Judge Dredd: The American Way of Death (Comics) | Review

The cliffhanger from Volume 4 showed Judge Cal seizing control and the Dark Judges teased as the next catastrophic threat. Now that promise delivers in full force as undead horrors from Deadworld breach dimensional barriers. The twist: there aren't just four Dark Judges this time.

Writer Duane Swierczynski (Deadpool: Wade Wilson's War, X-Men: The Times and Life of Lucas Bishop) expands the original quartet into thirteen nightmarish enforcers. Each one embodies a different method of execution. They don't arrest or judge by conventional standards because their view is simple and absolute: life is a crime.

Judge Dredd: The American Way of Death collects issues #17-20 of the 2013 IDW monthly series. This arc transforms Sector One into a killing field while Dredd is being shipped off to Titan prison colony for crimes he didn't commit, framed during the events of 13 Badges.

Dark Judges arrive through dimensional portals established during the previous chaos. Judge Death leads the invasion alongside his original brothers Fear, Fire and Mortis. Swierczynski introduces nine additional Dark Judges with horrific specialties and creative methods.

Judge Cal's authoritarian regime complicates everything by implementing the relocation program forcing citizens into Sector One where Dark Judges are slaughtering everyone. The Justice Department's solution proves as monstrous as the threat itself. They're willing to sacrifice entire city blocks to contain the threat.

Dredd isn't there to stop any of it. He's convicted, shackled and heading toward Titan while Mega-City One burns. The backup story "Slammer" follows his imprisonment journey, showing how Cal manipulated the system to remove the city's most effective defender.

Judge Anderson becomes primary resistance against the Dark Judges without Dredd. Her psychic abilities let her sense the breach but she's overwhelmed by thirteen unstoppable killers spreading through sectors methodically. The horror intensifies as citizens realize nowhere is safe from judges who can phase through walls.

Nine new Dark Judges get showcase moments demonstrating unique killing styles. Judge Choke suffocates victims with toxic smoke. Judge Sleep induces fatal nightmares. Judge Stigmata causes spontaneous bleeding. The variety keeps horror fresh despite repetitive sequences.

The body count escalates as the Dark Judges spread beyond Sector One's containment zones. Cal's relocation program becomes a death funnel pushing civilians directly into massacre areas. Citizens realize government protection is worse than the supernatural threat itself.

This arc succeeds by examining institutional collapse during crisis. Cal's regime values control over survival. Evacuation protocols funnel citizens into death zones rather than safety. Justice Department strategies guarantee mass casualties. Political maneuvering continues while the undead Judges systematically execute the living.

The philosophical underpinning remains consistent with classic Dark Judges mythology from 2000 AD. They come from Deadworld where judges concluded all crime stems from living beings, therefore life itself is the ultimate crime requiring systematic extermination.

They want to replicate that "success" in Mega-City One. The horror isn't just physical violence but ideological absolutism taken to its extreme. These aren't random monsters but judges following their twisted law interpretation. They believe they're dispensing justice with each kill.

The connection to Volume 4's Judge Cal storyline creates continuity. Cal's manipulation enabled the Dark Judges' arrival by weakening dimensional barriers. His authoritarian infrastructure makes organized resistance impossible. The serial killer investigation and political corruption were mere prologue to this undead apocalypse.

Setup for Volume 6: Black Light District occurs as Anderson ventures into Deadworld to stop the invasion. The cliffhanger leaves Sector One devastated, Dredd imprisoned and Dark Judges contained but undefeated. Justice Department faces consequences for Cal's leadership.

Artwork by Nelson Daniel (The Cape: 1969, Wild Blue Yonder) maintains consistency but shows fatigue creeping in. The problem isn't technical skill since he captures dystopian architecture and action competently. Panel layouts feel repetitive, lacking innovation the story demands.

Introducing thirteen Dark Judges creates visual confusion. Daniel differentiates them through costume but action sequences blur together when multiple judges attack simultaneously. The original four have iconic designs from Brian Bolland's 2000 AD work. Nine newcomers feel less distinctive despite creative concepts behind each.

Swierczynski balances horror spectacle with character moments. He understands Dark Judges work as unstoppable force. Dialogue crackles when judges explain their philosophy to victims before execution. Cal's bureaucratic evil nicely contrasts with the supernatural menace.

The decision to expand beyond four Dark Judges divides opinion. Purists argue it dilutes what made the original quartet iconic. Pragmatists appreciate fresh concepts of horror and visual variety. Either way, introducing nine new judges in one arc prevents them from developing any memorable personalities beyond their methods.

Judge Dredd: The American Way of Death delivers grindhouse horror in sci-fi dystopia. Dark Judges invasion provides spectacle and body count fans expect. Swierczynski understands their appeal and leans into supernatural slasher elements while maintaining Dredd's satirical edge.

However, this volume suffers from middle chapter syndrome. It escalates threats from Volume 4 without resolving them, positioning everything for concluding Volume 6. Dredd's absence removes the series' anchor for most of the story. Anderson carries the weight admirably but lacks his iconic presence and the narrative gravity.

The thirteen Dark Judges concept overstuffs the narrative. Swierczynski introduces too many characters without sufficient page count to develop them meaningfully. The original four get lost among newcomers who feel like variations on the same theme rather than distinct threats.

Worth reading for longtime fans invested in IDW's continuity and Dark Judges mythology. The horror sequences deliver visceral impact and Cal's authoritarian nightmare creates compelling dystopian satire. Just recognize this is transitional storytelling that sets up payoffs coming in subsequent volumes rather than standing alone.

You can read Judge Dredd: The American Way of Death in collected form as Judge Dredd Volume 5, available in trade paperback through major retailers. Digital editions are also offered on Amazon Kindle, ComiXology and IDW's own digital catalog on tablet, phone or desktop.