Just nine Galactic Groats on Venus...

In 2002, Big Finish, a company known for their production of audio dramas featuring Doctor Who, expanded their line to include a new range called 2000AD Presents. Big Finish's experience with these "radio plays on CD" combined with 2000AD's owners Rebellion willingness to try a new medium brought two of the comic's best-known heroes to life. Judge Dredd, Mega-City One's toughest cop, was joined by Strontium Dog, mutant search/destroy agent Johnny Alpha, for a series of full-cast audio stories.

I've always had a hankering to do radio - I used to record my own audio stories as a kid, using my friends and a BBC sci-fi sound effects tape - and I approached Big Finish's line producer John Ainsworth with a few ideas. After a couple of near-misses, John offered me a story premise to develop he called "Boom Train", placing Dredd in a Die Hard-style dilemma on a high-speed train; John also wanted to tell the story in real time during the sixty minute play, in a similar way to episodes of the espionage series 24. I loved the idea of a runaway train adventure and plot for Dreddline spun out from this initial concept.

As a long-time 2000AD reader, it was a pleasure to write for Judge Dredd and I did my best to insert a few nods toward the rich backstory created by comics over the years; I also scattered plenty of in-jokes and references to other media for the sharp-eared listener to find.

JUDGE DREDD: DREDDLINE

As reccomended by Sci-Find and Dreamwatch magazine. To read some reviewer comments, Click Here.

It seems like a simple assignment for Judge Dredd; extradite the notorious safecracker Bax Philo from Brit-Cit custody and return him to Mega-City One. On the Silver Sixty Express Zoom Train, the trip takes just one hour - but Dredd is about to discover that this will be the longest journey of his life!

Someone on board the Silver Sixty is looking for revenge, and Dredd is in the firing line. When a group of armed terrorists take over the train, the lives of the passengers hang in the balance - and as time runs out, only Judge Dredd can stand against a gang of armed killers intent on mayhem and murder!

With the Zoom Train on a collision course with nuclear oblivion, Dredd and Philo must race against the clock to stop a threat that could wipe out millions of lives! With no weapons, no brakes and no way out, things are about to off the rails...

Judge Dredd: Dreddline is produced by Big Finish Productions, but currently out of press.

Read "Off The Rails!", a behind-the-scenes feature on the making of Judge Dredd: Dreddline Here.

Check out the definitive listing of all the in-jokes and references in this script Here.
(Includes Spoilers!) 

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© J.Swallow, 2002. All images © their original copyright holders.

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