Advance Preview: The Second ‘Essential Judge Anderson’ Volume Brings The Law Face-To-Face With ‘Satan’

“Has Cassandra Anderson Got the Number of the Beast?” – the only way to find out is to pick up the second Essential Judge Anderson volume – Satan.

2000 AD recently announced this one, out on 8th May 2024, which might be a long time away but I couldn’t help but share it early, as it’s one of the finest of Judge Anderson’s adventures,

The Essential Judge Anderson began with ‘Shamballa’ by Alan Grant and Arthur Ranson (reviewed and thoroughly enjoyed right here) and it’s quite right that the second of these Essential volumes picks up another Grant/Ranson tale, ‘Satan,’ with the Judge coming face-to-face with the devil and with Grant diving deep into an exploration of Mega-City One’s fascist Judge System through the lens of faith and freedom.

Here’s the 2000 AD press release for this one…

Judge Cassandra Anderson of Psi Division is one of the greatest minds on the Judges’ roster. As a precognitive telepath and empath, her quirks, such as her sense of humour, are tolerated by the otherwise oppressively strict Justice Department.

“In Mega-City One, citizens live in fear under the iron fist of the Judges’ unyielding rule, but PSI Judge Cassandra Anderson knows it’s a flawed system. In the second volume of her Essential line, Anderson grapples with matters of faith and damnation, as a chance at eternal life comes at the cost of losing her mind forever, while her pursuit of a just system leads her to investigate a religious cult, and ultimately to engage in a battle of the minds with the most formidable of foes: Satan himself!

With exceptional art from Arthur Ranson, whose creative partnership with Alan Grant produced some of 2000 AD’s most challenging and consequential stories, Satan thoughtfully explores faith against the backdrop of the Judge Department’s system of absolute power.

As Anderson faces up to the living embodiment of evil – a man of wealth and taste indeed – she’ll be pushed to the very limit of her abilities!”

Again, as with ‘Shamballa’, Satan is a story genuinely worthy of the Essential tag. It’s a must-buy and highly recommended. I’ll do more on this nearer the time, but for now, enjoy the advance preview…

The Essential Judge Anderson: Satan

Written by Alan Grant

Art by Arthur Ranson

Letters by Annie Parkhouse.

Published by 2000 AD on 8th May 2024.