JUDGE DREDD: CONTROL

All Riot On The Weston Front

RELEASED OUT NOW! (digital)/10 DECEMBER (paperback)

Publisher Rebellion

Writers Rob Williams, Chris Weston

Artist Chris Weston

Only a few Judge Dredd artists can be described as masters: people like Carlos Ezquerra, Mike McMahon or Henry Flint, who have put their own distinctive stamp on Mega-City One. The latest

Dredd collection makes a strong argument that Chris Weston should be added to their number.

Featuring Weston’s sharply detailed art throughout, this volume’s main focus is a gripping recent story arc that pits the stone-faced future lawman against Judge Pin, a psychotic superior officer who’s been murdering Judges who don’t meet her high standards. As a follow-up to last year’s excellent “The Small House”, it’s an enjoyably hard-edged story with gorgeous visuals. Alongside this main feature we also get a selection of standalone tales from across the last decade, all of which capture the satirical craziness of 2000 AD at its finest.

The highlight is “The Heart Is A Lonely Klegg Hunter”, in which a giant alien crocodile who’s also a sensitive poet gets into increasingly ludicrous trouble. Elsewhere we get pet-obsessed robots, rogue apes and a full-on giant monster attack. Most of the stories are written by current Dredd mastermind Rob Williams (with Weston occasionally co-writing), and the level of ferocious invention is matched by Weston’s visual approach, as he brings energy and grotesque humour. This is a splendid showcase, and hopefully won’t be the last of Weston’s voyages into Dredd’s world. Saxon Bullock

Weston has also worked on concept art for films, including The Book Of Eli and the aborted live-action Akira.