Review by Luke Williams
Rebellion and Tharg are getting good with this merchandising thing. 2000AD used to be known as the comic that grew up with its audience. Now, it’s financial aspirations have grown with its audience’s bank balance.
This Jock designed 1/4 scale, half a metre tall Judge Dredd statue was first announced in May last year, pre-orders being taken a month later for the princely sum of £399.99. (There was a 25% discount for 2000AD subscribers – so your scribe saved £100). It’s finally arrived after being delayed for over six months. After much deliberation I forked over the readies just before the cut off date for orders, last August, and then (mainly) forgot about it.
On arrival, it’s enormous, the box is positively monolithic. Mrs Williams had a pained look on her face while the box occupied a large portion of living room for a few days until I found the time to unpack it and assemble Old Stoney Face. This pained expression, turned to a grimace once I told her how much (of my) money I had paid for this 3D monument to John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra’s creation.
Frostiness endured, I began unpacking. Thankfully, he didn’t take too long to put together. I’m not sure if there were instructions, or I just couldn’t find them or that I have too much testosterone and middle aged man syndrome to read them anyway. Finding a large enough space to do it was one thing, let alone working out where to store him later. Perhaps the latter consideration should have been made pre-purchase.
Opening the box, like something out of Raiders Of The Lost Ark I found it was beautifully and safely packed in foam and tissue paper. I almost missed the Jock print that came with the statue, and was careful to ensure that I retrieved all the parts from the nooks and crannies of the packaging. Proceeding as I was without instruction or direction, I found I it was pretty obvious where everything went, although I did have a little trouble with a piece of jaw bone (pretty grisly) and Dredd’s nightstick. Locating these took a few minutes: perhaps I was having a bad night.
Parts and components are held in place by pegs and magnets and fit firmly and comfortably, though occasionally I know Lawgiver hand off as I brush past. Speaking of which, there are switched out hands for option of Lawgiver in hand and daystick on belt, or Lawgiver in holster or daystick in hand. Shell casings are the only parts that are not secured, so they are staying safely in the bag….
Assembly takes, at most half an hour, probably shorter if you haven’t got hands like feet like me. The completed statue is certainly impressive. Lots of detail, and constructed robustly. Some figures and statues of 2000AD characters have been impressive to look at, but have but feel fragile (I’m looking at you, 3A figures). This is beautifully made, exudes menace, right down to that famous jaw and the threat of the daystick (or Lawgiver, depending on your preference).
Nice touches include the fact this isn’t a clean, neat and tidy Dredd: he’s battle scarred and battered damages to his uniform, just coming from a fight and still looking for trouble. You know, proper Dredd.
There are two issues with it. The first is location. This thing is huge, It’s currently taking up residence on my workspace at home. Luckily I’m not working from home much lately, but long term it’s going to have to go somewhere I can display it, but safe from our dogs and their zoomies. Equally luckily, it’s not an object you can just tap or nudge off whatever substantial surface are you place it on, this is 10kg+ lump of Dredd geek heaven.
This second thing is, now that’ve bought it, what do I do with it? £300 worth of almost teenage anticipation turned into an impressive, but impractical, dust catcher, until I get a case, obviously. What now?
Hmm… Hiya Toys have a Rogue Trooper figure coming out next year…
Luke Williams
• This Limited-Edition Judge Dredd 2000AD Statue by Jock is has sold out, but if you subscribe to the 2000AD newsletter you can make sure you don’t miss out on future releases
• Click here to find out more about 2000AD subscriptions or download the 2000 AD app
• Hiya Toys Rogue Trooper Figure (Forbidden Planet Affiliate Link)
Bred for war, a legend forged in the poisoned wastelands of Nu Earth, he is the Rogue Trooper, now available as a 1/12 scale action figure from Hiya Toys.
This hyper-detailed figure features four pairs of interchangeable hands, two alternate faces and a host of accessories. Rogue Trooper’s iconic rifle, helmet and backpack are included, giving fans their very own Helm, Gunnar and Bagman to take home, complete with bullet firing effect and muzzle smoke effect. Extras also include a robotic arm, dagger and two grenades.
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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: 2000AD, British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comics, Features, Merchandise, Other Worlds, Reviews
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