Dredd Alert

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 6

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and StarlordProg 94

DATELINE
6 Jan 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd's rebellion almost ousts Cal, but then his reinforcements turn the tide.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of the Kleggs.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Sector 1 is to the west of the city.

The Kleggs are a species of alien mercenaries who fight because they enjoy killing and seek payment in meat.

Named Judges: Judge Jenkins

JUDGE DREDD
His army of citizens drives Cal's forces back to Justice Central, but the arrival of the Kleggs.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHIEF JUDGE CAL
He has engaged an army of Kleggs to put down civil disorder. He sentences the whole of Mega-City One to death in strict alphabetical order.

JUDGE JENKINS
Judge Jenkins graduated from the Academy of Law as part of the Class of '97. He is fighting for Judge Cal.

GRAMPUS
The leader of the Kleggs.

ARRESTS
Dredd sends two looters home on house arrest and says he will deal with them later.

DEATHS
Probably hundreds. Four of Dredd's loyal Judges and presumably hundreds of citizens die in the Klegg attack.

BEST LINES
Cal: "Now, I want things carried out in an orderly manner. Report to your execution stations. In good time. No barging or rowdiness in the queues. And bring a book in case there is a delay. That is all."

WORST LINES
Giant: "Lock up those traitors, baby!"

CATCHPHRASES
A citizen exclaims "M-my dok!", while Dredd says "Drokk it!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Bolland/Leach
Letters: Tom Frame

Leach is Garry Leach who also worked as an artist on Future Shorts, Slaine, The V.C.'s, M.A.C.H.1 and as both writer and artist on Dan Dare and Tharg's Future Shocks.

REVIEW
Cal sentences the city to death again, but this part is anything but repetitive. The arrival of Kleggs and the prospect of the alphabetical executions are great, the art is wonderful and the looters under house arrest serve as an excellent reminder of the strip's usual content.

Next Prog: Judgement Day!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 7

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 95

DATELINE
13 Jan 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 1, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, The Complete Judge Dredd 9, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died, Judge Dredd 10 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Cal's executions begin, but Judge Fish's death convinces him to stop.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Judge Fish.

INFORMATION
In Mega-City One, Macey's is very close to Justice Central. There is a vid-phone book listing all Mega-City One citizens.

Named Judges: Judge Cox

JUDGE DREDD
He kidnaps Slocum and orders him to kill Judge Fish and exploit his death to end the killing.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHIEF JUDGE CAL
He is convinced to end the executions when Judge Fish dies, but is angered when no one attends the funeral.

AARON A. AARDVARK
He was born Eric Plunkett, but changed his name to be first in the vid-phone book. He is the first to die in Cal's alphabetical genocide.

DEPUTY CHIEF JUDGE FISH
He dies. Judge Slocum convinces Cal that his death was an omen that the executions should end. He was cremated and his funeral

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Possibly millions. Sector 1's executions begin.

BEST LINES
Cal: "Never before has a ruler sentenced his entire population to death! This is a great day - the greatest day in history - and you are lucky to be taking part!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Slocum thanks drokk.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Anthony A. Aardvark was the name of the first of 70,000 witnesses to be called in The Day Perry Masonmint Lost A Case from Mad Magazine (1959).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Bolland/Leach
Letters: Thomas

REVIEW
The art and dialogue is great throughout again. Cal's moment in history, Aardvark and Fish provide the best moments.

Next Prog: Exodus To Mutant Land!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 8

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 96

DATELINE
20 Jan 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd 11, The Complete Judge Dredd 9, Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 2, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Cal brings the exodus from Mega-City One to an end.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The first appearance of the wall.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place over the course of three weeks)

Millions of people leave Mega-City One for the Cursed Earth, until Cal's forces attack and the exodus ends.

Chief Judge Cal has makes it illegal to talk, run or stop and introduces a fresh air tax. Defacing an image of Judge Cal is punishable by death. The Judges turn to schoolchildren to inform on their parents. He orders the construction of a mile-high wall around the city using prisoners, robots and recent arrestees as a workforce. Named Judges: Deputy Chief Judge Grampus, Judge O'Leary (SJS), Judge Rice. Judge Wilkins,

A flyer is a pedal-powered helicopter.

