**AS ALWAYS BE MINDFUL THAT THERE WILL BE SLIGHT SPOILERS, READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL!!**

Judge Dredd #24
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Nelson Daniel
Reviewer: Ray “But I can’t say ‘Sylvester’…” Willis

The finale of the Black Light District is here, with Judge Dredd facing down the Dark Judges in this conclusion.  We also get to see what happens in between the different sectors and what going on the moon with the council of five who have been prisoners of three former judges.

I really enjoyed this what  Duane Swierczynski has been doing with this arc. Showing the various sides of the stories from Dredd jumping into the ooze and hm landing somewhere three months later. Swierczynski has also built up the “Dark Judges” and has added more of them to the mix with Dark Judges Dig, Metastasis, etc. The writing is well done and shows the various sides of the characters, especially Anderson when Dredd keeps going through the ooze and being alone for so long makes her depressed. She even goes into a meditative state to escape the loneliness of Dredds mind. Also seeing the paranoia get to Judge Cal and him making a decision that will tie into the next issue is going to be interesting to see. The art by Nelson Daniel, really sets the tone of what’s happening in the various districts and the violence that comes from it. The Dark Judges always look menacing and all the characters work really standout. When Anderson is alone in Dredds mind, you can see the malnourished look on her face.

I really did not find anything wrong with this issue except for it being very drawn out with the Dark Judges and seeing less time with Council of five of the moon. Also seeing Dredd go back and forth between the ooze just to get the fabled exorcist rounds could have been done in this issue earlier. Overall this is a really good issue and only minor complaints to it but I cannot wait for the next arc dealing with Dredd as a fugitive.

4 out of 5 Dark Judges

Justice League #35
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Doug Mahnke
Reviewer: Oz Longworth Jr., Second of His Name

When DC first relaunched their universe a few years ago, Justice League was the first book I scoffed at. Even now, in retrospect, the first volume was a complete mess. When it comes to retooling characters, the sad truth is that DC only knows how to either a). make them unlikeable or b). rip off Marvel. However, as time has gone on, Geoff Johns has really gotten to a place with his Justice League tenure in the New 52 where he seems to be able to stretch his legs and really take his rebooted creations for a spin.

Issue 35 continues to look at the alleged Redemption of Lex Luthor. And man, is he ever riding this second chance for all it’s worth. It seems Lex is making good on his promise to be a boon to mankind so far, but the League is still less than trusting of their former foe. When Justice League #1 first dropped, I absolutely loathed how the first issue of what should be DC’s flagship book was just 25+ pages of Batman and Green Lantern smartassing each other. Fast forward a few years later and this issue, basically consisting of Batman and Lex looking over their shoulders and throwing shade while shaking hands for the public, was deliciously entertaining. Johns’ voice for Lex is almost on par with Grant Morrison’s (which, in my humble opinion, wrote one of the most memorable versions EVER) from Action Comics and All Star Superman. There are a couple of hanging plotlines held over from last issue that go completely unmentioned, but there’s enough of a look at what Lex to make for an interesting read, so you really end up not minding. Doug Mahnke returns to pencil duty and gives a mainly good looking book. There are a couple of panels where the facial expressions are questionable, but not so much that it takes away from the narrative.

Bottom Line: A well drawn, evenly paced installment in the ongoing chess game between Batman and Lex. Pretty good. 4 out of 5

Daredevil #9
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Chris Samnee
Reviewer: John “He’s not a betting man” Amenta

Matt Murdock’s life hasn’t become less complicated since his public outing as Daredevil and his self imposed exile to San Francisco. Oh no,if Matt suddenly had it easy, half of the fun of reading this series would be out the window. Is there a hero that has suffered more? I think it would be tough to come up with one.

This issue picks up where the last left us, the Purple Man has collected his illegitimate children from their homes,and has started a new family. Problem is, these kids have more powerful versions of daddy’s hyper persuasion powers,and make him walk in front of a freight train. As this issue opens, the newly emancipated group of kids are cutting a swath of mayhem through the streets of S.F.

Matt is out to breakfast with his new law partner Kirsten, and old law partner Foggy, who is faking his death with a bad fat suit. This all ties into the last volume of the series in which Foggy was diagnosed with cancer. Now that Matt has admitted that he is DD, Foggy is playing possum for his personal safety,in fear of super villains coming after him to get to Matt. Matt has recently been offered a book deal for an autobiography,and is mulling it over when chaos,in the form of the Purple Children erupts, and DD is needed to save the day.

This series has done a good job through the first 9 issues of carrying over plot strands from the previous volume, yet building enough to differentiate this one. Mark Waid took a book that for a long time was one of the darkest books in the Marvel U and infused it with some needed lightheartedness, but not at the expense of maintaining a serious tone overall.

Chris Samnee’s art is fantastic. Clean lines are a plus, but he is a master of kinetic action scenes, and brilliant page design, check out the 10 panel design on page 19 and you’ll see what I mean.

In a time when Wolverine is dying, Thor is now a woman, and there is a new Captain America, don’t forget about Daredevil, still the same guy under the mask, still the same high quality book that’s been going for many years now.

5 of 5 Stars