Review of IDW’s Judge Dredd #1

I blogged again over at the Sidekickcast.  This time it's my review of Judge Dredd #1 from IDW.

Check it out.

Why I'm getting increasingly worried about IDW's Judge Dredd series

A few months ago, in anticipation of the movie coming out and as part of 2000AD's big push over the last few years into the US market, it was announced that IDW will be creating an all-new American comics format Judge Dredd series.

At SDCC they announced the creative team of Duane Swierczynski and Nelson Daniel.  They also released a slew of variant covers for issue #1 by famous artists.  Included is the "regular" cover by interior artist Nelson Daniel.

Judge Dredd (IDW) #1 cover by interior artist Nelson Daniel.

The book is slated to come out in November, a full two months after the movie release.  Unfortunately the movie seems to have tanked in the USA, but those that have seen it seem to have liked it and may be interested in the comic.  We all know that comic book reading numbers are far lower than movie viewing numbers in general, but Dredd could potentially bring in some current comic book fans that are now familiar with the character.  Given the serial nature of 2000AD and the (still) difficulty getting it in the USA, IDW's Judge Dredd is the place to turn for monthly readers that want more than the amazing 2000AD trades can offer right now (remember that we currently only have five volumes of the Case Files).

So it has been months since the team was announced and the book is now just about a month away.  What new news?

Nothing.

I present to you the full sum of the fruits of my Googling.

According to ComiXology, the official release date for issue #1 is November 21, with issue #2 due December 12.

There has been no significant talk from the creative team since SDCC, not on Swierczynski's blog, or Daniel's blog or deviantArt. There are also no new articles concerning the series on IDW's website. Like I said, according to ComiXology, this book is still coming out.

What concerns me the most is that there have been no samples of interior pages.  None.  The book is a month from being shipped to stores!  This is the type of book that needs sample pages out there for people to look at.  With the book being released next month comic shops have to get their orders in now.

Now the kicker.  Just today it was also announced on 2000AD's FaceBook that Swierczynski has had to cancel his attendance at NYCC's 2000AD panel, a panel which features many Brits.  They don't say why, maybe its personal reasons, but it still resonates with what I'm saying: nobody is saying a thing about this book.  The fact that there are no interior art samples, finished sample pages, or even new chatter about the book makes no sense.

Unless the book is shit.

From the beginning I've been weary of this book. I want it to be awesome. I really do.  I am buying it to see if it is awesome.  I'll probably give it at least six issues (what I presume will be the initial arc if it is truly American format).  But I'm no fanboy.  I don't read a comic I think is no good, regardless of what character its about.  I've been telling friends that this book is totally untested, it could be amazing or it could be horrible.  50/50.

But now, I'm seriously worried.

I believe in 2000AD.  They put out enough awesome content that they have earned that from me.  I show that faith by buying a lot of their collected editions based solely on tag-lines, and 90% of the time I'm pleased with the books, which is a much higher percentage than any other publisher.  Fact is, we don't know how involved they are in this book.  I think its actually not very much.

Only time will tell if what we have coming from IDW is a brilliant crime-fiction based take on Judge Dredd, or the comic book form of the Stallone abortion.

Your move, IDW.

My opinions of Dredd 3D (no spoilers)

I've been hyping Dredd 3D for weeks now. If you still follow me on Twitter you're probably sick of seeing retweets from @2000AD and @lionsgatemovies promoting the film.  I've been reading 2000AD/Judge Dredd comics for about three years now and he has been my favorite comic book character for almost that long.  So a lot of my friends are wondering what I thought of the movie.

Not surprisingly, I loved it.  I saw it in 3D (RealD3D if it matters) and I do truly believe that it adds a lot to the film.  I'd like to see it in the theatre again if I have time, and I can't wait to own it on DVD and watch it after (and whilst having) a couple of beers.  It was a bit different than I'd expected, but that actually made the movie better.  I thought it would be non-stop high octane action.  It has loads of action, but its not over-the-top.  In fact, its grounded in the real in a very hard way.  Everything looks and feels real, which is key to making the Judges logical.  Mega-City One has to be a shit hole out of control and it feels like it is. Its a place you'd never want to live.  The film also brilliantly captured 2000AD's dark humor, which I wasn't expecting.

But I didn't write a whole blog post to give a review of the movie.  I'd like to talk about some math.

When Dredd 3D opened in the UK a few weeks ago it took #1 at the UK box office with $1.65 million  (apparently the UK box office is pretty small).  So basically the film has to make lots of money on the foreign market (USA being foreign) to recoup its $45M budget.  So what did it do this weekend in the USA?

$6.3 million, placing 6th this weekend.

Of course, there are lots of review sites reporting the numbers saying things like "Dredd is Dead" and "Dredd Bombs".  I'm not sure it has bombed.  Did I hope it would make shit tons of money opening weekend?  Of course.  But look at this shot from Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently, Dredd 3D is rated "Fresh" with a review aggregate score of 77%, so 3 of 4 people liked it.  Compare with the #5 spot for the weekend which is yet another Resident Evil movie that is generally agreed to be shitty but made just a bit more money.  What I find really interesting is that Dredd 3D, although having a low enough opening to be declared "Dead" made nearly half what the number one and two spots made individually.  I don't understand by what criteria Dredd "Bombed".  Lets say it took the #1 spot by making a little more than twice as much. Would it have still "Bombed"?  It wouldn't have made back its budget.  I suspect Dredd will pick up some momentum as word of mouth spreads.  Will it make $50M in the USA (the amount rumored to be need to prompt a sequel)?  I hope so, but I don't know.

Either way, its a badass movie that 2000AD fans can be proud of.