17: Mega-City Confidential

John Wagner turns to the journalism-expose genre, with Colin MacNeil providing a masterclass effort in artwork that looks like a dark-hued and somber thriller movie. The idea that the surveillance we saw in SABs has now extended to an even more insidious and all-pervasive state is obvious but still effective, and we get another example of how far the Judges are willing to go to preserve their power.

One of the things that really stood out on reading this last story of the Volume is just how far Dredd has come as a continuous series. This Volume contains a story like Mega-City Confidential from 2014, mere pages away from 1986's Letter from a Democrat - and its a stark juxtaposition. Confidential is smooth, confident and polished. This is a series that knows what it's doing and is doing it with precision. The artwork is crisp and clear, Colin MacNeil still growing and sharpening his style.

But while it's fascinating to look at the differences between Dredd's early days and his present, it's impressive that he's still dealing with the same concerns. What are the rights of the citizens of the Big Meg? What is worth sacrificing to be safe - and is being safe a guarantee even with your freedoms curtailed?

By this point in Dredd's history the Judges are dealing with the fallout from multiple disasters, and have far less time and inclination to worry about those questions.