Kleggs have the hounds of Klegg.

JUDGE DREDD
He leads an attack against the wall and successfully blows a hole in it. He still inspires the citizens of Mega-City One.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHIEF JUDGE CAL
He appoints Grampus as Deputy Chief Judge. Once the exodus is over, he orders the building of a mile high wall around the city in three weeks and authorises the use of Mega-City One's criminals and robots as a workforce.

DEPUTY CHIEF JUDGE GRAMPUS
Cal appoints him Deputy Chief Judge and give him absolute power in preventing the exodus from Mega-City One. He orders an airstrike on those leaving the city and the exodus is over.

WALTER THE WOBOT
He was arrested and put to work on the wall.

ARRESTS
At least seven. Walter is arrested to work on the wall. Six citizens are arrested for being 'Dreddists'.

DEATHS
Probably hundreds. Grampus orders the refugees be shot from the air. A citizen is killed trying to escape over the wall with a flyer, while another is shot for writing Dredd Lives! over an image of Cal.

BEST LINES
Cal: "Ungrateful scum, I'll squeeze them till the pips squeak!"

WORST LINES
Unknown: "Eat lead, ugly!"

CATCHPHRASES
Walter says awwested, cweep, Dwedd, gweat and wotten.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Pipsqueak squeezes (see BEST LINES), come from British politician Eric Campbell-Geddes (1875–1937) who said during a rally before the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919, "We shall squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak!"

Cal's wall encloses Mega-City One, but there is an obvious parallel with the Berlin Wall. It was a large concrete wall with guard towers, anti-vehicle trenches and an area known as the "death strip" which individuals were not permitted to enter. It was constructed by East Germany from 1961 to completely cut off West Berlin to prevent mass emigration and defection that affected the rest of the communist Eastern Bloc after World War II.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
In 'Mutant Land', a McMahon provided some conspicuous graffiti in '78 (presumably 2078).

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: M. McMahon
Letters: T. Frame

REVIEW
It's good to see Dredd on the back foot in another great episode. It's interesting that Cal's gone off the idea of mass exterminations and replaced it with a wall to incarcerate his citizens, thereby making living in Mega-City One literally a fate worse than death.

Next Prog: The Hunt!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 9

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 97

DATELINE
27 Jan 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 2, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, The Complete Judge Dredd 9, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died, Judge Dredd 11, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
The Klegghounds track Dredd.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Klegghounds tracks via their sense of taste, not smell. Bloodhounds have been extinct for a hundred years.

Advanced Leadership is a course taught at the Academy of Law. Named Judges: Judge Peace, Judge Smith

JUDGE DREDD
His base of operations is an underground garage. He is tracked by a pack of Klegghounds and attacked.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JUDGE PEPPER
He taught both Dredd and Cal Advanced Leadership at the Academy of Law.

JUDGE KELSO
Kelso is attacked by a Klegghound.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
One. Judge Peace dies of injuries sustained in a raid.

BEST LINES
Giant: "Mah pappy never tol' me there'd be days like this"
Dredd: "Grin and bear it, Giant - It could get worse!"

WORST LINES
Smith: "Judge Dredd! Large force coming this way! It sounds like they've got Bloodhounds!"
Kelso: "Don't be foolish, boy! The last bloodhound died a hundred years ago!"

What do they sound like, then?

CATCHPHRASES
Giant says "Drokk it!", Kelso says "M-My Dok-" and, oddly, Pepper says "By Dor!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Giant's pappy never tol' him there'd be days like this. Giant's pappy was of course John 'Giant' Clay from Harlem Heroes and Inferno.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
How does Smith know what Bloodhounds sound like?

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: J. Howard
Artist: M. McMahon
Letters: T. Frame

REVIEW
The manhunt for Dredd comes to an end and all seems lost. Recent parts of this story have seemed a far cry from the Judge Dredd we're used to as they have concentrated more on Cal and had very little of Dredd in them. This bucks the trend and seems all odder for it.

Next Prog: Slicey, Slicey - Oncey, Twicey!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 10

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 98

DATELINE
3 Feb 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 2, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, The Complete Judge Dredd 9, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died, Judge Dredd 11 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd escapes, but for how long?

