In which publication did Judge Dredd first appear?

Judge Dredd first appeared in the British anthology comic 2000 AD, in Prog 2, published in 1977.

The character is a law-enforcement officer in Mega-City One, a sprawling future city where Judges act as police, judges, and executioners. His full name is Joseph Dredd, although the stories deliberately keep his personal life and face largely hidden.

John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra created Judge Dredd. Wagner developed the character, while Ezquerra designed his distinctive armored appearance. Pat Mills edited 2000 AD and helped shape the early story environment, so several creators are associated with the strip’s launch.

The first published story was “Judge Dredd,” written by Wagner and drawn by Mike McMahon. Dredd’s satirical stories often criticize authoritarianism, bureaucracy, celebrity culture, and political extremism through exaggerated future scenarios.