30: By Lethal Injection

We're into the "Countdown to Necropolis" now as John Wagner moves all the final pieces into position before Mega-City One's darkest hour. This is a pretty plot-heavy two-parter that sees Kraken granted full Judge status, despite the fact that Dredd failed him before taking the Long Walk. John Wagner's refusal to take the simple option is great here - it would be so much easier and more obvious if Kraken was just a Judda who was plotting and scheming and pretending. But Kraken is conflicted, and does genuinely believe he's worthy of being a Judge. Wagner gives his internal monologue some gravitas here as he almost seems to be dazed, sleepwalking to his death.

Carlos Ezquerra is back and isn't flashy or too dramatic, but his depiction of Kraken preparing to inject himself with the lethal concoction is so impressive that it even makes the 2000AD cover for that Prog! It's always good to see Wagner and Ezquerra together.

But at the end of the day this is Wagner taking the lead with meticulous planning and storytelling. I've read that Wagner was possibly seeing Necropolis as his swansong with Dredd. It's not too much of a stretch to see where Wagner's head is at as he explores what Mega-City One does without Dredd. Dredd is gone, and the Justice Department seem ready to replace him very quickly with a potentially dodgy copy. It's a mark of confidence in the world-building, over a decade into Judge Dredd stories, that Wagner is comfortable to explore stories without the Lawman himself actually appearing.

A lot of the stories in this Volume are about Dredd's relationship with the City he loves. In this extended prologue, we start by exploring what happens when he's not around - and whether he can be replaced.