Review of Judge Dredd's Lawmaster
Action Figure Vehicle

Introduction

Last week, I checked out the new 2000AD Judge Dredd figure from 3A, based on the original designs of the figure from the classic comics.  Dredd isn't Dredd without some key items, like the Lawgiver and, of course, the Lawmaster.  3A is producing a Lawmaster as well, and you can pick it up individually or with the regular Dredd figure.

As a fan you know that Mezco is also doing a series, based on the later comic art. They've done their own Lawmaster, and comparisons are inevitable. I'll be addressing the pros and cons of both throughout this review.

You can pick up the set for around $170 - $180, depending on the retailer, or just go for the Lawmaster by itself for around $110 - $120.  These just started shipping to retailers around the world this week, so they should be on your door step any day.

Packaging - ****
The Lawmaster is all one piece inside the box, and 3A wisely used a VERY high quality foam insert to keep it safe and cushioned.  The foam is made up of several layers, each slipping down around the bike itself. It's a very safe way to pack it, although it can't be a cheap option.

It's also completely collector friendly, and I'm loving the black and white graphics on the exterior. It's worth noting that if you buy the set, they still come individually packaged.

Sculpting - ***1/2
This magnificent ride is just short of 10" long, with a highly detailed sculpt. There's a variety of textures, and a good use of multiple materials, from the clear plastic lens on the head lights to the soft rubber tires. Thanks to those super wide tires, the bike stands perfectly on its own, with or without a rider, with no need for a kickstand or other support.

Fans of this style will be very pleased, and the Lawmaster design goes perfectly with their Dredd design. However, there's no doubt the Lawmaster is small, probably by at least 30%. I've included some shots with the Mezco version, and you can see the huge difference. It's important to note that the Mezco Dredd is slightly bigger than the 3A version - there's at least 3/8" difference in height, and the Mezco is a much bulkier design overall. That makes the Mezco Lawmaster slightly too big for the 3A Dredd as well, and this version should have been somewhere in between what we got, and the larger Mezco vehicle. I've included some comparison photos down further in the review, and I'll point them out when we get there.

The Dredd figure sits nicely on the bike, holding the handlebars and with his feet resting properly. You can *just* get his butt down on the seat, but it tends to ride up slightly. That's due less to the articulation and more to the tight outfit, skinny butt and thighs on the figure, and the angle of the hips.  Play around with it a bit, particularly with how wide you set the knees, and you should be able to get a realistic pose.

I also wanted to point out something on the figure at this point that I didn't mention in the earlier review. The legs and arms CAN pop off the ball joints, but they just pop right back on.  I didn't have the issue when I was writing the original review, but when I was working on the more extreme bike poses, I found myself popping the limbs loose on occasion. Don't flip out if one comes off when you're working with it, simply press it back in place carefully.

My only other complaint (other than scale) is with the front headlight/computer terminal between the handlebars.  Mine isn't attached as straight as it should be, and it's glued in place. Hopefully it won't be a consistent issue.

Paint - ****
The textured paint work looks terrific, and the weathering and aging has been applied generously here. This gives the vehicle a rough, industrial, mechanical feel, rather than a high tech cleanliness, and it fits the character and comic atmosphere perfectly.

I particularly like the work on the eagle up front, but the dirty, grimy look on the engine parts looks great as well. If I had one complaint, I think the panel on the terminal could be a tad more detailed, but it's a tremendously minor nit, and certainly not something that would pull down the score on an overall fantastic paint job.

Articulation - ***
This isn't a figure, but there's still some moving parts.  The wheels roll effortlessly, and with the wide, flat tread, can remain upright easily as you shoot Dredd across the floor.

The front tire assembly also turns, but not too deeply. It's enough to get some jaunty poses, but not enough to topple the bike.

Accessories - Bupkis
I mention this only because the Mezco Lawmaster included a couple extras. Nothing here, but I won't be deducting for it because it meets my expectation.

Light Feature - ***1/2
There are two separate light features with separate battery compartments and switches. Batteries are not included, and you will need 6 (not included, and not the 7 the outside of the box claims) AG1 cells, or 364's here in the States.

The first is the large terminal/center head light, that rests between the handlebars. You remove the top of this 'box' to insert the two batteries and find the small switch. The single switch controls the light both back and front.  In early photos, the headlight seemed to look very circular behind a rectangular cover, and while the bulb is certainly shaped that way, the light is much more diffuse and even in person.  Photos will still make it appear brighter in the middle than at the edges, but in hand it looks much, much better.

The other light feature is the four front headlights. This time, the batteries go in the smaller box, located just below the large front center headlight. The batteries (four here) are a little tricky to get in place, and I'm always annoyed when I have to remove a cover every time I want to turn on or off a feature, but the nits are minor.

All five lights are very bright, very sharp, and look terrific. Working with them initially is a smidge annoying, but overall it's a great light feature. Mezco does have them beat, with not only nine total lights but sound features as well, all activated by easy to reach, sculpted buttons.  But the 3A version is still well above average quality and looks terrific when illuminated.

Fun Factor - ****
While there's a few nits - the most critical of which is the scale - the overall result is still a lot of fun.  The vehicle is easy to work with, very sturdy, and works great with the figure.

In the photo below, you'll see the Mezco Lawmaster on the left, the 3A on the right.

Value - Just the Lawmaster, **
If you shop around, you should be able to get the vehicle for around $110, maybe $115. That's $10 - $15 cheaper than the Mezco version, but that release had more lights AND included sounds. Shave this one down to around $100, and you can add another half star.

In the next photo you'll see the two together again, this time with the 3A Lawmaster in front.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.  It's a sturdy, well made vehicle, with little worry of breakage or damage with normal handling.

In the next photo, you see the 3A Dredd riding the 3A Lawmaster...

And for comparison, the next photo shows the 3A Dredd riding the Mezco Lawmaster.

Overall - ***1/2
The 3A Lawmaster is a terrific looking vehicle, and it the light feature works great.  The paint work is excellent, and the overall build quality leaves little concern around breakage or handling. Unfortunately, there's one big issue - scale.  It's clearly too small, but whether or not it's a deal breaker is going to be a personal preference issue. The MK1 was a smaller bike than the later version that Mezco mirrored, so the discrepancy isn't as great as it might seem when showing the two side by side.  But I still think this release could have used a little more size, to create a more impressive combination with the figure.

I don't think too many die hard fans will be disappointed with it in hand, however. Add in a few more judges - Judge Death is already out, with Judge Mortis and Judge Fear right around the corner - and you'll have one Hell of a great display.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ****
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ****
Articulation - ***
Accessories - Bupkis
Light Feature - ***1/2
Fun Factor - ****
Value - **
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth has the Lawmaster by itself for $120.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
As I mentioned, I covered the 3A Dredd just last week. I've also looked at several of the Mezco releases, including the black and white NYCC exclusive and the previews exclusive blue version with the Lawmaster. Other Dredd merchandise includes the PCS Judge Dredd statue, and their Judge Death statue.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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