Preview: ‘Essential Judge Dredd: Tour Of Duty’ — Dredd And The Politics Of Mutant Rights

by Richard Bruton

To say ‘Tour of Duty‘ was a game changer in the world of Dredd is no understatement – and now John Wagner’s powerful political storyline gets the Essential Judge Dredd treatment.

Citizenship is a privilege not a right.

First coming out in 2007, ‘Tour of Duty’ is still one of Wagner’s finest moments of Dredd, hard-hitting, political, challenging perceptions (Dredd’s and ours) and, of course, damn fine storytelling.

Along with some great Dredd artists, predominantly Colin MacNeil, Wagner brings Dredd face to face with his own mutant lineage and forces him to consider the longstanding anti-Mutant laws of Mega-City One. But although Dredd might be having a change of heart, it’s going to be hard going to make any real changes – hard going and dangerous – especially now Chief Judge Hershey has banned all mutants from immigrating into Mega-City One.

More on this one nearer the time of release – 2nd January 2024 – but I wanted to give you all a heads up about another Dredd tale that really does justify that whole ‘Essential’ tag. It’s the first Essential Judge Dredd book to be split into two volumes, the first containing a whole set of Wagner Dredds, but oh, it’s a worthy one.

Here’s the 2000 AD PR for you…

“The essential Judge Dredd graphic novel series – this is the ultimate introduction to the Lawman of the Future, bringing you the very best storylines from almost five decades!

In Tour of Duty, Judge Dredd faces a crisis of faith and decides to alter the fate of the mutants who are exiled from Mega-City One!

After Dredd’s discovery of a mutant branch of his bloodline during Origins, the lawman has started to take a closer look at Justice Department’s treatment of those unfortunates warped by the legacy of the Atomic Wars. Mutants are currently forbidden entry into Mega-City One, and exiled to facilities and townships in the irradiated wasteland, but Dredd believes it’s time the law was changed – but is even he prepared for the turmoil he’s about to unleash?

The stories collected in this volume have affected the Dredd strip for years, and feature work by writer John Wagner (Button Man) and artists Colin MacNeil (Essential Judge Dredd: America), Kev Walker (Star Wars), Patrick Goddard (Battle Action), and Rufus Dayglo (Tank Girl).”