Best place to start Judge Dredd?

[J.]

I've decided to jump into Judge Dredd, a series that's been far too intimidating up to this point. I think I'm going to get Volume 5 first, and go from there, but I though I would offer up my search to the community and see what you guys think!

Let me know which collected edition would make the best starting point.

[Daniel]

I'm also pretty interested in this - anyone?

[J.]

Honestly, after checking out a few lists online, everybody seems to recommend Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 05. I'm about half way through it, and I'm very impressed so far. It's a solid introduction to the character of Dredd, and the universe he lives in, and the artwork is solid. Also has some absolute classic lines and scenes. I posted my favorite so far here. Let me know if you find an alternative recommendation, but I'd start there for sure.

[Austin]

I bought the complete case files 2 while back and have been meaning to get case files 1 and start there, but i cant find it in my local stores and i have the next week off work and want to do some reading then so i dont have time to order it online. So my question is, is case files 2 an ok starting point. I dont want to be missing anything if I skip case files 1. I have a very basic understanding of Judge Dredd from the movie, which i loved. Is that enough tho.

[Eric]

All the case files are in stock at book depository yo.

[Ross]

@Austin I'm rather biased on this as I read 2000AD as a child so have great affection for the earlier stories.
Vol 1 of case files has some good stories, but the strip was just finding its way really. The Moon Marshall ones are great for a lot of Bolland art.
Vol 2, has mainly Cursed Earth and Judge Cal, and I think is worth a read. The two stories are pivotal early work.
Vol 3 I've not read, but are mainly ones which developed JD and Mega City on the run up to vol4 which would have Judge Child- which I always loved, and helps with later stories and characters- like Mean Machine, Fink, City of the Damned.
So I'd start a newbie at vol 4, I think, vol 2 if you were a purest

[Austin]

I went ahead and started vol 2. I'm halfway through, on the last issue of the cursed earth. I'm loving it! Really glad I got this. The only thing is I'm missing out on mega city 1 cause there in the cursed earth the whole time I've been reading. But u can get a good idea about mega city 1 just from judge dredd and how he is written. Im becoming a dredd fan. After this I'm getting vol 3 and 4 then onto 5, which everyone says is a great book.

[Brandon]

I know this isn't what your asking but IDW has relaunched Dredd and are using the current 2000AD creative team to do it. I didn't evneknow the comic was still around but, apparently it is,and they know how to write Dredd. I've read the first comic 'Judge Dredd; Year one' and enjoyed it giving it 4 stars. It definitely is in the vein of the 2000AD stories but in full color and with longer more involving stories. Mega-city one is also rendered well by the artistic team which is something that was missing from so many other variations. I enjoyed it very much and this from a man who spent his childhood collecting the original 2000AD comics. I would advise any Dredd fan to give them a look see.

[Damon]

Start reading at the very beginning and work your way up to now. (Obviously)