Judge Dredd: Under Siege

Judge Dredd (IDW) #14

by Mark Russell

Tense, gritty action as Judge Dredd keeps law and order in the chaos that is Mega-City One. When all contact with Patrick Swayze Block is lost, Dredd and Judge Beeny are tasked with investigating. As they battle lawlessness and rampant criminality, they discover a threat to the city that they must contain at all costs.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Dystopia

96 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 11, 2018

About the author

Mark Russell is the author of God Is Disappointed in You and Apocrypha Now. He also writes the comic book series Prez and The Flintstones for DC Comics. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"There's a reason why street judges are always in uniform. We don't go undercover. We don't blend in or try to hide. This conveys to the public a simple message - that we don't need to. The law is everywhere." -- Dredd's opening narration during an arrest / trial / conviction in Under Siege

While I'm relatively unfamiliar with Judge Dredd (other than that there are two movie adaptations) I know the character is a combo judge-jury-executioner policeman working in one of those typically grim dystopias a la Blade Runner or Mad Max. Russell's Under Siege, however, was a pretty good if unintended introduction to the character. In a plot straight out of a B-movie western Dredd rides out (on a motorcycle, not a horse) to a towering, self-contained apartment complex to search for a missing colleague thought to be captured by domestic terrorists. Of course, the story gets a little more complicated than that, and he finds himself working alongside a bold group of disenfranchised folks against an even worse invading threat. Lots of bloody action peppered the with occasional spots of humor (such as the robot minister's 'sermon') and some sideways political observations.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty sure profanity is outlawed in Mega-City One.

[Alex Sarll]

Mark Russell is all about the viciously satirical dystopian black humour, so you'd think that if any American could write a decent Dredd story, it would be him. Well, based on this showing, no American can. Dredd at least has the right outfit, but he's too human, too quippy, and Dunbar and Rio's art makes the city around him look drably reminiscent of that dreary film. Nothing here feels quite right - the relationship between Judges and citizens, the economy, the vocabulary, the Lawmaster computer as character. Which would be fine if they played as daring reinventions, like Russell executed with Snagglepuss or the Flintstones, but they don't, they just feel like misunderstandings, the end result a bog-standard grim future with none of the nightmare pizzazz either Russell or Mega-City One normally offers.

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

I didn't love or hate this book. This is my very first Judge Dredd book and suffice to say I didn't jump on board immediately. I only picked this up at the library and truth be told, it was a gamble while I waited for Saga and Paper Girls. Someone might suggest a few volumes I should check out of Judge Dredd as this was not the book I expected. It is interesting but I don't see myself reading any further unless someone suggests I check out more.

Why the 3?

I think I was expecting too much from this series. Where was the relentless violence and action? Maybe not the best idea to base my expectations from the movie, not the crappy one of the 90s. There was little ambition and it just felt very flat. Wasn't a huge fan of the volume and I will hunt down an earlier Judge Dredd as there is a lot of lore that I can explore.

[Darth Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like Mark Russell is one of those writers who should be on my radar, but isn't. I really liked the Flintstones, so I decided to check this one out too. I wasn't disappointed. Though it's a bit shorter than most comics, it was still pretty action packed and had a pretty profound message. Especially in this day and age when the rich are getting richer and the poor, poorer.

Also, I just really fucking love Judge Dredd.

[Darren-lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being my first Judge Dredd comic outside of the Dredd film related comics, I will say I enjoyed the bloody action, sharp writing, and quippy satire. It's also a very timely story since it deals with anti-authority paranoia, much like our current society.

[Wes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, pretty short, pretty simple. Dredd goes into a building that is under attack. One guess as to how it all goes. Enjoyable, especially if you like Judge Dredd. Good art, crisp story. Check it out if you're a Dredd fan.

[DoNotDoxMe Goodreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. It got the tone of smaller classic Dredd stories well. It's a simple siege premise similar to the 2102 Dredd film, with interesting characters and action that is quick, to the point, and fun. Of all the IDW Dredd books, this one is easily my favorite.

[Sem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is less humorous than Russell's other works but it still hits the right notes when the jokes come and the last issue has some surprisingly cool exposition, especially the villain's plan. A worthy Dredd story, though the conclusion feels a touch rushed.

[David Fernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnífica. Una historia de Dredd espectacular, de las que crean afición.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It tries to do a little bit more than your average Dredd tale, and as a result winds up succeeding rather less.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting book. Good social commentary as well as a different take on the meaning of law.

[Joe Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 3.5 Art 5

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was ok but left a lot to be desired. Most characters should have been fleshed out more. 3.5/5

[Daniel Kilby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out great, but the writing especially of the main antagonist could have been more clever. Was kind of a doofus when he could’ve been much more sinister

[Jason Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a big follower of Judge Dredd plot wise. This was self-contained and enjoyable, reminded me of the movie.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never been much of a reader of Judge Dredd, other than the Apocalypse War storyline, Judge Death, and America (which actually paints Dredd as a villian). There have been various gimmicks that have gotten me more involved, i.e. Brendan McCarthy doing covers after different artist like Steranko, Ditko and Infantino, when artists such as Brendan McCarthy or Ulisses Farinas was involved, Dredd as a Werewolf, etc. But rarely has a writer been involved that got me to pick up the book.

One of my newest favorite writers is Mark Russell (who while having a relatively low profile, was nominated for an Eisner) and did great sociological work on Prez, Flinstones, Snagglepus and now the upcoming Lone Ranger book.

This run doesn't quite reach the level of his other stories--but it's certainly a more literate and literary Dredd tale. Yes, it doesn't quite have the "tie-it-altogether" monologue that his other works has. It does, I just don't find Dredd as convincing as Fred Flintstone.

On a second reread, it does hold up a little stronger with a satire on law, faith in institutions, and society.

[Mike Jozic · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.