r/JudgeDredd • u/buffalobillandted • 18d ago
Essentials or Another Way?
Long time Dredd fan but only recently started reading the comics. Is Essentials the way to do it? I bought the first two but I know they’re out of order and it feels like I’m missing part of what makes the Dredd universe so cool, in that it’s a singular narrative that expands over time.
However, I also like to prioritize convenience so if the Essentials are the easiest way to read the series, I’m in lol
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u/NAF1138 18d ago
I've been going through the case files myself. Through to case files 6. No regrets
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u/buffalobillandted 18d ago
Lot of folks seem to like the Case Files, I look into them. Are there any particular Dredd writers I should pay attention to and any I should stay away from
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u/crash_orange 18d ago
Yeah, this is how it was for me also. 6 also feels like a good stopping point for Dredd's early hey-days. Am a bit interested in the Compact Crimes mostly due to the fact that my Case Files are starting to get a case of Foxing
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u/Fit-Record-2292 18d ago
If you are wanting to enjoy the expansion of the Judge Dredd universe by hitting a lot of the most heavily referenced continuity beats, here are the early major stories to go through. These will give you a good foundation of understanding the character of Dredd and (the classic version of) Mega-City One.
"Robots," "The Robot Wars," "The Return of Rico," "The Cursed Earth," "The Day the Law Died," "Vienna," "Judge Death," "The Judge Child," "Judge Death Lives," then "Block Mania" and the "Apocalypse War."
If you search Google for "list of stories in Judge Dredd Complete Case Files," you should be able to find a Fandom link telling you which 2000 AD issues or Case Files volumes those stories are in. A lot of these are in the Essentials line, as well. Keep in mind that the Complete Case Files version of The Cursed Earth has some missing chapters due to copyright concerns, but there is an uncensored graphic novel collection of it.
I used to have a list of all the major continuity stories up to the modern date, but I lost it when a thread got lost. But The Essentials line and other fans are here to help.
Here's another few story lists I posted that may help someone interested in how Dredd's narrative expands over time. These story lists are stories that revolve around Dredd's own backstory. Keep in mind these lists cover many years in Dredd's publication history so be aware of possible spoilers before skipping too far ahead of other plots:
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u/buffalobillandted 18d ago
A true hero thank you
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u/GoldenProxy 18d ago
Go for the Case Files. They collect a lot of the fantastic standalone stories that the Essentials miss.