panelparty's review
4.0
Before reading this, I'd never read any Judge Dredd, and had no desire to (thanks, IRCB Challenge!). There were a few slow spots and despite it being really quite weird I found myself drawn back to it when I wasn't reading because I really wanted to know how it all would shake out. Robert the Robot is the best and would 1000% read a cutesy spinoff of him having fun and enjoying life.
standardman's review
5.0
Occasionally falls into the traps that comics trying to show how very mature they are fall into but this can be forgiven for complexities added to the city and Dredd himself.
It's a big collection and not all of it is in the America arc but the stuff that isn't feels like extra flavour.
This has a reputation as one of the best Dredd stories and it's well deserved.
It's a big collection and not all of it is in the America arc but the stuff that isn't feels like extra flavour.
This has a reputation as one of the best Dredd stories and it's well deserved.
cybergoths's review
5.0
Really strong storyline showing a different perspective on the Judges of MegaCity One, with some of the twisted aspects of the future city showing through.
carroq's review
4.0
For my second Dredd book, this one was pretty good. It's a bit rocky at the start, which might be either my needing to get reacquainted with the world he operates in or the design of comics from the era when it was created. Whichever it is, once the story really gets rolling it works pretty well. There are three shorts in this volume that are connected by a single "family". It takes a different approach by not being centered around the judges, though they are certainly ever present. I thought it was a neat departure.
antoneh's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.75
rayellis's review
4.0
America was the story that launched the megazine back in 1990. A love story set against the violence of mega-city 1. Well kind of. With hindsight its more about creepy friendzone guy, Bennett Beeny's unhealthy obsession and betrayal of America Jara. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. But it has dated a bit and I actually preferred the three sequels (also included here) featuring America's daughter, directly and indirectly. I'm trying to avoid spoilers here. The last three stories are space fillers: A sequel to "The Return of Rico", written 23 years later and finally answering a glaring plot hole (how did Rico have a young daughter when he had been on titan for 20 years?). And two short Garth Ennis Dredd's from the early 90s. So, unlike the Case Files they are not going through the Dredds chronologically with this series. The America saga spans several decades and two generations.
blackestclovers's review
4.0
Amazing collection. Absolutely pissed that it's not available in Canada, but I got my hands on volume one and it's just... Stellar. Great art (for the most part), great story and definitely a great intro to Dredd.
swahililove's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
svarnyp's review
4.0
"Just dream on creep, but just remember - that's all it is, a dream...
America is dead.
This is the real world."
A series of stories confronting America the ideal (land of the free etc.) with Mega City One and the Justice system. The art of the first story is quite different from the other Judge Dredd comics, but the stories in the comic are good. I liked how the first stories switched perspectives between Dredd and Benny making it like a dialogue between the two about liberty, justice and America. Another interesting addition is the original script for the last story, my beloved peak into the creator's toolbox.
America is dead.
This is the real world."
A series of stories confronting America the ideal (land of the free etc.) with Mega City One and the Justice system. The art of the first story is quite different from the other Judge Dredd comics, but the stories in the comic are good. I liked how the first stories switched perspectives between Dredd and Benny making it like a dialogue between the two about liberty, justice and America. Another interesting addition is the original script for the last story, my beloved peak into the creator's toolbox.
jamesdavidward's review
3.0
A bit dated in its treatment of LGBTQ issues, but the story goes into some dark and interesting places. Worth stealing from.