UPDATE: The review copy I received for this issue made the art look a little wonky, darker, and a tad digitized for the "We've Got You Now" story, when I viewed it on my computer. I sat down and read my physical copy from my LCS, and the art/colors looked different. It was a lot sharper, clearer, and there were no problems with everything looking completely dark in the issue. The digital copy does not reflect the ones you'll find on your shelves at your LCS. The art in the physical copy looks a thousand times better.
The Good
"We've Got You Now"
Judge Tarjay is holding Judge Dredd hostage as they fly a hovercar full of money to an undisclosed location. Tarjay doesn't seem to be in control of his body, and Dredd wants answers.
In a sense, this is a conclusion to the story, that only leaves more unanswered questions for the reader. I like the open endedness of this story quite a bit. It also builds more on the Dredd-universe by introducing some crazy looking surgeons and throwing cloning a bit more into the mix.
"Fugitive Daze"
Judge Dredd is after Judge Tarjay, who is wanted to the attempted murder of a Judge. Tarjay will do anything he can to escape.
I really enjoyed this story. Tarjay needs to prove his own innocence, but he has to keep wiping his own mind, so it can't be read. This story has a Momento feel to it as well, as Tarjay checks out the marks on his body that he wrote, which tell him what to do. Dredd isn't the focus in this story though, he's a background character, but it really works well. We're not sure if Tarjay is a good guy or bad guy, but watching him go through the process of figuring that out is incredibly intriguing.
Artist Inahi Miranda and colorist Eva De La Cruz are nothing short of phenomenal on this story. The book has a great Vertigo-esque style to it. The line work is basic and straight to the point and I love how the colors pop off the page. It has a very cool sense of style, like a more detailed and realistic version of Mike Allred's work.
The Bad
"We've Got You Now"
One of the things I found appealing about the earlier issues was Nelson Daniel's art work. It is a very cool style, but for some reason, in this issue, it is not working. His art work looks a bit different here. In one scene in particular, everything is really blending together to make a few unrecognizable panels that are way too dark. It actually took me a few moments to see what's going on.
Throughout this story, the art just looks rushed. It's not as clear as it was in previous issues, and it's a huge disappointment for me, since I felt, in the first three issues, that this was the stronger of the two stories we get to see every month.
For new readers, you're going to want to start at issue one, or at least at issue three. This is not a good jumping on point.
"Fugitive Daze"
I had no problems with this story. I felt it's an awesome edition to this book.
The Verdict
IDW's JUDGE DREDD book is a great way to introduce American readers to this character. It's essentially a Dredd gateway drug. We get two very good stories by writer Duane Swierczynski, that take a look at different sides of the future way of life in Mega City One.
"We've Got You Now" - 4.5/5
"Fugitive Daze" - 5/5
Overall, I still highly recommend this issue and this series, but if you're new jump on at issue one, and if you can't get that one from your LCS, pick up issue three.
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