Preview: Judge Dredd Megazine #451

This month, Judge Dredd Megazine #451 has had a bit of a revamp. The reprints are moved inside the mag instead of the usual polybag and separate mini-trades. The mark this format change, it's a bumper Christmas issue with a massive 144 pages. From this issue onwards, it's all squarebound.

Alongside the latest instalments of Devlin Waugh, Surfer, Storm Warning and Death Metal Planet – plus of course, a complete seasonal case for Judge Dredd – we've got two bonus stories in the shape of an eight-page Dredd by Rob Williams and Will Conrad, and the debut of Mega-City 2099, a slice of retro law enforcement from Niemand and Conor Boyle, channelling that 1970s aesthetic.

Elsewhere we have interviews with two comics creators that have dipped their toes into prose – former Rogue Trooper script-droid Gerry Finley-Day and cover artist John Watson – as well as writer and editor John Freeman, plus reprints of the first issues of Judge Dredd: Year One and Mega-City Two, both originally published by IDW, and some classic Steel Claw material.

• UK and DIGITAL: 14 December £7.99
• NORTH AMERICA: 25 January 2024 $13.50
• DIAMOND: OCT221911
• COVER: CLIFF ROBINSON (art) DYLAN TEAGUE (colours)

In this issue:

Judge Dredd: Dollman

Writer: Ken Niemand
Art: Stewart K. Moore
Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Mega-City One, 2144 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 180 million citizens. Unemployment is endemic, boredom universal, and tensions run on a constant knife-edge. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law!

Storm Warning: Dead & Gone

Writer: John Reppion
Art: Clint Langley
Letters: Jim Campbell

Brit-Cit, 2147 AD. Much like its Mega-City counterpart, Brit-Cit Justice Department has its various divisions, from Tek to plainclothes, Tactical to Psi, and one of its more prickly operatives in the latter is Lillian Storm, who has the ability to talk to the dead, and is always accompanied by her ghostly helpers. Now, Storm has been seemingly laid to rest to cross into the afterlife...

Dark Judges: Death Metal Planet

Writer: David Hine
Art: Nick Percival
Letters: Annie Parkhouse

After the events on the Mayflower, in which the Dark Judges were ejected into space, they ended up on the colony world of Dominion, which they proceeded to decimate. When Mega-City marines were sent in, assisted by survivor Rosco, the planet was destroyed. Worshipped like gods on Thanatopia by a death-cult, they’ve now been targeted by a death-metal band...

Devlin Waugh: Karma Police

Writer: Aleš Kot
Art: Rob Richardson
Letters: Simon Bowland

Brit-Cit, 2144 AD. A freelance paranormal troubleshooter and exorcist for the Vatican, DevlinWaugh is the world’s foremost supernatural investigator. Despite becoming a vampire after getting bitten tackling an outbreak in an underwater prison, Devlin continues to enjoy the finer things in life. Now, after a trip to Hell, he must investigate the curse on his bloodline...

Surfer: Book Two

Writer: John Wagner
Art: Colin MacNeil
Colours: Chris Blythe
Letters: Simon Bowland

Mega-City One, 2144 AD. Skysurfing is one of the most popular pastimes in the twenty-second century metropolis, a sport that requires a great deal of skill and agility. Young Zane Perks is a particularly gifted surfer, and won a place to be in an illegal movie recreating the famousSupersurf 7. Now Zane’s trying to save his father from local crim Snarky by doing a courier job...

Also Featuring

Judge Dredd: Year One by Matt Smith (writer), Simon Coleby (art), Leonard O'Grady (colours), Chris Mowry (letters)

Judge Dredd - Mega-City Two: City of Courts by Douglas Wolk (writer), Ulises Farinas (art), Ryan Hill (colours), Tom B. Long (letters)

The Steel Claw: Reign of the Brain by Tom Tully (writer) and Jesús Blasco (art)

Mega-City 2099: Rampage by Ken Niemand (writer), Conor Boyle (art), Jim Campbell (letters)

Judge Dredd: Sole Occupant by Rob Williams (writer), Will Conrad (art), Dylan Teague (colours), Simon Bowland (letters)

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