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of a Justice 1.

INFORMATION
The Trans-Ohio Tunnel runs through part of Mega-City One. At one exit the roadway is 8,000 feet high.

The Judges have 200 hover ships. Named Judges: Judge Fernandez, Judge Jonas

JUDGE DREDD
He and his forces retreat to a sub-garage and escape in a road liner. Cal shoots out the road and the liner falls from 8,000 feet.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JUDGE FERNANDEZ
He is injured badly during the Klegg attack and sacrifices himself to let the others escape.

CHIEF JUDGE CAL
He destroys the roadway ahead of Dredd's liner, causing it to fall.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Dredd kills a Klegghound after it tries to swallow his gunhand. The other Judges kill the rest.

BEST LINES
Cal: "What lovely boys they are! So delightfully murderous! Ha, ha! Perhaps I should have been born a Klegg, eh, Slocum?"

WORST LINES
Giant says Baby far too often.

CATCHPHRASES
The Kleggs sing a bit (see below) and get a battle cry in "Klegg-Haiiii!" twice. Dredd insults Jonas with a "Drokk you!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Giant mentions his Pappy again, late of Harlem Heroes and Inferno.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Brian Bolland
Letters: Tomas Frame

REVIEW
Bolland's art, Dredd's killing of a Klegghound from the inside and the cliffhanger is fantastic.

Next Prog: The Crash!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 11

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 99

DATELINE
10 Feb 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 2, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, The Complete Judge Dredd 9, Judge Dredd 11, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd's road liner crashes, Cal celebrates and the Judges take a day off.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The old Ohio River flows underneath Mega-City One, it has been nicknamed The Big Smelly. It became so polluted that it was concreted over.

Cal allows a day of lawlessness, but the streets are deserted and crime is down.

Named Judges: Judge Atting, Judge Jennings.

JUDGE DREDD
His road liner crashes through city bottom and into the old Ohio river.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHIEF JUDGE CAL
Believing Dredd dead, he declares that there will be no arrests for 24 hours regardless of the crime.

JUDGE COX
He claims to love Cal sufficiently to die for him. Cal allows Cox the use of his own gun for the purpose.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Unknown.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "Judges, Cal has won...I weep - I weep for my city."
Giant: "Suit yourself, J.D. - - But me, I'm weepin' for me!'

Cal: "Do you love me, Judge Cox? I mean really love me?"
Cox: "Yes, Chief Judge. I...I would die for you!"
Cal: "Would you? That's a very generous offer. You've made me feel a lot better, Judge Cox. Off you go and do it then. I'll let you use my gun."
Cox: "B-B-B-But-"
Cal: "No "buts", Judge Cox! Either you love me or you don't!"
Cox: Yes, sir...

WORST LINES
Cal: "The Big Smelly! A fitting end to that stinker Dredd!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Giant mentions his Pappy again.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Judge Jennings' badge is very difficult to read and I may have gotten it completely wrong.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
The Ohio River is indeed ranked as the most polluted river in the USA based on data from 2009 and 2010.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: M. McMahon
Letters: Thomas

REVIEW
It's interesting that Cal's madness is almost leading him into a series of diminishing returns. You might expect that in a narrative structure, Cal's activities would escalate, but here almost the opposite is true, as genocide gives way to incarceration and then to draconian laws before a removal of law and order altogether. It probably shouldn't work as well as it does and yet in defying that logic Cal is all the more unpredictable and gives this story its edge.

Dredd - Shock News - Next Prog!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 12

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 100

DATELINE
17 Feb 79

This strip appeared in Prog 100 alongside Dan Dare, Ro-Busters and Robo-Hunter, a Judge Dredd poster to cut out and Robo-Hunter cover by Ian Gibson

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 2, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, The Complete Judge Dredd 9, Judge Dredd 11, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd survives the crash and must face Fergee.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Fergee.

INFORMATION
Cal has declared happiness, laughter, smiling and conversation illegal. Citizens are instructed to destroy their dearest possessions and anyone discovered to be hiding an item likely to cause happiness will be shot.

