Graphic Novel Reading Group discussion

I've decided to jump into Judge Dredd, a series that's been far too intimidating up to this point. I think I'm going to get Volume 5 first, and go from there, but I though I would offer up my search to the community and see what you guys think!

Let me know which collected edition would make the best starting point.

I'm also pretty interested in this - anyone?

Honestly, after checking out a few lists online, everybody seems to recommend Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 05. I'm about half way through it, and I'm very impressed so far. It's a solid introduction to the character of Dredd, and the universe he lives in, and the artwork is solid. Also has some absolute classic lines and scenes. I posted my favorite so far here. Let me know if you find an alternative recommendation, but I'd start there for sure.

I bought the complete case files 2 while back and have been meaning to get case files 1 and start there, but i cant find it in my local stores and i have the next week off work and want to do some reading then so i dont have time to order it online. So my question is, is case files 2 an ok starting point. I dont want to be missing anything if I skip case files 1. I have a very basic understanding of Judge Dredd from the movie, which i loved. Is that enough tho.

All the case files are in stock at book depository yo.

@Austin I'm rather biased on this as I read 2000AD as a child so have great affection for the earlier stories.
Vol 1 of case files has some good stories, but the strip was just finding its way really. The Moon Marshall ones are great for a lot of Bolland art.
Vol 2, has mainly Cursed Earth and Judge Cal, and I think is worth a read. The two stories are pivotal early work.
Vol 3 I've not read, but are mainly ones which developed JD and Mega City on the run up to vol4 which would have Judge Child- which I always loved, and helps with later stories and characters- like Mean Machine, Fink, City of the Damned.
So I'd start a newbie at vol 4, I think, vol 2 if you were a purest

I went ahead and started vol 2. I'm halfway through, on the last issue of the cursed earth. I'm loving it! Really glad I got this. The only thing is I'm missing out on mega city 1 cause there in the cursed earth the whole time I've been reading. But u can get a good idea about mega city 1 just from judge dredd and how he is written. Im becoming a dredd fan. After this I'm getting vol 3 and 4 then onto 5, which everyone says is a great book.

I know this isn't what your asking but IDW has relaunched Dredd and are using the current 2000AD creative team to do it. I didn't evneknow the comic was still around but, apparently it is,and they know how to write Dredd. I've read the first comic 'Judge Dredd; Year one' and enjoyed it giving it 4 stars. It definitely is in the vein of the 2000AD stories but in full color and with longer more involving stories. Mega-city one is also rendered well by the artistic team which is something that was missing from so many other variations. I enjoyed it very much and this from a man who spent his childhood collecting the original 2000AD comics. I would advise any Dredd fan to give them a look see.

Start reading at the very beginning and work your way up to now. (Obviously)