Review by Karl Verhoven

With at least one new Judge Dredd strip appearing every week by a variety of writers, plots can simmer for an extended period before coming to a resolution. Some John Wagner Dredd collections gather stories originating over a period of years ,gradually building into something bigger. That’s the case for Regicide, where forensic accountant Judge Barbara Maitland is determined to bring down the La Reine Rouge organised crime syndicate, while their activities have also attracted Judge Dredd’s attention, not least because they have cloned the deadly Orlok.

At times there’s something of both Carlos Ezquerra and Mike McMahon about the way Jake Lynch illustrates Mega-City One and the Judges inhabiting it, but mixed with disconcertingly thin and angular figures who’re strangely posed. However, ask him to draw a giant cyborg ape hanging from a ship’s mast as per the sample art, and you’ll get one memorably spectacular image, and for most people that will be the priority.

Action ingredients over the opening encounter include the aforementioned giant cyborg ape, the Orlok clone and a boat chase through the Mediterranean, but Arthur Wyatt never pulls the plot away from predictability, and it’s only rarely that Dredd’s personality emerges. Most of the time he could be replaced by any action hero. His comment of “You’re under arrest” in the most disadvantageous circumstances plays well, though.

Regicide only really sparks into life halfway through when Rob Williams comes aboard as co-writer, and the attention shifts to a crack team of assassins targeting Maitland. Lynch provides the threats well, now also looking to Cam Kennedy for inspiration, and he makes the most of the dangerous environment Dredd and Maitland find themselves in. It’s unknown if Williams or Wyatt is responsible for Mech-Judges spouting nonsense like “Linear time is fabricated! Only the rotating cube of truth can educate you!”, but whichever of them is, it’s funny. They keep the threats coming, and keep them creative, and the thrill power is well and truly elevated.

It’s back to Wyatt solo for the remaining content, which is again ordinary. Ian Richardson draws Dredd dealing with a corrupt unit aiding the Red Queen and her syndicate, but again, it doesn’t grab the attention. The final shorter inclusion wraps everything up, and is less predictable and better for having Lynch back on the art. It’s also more inventive, giving Dredd some good moments, and having hubris as the definition of downfall. Wyatt leaves the door very slightly open for a follow-up, but unless he can come up with a spectacular story for an Orlok clone he’d be better leaving well enough alone.

There’s just about enough here with Lynch on form to rate Regicide higher than average, but it’s far from the greatest Judge Dredd graphic novel.