I never really understood the Judge Dredd phenomena until I finally sat down to watch 2012’s Dredd
Suddenly the merciless protector of Mega City law began to make sense and I desperately wanted to explore John Wagner, Alan Grant, and a boatload of other talented creator’s work on Dredd for 2000 AD comics since 1977.
Below is the most direct path I’ve found for collecting and reading Judge Dredd comics. Additionally, if you’re interested in learning more about the creation of Dredd, as well co-creator John Wagner, I highly recommend the podcast 2000 AD Thrillcast, which has an epic 3 part interview with Wagner in a pub.
The Judge Dredd Comic Book Reading Order
2000 AD comics intimidate the heck out of me, what with their original publication outside the states and generally confusing and lengthy timelines. Fortunately, Judge Dredd is quite neatly collected by 2000 AD, and once you get started, the esteemed science fiction house of Dredd is actually quite manageable.
If you’re totally new to Dredd comics, the general consensus among fans is you will be well suited to start with Case Files 5. This includes approximately one year of serialized Dredd stories from the early 80’s, including the essential “Apocalypse War.” While starting 5 volumes in may seem intimidating, the books do a fair amount of recapping and expository panels, meaning you’ll be able to catch up relatively easily, and of course go back to the beginning if you love what you see.
Note that you have a couple of options reading Judge Dredd: Origins. While Origins explains how we get the dystopian America of Dredd’s comic book universe, it wasn’t actually published until 2006, nearly 30 years after Dredd’s creation in 2000 AD.
So, if you want to start with a modern account of the Dredd origin from co-creators John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, this is a great starting place.
If you really want to start from day one, though, and go back to the late 70’s into the early 80’s, you’ll want to begin with the Case Files collections below!
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 2-60 and Judge Dredd Annual 1981, and Walter the Wobot strips from 2000 AD Prog 50-58
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 2
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 61-70, 73-76, 79-108 and 110-115
You can also find the colored, collected Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth Uncensored
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 3
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 116-154
Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files 4
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 156-207
Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files 5
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 208-267, 269-270 — You can also find the “Apocalypse War” story arc collected here reprinted with all-new colors by Charlie Kirchoff in Judge Dredd Classics Volume 1: Apocalypse War
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 6
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 271-321
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 7
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 322-350, 353-375
Judge Anderson: The Psi Files Volume 01
Collects: 2000 AD Annual 1984 and 2000 AD Progs 416-427, 468-478, 520-531, 607-609, 612-622, 635-647, 657-659, 669-670, 712-717 and 758-763, plusJudge Corey from 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 1989
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 8
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 376-423
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 9
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 424-473
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 10
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 474-522
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 11
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 523-570
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 12
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 571-618
Note that with volume 12 of the Dredd case files, the comics move into full color.
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 13
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 619-661
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 14
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 662-699
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 15
Collects: 2000 AD Prog 700-735 and Judge Dredd Megazine #1.01-1.10
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 16
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 736-775 and Judge Dredd Megazine #1.11-1.20
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 17
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 776-803 and Judge Dredd Megazine #2.01-2.11
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 18
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 804-829 and Judge Dredd Megazine #2.12-2.26
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 19
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 830-855 and Judge Dredd Megazine #2.27-2.43
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 20
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 856-887 and Judge Dredd Megazine #2.44-2.56
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 21
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 888-915 and Judge Dredd Megazine #2.57-2.68
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 22
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 916-939 and Judge Dredd Megazine #2.69-2.80
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 23
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 940-959 and Judge Dredd Megazine #2.81-2.83 and 3.01-3.07
