Arcs & epics

The first of the Dredd epics, a single robot throws off his chains and inspires his fellow droids to crush the fleshy ones.

1. Prog 9Robots1977
2. Prog 10Robot Wars8 progs1977

Dredd is appointed a Judge-Marshall of the Moon, a territory jointly administered by multiple Earth-bound polities. An early showcase of friction between Mega City One and the East Meg cities.

1. Prog 42Luna-11977
2. Prog 43Showdown on Luna-11977
3. Prog 44Red Christmas1977
4. Prog 4522nd Century Futsie1977
5. Prog 46Meet Mr Moonie1977
6. Prog 47Land Race1977
7. Prog 48The Oxygen Desert2 progs1977
8. Prog 50The First Luna Olympics1977
9. Prog 51Luna-1 War1977
10. Prog 52The Face-Change Crimes1977
11. Prog 53The Killer Car4 progs1977
12. Prog 57The Oxygen Board1977
13. Prog 58Full Earth Crimes1977
14. Prog 59Return to Mega-City1977

Dredd must deliver the plague antidote to Mega-City Two, over land because of reasons. This affords readers our first insight into the wild lands outside of the Mega Cities. Dredd meets slavers, mutant gangs, dinosaurs and even the last President of the USA. (71, 72, 77, 78 Redacted from most collected editions)

1. Prog 61The Cursed Earth25 progs1978

Poor Dredd. Barely back from saving Mega-City Two he is fitted up for a capital crime he did not commit, then has to see his beloved city taken over by a megalomaniac in the form of the deranged Judge Caligula. The Aaron A. Aardvark joke remains unsurpassed.

1. Prog 86Crime and Punishment1978
2. Prog 87Judge Dredd Outlaw1978
3. Prog 88Bring Me the Head of Judge Dredd1978
4. Prog 89The Day the Law Died20 progs1978

The Dreddverse Reginald Perrin. Sump garners his first fortune from Sob Story then discovers an aptitude for business by offering revolting products to the general public like disgusting food & hideous skin care. All become superfads that tune him into one of the richest men in the city.

1. Prog 131Sob Story2 progs1979
2. Prog 186Otto Sump's Ugly Clinic3 progs1980
3. Prog 203Who Killed Pug Ugly?1980
4. Prog 280Gunge1982
5. Prog 436Get Smart1985
6. Meg 4.12Citizen Sump2 megs2002

Four Judges from another dimension have taken the concept of law enforcement to the extreme: if all lawbreakers are living creatures then life itself should be a crime. They've successfully applied this to their own world and from time to time cross into Dredd's to carry out their judgement.

1. Prog 149Judge Death3 progs1979
2. Prog 224Judge Death Lives5 progs1981
3. Prog 521What If Judges Did Ads?1986
4. Prog 662Tale of the Dead Man7 progs1990
5. Prog 674Necropolis26 progs1990
6. Prog 700Theatre of Death2 progs1990
7. Prog 901Judge Death:The True Story2 progs1994
8. Meg 3.02The Three Amigos6 megs1995
9. Meg 3.13Killing Grounds1995
10. Prog 1000Dead Reckoning7 progs1996
11. Prog 1168A Night with Judge Death1999
12. Prog 1405Placebo2004
13. Prog 1765Eve of Destruction20 progs2012
14. Prog 1786Wot I Did During the Worst Dissaster in Mega-City History2012
15. Prog 1921Dark Justice2 progs2015
16. Prog 2141Control5 progs2019
17. Meg 447Little Shop of Terrors2022
18. Meg 460Return to Billy Carter2023
19. Prog 2328The Disciples of Death2 progs2023

A dying pre-cog declares the only salvation for Mega-City One is to find a mysterious mutant child, formerly of the city and now lost. Dredd and a small crew (welcome to the strip, Judge Hershey) travel the Cursed Earth and then outer space in pursuit.

1. Prog 156The Judge Child26 progs1980

First introduced during the Judge Child Quest, this group of Cursed Earth varmints proved so popular John and Alan immediately regretted killing them off. Not to worry, they fashioned various ways for readers to meet them again.

