KILL BLOOPY!

Staying true to it’s violent sci-fi roots, the Kill Bloopy arc that has spanned across 2000 AD progs 2163 through 2166 takes Judge Dredd to a wild and uniquely empathetic place in order for him to uphold the Law. Imaginary friends have become quite an issue after the Day of Chaos disaster, and the story that unfolds with Dr. Ditka and his own imagination is quite an intriguing one to say the least.

While the entire circumstance of Dredd acting as a bodyguard to appease the more superficial aspects of society outside of the Law cast the concept into questionable areas, the unwavering behavior of Dredd rings true and helps to ground the more whimsical elements of the arc. While it plays out as a mystery with Mr. Bloopy, the violent twists help to punctuate the sometimes lighthearted tone making the overall story feel well rounded.

The reveal of Mr. Ditka’s second imaginary friend gone rogue turns the narrative into a thriller that may not be the most original in terms of development, but the places it takes Dredd capture something unique. There is even a comment from another Judge saying empathy and psych-manipulation isn’t something that most expect out of Dredd. It’s a bit on the nose, but it drives home the effectiveness of the story’s ability to take the character somewhere new.

The visuals are a dramatic shift from the previous arc, but the near-cartoonish flair and over the top brutality accompanies the themes of the story quite well. The epic landscapes and dark twists allow the artists to not only show off some truly awesome imagery with Judge Dredd, but also the curious state of Mega-City One’s residents as well. The Kill Bloopy arc looks about as whimsical as it sounds, but it doesn’t lose track of a core vision of the iconic character.

Progs 2163-2166 might not be the most revolutionary story for Dredd in terms of consequence, but the internal insight makes for a worthwhile reading experience. Coupled with some fantastic artwork that delivers plenty of sci-fi violence, the story proves to certainly be worth your money. The haunting inclusion of the possibility of an imaginary Walter would have been a lot of fun to explore in these progs, but the cliffhanger shows that this won’t be the last we hear of such a possibility. It makes for an emotional finish that sends the story off in an exciting way for longtime fans.