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In this 2000AD Christmas special, Judge Dredd entered the multiverse to fight along his cinematic counterparts – Karl Urban and Sylvester Stallone.
The lawman of the future, Judge Dredd, is no stranger to comic book crossovers. Since his 1977 debut in 2000AD #2, Dredd has crossed over with franchises such as DC’s Batman, Mars Attacks, Aliens, and Predator as well as other popular 2000AD characters. However, the character’s most recent crossover may be his most notable yet as he enters the multiverse to meet his own cinematic counterparts.
In the wake of films such as the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, the multiversal crossover has become a growing tend. Dredd gets in on the action in 2000AD #2262, a Christmas special that published the one-shot story “Trinity” (by Kenneth Neiman and Richard Elson). Here, Dredd is in pursuit of a criminal when he is pulled into an Interdimensional rift. Finding himself adrift in a pocket universe, the lawman comes face-to-face with two versions of himself from alternate realities that were the stars of two films featuring the character, Dredd and Judge Dredd.
Played by Karl Urban and Sylvester Stallone in 2017 and 1995 respectively, these are two very different interpretations of the same character. Widely regarded as one of the worst comic book adaptations ever made, Stallone’s Judge Dredd is an exercise in missing the point – a loud, messy Sylvester Stallone action movie, occasionally dressed up as a Judge Dredd adaptation, lacking any of the comics’ satirical bite. Stallone’s Dredd barely resembled the character – inventing strange new catchphrases, flouting the rules and barely wearing the helmet at all.
By comparison, Karl Urban’s Dredd was a far more respectful take on the character. Taking place in a darker, grittier version of Mega City One, Urban’s Dredd was much closer to the gruff, unbending stickler that fans have been following since 1977. While the 2017 adaptation also lacked much of 2000AD’s satire, this sci-fi action film largely gets the character right. At the very least, Urban’s Dredd consistently wears his helmet.
At a lean eleven pages, “Trinity” is a celebration of all three versions of the character. As they pursue their perp, the lawmen are forced to work together, putting aside their differences in favor of working together. Rather than battle it out in typical crossover style, the three instead trade jabs – Urban’s Dredd mocking the others’ shinier, more ostentatious outfits as the other two sneer at his bulky body armor. As the oldest and most experienced (with almost sixty-five years’ experience on the streets), the comic book version quickly takes charge. Both the he and Urban’s Dredd are quick to note their other counterpart’s eccentricities. The pair are further flabbergasted when he actually removes his helmet while apprehending a foe.
Still, “Trinity” is more than just an excuse to mock an already maligned version of the character. While the story mines humor from Stallone’s less-than faithful portrayal of the character, it treats him as an important part of Dredd heritage, repeatedly referring to him as Urban’s senior. Indeed, there’s also criticism of Urban’s version too, namely in his apparent willingness to execute surrendering enemies on the spot.
“Trinity” is a fun, smart crossover, quickly getting to the heart of what makes each version of the character tick. Where it would have been easy to spend the whole time sneering at Stallone’s Dredd, this is a warm and affectionate story which honors the Judge Dredd of every universe, even as it pokes a little good-natured fun at the silliest of them.
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