The Genmo DX3 Road Liner is fitted with a crash-proof command capsule and equipped with air bags.

Undercity dwellers refer to those who live on the surface as upsiders.

JUDGE DREDD
His road liner crashes through into the Undercity.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHIEF JUDGE CAL
He claims to hear the voices of deceased Chief Judges calling for him to be tougher on Mega-City One.

FERGEE
Undercity dweller. He challenges Dredd to a fight.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
At least four die in the road liner crash.

BEST LINES
Fergee: "Dang fly trick me. It too smart for Fergee!"

WORST LINES
Fergee: "Hurrr! Hurrr!"

CATCHPHRASES
Cal says "By Grud" and Giant says "Drokk it"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The Undercity was last seen in 'The Troggies'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Fergee's badges include Spider-Man, 7UP and Coke.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: J. Howard
Artist: M. McMahon
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
The new and petty low that Cal's madness has reached is excellent, but Fergee has yet to impress.

Next Prog: The Law - And The Loon!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 13

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 101

DATELINE
24 Feb 79

This prog also contained Dan Dare, Ro-Busters and Robo-Hunter strips, a Futuregraph, some more Judge Dredd poster and a Dan Dare cover by Dave Gibbons.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 2, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, The Complete Judge Dredd 9, Judge Dredd 12, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Cal plans to dramatise his life and Dredd manages to win Fergee over.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Judge Schmaltz.

INFORMATION
Conred Conn is a famed vid-pic star, now retired.

JUDGE DREDD
He fights Fergee and knocks him into the Big Smelly, which impresses him and makes him consider Dredd a friend.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHIEF JUDGE CAL
He auditions actors to play Dredd in a TV spectacular and ultimately chooses a midget.

CONRED CONN
Retired actor, star of vid-pics and reputed to be the handsomest man in the world. He is convinced to play Cal on pain of death.

FERGEE
Dredd beats him, but this only makes him like the Judge even more.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Three. Cal orders the prospective but unsuccessful Dredd actors be killed.

BEST LINES
Schmaltz: "It has been a rare and...and wonderful honour to...to serve with you, Judge Dredd! My...my sun is sinking behind the...hills of life, but...but I am...at peace with my...my destiny..."

WORST LINES
Probably Giant: "Sweet movin' J.D!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Fergee's badges now include Superman, 2000 A.D., Batman and a swastika.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: J. Howard
Artist: B. Bolland
Letters: Thomas

REVIEW
Bolland's art, Cal's auditions and Judge Schmaltz's death scene are fantastic.

Next Prog: Fergee's Palace!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 14

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 102

DATELINE
3 Mar 79

This prog also featured Dan Dare, Tharg's Future Shocks and Robo-Hunter, a bit more Judge Dredd poster, a futuregraph and a Robo-Hunter cover by Ian Gibson .

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 2, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, The Complete Judge Dredd 10, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died, Judge Dredd 12 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Fergee takes the Judges through the Undercity to his home and then Dredd takes him to the surface.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First revelation of how Cal has achieved his takeover.

INFORMATION
Judges are required to attend a daily briefing, where crime information is fed directly into their brains. The tutors from the Academy of Law are exempt.

JUDGE DREDD
He and Fergee head to the surface.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FERGEE
He used to live on the surface, but fled into the Undercity after he did "bad things". He feeds the Judges rat. He and Dredd head to the surface.

JUDGE GIANT
He was on a month's leave when Cal's hypnotic suggestion took hold.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Kelso: "Mmm...delicious meat. Is it rabbit?"
Pepper: "Nonsense, Kelso! Any fool knows this is squirrel."
Fergee: "Rabbit - squirrel - hurrr, hurrrr! That good one!...This only food down here - and no shortage of it either."
Kelso: "Uggh - rat!"

WORST LINES
Fergee: "Hey, old chapee - where all the people gone?"

CATCHPHRASES
Fergee threatens to "get heavy" with a pat-wagon.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Dredd missed Cal's subliminal hypnotism because he was in The Cursed Earth.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The "strange half-men" look like a cross between the Morlocks from George Pal's film adaptation of The Time Machine (1960) and the salt vampire from Star Trek's The Man Trap (1966). Fergee sings 'Put On A Happy Face' from the musical Bye Bye Birdie (1960).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Brian Bolland
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is an interesting change of pace as we stick with Dredd after some pretty Cal-heavy parts, but also as Fergee comes to the fore.

