Since “The American Way of Death” story arc has been running the last couple of issues, we have been given a true treat with the reintroduction of the Dark Judges. They are dead and morbid creatures who excel at bringing their perverted brand of justice to its fullest extent. They have wiped out Sector 1 and the whole of Meg City One stands at their mercy, quarantine or not. It’s been pretty damn awesome I must say. But now after all this destruction, we have some hope. Judge Dredd and a convict named Pachoda who happens to be in the body of a corrupted Judge Harvees, have traveled from the Saturn moon of Titan and they, along with a small handful of Judges are all that stands in the way of this dark destruction. Can they stop it? Will they stop it? Who knows? We still have one more part to see. But here in the third installment of the story, we know that as is the case with Dredd, he is going to do everything above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that His city is safe. Of course, there is the unfortunate circumstance that Dredd is an escaped convict himself and is stuck between the Dark Judges and the regular judges as the whole city hangs in the balance. No pressure man. No pressure at all.

This arc written by Duane Swierczynski and drawn by Nelson Daniel continues to build on that nice wave of momentum that began really around the “13 Badges” arc. Swierczynski and Daniel have found a rock solid groove and are really becoming a formidable duo in depicting this classic comic icon. It just keeps getting better and better and better.

I can’t really say anything bad about this issue as it hits so many great elements. We get the action of course. Dredd and Dark Judges…You know it is going to be action packed. Then, we get some humor as well with the Pachoda and Harvees side story as well as some of the Dark Judges themselves.  In spite of their disgustingness, Swierczynski writes them with a swagger and cockiness that works well in the story as they match on to Dredd and his swagger and cockiness. It spells for good fun and fast page turning.

With Daniel, he continues to nail the Dark Judges, both old and new in is renderings. He also adds a nice level of intensity to his art that works well with Swierczynski’s writing. Both guys have great chemistry together that is gelling at just the right time.

The only thing bad that I can say about this issue is that the arc is almost over. These guys have had such a great run, I just hate to think that it will end. I have no idea where they might go once this one wraps. I know though that I am pulling for them as they have really allowed me to get to know one of my all time favorite comic characters again. Keep it up guys. You are rocking it.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Duane Swierczynski Artist: Nelson Daniel Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 5/14/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital