Judge Dredd Prog 2177
Recap
Mega-City One, 2142 AD. Home to over 140 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. With unemployment rife and boredom universal, tensions run a knife-edge and crime is rampant. Only the Judges — zero-tolerance cops empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law!
The only job as tough as being a street Judge in Mega-City One is that of a process server. Dillon Fenster is about to learn that fact the hard way...
Review
Judge Dredd prog 2177 is a hit, no doubt about it. It packs a surprising punch with a character-driven story that once more finds Dredd in a position of unyielding moral authority, but still capable of showing some heart when it matters. But this story isn’t really about Dredd, it’s about Dillon Fenster and the life of a process server in Mega-City One.
Serving eviction notices and past-due tickets can’t be as dangerous as being a street Judge, right? Think again!
This prog feels like a full length arc all jammed into a one-shot style book. The amount of character development that occurs is quite impressive, as Dillon Fenster goes from one job to the next, his perspective offers unique insight into life at Mega-City One. You don’t really think being a process server would be all that dangerous until you remember the world they live in. This makes Fenster essentially on the frontlines as to not waste Judges on mundane issues. This frames the story in a magnificent way, helping spur interest not just in Fenster but also Dredd’s role in the quickly unraveling situation.
With a crazy person holding hostages inside a mech repair shop, it seems like just another day at work for Dredd until Fenster shows up and complicates the situation with papers to serve. This creates a hectic scenario that plays out quickly and dangerously and results in a heart wrenching twist before ending on a high note. It’s a remarkably comprehensive story with depth that is difficult to pull off in such few pages.
The artwork contributes to a downtrodden blue-collar worker type of aesthetic that explores social class in Mega-City One with an abundance of grays and random mech parts. It’s a different mood than what we typically feel in a Judge story, but it suits the nature of the story really well and helps to elevate some of the important themes. With Parkhouse’s consistently strong letters helping to guide readers through the mess that unfolds, the visuals prove to be just as successful as the writing.
This is a one-shot that I have a hard time finding any complaints in to be honest. There are a lot of interesting elements at work that show this team fundamentally understands what makes a good Dredd story. While it’s difficult not to miss the epic extended progs in times like this, because Fenster would have been a great character to see more of, this is a Dredd story done right. Don’t miss out on this one!
Final Thoughts
Judge Dredd prog 2177 is a hit, no doubt about it. It's a one-shot that you may have a hard time finding any complaints about. There are a lot of interesting elements at work that show this team fundamentally understands what makes a good Dredd story, so don't miss out on this one!
Judge Dredd Prog 2177: Due Process
- Writing - 10/1010/10
- Storyline - 9.5/109.5/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9.5/109.5/10
- Cover Art - 8.5/108.5/10