The basic design of Judge Dredd - as envisioned by co-creator Carlos Ezquerra - hasn't changed much in half a century. Those ridiculous shoulder pads, the truly iconic helmet, the gun in the boot, the badge on a chain - it still all looks drokking fantastic.
One of the reasons for this staying power is that it is as rigid as old Joe himself, but still gives artists with very different styles the chance to stamp their own mark. And while this annual is sadly lacking in any new work from our man Carlos, it does have three very different artists bringing some very different styles
It starts with Ian Gibson - more well known as the definitive Robo Hunter artist and for his work on Halo Jones - who does a great Dredd, although I do prefer his later version with the more ridiculous proportions. Then there is more Bryan Talbot, who somehow gives a very, very silly story about dwarves led by a Sylvester Stallone clone some grit and heft.
And there is Brendan McCarthy, one of the most extraordinary Dredd artists ever, and someone who never tones down his ridiculously trippy style, and gets given a story where Dredd is totally off his tits on some alien hallucinogen, which might make it the ultimate McCarthy Dredd ever.
With Ron Smith doing his thing on a classic reprint - Dredd versus a horde of Cursed Earth killer spider - this gives any reader a great taste of the various flavours of Dredd, and the heights it can reach.
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