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 24
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 959-983 and Judge Dredd Megazine #3.04-3.16
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 25
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 984-1028 and Judge Dredd Megazine #3.16-3.18
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 26
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1029-1052 and Judge Dredd Megazine #3.19, 3.22 and 3.26-3.33
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 27
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1053-1083, and from Judge Dredd Megazine #3.34-3.38
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 28
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1084 – 1110, and the Judge Dredd Megazine 3.39 – 3.45
by John Wagner (Author), Alex Ronald (Illustrator), Cliff Robinson (Illustrator), Trevor Hairsine (Illustrator), Paul Marshall (Illustrator), Carlos Ezquerra (Illustrator), Julian Gibson (Illustrator), Killian Plunkett (Illustrator), John Burns (Illustrator), Lee Sullivan (Illustrator), Siku (Illustrator), Sean Phillips (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 29
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1111 – 1140, and Judge Dredd Megazine 3.46 – 3.51
by John Wagner (Author), Alan Grant (Author), Greg Staples (Illustrator), Jim Muuray (Illustrator), Alex Ronald (Illustrator), Steve Tappin (Illustrator), Rafael Garres (Illustrator), Peter Doherty (Illustrator), Paul Marshall (Illustrator), Paolo Parente (Illustrator), Jason Brashill (Illustrator), John Burns (Illustrator), Cam Kennedy (Illustrator), Henry Flint (Illustrator), Andrew Currie (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 30
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1141 – 1164, and Judge Dredd Megazine 3.52 – 3.59
by John Wagner (Author), Cam Kennedy (Illustrator), Simon Davis (Illustrator), Neil Googe (Illustrator), Stephen Baskerville (Illustrator), Mick McMahon (Illustrator), Charlie Adlard (Illustrator), Colin Wilson (Illustrator), Andrew Currie (Illustrator), Steve Tappin (Illustrator), Mike Collins (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 31
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1165 – 1185, and Judge Dredd Megazine 3.60 – 3.69
by John Wagner (Author), Alan Grant (Author), Cam Kennedy (Illustrator), Andy Clarke (Illustrator), Duncan Fegredo (Illustrator), Mick McMahon (Illustrator), Simon Coleby (Illustrator), Siku (Illustrator), Jock (Illustrator), Richard Elson (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 32
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1186 – 1222, Judge Dredd Megazine 3.70 – 3.73
by Gordon Rennie (Author), John Smith (Author), John Wagner (Author), Roland Grey (Author), Arthur Ranson (Illustrator), Cam Kennedy (Illustrator), Carlos Ezquerra (Illustrator), Dylan Teague (Illustrator), Frazer Irving (Illustrator), Henry Flint (Illustrator), Jock (Illustrator), Simon Davis (Illustrator), Simon Fraser (Illustrator), Ben Oliver (Illustrator), Chris Weston (Illustrator), John Higgins (Illustrator), Laurence Campbell (Illustrator), Patrick Goddard (Illustrator), Paul Marshall (Illustrator), Peter Doherty (Illustrator), Siku (Illustrator), Steve Parkhouse (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 33
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1223 – 1249, and Judge Dredd Megazine 3.74 – 3.79
by John Wagner (Author), Alan Grant (Author), Gordon Rennie (Author), Robbie Morrison (Author), Ian Gibson (Illustrator), Cam Kennedy (Illustrator), Simon Fraser (Illustrator), Jock (Illustrator), Anthony Williams (Illustrator), Duncan Fegredo (Illustrator), Cliff Robinson (Illustrator), Colin Wilson (Illustrator), Siku (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 34
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1250 – 1275, and Judge Dredd Megazine 4.01 – 4.06
by Garth Ennis (Author), Gordon Rennie (Author), John Wagner (Author), Robbie Morrison (Author), Alan Grant (Author), Carlos Ezquerra (Illustrator), Henry Flint (Illustrator), Adrian Bamforth (Illustrator), Colin MacNeil (Illustrator), Cliff Robinson (Illustrator), Ian Gibson (Illustrator), John Burns (Illustrator), Cam Kennedy (Illustrator), Jock (Illustrator), Greg Staples (Illustrator), Peter Doherty (Illustrator), Richard Elson (Illustrator), Frazer Irving (Illustrator), Paul Marshall (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 35
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1276 – 1301, and Judge Dredd Megazine 4.07 – 4.13
by John Wagner (Author), Alan Grant (Author), Gordon Rennie (Author), John Burns (Illustrator), John Higgins (Illustrator), PJ Holden (Illustrator), Peter Doherty (Illustrator), Kev Walker (Illustrator), Cam Kennedy (Illustrator), Carlos Ezquerra (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 36
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1302 – 1335, and Judge Dredd Megazine 4.14 – 4.18
by John Wagner (Author), Gordon Rennie (Author), Andy Diggle (Author), Henry Flint (Illustrator), Ben Willsher (Illustrator), Ian Gibson (Illustrator), John Ridgway (Illustrator), Mick McMahon (Illustrator), Jim Baikie (Illustrator), Simon Fraser (Illustrator), PJ Holden (Illustrator), Carl Critchlow (Illustrator), Staz Johnson (Illustrator), Carlos Ezquerra (Illustrator)
Essential Judge Dredd Graphic Novels
Predator Versus Judge Dredd Versus Aliens
The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection
Judge Dredd Day of Chaos Reading Order
“Day of Chaos” is one of the most frequently recommended recent story arcs from 2000 AD’s Dredd comics, with John Wagner somehow escalating the perpetually apocalyptic stakes with modern sensibilities.
