Judge Dredd: Muzak Killer

by Garth Ennis, Dermot Power

Muzak Killer is a razor-sharp pop culture satire from the pen of Garth Ennis (Preacher), illustrated by acclaimed artists Dermot Power and John Burns. When Mega-City One's muzak stars fall prey to a deadly killer, Dredd must act to save muzak from the harshest critic of all - one who will stop at nothing to wipe out cheesy pop! But a good critic never lays down and dies - and Dredd must defeat him again in a return battle which really is the last Word! This collection also includes 'Teddy Choppermitz', the touching tale of a robot-gone-wrong, and 'Raider', an all-action tale of a Judge-gone-wrong - both of whom have to answer to Dredd!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Ennis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.

Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.

Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.

Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.

While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.

Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.

After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.

In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.

Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.

In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.

In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection collects Muzak Killer and its sequel Muzak Killer Live! from progs 746-748 and 837-839 respectively. Also included here are the vigilante fuelled Raider 810-814 and the one off film spoof Teddy Choppermitz from prog 760.

The entire book is from the seething pen of Garth Ennis in wonderful hard hitting and no holds barred form. Muzak Killer and its sequel are Ennis at his biting best satirizing the popular music industry and it has to be said its critics at the same time. Written in the early 90s it's still as fresh a decade later and its targets are nailed to the wall all the more firmly because of it. Cheesy pop never dies they say, well the same is true for good writing.

I was also extremely impressed by Dermot Powers superb artwork. John Burns illustrates Raider pretty handily too.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't impressed by this collection. I stopped getting 2000AD weekly just after prog 500 so this was the first time I'd read these stories. Even though they were written by Garth Ennis I didn't think the stories were anything special.

The best parts of 'Muzak Killer' & 'Muzak Killer: Live' were spotting the analogues in the story for crappy-poppy UK music 'stars' of the late 80s/early 90s particularly the Stock Aitken Waterman 'Hit Factory' and the Australian soap stars.

Raider was the only saving grace in a solid, interesting story about an ex-Judge turned vigilante with some flashbacks to his shared Academy dats with Judge Dredd.

Johnny Choppermitz - no comment!!

[Krystl Louwagie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Ennis's best writing, to be sure-the storyline of the Muzak killer reminded me of a bad, but much more violent, episode of JEM. Some interesting small bits here and there, but no interesting plot or characters. However, the story with the retired Judge and even their version of Edward Scissorhands, had more plot and feeling to them, and let me see a bit more potential. Still, what a weird way to make a comic-Judd Dredd gets hardly any face time.

[Timo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garth Ennis is getting better the further his career with Judge Dredd goes. This collection has some real gems, mostly those six episodes of the Muzak Killer-saga. Or then I just might think something in the lines of the Killer himself.
And the art! Oh, so beautiful.

Timo

[Gary Pryke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've never really read any of Judge Dredd before and wasn't really impressed. I love Garth Ennis' Preacher but this just didn't grab me at all. I'm guessing it's just not a great one to start on because I know Dredd is hugely popular.

[Ste H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good early story by Garth Ennis.