Judge Dredd Progs 2178-2182: Chimpsky’s Law

Chimpsky’s Law is here to stay! Well, as long as Dredd doesn’t have too much to say about it that is. In Judge Dredd progs 2178-2182 we discover the journey of Noam Chimpsky, a vigilante ape caught up in a conspiracy that could prove to be more than he bargained for!

You don’t see a lot of stories about vigilante justice in Judge Dredd progs, especially not those of a super-intelligent ape. That alone sets this story apart with some very distinctive aesthetics and tones. Chimpsky is a character that fits nicely into the world, exploring the concept of justice in this world in a way that you just can’t really do with the Dredd character. However, like most good Judge Dredd stories, we see the fabled Judge as a no nonsense pillar in the community and a strict depiction of the law that both Noam and his regular Judge Stenz have seemingly upended.

Chimpsky’s Law is a 5 part story that finds the vigilante quickly embroiled in a conspiracy with the anti-jay resistance army organization and sets the stage for a conflict that is undoubtedly serious, but also a bit whimsical as well. The forces choose to wear monkey masks to look more like Noam and it really blurs the lines between what justice really means in a world like this. Chimpsky’s Law is mostly just a fun story about a monkey vigilante getting away with helping people and standing up to even Dredd himself, but there is still an important underlying theme that asks consequential questions on the pursuit of justice.

The artwork is certainly stylized, but it doesn’t hinder the story’s humor or assertiveness. It finds an enjoyable balance between the stark reality of the situation these citizens find themselves in and the playful qualities Noam brings to the story. Nearly every visual of both Noam and Dredd himself are truly impressive, and while the background work may leave something to be desired, the pacing, characterizations and tone all works very well with the script. The result is a story that is easy to enjoy and more fun than you might imagine from a book with the LAW himself, Judge Dredd involved.

This story won’t be the one to convince new readers to stick around and check out Judge Dredd progs in 2000 AD, which makes it a curious decision to stretch it out over 5 different parts. There are shorter one-shots and 2 prog stories that feel like they would have benefited more from the additional development. This story, however, feels like it could have been just as effective in maybe two or three different progs. While it is definitely engaging, I’m not sure if the extended length offered any favors to the execution.

Still, Judge Dredd progs 2178-2182 are a treat to read just to get to know Noam Chimpsky more. He’s the type of character you could pretty easily get behind a spinoff miniseries for just because you don’t want his story to end. Vigilantism in Mega-City One is an aspect that is ripe with storytelling potential, and the Batman-style familiarity that Noam brings opens up a lot of exciting opportunities. The creative team uses Dredd to great efficiency in this story, and fans are sure to appreciate it, but there is no denying that Noam Chimpsky steals the show!

Kick back with Judge Dredd progs 2178-2182 and have some fun with a character you simply didn’t know you needed so bad, you won’t regret it!