Previewing ‘Essential Judge Dredd: Tour Of Duty Book 3’ – Dredd’s Essential Exploration Of His History Concludes

by Richard Bruton

‘Tour Of Duty’ is the only Essential Judge Dredd volume thus far to go to multiple volumes, one where the greatest of Dredd writers spins out a long tale dealing with Dredd’s familial history, whilst weaving in socio-political elements and incredible procedurals as only John Wagner can do.

The Essential Judge Dredd volumes are exactly that, designed as a quick intro to the world of this long-running character, picking out the truly essential tales from that long history. So, how important do you think Tour of Duty is that it’s taken up three volumes? Oh yes, absolutely essential.

The key thing about ‘Tour of Duty’ isn’t that it’s the usual huge, epic Dredd. This isn’t Dredd against the Dark Judges, or the Apocalypse War, or Chaos Day – all of which are indeed essential. No, this is essential because it cuts to the absolute heart of what a great Wagner Dredd can be, a sprawling epic where individually brilliant tales build and build towards a bigger message.

And here, that message is dealing with the Mega-City mutie laws, something Joe Dredd’s very much got skin in the game for, seeing as so many of his clone brethren are muties themselves, the cast-out clone spawn of Chief Judge Fargo.

This third volume starts as a freewheeling tour (of duty) through the muties of the Cursed Earth with tales written by Robbie Morrison, Al Ewing, and Rob Williams, with some great art from Kev Walker, Patrick Goddard, John Higgins, Jan Haward, Mike Collins, and Guy Davis along the way.

But those are just the prelude to the big tales here, ‘The Talented Mayor Ambrose’ and ‘Mega-City Justice’ both written by John Wagner, the driving force behind so much of the big moves in storylines about Mega-City One, and the man who pushed this saga of Mutant rights covered here in Tour of Duty. It’s only right and proper that Wagner finishes his tour here with two quite brilliant tales that take up more than half the book. And artistically, both are just superb, with art from first John Higgins, Colin MacNeil, and Mike Collins on ‘The Talented Mayor Ambrose’, followed by Carlos Ezquerra and Hector Ezquerra on ‘Mega-City Justice’.

The Mutant Rights bill has passed, and MC-1 is feeling the societal shift. But as you’d expect from Wagner, all is nothing that it seems.

There’s so many balls in the air in this one – the mutie laws, the transition of Chief Judges, and the continued saga of homicidal serial killer PJ Maybe, now playing the role, strangely successfully, of MC-1’s Mayor Ambrose.

In a magnificently orchestrated bit of storytelling, Wagner spins out multiple storylines – corrupt and power-seeking Judge Sinfield, PJ Maybe/Mayor Ambrose, the mutie laws being influenced and manipulated by now Chief Judge Sinfield, and the inevitable introduction of Dredd… it’s all murder and machiavellian manipulation – basically everything you want from a John Wagner Dredd. This is exactly what makes this one absolutely essential.

Here’s the 2000 AD PR for this one:

‘The essential Judge Dredd graphic novel series – this is the ultimate introduction to the Lawman of the Future! And this is the grand finale to the epic Tour of Duty storyline!

During Origins, Dredd discovered a mutant branch of his own bloodline. For the lawman, it brought home the injustice inherent in Justice Department’s Mutant policies. He believes that those unfortunates warped by the legacy of the Atomic Wars deserve to be treated with more humanity, as they are currently forbidden entry into Mega-City One, and exiled to facilities and townships in the irradiated wasteland. But Dredd’s support of Mutants may see him join them to live out the rest of his life in The Cursed Earth.’

ESSENTIAL JUDGE DREDD: TOUR OF DUTY BOOK THREE

Stories include: ‘Snakebite’, ‘Invitation to a Hanging’, ‘What’s Another Year?’, ‘Lust in the Dust’, ‘Sex, Lies and Vidslugs’, ‘Out Law’, ‘The Talented Mayor Ambrose’, and ‘Mega City Justice’

Written by John Wagner, Al Ewing, Robbie Morrison, Rob Williams

Art by Carlos Ezquerra, Hector Ezquerra, Kev Walker, Patrick Goddard, John Higgins, Jon Haward, Mike Collins, Guy Davis, Colin MacNeil

Colours by Fiona Stephenson, Chris Blythe, John Higgins, Sally Jane Hurst, Dave Stewart

Letters by Annie Parkhouse and Ellie De Ville

Cover by Ben Willsher

Originally serialised in 2000 AD Progs 1672-1693 and Judge Dredd Megazine289-292 & 295-296

Published by 2000 AD on 23 April