Dredd : The Academy Years

[Gavin_Leahy_Block]

A very interesting idea that, if done right and not over done, could be very successful. The only suggestion that I would put in is, along with established characters we would need several new central characters in it. This is a problem I find with the new Strontium Dog because as Radiator said we know what will happen to each of these, so there really is no threat involved.

[JOE SOAP]

Origins gets given quite a lot of stick by people who seemingly wanted it to be a dry, dull chronological list of every single event ever in the Dredd timeline and loads of big, detailed battle scenes, rather than an actual, you know, story.

Origins is clunky in parts but the best thing about it is that it jumps backwards while propelling continuity forward with the framing etc.

I'm not sure if Ennis' "First of the many" story can be considered canon as Dredd's first arrest since it may be contradicted by Dredd's flasback to his rookie run with Morphy during "Tale of the Deadman". I believe Wagner's reluctant to cover some of the early years because it's just covering old ground characterwise. If it was now and again I wouldn't mind but not a separate series unless it was fit in to a story like "Origins".

I would like to see a Mega City origin series told from the cits point of view where Dredd makes cameos. Maybe telling some of the later formative stories from a different angle too.

[W. R. Logan]

I'd hate to see Dredd The Academy years, stories of how Clone doesnt fit in with his other class mates and doesnt give a stuff.
Tales of how other Cadets have late night fun in the dorms, parties, piloow fights and other stuff they miss and how a clone reports them to the instructors.
Other Cadets rally round to give the Clones a good kicking for being so stuck up and rigid in their interpretation of the law and then get their heads beaten by Day Sticks as the Clones take no crap.

Yawn.

[TordelBack]

I see.  And it's absolutely essential that the story follow those guidelines precisely?  That is disappointing.

True enough though, I don't think there's much mileage in the Academy years, but following directly on from his assessment with Morphy could be good.

[JOE SOAP]

I hope Steve Guttenberg gets a part.

[Dandontdare]

I believe Wagner's reluctant to cover some of the early years because it's just covering old ground characterwise.

Wagner could continue with current continuity, allowing other writers to pen an endless series of pre-2099 stories. They would be banned form killing any known characters of course, or of making any changes to existing continuity, but I'm sure loads of writers have ideas for standard "future crime - Dredd kills/captures perps" or "mega city craze" type stories. Not exactly deep on character development, but cracking yarns. Let Wagner have overall editorial veto on anything that doesn't 'fit' and there's lots of potential.

[thehod]

I'd hate to see Dredd The Academy years, stories of how Clone doesnt fit in with his other class mates and doesnt give a stuff.
Tales of how other Cadets have late night fun in the dorms, parties, piloow fights and other stuff they miss and how a clone reports them to the instructors.
Other Cadets rally round to give the Clones a good kicking for being so stuck up and rigid in their interpretation of the law and then get their heads beaten by Day Sticks as the Clones take no crap.

Yawn.

Well, yes. I think we'd all hate to see that.

Doesn't necessarily have to be that though, does it.

I'm certainly interested in how Dredd goes from being a big of a hot prospect rookie into being the "toughest of all judges" 20 years later.


And you can read the story of Dredd's first coller online here, Blue. (scroll down to issue #75 on the drop down menu)

http://www.htmlcomics.com/Book/html.asp?Series_Name=2000 AD (0701 - 0800)&Book_No=030&Page_Number=1&Alpha=0&Lookup=

[JOE SOAP]

http://www.htmlcomics.com/Book/html.asp?Series_Name=2000 AD (0701 - 0800)&Book_No=030&Page_Number=1&Alpha=0&Lookup=

OOPS, can't see this lasting long, someone uploading every issue of TWOTH on to webpages including the banned issues.

[thehod]

http://www.htmlcomics.com/Book/html.asp?Series_Name=2000 AD (0701 - 0800)&Book_No=030&Page_Number=1&Alpha=0&Lookup=

OOPS, can't see this lasting long, someone uploading every issue of TWOTH on to webpages including the banned issues.

Its been there for a year already, but yes, I'm a little suprised this hasn't had someone come down on it like its been raining hammers.

[Colin_YNWA]

I agree the Academy stuff is covered with 'Origins'. The bit that got me interested was a couple of panels in 'Blood Cadets' (I've not got the issues to hand so excuse any inaccuracy here) Dredd's relating his story to Rico and says something like 'It was different back then' and something that implies the full stoic nature of the Judges wasn't in force. There's a panel with Rico on a sun lounger living it up and the implication is that there was a lot of this then cos there was nowhere near as many restrictions on Judges. I think there's a story there.

[bluemeanie]

LOL, it'd hardly be Harry frigging Potter with Lawgivers would it?   

Like others have said Im enjoying the Rico/Dredd double act and the thought of more of that just appeals. Plus where I said "Academy Years" I probably would have been better saying "Rookie Years" as thats more where I was coming from.
Its just a way to put a modern spin on some of the stuff I've been reading in the early Case Files without re-writing it all.
Could see the new writers having fun telling stories which inform more on individual aspects of Dredd's character. There have been some rocking Batman stories dealing with the time between his parents death and him putting on the suit. Why not do the same with Dredd?
I mean, in the first appearance its already a "Oh crap, it's Dredd!" situation.
Personally I'd enjoy seeing how he earned his rep and elevated himself from all the other Judges

[JOE SOAP]

You just want a glmpse of a nubile young Dredd in the shower with his white helmet on.

[bluemeanie]

You just want a glmpse of a nubile young Dredd in the shower with his white helmet on.

"Pick up the soap!"
"No"
"Do it... I AM THE LAW!"
"oh... ok... I love it when you talk bossy!"

[JOE SOAP]

You just want a glmpse of a nubile young Dredd in the shower with his white helmet on.

"Pick up the soap!"
"No"
"Do it... I AM THE LAW!"
"oh... ok... I love it when you talk bossy!"

Underneath it all Rico was such a pussy.

[Tweak72]

well it didn't tell the whole story - but (without a copy to hand) did it not feature Dredd & Rico as cadets being allowed to graduate early due to the war against Booth?

IRC Their early graduation is mentioned but not shown and it is still 9 years away (class of '79). Not that the Dredds work on the streets during the 2070 war was not noted but being 4 years old even with fast grown bodies older children and augmented learning they are still only 4th year cadets.

There was so much left hanging with Origins so much hinted at but never really followed through it is an awesome read and goes hand in hand (IMO) with Brothers of the Blood. But like I said 2071 would be an awesome saga in it self and it would be good for Carlos to do before he gives up work IMO. also expanding the Mega City Civil War wouldst be awesome Rufus Dayglo doing his classic styles would be a good way of doing it IMO