1. Prog 156The Judge Child26 progs1980
2. Prog 193The Fink4 progs1980
3. Prog 281Destiny's Angels8 progs1982
4. Prog 377Dredd Angel7 progs1984
5. Prog 450Merry Tale of the Christmas Angel1985
6. Judge Dredd Mega Special 1989Son of Ratty's Revenge1989
7. Meg 2.47You Are a Mean Machine1993
8. Meg 3.02The Three Amigos6 megs1995

The King of the scrawlers gets caught, does time and on his release, discovers an aptitude for sky surfing. Over the decades he's competed in multiple Supersurf Championships, growing in character and skill at the same time. Plenty of introspection in the spin-off series, notably Song of the Surfer.

1. Prog 206Unamerican Graffiti2 progs1980
2. Prog 424Midnight Surfer6 progs1985
3. Prog 545Oz26 progs1987
4. Prog 571Hitman3 progs1988
5. Prog 1994Funeral in Mega-City One1994

After years of low level antagonism East Meg forces launch a massive nuclear attack on Mega-City One that wipes out half the citizenry. An invasion takes control of the remaining territory. It falls to Dredd to lead the counterattack.

1. Prog 236Block Mania9 progs1981
2. Prog 245The Apocalypse War26 progs1981
3. Prog 271Meka-City2 progs1982
4. Prog 275Fungus3 progs1982
5. Prog 298The Last Invader2 progs1982

A follow up of sorts to the Judge Child Quest. Dredd and Anderson travel forward in time 14 years to discover their devastated city now under the control of The Mutant...a creature with a mysterious connection to Owen Krystler.

1. Prog 393City of the Damned14 progs1984

Is this Dredd's most wiley opponent? His staying power would suggest so. From the butter-wouldn't-melt introduction in Bug all the way through to him becoming Mayor and beyond, PJ manages to side step every obstacle the Justice Department and even the Dark Judges put in his way.

1. Prog 534Bug1987
2. Prog 592What I did during the summer holidays, by PJ Maybe, Age 133 progs1988
3. Prog 599The Further Adventures of PJ Maybe, Age 141988
4. Prog 632The Confeshuns of PJ Maybe3 progs1989
5. Prog 707Wot I Did During Necropolis3 progs1990
6. Prog 820PJ & the Mock-Choc Factory3 progs1992
7. Prog 1204The All New Adventures of P. J. Maybe2000
8. Prog 1210You're a Better Man Than I Am, Gunga Dinsdale2000
9. Prog 1211Bring Me the Heart of P. J. Maybe2000
10. Meg 220Six3 megs2004
11. Meg 231The Monsterus Mashinashuns of P.J. Maybe4 megs2005
12. Prog 1569Emphatically Evil: The Life and Crimes of PJ Maybe7 progs2007
13. Meg 261The Gingerbread Man3 megs2007
14. Meg 266What i Did For ChrissMas2007
15. Prog 1674The Talented Mayor Ambrose13 progs2010
16. Prog 1740The Further Dasterdly Deeds of PJ Maybe3 progs2012
17. Prog 1786Wot I Did During the Worst Dissaster in Mega-City History2012
18. Prog 1991Ladykiller8 progs2016

Turns out the Dark Judges have a couple of older sisters who are even more powerful than they are. Not only does the Mega-City fall under their control in record time but so do all the judges. Well, excepting Dredd, Anderson and some cadets. Mortis is the breakout star in this one.

1. Prog 583Bloodline2 progs1988
2. Prog 650The Shooting Match1989
3. Prog 661A Letter to Judge Dredd1989
4. Prog 669By Lethal Injection2 progs1990
5. Prog 671Rights of Succession1990
6. Prog 672Dear Annie2 progs1990
7. Prog 674Necropolis26 progs1990
8. Prog 702Nightmares5 progs1990
9. Prog 733Return of the King3 progs1990

Garth Ennis tries his hand at a Dredd epic and...almost gets it right. Taking place in both the Prog and the Meg at the same time, crossing over with Strontium Dog AND bringing Judges from around the world together this has a fantastic build up and some great moments but slightly fizzles out toward the end.

