The end is nigh for Mega City One. What, again? You might ask. From the Apocalypse War to Judgement Day, Necropolis and Day of Chaos, the Big Meg has weathered more averted apocalypses than Dredd’s had hot dinners (of which he hasn’t had many, admittedly. Never was one for comfort). There’s something different about the latest though – this is the big one, straight outta the bible. In order to save Mega City One – and the whole planet – Dredd must face off against the literal Four Horsemen of the actual Apocalypse. Assisted by Psi-Judge Anderson and supernatural cowboy Ichabod Azreal, Dredd assembles a team to stop the end of the world. Again.
If The Small House was writer Rob Williams’ political thriller, here is his Mega Epic, in the vein of The Cursed Earth and the Judge Child quest. The influence is plain to see, in Dredd’s trek across the globe with a cast of colourful supporting characters, ridiculous obstacles and horrifying enemies. But this Dredd is no spring chicken, and End of Days once again tests the ageing, embattled lawman. Nobody tortures Dredd quite like Williams and, after kicking the shit out of him in Titan and Control, he once again puts Old Stoney Face through the wringer. The end is nigh, but for whom is it the nigh-est?
Williams is joined by Henry Flint and Colin MacNeil on art duties, the pair splitting the workload evenly. In spite of their very different art styles, the story feels slick and cohesive; a dark and brooding blockbuster, chock full of high-stakes action and visceral gore. Still, this, the latest apocalyptic Dredd story, can’t help but feel as though it’s treading old ground. The threat may be new to Dredd, but there’s very little that long-time readers won’t have seen before. Until the finale, that is, and a plot twist which drastically repositions Dredd and turns the whole fight up on its head (hedd?).
Whether or not Judge Dredd and the Big Meg live on to fight another day, one can be sure that the events of End of Days won’t be easily forgotten. Unlike the superheroes of the Marvel and DC Universes, these never-ending apocalypses take their lasting toll on Dredd, leaving him just that little bit more weary and broken by the end. How soon is nigh, anyway?
