
• - Direct Action (more sabs but this time Dredd's face to face with a young woman who calls herself “Mercy Shakespeare.” During her transfer to holding her group tries to spring her but the Judges have a young undercover they're trying to plant in their midst. When the rescue goes off, though, the young Judge plays his hand too soon and is accidentally killed. This leaves Dredd no other option but final justice for them.)

Several of the stories contain characters or references to far older Dredd storylines as well so it's a great read if you're a long-time fan. But it doesn't bog down on the references, either, so new fans can just jump right in. The range of stories is great as you get Dredd solo, Dredd in groups, Dredd and his past, Dredd as teacher - but always Dredd as The Law. At a street price of $50 it's still very much worth picking up.