Preview: Judge Dredd Megazine #448

This coming Wednesday, the undead are taking over 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine in an epic crossover event. 2000 AD Prog 2300 and Judge Dredd Megazine #448 combine into one storyline from a host of top and new talent.

Riffing off Garth Ennis’ 1990s Judge Dredd mega-epic ‘Judgement Day’, the myriad of worlds from 45 years of 2000 AD collide in multiple stories featuring legendary characters.

Brought to (un)life by a huge range of talent,  Judge Dredd Megazine #448 features Ken Niemand, Leigh Gallagher, Karl Stock, Kei Zama, Honor Vincent, Boo Cook, Gordon Rennie, Dan Cornwell, James Peaty, Nicolo Assirelli, Liam Johnson, Conor Boyle, Mike Carroll and Steve Yeowell.

From Judge Dredd to Robo-Hunter, from Rogue Trooper to Strontium Dog, characters past and present come together in an undead event like no other – will the contagion of ‘Judgement Day’ consume the whole of the worlds of 2000 AD?

2000 AD Prog 2300 and Judge Dredd Megazine #448 hit UK newsagent and comic book shelves on 21 September and North American comic book stores in October. 

• UK and DIGITAL: 21 September 2022 £5.99
• NORTH AMERICA: 19 October 2023 $10
• DIAMOND: JUL221852
• COVER: NICK PERCIVAL

In this issue:

Judge Dredd: The Darkest Judge

Writer: Ken Niemand
Art: Leigh Gallagher
Colours: Chris Blythe
Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Mega-City One, 2114 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America was once home to over 400 million citizens. To the west is the irradiated Cursed Earth, to the east the toxic Black Atlantic. Crime was rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos were the Judges, future law-enforcers empowered to dispense instant justice. Toughest of them all was Judge Dredd – he was the Law! But Sabbat the Necromagus brought a zombie plague upon the world, and in an effort to stop him, all hell has broken loose...

Shimura: Hope Lies Buried

Writer: Karl Stock
Art: Kei Zama
Colours: Gary Caldwell
Letters: Jim Campbell

Hondo-City, 2114 AD. This glittering metropolis in the far east saw the technological marvels of the twenty-second century wedded to the traditions of the past. Judge-Inspector Shimura was one of its Judge force’s most experienced officers, a veteran who’d seen enough on Hondo’s streets not to be surprised by anything its criminal gangs could throw at him. But he was also disillusioned with the system, and had a cynical attitude to authority. Then Sabbat came, and the world was never the same again...

Anderson, Psi-Div: Allied Forces

Writer: Honor Vincent
Art: Boo Cook
Letters: Simon Bowland

Mega-City One, 2114 AD. There are many divisions within Justice Department to deal with law enforcement – for undercover operations there is Wally Squad, for example, while the Special Judicial Squad handle internal affairs. The personnel of Psi-Division are psychically talented to combat supernatural threats, be it telepathy, pyrokinesis, precognition, astral projection and more, and Cassandra Anderson is one of the division’s most experienced and powerful officers. Flippant and irreverent she may be, but she gets the job done..

Missionary Man: The Lonesome Undeath of the Widow McCall

Writer: Gordon Rennie
Art: Dan Cornwell
Colours: Dylan Teague
Letters: Jim Campbell

The Cursed Earth, 2114 AD. This blasted wilderness is all that remains of much of North America following the Atomic Wars, an irradiated hellscape populated by mutants and raiders. Maintaining order in the Texas radlands is Marshal Cain, otherwise known as the Missionary Man, a Bible-spouting lawman, who delivers justice to those that deserve it with little mercy. Rumour has it that he used to be a Texas-City Judge, who left the metropolis behind and chose to bring his brand of law-enforcement to the wilds..

Cadet Giant: ‘I am…’

Writer: James Peaty
Art: Nicolo Assirelli
Colours: Peter Doherty
Letters: Simon Bowland

Mega-City One, 2114 AD. The young Cadet Giant is a promising talent in the Academy of Law, whose potential was spotted by Dredd. The illegitimate son of Judge Giant – killed by Sov assassin Orlok during Block Mania – the boy grew up on the tough streets, having seen his mother murdered, and had an anger and impulsiveness that had to be tempered. He played an integral role in defeating the Dark Judges during Necropolis, when the city faced its darkest day. But now, in the wake of Sabbat, MC-1 is in even worse peril...

Devlin Waugh: How I Lost the Waugh

Writer: Liam Johnson
Art: Conor Boyle
Colours: Barbara Nosenzo
Letters: Jim Campbell

Brit-Cit, 2114 AD. A Vatican-sanctioned exorcist and supernatural troubleshooter, there’s little that Devlin Waugh’s seen that can phase him. Incredibly strong and with an unflappable demeanour, he’s the first choice when it comes to dealing with problems of a paranormal nature. But following an outbreak of vamprism at the underwater prison of Aquatraz, into which he was sent to rescue survivors, Devlin was bitten and infected with the curse, and he must now gorge himself on blood too...

Armitage: An Underlying Fear

Writer: Mike Carroll
Art: Steve Yeowell
Colours: John Charles
Letters: Simon Bowland

Brit-Cit, 2114 AD. While the UK equivalent of Mega-City One has its own Judge force, it’s retained its CID plainclothes department, of which Detective Inspector Armitage is one of its veteran officers. Surly, and with a healthy disregard for his superiors, whom he believes are virtually all incompetent and corrupt, Armitage has had almost as many run-ins with his bosses as he has had with the criminal fraternity. But his cynical exterior belies a crafty mind, and one capable of tackling any investigation...

Available in print from: newsagents and comic book stores via Diamond
Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android, Windows 10