Next Prog: Trapped!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 15

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 103

DATELINE
10 Mar 79

This prog also featured Dan Dare, Ro-Busters and Robo-Hunter strips, Robo-Hunter Star Pin Up, another section of Judge Dredd poster and a Ro-Busters cover by Kevin O'Neill.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 2, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, The Complete Judge Dredd 10, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died, Judge Dredd 12 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd and Fergee fight off Judges and head in search of Walter.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Cal-less part of this story.

INFORMATION
Kleggs have been billeted to empty homes.

Named Judges: Judge Fergee (Honorary), Judge Raymond, Judge Rossi, Judge Semple.

JUDGE DREDD
He resembles Judges Rossi and Semple. He and Fergee fight off three Judges and steal their Pat-Wagon. They return to Dredd's home and burst in on the Kleggs living there.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FERGEE
He helps Dredd fight off a trio of Judges and Dredd appoints him an honorary Judge.

WALTER THE WOBOT
He is working for the Kleggs billeted to Dredd's old rooms.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Unknown. Dredd shoots a Judge and then flees the scene.

BEST LINES
Walter (to Kleggs): "Your gwub - waw beef bwisket. If there's nothing else, Walter will wetire."

WORST LINES
Klegg (whilst tripping): "Harrr! Have a nice trip!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Drokk it!", Dredd and Fergee discuss "getting heavy" five times and Walter says betway, bwisket, cweep, Dwedd, gwub, waw, wetire, wip and sacwed.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Gary Leach
Letters: Thomas

REVIEW
This is a surprising change of tone as this part moves from an epic satire of totalitarian states with massive anthropomorphic crocodiles to a buddy movie with massive anthropomorphic crocodiles. I'm warming to Fergee and it's nice to see Walter back.

Next Prog: Splat!

NAME
Flesh File: Big Hungry!

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 A.D. Prog 96, 97 & 98

DATELINE
20 Jan 79

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
Big Hungry

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Big Hungry.

INFORMATION
A warning from Trans-Time: employees please note that they leave Trans-Time stations at their own risk and the company accepts no liability for accidents.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BIG HUNGRY
He has an altercation with a boat and two humans.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
None.

REVIEW
A great star pin-up that never was.

NAME
Pin-Up: Ro-Jaws And Hammer-Stein

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord Issue 19

DATELINE
16 September 78

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws and Hammer-Stein pose for a pin-up.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ro-Busters pin up.

INFORMATION
None.

RO-JAWS
He has visited the Robo-Wash.

HAMMER-STEIN
He wants Ro-Jaws to stand to attention.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: O'Neill

REVIEW
This is great, but the choice of a posed image, rather than an action shot is an odd one.

NAME
Futuregraph: Judge Cal Propaganda Poster

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 105

DATELINE
24 Mar 79

PAGE COUNT
1/2

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
A propaganda poster featuring Chief Judge Cal.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Justice Department issues propaganda posters.

JUDGE DREDD
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHIEF JUDGE CAL
During his reign, Cal's face is being used on propaganda posters issued by the Mega-City One Justice Department.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Cal's slogan evokes "Big Brother is watching you" from 1984, a 1949 dystopian novel by George Orwell (1903-1950).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Brian Bolland

REVIEW
This is a beautiful image of state oppression in action.

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Tax Man Cometh!, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord Issue 20

DATELINE
23 September 78

This issue of Starlord bore a Holocaust cover by Ian Kennedy, and also featured Mind Wars, Holocaust and a one-off called Skirmish!

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
As Quartz gets a tax demand, receives threats of nationalisation and his atom-cracker blows up, he is abducted.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The Earth Credit is a unit of currency.

An Anti-Grav Tractor Beam can lift a person or object up

RO-JAWS
He investigates the site of the Atom-Cracker disaster.

HAMMER-STEIN
He investigates the site of the Atom-Cracker disaster and saves Quartz from being crushed by a girder.

