Comic Book Review - Megatropoils: Book One

Rob reviews Megatropolis: Book One...

When it comes to well-established comic book characters, taking them out of their respective worlds and placing them into an alternative universe is nothing new. Take both Marvel and DC, for example, it seems to be the norm for The Avengers or The Justice League to switch realities every other week. 

While the notion of dimension-hopping isn't new for Judge Dredd (or even the wider 2000 AD universe), restructuring its cast in a new - yet familiar way is. Borrowing themes from DC's playbook, Megatropolis is an alternative look at Mega-City One - and the wider 'Dreddverse'. With plenty of familiar faces, Kenneth Niemand takes us to the gleaming streets of Megatropolis. Taking on an art deco/steampunk/ futurist style, on the surface, Megatropolis is vastly different from the familiar face of Mega-City One. Yet delve a little deeper and you'll find political turmoil, corruption, and whispers of a vigilante dubbed Judge Dredd. 

Our focal point through this world is rookie cop Amy Jara. After taking the rap for a murder that's been covered up, Jara finds herself transferred to a new precinct. Now partnered with the grizzled Detective Joe Rico - possibly the only good badge left in the force - Jara finds herself thrown deep into the heart of this corrupted mega city. 

Meanwhile, word gets around of a mysterious masked vigilante who's targeting the criminal element of this world. Regardless of social status, if you're on the wrong side of the law the so-called "Judge Dredd" vigilante is out to judge you. When the bodies start to pile up, Rico and Jara find themselves investigating who's behind the Judge's mask. 

However, in doing so they catch the gaze of Mayor Booth, who tasks the corrupt Captain Caleb Calhoun and his Special Judicial Squad to not only eliminate the vigilante but bury Rico and Jara's investigation. However,  with District Attorney McGruder and investigative reporter Babs Hershey working diligently to expose cancer at the heart of the city, Rico and Jara have a few allies in their fight. 

Creating this epic falls on the pseudonymous shoulders of Kenneth Niemand, who's also no stranger to writing about Judge Dredd and his world. Taking inspiration from a 1930 Henderson Steamlimer motorbike, Niemand has created this world and run amok with it. There are all the familiar names and faces, yet each has a different role to play. It's written with a style that not only plays upon the reader's knowledge but also allows for its interpretations to shine through. Even the central story of finding out the vigilante's identity is often sidetracked by the overall murky-ness of Megatropolis and the vast scope of the depth of its wide cast. 

That's the beauty of Megatropolis - it makes you care for its characters. Come to the end of this opening volume and I wanted more. Not only seeing how the story continues but also seeing more of Megatropolis' past. There's plenty of depth here within the cast that Niemand could easily develop a whole branching narrative. 

Backing Kenneth Niemand up is veteran artist Dave Taylor. And like Niemand, Taylor is the perfect choice into bringing this world to life. Every panel features plenty of eye-catching detail as the artwork delves into building this wonderful world. By utilising double-page spreads, shifts in perspectives, and wide angles panoramic views, Taylor captures the vast and claustrophobic atmosphere with ease. The cast is also well designed with keeping some traits from their prime universe counterparts. Again, it's subtle fan service that also allows Taylor to add his stamp to each character. To be fair I don't think there's a dull panel across the entire book. It's that good!

Of course, the real star behind all of this is the unsung hero behind every comic book - the letterer. For Megatropolis this duty falls to Jim Campbell. Campbell's use of various fonts and speech boxes works well in giving the script its emotion. The soft - almost translucent text for quiet wispers, works in great contrast to the bold italicised spread of Hershey's broadcast. 

Megatropolis is a stunning piece of work. Not only does it feature page after page of fantastic artwork, but it also has a gripping storyline to back it all up. There's a real sense of childhood glee as Kenneth Niemand reintroduces us to a whole host of familiar characters to than places them into a massive tale of greed, and corruption all set against a 1930s backdrop. With Madame Cassandra hinting at encroaching darkness, hopefully, it won't be long before Megatropolis returns...

Rating: 10/10 

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Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev