Judge Dredd Becomes The First Graphic Novel For World Book Night

On April 23, Judge Dredd: Judge Death will be handed out as part of the annual World Book Night. It will be the first graphic novel ever so recognized. "It's good to see it, as in too many quarters the comic strip is regarded as an inferior medium," said Dredd co-creator John Wagner in an interview with SciFi Now. "I see it as a bridge between the book and film. There's nothing in either form that can't be done in comics." Judge Death and the Dark Judges first appeared in the 1980 three-parter, which featured art by Judge Dredd legend and Batman: The Killing Joke artist Brian Bolland. "As in much fiction, the first is the best," Wagner said. "Although there have been some excellent follow-ups, Brian's work - and the simplicity of the first story - has never been beaten." Nevertheless, Wagner will attempt to equal it later in 2013, as the Dark Judges return in force in a story that will feature Wagner writing for Greg Staples. "Their tales have tended to run to a formula that has become rather tired," the writer said. "Dredd always won, so Death and the others would turn up, cause havoc, but in the end be defeated. They'd become a bit of a music hall turn. This will be a darker story, and don't be sure of the outcome."