Judge Dredd fans do not want to miss out on the all-new Anthrax: Among the Living graphic novel from Z2 Comics, on general release from 19th August, but available from comic shops now, featuring stories and art from a huge range of top draw talent.

It includes a 2000AD-approved 13-page “Judge Dredd” story written by the band’s Scott Ian, a longtime fan of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with art by Chris Weston, offering a peek at a possible final demise for old Joe.

Since the first announcement of the Among the Living graphic novel inspired by the titans of thrash metal’s landmark 1987 album, the project has remained one of the most anticipated releases of the year.

Released in comic stores last month, in an effort to support the comic book specialty market, which had been hardest by the COVID-19 health crisis of the past year, Anthrax and Z2 even shipped a surprise limited number of copies early.

The project pulls together a who’s who of names from around comics and music for a track-by-track storyline inspired by one of heavy metal’s most iconic albums with all four members of the classic Anthrax lineup contributing.

“I grew up with Marvel and DC, they were part of my life from the time I was four or five years old,” said Anthrax’s Charlie Benante. “My mom worked at Primrose Bakery on Tremont Ave. in New York, and when I’d go to work with her, I’d sit in the back with the bakers. I’d read and draw the superheroes from the comics she would buy for me from this little shop just a couple of doors down. I’ve loved everything about comic books and the neighbourhood comic book shops ever since.”

An anthology narrated by longtime mascot “The Not Man” newly designed by Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead) and written by Jimmy Palmiotti (Harley Quinn, Blondie: Against the Odds) and illustrated by classic Aliens artist Nelson, Among the Living unites bandmembers Joey Belladonna, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante and Scott Ian with writers, artists, and other rock legends in a tribute to their landmark 1987 album, featuring covers by JG Jones and Eric Powell.

The Judge Dredd preorder variant with a cover by Charlie Benante is only available for pre-order from Z2 Comics, in both hardcover and softcover editions.

Additional interior art and chapter breaks by Sawblade, Brian Ewing, and Josh Bernstein.

The Judge Dredd strip, published in full colour, is inspired by the track “I Am the Law”, and features some of the most detailed “Judge Dredd” art Chris has ever done, and he recently shared some of the pages in black and white on his social media…

The Dredd variant cover aand strip look terrific, but so does the EC Comics inspired variant, offered with t-shirt in varying sizes, with a simply stunning cover by Eric Powell!

Anthrax’s landmark 1987 album influenced an entire generation of metalheads, cementing the New York band’s place in the Big 4 of Thrash alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer. The first in a string of certified-GOLD Anthrax albums amounting to millions of records sold in North America alone, Among the Living ranks high in The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time (Rolling Stone), The 50 Best Metal Albums of the Last 50 Years (Metal Hammer), and The 25 Greatest Thrash Metal Albums Ever (Kerrang!).

As recently as March 2020, Loudwire noted that the Decibel Hall of Fame inductee is “now widely regarded as one of the best thrash metal albums of all-time.”

• Check it out here on the Z2 official site

• Buy the paperback edition from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

The full lineup:

1 – Among the Living
Writer: Brian Posehn
Artist: Scott Koblish and Alladin Collar

2 – Caught in a Mosh
Writer: Gerard and Mikey Way
Artist: Darick Robertson, Phillip Sevy and Alladin Collar

3 – I Am the Law (featuring Judge Dredd)
Writer: Scott Ian
Artist: Chris Weston and Alladin Collar

4 – Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
Writer: Rick Remender and Joe Trohman
Artist: Roland Boschi and Dan Brown

5 – A Skeleton in the Closet
Writer: Corey Taylor
Artist: Maan House

6 – Indians
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Freddie Williams II and Andrew Dalhouse

7 – One World
Writer: Frank Bello
Artist: Andy Belanger and Tatto Caballero

8 – A.D.I./Horror of It All
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Dave Johnson

9 – Imitation of Life
Writer: Rob Zombie
Artist: Erik Rodriguez and Steve Chanks

• Check Anthrax: Among the Living out here on the Z2 official site

• Buy the paperback edition from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

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.

Categories: Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, US Comics

Tags: Among the Living, Anthrax, Chris Weston, Judge Dredd, Music, Z2 Comics