1. Prog 786Judgement Day14 progs1992
2. Prog 816The Kinda Dead Man1992
3. Meg 2.04Judgement Day6 megs1992

John Wagner launched this series and the two that followed it as a typical Man's-Creation-Turns-on-Him. Fun, but with obvious limitations. The Mechanismo units stayed in the background for years then he did something very innovative and relaunched them as not only perfect servants but in many ways better Judges than their human counterparts.

1. Meg 2.12Mechanismo6 megs1992
2. Meg 2.22Mechanismo Returns5 megs1992
3. Meg 2.37Mechanismo - Body Count7 megs1993
4. Prog 891Conspiracy of Silence4 progs1994
5. Prog 904Wilderlands12 progs1994
6. Meg 2.57Prologue1994
7. Meg 2.58The Tenth Planet5 megs1994
8. Meg 2.63Wilderlands5 megs1994
9. Prog 2024Harvey6 progs2017
10. Prog 2115Machine Law8 progs2019
11. Prog 2150Guatemala8 progs2019
12. Prog 2392Machine Rule7 progs2024

Grant Morrison Dredd epic. Universally despised.

1. Prog 842Inferno12 progs1993

In a desperate bid to replenish the state coffers, Chief Judge McGruder takes Dredd to one of the Mega-City colonies to sell a contingent of Mechanismos. It doesn't go smoothly.

1. Prog 891Conspiracy of Silence4 progs1994
2. Prog 904Wilderlands12 progs1994
3. Prog 915Parting Shots1994
4. Prog 916The Candidates2 progs1994
5. Prog 918Voting Day1994
6. Meg 2.58The Tenth Planet5 megs1994
7. Meg 2.63Wilderlands5 megs1994
8. Meg 2.68Farewell to the Chief1994

It's 1995 and despite the big Judge Dredd movie release, the strip is floundering. John Wagner returns and reinvents Dredd by way of Hill Street Blues. This is a drawn-out procedural that gives the characters room to breathe and plenty of time to develop.

1. Prog 970The Pit14 progs1995
2. Prog 984True Grot3 progs1996
3. Prog 987Unjudicial Liaisons3 progs1996
4. Prog 990Last Rites1996
5. Prog 991Declaration of War1996
6. Prog 992Bongo War8 progs1996

An overlooked epic with roots all the way back to The Pit. This ran concomitantly in both the Prog and the Meg with DeMarco and Roffman featuring heavily. Orlok, Anderson and a new Big Bad all play outsized roles.

1. Meg 3.50The Contract1998
2. Prog 1141Return of the Assassin7 progs1999
3. Prog 1148The Trial3 progs1999
4. Prog 1151Trial of Strength2 progs1999
5. Prog 1153War Games7 progs1999
6. Prog 1160Endgame5 progs1999
7. Prog 1167Volt Face1999
8. Meg 3.52The Narcos Connection4 megs1999
9. Meg 3.56Doomsday4 megs1999

Beautifully rendered story that showcases both the justification and fanaticism of the grassroots oppostion to rule by Judges. The pacing is excellent and we see every weapon Justice Department being used as the stakes get higher and higher. The Henry Flint art is jaw-dropping.

1. Prog 1392Terror8 progs2004
2. Prog 1408Total War12 progs2004
3. Prog 1420After the Bombs3 progs2004
4. Prog 1423Visiting Hour2004
5. Prog 1424The Searchers2004
6. Prog 1425Horror in Emergency Camp 44 progs2004

The Big One. After 40 years of world-building, John and Carlos take us back to the very beginning. To Bad Bob Booth, the Atomic Wars and how the Judges themselves came to be.

