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Review: ‘Judge Dredd Year One’ # 1

Published

11 years ago

on

Matt Smith aims to tell a compelling origin story of how Mega City One became the slime ridden concrete cesspool we know and love. We now have something I never thought would exist: a naïve, and curious Judge Dredd. This new chapter in the Judge Dredd saga is riveting, visually arresting, and left me wanting more.

WRITTEN BY: Matt Smith
ART BY: Simon Coleby
PUBLISHER: IDW
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: March 20th, 2013

Judge Dredd has ruled the streets of Mega City One with an iron fist for the last thirty-six years. So, it’s rather interesting to see Judge Dredd in a place where his grasp isn’t quite as firm. Now, I should be clear. I thought Smith would go further. There are hints of a fundamentally different Dredd here, but as it stands we only have little differences to go on in this first issue.

Dredd is a little more naïve, uninitiated, and has been on the street for less than a year. He is just as bold, just as badass, but not quite willing to shoot a child… at least not yet. From a character standpoint I thought this issue was a little weak. Smith had the opportunity to create a dynamically different Dredd than we know and love, and sadly has missed the mark in this first issue. Slightly different, but still kind of an ultimate badass.

The story here is the main draw. Smith shows us Mega City One, eighteen years before we first saw it in 1977. Things are a little different. Crime still runs rampant, and the Judges are the main arm of the law, yet, PSY, is fundamentally new. The world is still adjusting to those with PSY, and the story that develops around that is riveting, interesting, and mysterious.

This is abundantly clear on page twelve of the issue. Where things come to a wonderful head. Coleby’s art gives a disgusting use of PSY, in the most graphic and pleasant way possible. I kept gasping, because it just went on, and on, getting more gruesome with every panel.

Coleby’s art is phenomenal. His darker tones, and use of high contrast create a dark and gritty noir like Mega City One. Holy shit, when PSY is on the page, look out. Coleby’s art is astounding. Beautifully organized on the page to make the reader feel as if they are floating as they read it.

The combination of the art and story allow Dredd Year One to really excel. Sadly the characterization of Dredd left some to be desired, a missed opportunity. As far as first issues go, this is an incredible start. If Dredd’s arc becomes stronger, and the story remains at its current pace, this book will be Dredd’s deserved return to the spotlight.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jumbus_Christ

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‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

Published

7 hours ago

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April 17, 2024

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Witchblade cover

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.

  • Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover

  • Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)

  • Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)

  • Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)

  • Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)

  • Cover H (1/250): Line art by Marc. Virgin Cover, Inks (B/W)

Witchblade #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Witchblade comic panel Witchblade #1 cover image

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