OTHER CHARACTERS
HOWARD QUARTZ
He owes 238 billion Earth Credits in tax. Whilst investigating the site of the Ro-Busters Atom-Cracker disaster on Devil's Island, he is abducted. He knows his kidnapper.

BULSTRODE
He works for the British Government and is on its Nationalisation Board.

DEATHS
One. Tonto the robot was destroyed when the Atom-Cracker blew up.

BEST LINES
Quartz: "I owe what!"
Tax Commissioner #1: "Two hundred and thirty-eight billion Earth Credits!"
Tax Commissioner #2: "Payable in 30 days of course!"

WORST LINES
Hammer-Stein (after saving Quartz from being crushed): "Done it! The boss'll be really grateful for that!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Quartz and the Tax Commissioners mention the events of The Preying Mantis, Midpoint, Farnborough Droid Show and Massacre On The Moon.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Jack Adrian
Artist: Ferrer
Letters: T. Frame/B. Henry

REVIEW
This is a fantastic opening and it's good to see Quartz take centre stage.

Next Week: 'You're On A One-Way Ticket To Nowhere!'

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Tax Man Cometh!, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord Issue 21

DATELINE
30 September 78

The penultimate issue of Starlord also featured Strontium Dog, Mind Wars and Holocaust strips, a Strontium Dog Pin Up and a cover by Jose Luis Ferrer.

PAGE COUNT
8

REPRINTS
The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
The kidnapper of Howard Quartz is revealed to be his brother Ebenezer.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First eight page Ro-Busters, last work on Ro-Busters by Pino.

INFORMATION
In theory, an individual's brain transplanted into a robotic body could live forever.

RO-JAWS
He digs up a remote control timer device and presumes it was responsible for triggering a bomb that was used to destroy the Atom-Cracker.

HAMMER-STEIN
He presumes the remote control timer device that Ro-Jaws digs up was responsible for triggering a bomb that was used to destroy the Atom-Cracker.

OTHER CHARACTERS
HOWARD QUARTZ
He has a brother called Ebenezer.

EBENEZER QUARTZ
He is kept alive by a life support system and hover-chair. He has a brother called Howard, whom he has abducted, and he is responsible for his brother's current tax, nationalisation and explosive problems.

BULSTRODE
He takes command of the robots clearing up of the Atom-Cracker disaster site and fires Miss Marilyn.

SNEED AND GRADDLE
Tax Commissioners. They assist Bulstrode is commanding the robots clear up of the Atom-Cracker disaster site.

AERIALS
Robot with sensors that pick up radio signals. He detects the remote control timer device buried in the ground.

MISS MARILYN
Bulstrode fires her.

DEATHS
Two. Mek-Quake does Big Jobs on two robots.

BEST LINES
Robot: "Gee, er...Boss! That was my partner that just got ground up!"
Bulstrode: "I see -- in that case since you're now without a partner, that means you're redundant!...Mek-Quake!"

WORST LINES
Bulstrode: "You're fired, d'you hear? Fired!"

What is she again?

CATCHPHRASES
Mek-Quakes threatens to do "The Big Jobs".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Ebenezer's name recalls Scrooge from A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens (1812-1870), while his appearance bears a resemblance to Davros, creator of the Daleks from Doctor Who, first seen in 1975's Genesis Of The Daleks.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Jack Adrian
Artist: Pino
Letters: P. Bensberg

REVIEW
Another good instalment. I'm glad that Ebenezer acknowledges that he is the mastermind behind Ro-Busters troubles as it saves everyone a lot of time. Miss Marilyn's worries about "the end of Ro-Busters", must have seemed genuinely final if readers were aware that this was the penultimate issue of Starlord.

Next Week: 'They Can't Do This To Us!'

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Tax Man Cometh!, Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord Issue 22

DATELINE
7 October 78

The last issue of Starlord bore a cover by Graham Cotton and also featured Strontium Dog, Mind Wars and Holocaust strips.

