It’s hard to believe Judge Dredd first released almost 50 years ago now, debuting in the pages of 2000 AD way back in 1977. The iconic lawman quickly became one of British sci-fi’s most unique comic creations, introducing readers to a dystopian future where the authorities serve as judge, jury, and executioner.
Over the decades, the franchise has expanded well beyond those comic book origins, inspiring video games, countless merchandise lines, and multiple Hollywood adaptations, including the cult-favorite 2012 film Dredd, starring Karl Urban, which many fans will agree was a franchise high point. Although the movie never received the sequel fans desperately wanted, its popularity has only continued to grow, and hopes for a proper comeback will never truly fade.
As such, with Judge Dredd‘s 50th anniversary officially arriving in 2027, anticipation is building for some massive announcements celebrating the character’s legacy. While we haven’t gotten word on a Dredd reboot just yet, the festivities are already getting underway, with a major new collaboration already announced at New York Comic Con. However, arguably one of the biggest 50th anniversary releases announced so far is set to arrive in February 2027, and fans will want to mark their calendars now.
Judge Dredd‘s upcoming 50th anniversary is kicking off with a bang with the release of Fifty Years of Judge Dredd: A 50th Anniversary Celebration, an oversized collection bringing together some of the character’s most iconic stories from the past five decades. Scheduled to release on February 9, 2027, the commemorative hardcover promises to be one of the most substantial tributes to the legendary British comic book character yet.
Published by 2000 AD and distributed by Simon & Schuster, the massive 432-page collection will retail for $69.99 in the United States, and it’s already available to pre-order through participating retailers, giving longtime readers and newcomers alike an opportunity to revisit the stories that helped establish Judge Dredd as one of science fiction’s most recognizable characters.
For fifty years Judge Dredd has brought justice to the streets of Mega-City One, in stories that have ranged from sci-fi satire to epic adventure to iconic horror. This sweeping collection celebrates the first half-century of Dredd with forty complete stories showcasing The Lawman of The Future at his very best.
The anniversary edition will include 40 complete Judge Dredd stories, spanning multiple generations of creators and exploring the different genres/timelines that have defined the franchise. These range from the darkly comedic science fiction satire of Dredd‘s earliest adventures to sprawling action epics and even the beloved (and disturbing) horror stories.
Among the highlights are encounters with some of the franchise’s most notorious villains, including the notorious Judge Death, alongside various stories diving into the corruption within Mega-City One’s Justice Department. The collection should offer an interesting look at how the character and his world have evolved over the past five decades.
The book has an absolutely stacked list of creators, with featured writers including original Judge Dredd co-creator John Wagner, alongside Alan Grant, Garth Ennis, Rob Williams, Arthur Wyatt, and Michael Molcher. The artwork is equally impressive, featuring contributions from Dredd‘s original visual co-creator Carlos Ezquerra, Mick McMahon, Cam Kennedy, Brian Bolland, Colin MacNeil, and Jock.
You can pre-order Fifty Years of Judge Dredd – A 50th Anniversary Celebration today via Amazon here.
Longtime comic readers will recognize several of these names from some of the most influential British comics ever published, while others, like Garth Ennis, are internationally recognized for little franchises you may have heard of, such as The Boys and Preacher.
Beyond the comics themselves, the anniversary omnibus will also feature brand-new interviews with writers and artists who helped shape Judge Dredd throughout his history. The additional insights promise to take readers behind-the-scenes and give them a unique perspective on the character’s enduring legacy.
Between Fifty Years of Judge Dredd and the newly announced McFarlane Toys collaboration, it looks like the 50th anniversary of Judge Dredd is just getting started, and there’s likely much more to look forward to on the near horizon in Mega-City One.
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John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra
- Latest Film
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Dredd
