The Hunting Party

Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #41

by John Wagner, Henry Flint (artist), Sean Phillips (artist)

When a ravenous pack of Dune Sharks - the flying carnivores that Dredd encountered on the planet Hestia - launch an assault on Mega-City One, it's a threat the lawman takes seriously. Somehow, the creatures have made the Cursed Earth their territory - and he must lead a squad of cadets into this most dangerous of terrains to find out how they ended up on Earth, and wipe them out! High Octane action from writer John Wagner (A History of Violence) and a stunning line-up of artists, including Henry Flint (Shakara), Sean Phillips (Fatale), Trevor Hairsine (Cla$$war), Peter Doherty (Young Death) and more.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction

Hardcover

Published June 1, 2017

About the author

John Wagner is a comics writer who was born in Pennsylvania in 1949 and moved to Scotland as a boy. Alongside Pat Mills, Wagner was responsible for revitalising British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has continued to be a leading light in British comics ever since. He is best known for his work on 2000 AD, for which he created Judge Dredd. He is noted for his taut, violent thrillers and his black humour. Among his pseudonyms are The best known are John Howard, T.B. Grover, Mike Stott, Keef Ripley, Rick Clark and Brian Skuter. (Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Philip Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection starts with an attack on Mega City One by a pack of alien flying sharks, sweeping in from the irradiated wastelands of the Cursed Earth. Your reaction to this scenario will largely determine your enjoyment of the book. Frankly speaking, I thought it was FREAKING AWESOME! I mean, come on, carnivorous Dune Sharks! Judge Dredd leads a posse of rookie Judges to track them to their den, through the weird and wonderful Cursed Earth.

I love stories set in the Cursed Earth. It's a sandpit (literally) for the writers and artists to outdo themselves with odd, violent satirical shenanigans. The artwork is variable but there's lots of lovely Henry Flint stuff (he gives good gore). The follow up story "Rat Fink" is a bleak little gem, also set in the same desolate post-apocalyptic desert. If the Hills Have Eyes, the Cursed Earth hills have mutant cannibal scavengers. It really is marvellous fun.

[Johnny Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the cursed earth stuff as you just never know what to expect and this showcases it all. However it does follow a simple run, dune sharks attacking the Big Meg, Justice Department want to know why so Judge Dredd, DeMarco and some cadets go on a bizarre hot dog run which involves, cannibals, giant spiders and off course the flying eating machines-dune sharks.
Finally we finish off with a tale from an Angel gang, well you cannae enter the cursed earth without a peek into them deranged lunatics.
Time for Dredd to meet Ratfink!

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cursed Earth anthology that pits Dredd against a variety of foes from Dune Sharks to Cannibals to Worshippers of spider gods and redneck mutant Ratfink Angel. It's good solid Dredd if a bit two dimensional. Artwork's a mixed bag but I was pretty impressed with Callum Alexander Watt's bold, bright style on the time-travel story Fog on the Eerie. Over all this one is pretty middle of the road for Dredd tales - there's nothing drastically bad here but equally nothing that particularly stands out.

[Chris Browning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blimey the late nineties were grim for comic artists weren’t they? The plot is fine, if a little tired - and Wagner seems to be doing what he did with other, early aborted epics and giving up at some point - with a slightly weary solution. But only Flint acquits himself as an artist. The rest feels like bad portfolio attempts by potentially good artists who have for some mad reason been given assignments on the actual prog. Not great

[Al No · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cursed Earth revisited. Featuring the Dune Sharks from Wilderland (later seen in TV’s Doctor Who’s Planet of the Dead). Wagner coasts a bit in places, but the art’s, mostly, fine. Peter Doherty’s stuff’s a treat.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back to the Cursed Earth.