PAGE COUNT
8

REPRINTS
The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws, Hammer-Stein, Aerials and Miss Marilyn to the rescue.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The last Ro-Busters in Starlord. Last work on Ro-Busters by Jack Adrian/Chris Lowder, Jose Luis Ferrar and Peter Knight

INFORMATION
(This part takes place two days after the first)

RO-JAWS
He, Hammer-Stein, Aerials and Miss Marilyn mount a rescue of Howard Quartz.

HAMMER-STEIN
He, Ro-Jaws, Aerials and Miss Marilyn mount a rescue of Howard Quartz.

OTHER CHARACTERS
HOWARD QUARTZ
His brother Ebenezer has a device planted into Howard that will destroy him within hours

EBENEZER QUARTZ
He has a bomb planted in his brother. He is presumably killed in the crash following Ro-Jaws and Hammer-Stein's rescue attempt.

AERIALS
He can pick locks. He, Ro-Jaws, Hammer-Stein and Miss Marilyn mount a rescue of Howard Quartz. He diffuses the bomb inside Howard Quartz.

MISS MARILYN
She, Ro-Jaws, Hammer-Stein and Aerials mount a rescue of Howard Quartz.

BULSTRODE, SNEED & GRADDLE
Howard's Quartz's robot steal Bulstrode's flying craft to mount their rescue. The three men are arrested and charged with conspiracy.

DEATHS
At least six. We see Mek-Quake finish off two robots, but Hammer-Stein says he has dealt with 36 more in the last two days. Ebenezer
Quartz and his crew presumably perish in the crash.

BEST LINES
Ro-Jaws: "When it's a question of sheer survival, mate. I can cringe with the best of 'em!"

WORST LINES
All of Sneed and Graddle's overheard exposition.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Ferrer is incorrectly spelled Ferrar. Ebenezer is told the explosive device planted in Howard will destroy him in exactly two hours, which he then reports to his brother as six hours.

RETROSPECT
This is something of an end of an era for Ro-Busters, the transfer to 2000 A.D. inevitably alters the strip somewhat.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Jack Adrian
Artist: Ferrar
Letters: P. Knight

Ferrar is Ferrer.

REVIEW
As with most Ro-Busters stories the last part feels rushed, but Starlord's absorption into 2000 A.D. is an obvious reason to rush. Ro-Jaws learning to cringe is nice, Aerials is great and our heroes rescue of Howard Quartz, only to abandon him moments later is brilliant.

And They Do - In Next Week's Merger With 2000 A.D. Don't Miss It!

NAME
Star Pin-Up: Fergee

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 107

DATELINE
7 Apr 79

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
Unknown.

SYNOPSIS
Fergee.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Fergee.

INFORMATION
None.

JUDGE DREDD
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FERGEE
He can write his own name.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Brian Bolland

REVIEW
Fergee is a great choice of subject.

NAME
Ro-Busters: Death On The Orient Express!, Part One

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 86

DATELINE
14 Oct 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Ro-Busters Book 1, The Best Of 2000AD 17, Cyber Crush 01, Halo Jones 09, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) 01, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.01, 2000AD Yearbook 1994 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws and Hammer-Stein attempt to rescue ten trapped train passengers, but there's only enough air for nine of them.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ro-Busters in 2000 A.D., first Ro-Busters work by Dave Gibbons and first appearance of invoice logo.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place in 2080 A.D.)

A new super monorail line has been built between Istanbul and Paris. An avalanche traps survivors beneath tonnes of rock.

RO-JAWS
He is programmed for cleaning sewers, unblocking drains and garbage disposal. He met Hammer-Stein at Flash Harry's Robo-Mart. He and Hammer-Stein attempt a rescue of train passengers trapped by an avalanche. He is appointed judge of which of the humans should die.

HAMMER-STEIN
He has a very distinguished war record and rose to the rank of sergeant. After the war he was discharged as army surplus. He met Ro-Jaws at Flash Harry's Robo-Mart. He and Ro-Jaws attempt a rescue of train passengers trapped by an avalanche.

OTHER CHARACTERS
REVEREND STRANGEWAYS
Train crash survivor.

ROLF & PRU FOSTER
Husband and wife. They own ten thousand head of cattle in Australia. Train crash survivors.

LORD PETER WYNDIE
Aristocrat and train crash survivor.