1. Prog 1500The Connection5 progs2006
2. Prog 1505Origins16 progs2006
3. Prog 1529Origins Part II7 progs2007

Dredd softens his stance on the status of mutants in the city and pushes for a change in the law. Cue a backlash from both the judges and riots in the streets from citizens. Dredd is sent into Cursed Earth exile and one of his most interesting antagonists emerges to make sure he does not come back. And no, it's not PJ Maybe, who is doing a fantastic job as Mayor.

1. Prog 1542Mutants in Mega-City One4 progs2007
2. Prog 1546The Facility2007
3. Prog 1547The Secret of Mutant Camp 52 progs2007
4. Prog 1589The Edgar Case7 progs2008
5. Prog 1600Mutieblock4 progs2008
6. Prog 1611Mutopia2 progs2008
7. Meg 291Invitation to a Hanging2009
8. Meg 292What's Another Year?2009
9. Prog 1649Under New Management2009
10. Prog 1650Tour of Duty18 progs2009
11. Prog 2010O Little Town of Bethlehem2009
12. Meg 295Sex, Vi and Vidslugs2010
13. Prog 1674The Talented Mayor Ambrose13 progs2010
14. Prog 1687Mega City Justice7 progs2010

35 years after the events of The Apocalypse War, a surviving East Meg general hatches his plan of revenge. Kidnapped scientists, sleeper agents, Dark Judges, Total War, PJ Maybe...this one has it all.

1. Prog 1740The Further Dasterdly Deeds of PJ Maybe3 progs2012
2. Prog 1743Nadia7 progs2012
3. Prog 1750The Fourth Faction2 progs2012
4. Prog 1752Downtime2012
5. Prog 1753Elusive6 progs2012
6. Prog 1759The Assassination List6 progs2012
7. Prog 1765Eve of Destruction20 progs2012
8. Prog 1785Tea for Two2012
9. Prog 1786Wot I Did During the Worst Dissaster in Mega-City History2012
10. Prog 1787Chaos Day2 progs2012
11. Prog 1789The Days After2012
12. Meg 332The Pits2013
13. Meg 336Power Struggle2013
14. Prog 1816Sealed2013
15. Prog 1819Save Him2013
16. Prog 1820Wolves3 progs2013
17. Prog 1824Cypher2 progs2013
18. Prog 1830The Forsaken6 progs2013
19. Prog 1836Skulls2013
20. Prog 1837Wastelands5 progs2013
21. Prog 1845Bender5 progs2013

Impossible to referece this without major spoilers. It's another Judicial Department takeover bid that ran in three Dreddverse strips in the Prog, that only revealed a connection late in the run.

1. Prog 1803Bullet to King Four2012
2. Prog 1804Asleep2 progs2012
3. Prog 1806The Cold Deck6 progs2012
4. Prog 1812Trifecta2012

On the backfoot following Chaos Day, Chief Judge Hershey accepts legions of Texas City Judges to swell the ranks of Justice Department. She slowly begins to regret her decision.

1. Prog 1934Blood of Emeralds6 progs2015
2. Meg 371Dust to Dust3 megs2016
3. Meg 373People Like Us2016
4. Meg 374From the Ashes2016
5. Prog 1973The Grindstone Cowboys5 progs2016
6. Prog 1978The Lion's Den8 progs2016
7. Prog 1986Reclamation5 progs2016

Building on the events of both Titan and Trifecta, this is Rob Williams riffing on the state-within-a-state, a secret cabal of judges who are so far above the law ANYTHING is justified.

1. Prog 2100The Small House10 progs2018

A visitor from beyond the grave brings news Mega-City One is the target of an powerful psi-force. Dredd assembles and team to confront the horsemen of the apocalypse before the very big reveal.

1. Prog 2184End of Days15 progs2020
2. Prog 2204They Shoot Talking Horses Don't They?2 progs2020

Rob Williams and Arthur Wyatt channeling Dredd through a 'Defund the Police' lens. This journey began some years ago when Accounts Judge Maitland discovered putting more money into education and social care actually reduced crime.

1. Prog 2200Carry the Nine4 progs2020
2. Prog 2302The Pitch2022
3. Prog 2364A Better World9 progs2024