Preview: ‘Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 43’ — The Best Way To Get The Full Dredd Experience

by Richard Bruton

The latest volume of the Complete Case Files, the complete reprinting of the law in order, brings us up to 2006 and 2007, with reprints from both 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine, including John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra’s epic ‘Origins’ tale.

‘Origins’ is the longest of the Dredd epics, a tale that takes Dredd deep into the Cursed Earth in a plot that shows us how the world turned, the establishment of the Justice Department, the Atomic Wars, and the parts that Cadets Dredd and Rico had to play in all of it.

It was, it still is, a stunning piece of work from Wagner and Ezquerra, expansive, powerful, important, and so big that it’s had to be split across this and the next Case File volume. Reprinted many times, most recently as one of the Essential Judge Dredd volumes, it’s a storyline that I’ll never tire of reading. If it’s you’re first time reading it here, I envy you the experience.

**From Origins – by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra**

But although ‘Origins’ might be the story that headlines this latest Case Files, one thing that’s oh so obvious when you read these Case Files is that you shouldn’t be lulled into thinking of Dredd as just a series where only the big stories count.

It’s way too easy to consider Dredd that way, but that ignores the fact that Dredd is actually the sum of every tale – whether that’s epics such as ‘Origins’ or the smaller tales, the less consequential tales, the ridiculous tales, the way out there tales, all the way down to the done-in-one stories.

Considering all Dredd tales is what makes the strip so vital and essential after all these years – it isn’t so constrained by big event storytelling and it isn’t so tied up with its own continuity. Instead, everything with Dredd contributes, no matter how big or small the story. It all contributes to the legend and the world we’re part of here. And with these Case Files you really do get all of that in one great chunk of reading.

So yes, just as with every Case Files volume, the big epic of ‘Origins’ is a big part of this volume but there’s a lot more than that to enjoy, with writers Gordon Rennie, John Smith, and Simon Spurrier all contributing some really good stories to the canon, together with some fine, fine artists involved in all manner of Dredds – just as there usually is. And it’s that that makes the Case Files one of the very best ways to read Dredd.

**From House of Pain by Gordon Rennie and Ian Richardson**

From Cadet by John Wagner and Colin MacNeil

JUDGE DREDD: THE COMPLETE CASE FILES VOLUME 43

Written by John Wagner, Gordon Rennie, John Smith, Simon Spurrier.

Art by Carlos Ezquerra, Ian Richardson, PJ Holden, Simon Fraser, Paul Marshall, Peter Doherty, Kev Walker, Laurence Campbell, Kris Justice, Inaki Miranda, and Colin MacNeil.

Colours by Chris Blythe, Eva De La Cruz, Gary Caldwell. Letters by Tom Frame, Annie Parkhouse, Simon Bowland. Cover by Arthur Ranson.

Reprints material originally published in 2000 AD Progs 1485-1519 and the 2007 Christmas Special and Judge Dredd Megazine #245-252.

Published by 2000 AD on 18th January 2024

Okay then – preview time for you… first the 2000 AD strips…