Judge Dredd: Underbelly sells out in 48 hours, reprint on the way

By John Freeman on January 31, 2014

Just 48 hours after it went on sale, 2000AD has announced that they are to reprint their sold-out comic book Dredd: Underbelly.

The official comic book sequel to the cult hit movie staring Karl Urban and Olivia Thirlby, Underbelly sold out from distributors even before hitting shelves on 29th January, and is set to become one of the most downloaded issues in 2000AD’s history.

Due to customer and retailer demand, the new US-format edition will be available to order through Diamond Distribution in February. It will also feature a brand new and exclusive cover commissioned from Jock – the concept and storyboard artist on the 2012 film.

Details of the new edition are expected to feature in Diamond’s Previews Plus mailer on Tuesday 11th February, with orders due in by Tuesday 18th February.

Written by Arthur Wyatt and drawn by Henry Flint, Underbelly sees Dredd and Anderson tackle a new drugs craze that has arisen since the fall of the Ma-Ma clan, but which has an even more sinister operation. The one-shot, which originally ran in three parts in the Judge Dredd Megazine, has won plaudits for bringing the world of the movie onto the comic page.

It is the first time 2000AD has ever produced its own US-format comic specifically for the direct market and with the online petition for a sequel to DREDD now standing at 92,000 names, the demand for new adventures based in the movie’s universe has never been higher.

• Get DREDD: Underbelly here: http://shop.2000adonline.com/products/digital_dredd_underbelly

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.