Reading the event outside of the individual issues can be particularly confusing, so I’ve ordered the collected editions below as follows.
Judge Dredd Tour of Duty: Mega City Justice
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1649-1667, 1674-1693 and Prog 2010
Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Fourth Faction
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1700-1704, 1740-1751 and 1753-1758, and from Judge Dredd Megazine #307, 308 and 310
Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Endgame
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1759-1789
Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Fallout
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1792-1796, 1798-1799, 1801-1802, 1816, 1819-1822, 1824-1825, 1830-1841 and 1845-1849, and from Judge Dredd Megazine #332 and 336
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1803 and 1806-1812
Dredd in space! After “Day of Chaos.”
Collects: 2000 AD Progs 1862-1869, 1873, 1924-1928, 1940-1947 and 1961
Collects: 
Judge Dredd: Every Empire Falls
IDW Judge Dredd Comics Reading Order
Dredd gets an American relaunch with IDW, de-aging the enforcer and refreshing a good deal of 2000 AD continuity for a fresh start.
Collects: Judge Dredd: Year One #1-4
Written By: Matt Smith (Author), Simon Coleby (Artist), Greg Staples (Artist)
Written By: Al Ewing (Author), John McCrea (Artist), Greg Staples (Artist)
Written By: Douglas Wolk (Author), Ulises Farinas (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: Anderson, Psi-Division
Written By:
Matt Smith (Author), Carl Critchlow (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd Classics: The Dark Judges
Written By: John Wagner (Author), Alan Grant (Author), Brian Bolland (Artist), Brett Ewins (Artist), Cliff Robinson (Artist), Robin Smith (Artist)
Written By: Ulises Farinas (Author), Erick Freitas (Author), Dan McDaid (Illustrator), Jesus Redondo (Illustrator, Artist), Dan McDaid (Artist)
Judge Dredd: The Blessed Earth (Vol. 1)
Collects: Judge Dredd: The Blessed Earth #1-4; the 2017 Annual
Written by: Ulises Farinas (Author), Erick Freitas (Author), Daniel Irizarri (Illustrator, Artist), Jason Copland (Illustrator, Artist), Dan McDaid (Illustrator)
Judge Dredd: The Blessed Earth (Vol. 2)
Collects: Judge Dredd: The Blessed Earth #5-8
Written By: by Ulises Farinas (Author), Erick Freitas (Author), Daniel Irizarri (Illustrator, Artist), Jason Copland (Illustrator, Artist)
Judge Dredd: Under Siege
Collects: Judge Dredd: Under Siege #1-4
Written by: Mark Russell (Author), Max Dunbar (Illustrator)
Collects: Judge Dredd: Toxic! #1-4
By: Paul Jenkins (Author), Marco Castiello (Illustrator)
Collects: Judge Dredd: False Witness #1-4
By: Brandon Easton (Author), Kei Zama (Illustrator), Silvia Califano (Illustrator)
Rambo brought me to Dredd..
Then came the intense, true to comics, grittier Karl Urban version…
I’m in!
Thanks Karl Urban for sacrificing your face for this…
Also to that equally ruthless villain Lena Heady…
Great list, Dave, thanks.
For me, Judge Dredd is the main man and always will be.
I only started buying 2000AD again about a year ago after a break of many years and it’s great to see that the Dreddverse is still such an integral part of the Galaxy’s Greatest after forty years.
The collected stories in graphic novel form are a nice way to catch up on all the stuff I’d missed.
My favorite Judge Dredd era would have to be the one which started with The Judge Child Saga, because that was when Alan Grant became John Wagner’s full-time Dredd co-writer, the partnership lasting something like seven years, until, as Grant tells it, they were at each other’s throats over whether or not Chopper would die at the end of the Oz story-arc. By the end of that kerfluffle, they’d seen the writing on the wall (no pun intended), and split up.
And, FTR, my favorite of all the artists during Dredd’s 80s prime was Ron Smith. He wasn’t precise and clean like Bolland, but his pictures were prettier than Ezquerra’s or McMahon’s. I consider Smith’s style to be the most well-balanced between draftsmanship & dynamics.
I always thought the Dredd character was the least interesting part of 2000AD and even the Dredd Megazine. What makes the comic so apprealing is that it doesn’t focus specifically on Dredd as a superhero, but rather paints a imersive and incredibly detailed picture of a cyberpunk future with a myriad of living characters from all parts of society. From cops to robbers, the elite rich to beggars on the street, everyone has a story to tell. And I think my favorite story is the gangster tale of Al’s Baby.
Dredd is not a superhero, he’s just a Judge.
Tomato / Potato