18: Terror

There are a lot of obvious parallels and callbacks to America in Terror. A lot of it is Colin MacNeil's moody painted artwork; the similarity between Zondra and America Jara; the bombings of terrorist group Total War. At the heart is a tragic love story entangled with violent terrorism that can have no happy ending.

But there's also more here than just a rerun of an old classic. Terror is about setting things up for the dramatic and explosive events of Total War, so needs to remind us about the terrorist group and their modus operandi. Doing it by reflecting "America" also gives us an idea of how Dredd and the Justice Department can't seem to definitely end this violent group despite their hardline efforts.

There's a cynicism and weariness floating over this story. America was America and Beeny's story, with Dredd and the Judges as dark forces tearing them apart. We saw their childhoods, their love story and its bitter aftermath - and through their daughter, their future. Zonda and Castinello have a love story here, but with none of the depth. John Wagner seems to be deliberately echoing his past classic, and uses the big ideas and themes there to make a larger point - for Dredd, nothing's changed. Despite everything that's happened since America, Dredd is still facing Total War and their blunt force tactics.

Worse, there can be no relief. Just as America Jara felt forced by her circumstances to join Total War, Castinello felt he had no other option. The system of harsh law enforcement can do nothing but create more broken people prepared to throw bombs. America can only continue to be echoed in the series.