MIKE MORGAN
Father to Tim and train crash survivor.

TIM MORGAN
Mike Morgan's son injured in the crash. Raised by Harold the family robot after his mother died.

HAROLD
The Morgan's family robot and train crash survivor. He wears clothes.

CALL-ME-BRUCE
Australian robot and train crash survivor.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Rolf: "Too true, Pru!"

WORST LINES
Ro-Jaws: "Funnneee--the way Harold wears clothes!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Hammer-Stein mentions Ro-Jaws dressing up drag in Ro-Busters: The Ritz Space Hotel, Part 3 .

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Lord Peter Wyndie sounds not unlike Lord Peter Wimsey, a fictional character in detective stories by Dorothy L. Sayers beginning with Whose Body? (1923). One of the robots reads Tatler, a British fashion and lifestyle magazine aimed at the wealthy, founded in 1901

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
The art is gorgeous throughout, the interaction between Ro-Jaws and Hammer-Stein is brilliant and with this strip Ro-Busters seems to grow up.

Next Prog: Trial By Robot!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Death On The Orient Express!, Part Two

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 87

DATELINE
21 Oct 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Ro-Busters Book 1, The Best Of 2000AD 17, Cyber Crush 01, Halo Jones 09, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) 02, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.01, 2000AD Yearbook 1994 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws deliberates over which human will die and has the decision made for him.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The First Law of Robotics is that robots are programmed to only tell the truth. The Second Law is that a robot must protect its owners.

RO-JAWS
He presides over a trial to decides who will die so that the other nine may live. When Harold kills Mike Morgan it spares Ro-Jaws the decision.

HAMMER-STEIN
He convinces Harold to look after Tim Morgan.

OTHER CHARACTERS
LORD PETER WYNDIE
According to hid robot, he is in debt, gambles and wastes money.

JAMES
His bodywork is by R.R. Royce, his voice by Bong And Olafsen, his electronics by Hetochi. Lord Peter Wyndie's robot, bought on hire purchase. He testifies against his master.

REVEREND STRANGEWAYS
Not his real name, in actual fact he is Max the Cat Burglar.

HAROLD
He wears clothing to cover up damage to his chassis caused by his master, Mike Morgan. He kills Mike Morgan, in the defence of Tim.

MIKE MORGAN
Stepfather to Tim. He has committed acts of cruelty against Harold. When Tim testifies against he threatens his stepson. Harold defends the boy and kills Mike.

TIM MORGAN
Stepson to Mike. He testifies against his stepfather.

DEATHS
One. Harold kills Mike Morgan.

BEST LINES
Harold (disrobing to show damage): "I refuse to say anything on the grounds that it will incriminate Big Master"

WORST LINES
Survivors: "We're saved!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
James' various manufacturers R.R. Royce, Bong And Olafsen and Hetochi obviously allude to Rolls Royce, Bang & Olufsen and Hitachi. The three law of robotics were introduced by Isaac Asimov in his 1942 short story Runaround (although see MISTAKES below).

MISTAKES
Ro-Jaws states that the First Law of Robotics is that robots are programmed to only tell the truth and Mike Morgan says that the Second Law is that a robot must protect its owners, but those aren't the First and Second Laws at all (see the MISTAKES section of Judge Dredd: 'Robot Wars', Part 1)

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
The child abuse is very shocking, the happily ever after ending is odd and both of the main characters are sidelined in favour of those giving testimony during Ro-Jaws' trial. Despite this Death On The Orient Express! is great.

Next Prog: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs!

NAME
Judge Dredd: Punks Rule!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 110

DATELINE
28 Apr 79

This prog also featured Dan Dare, Ro-Busters, Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog, a Starlord pin-up
and a Dan Dare cover by Dave Gibbons.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Death: Classic Judge Dredd, The Best Of 2000AD 50, Judge Dredd 1, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 1, Judge Death: Judge Dredd Featuring Judge Death, Judge Death: Dredd vs. Death, The Complete Judge Dredd 10, The Best Of Judge Dredd and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd goes into a lawless part of town on his own, but doesn't come out alone.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Southside Sector 41 is lawless and the Cosmic Punk have declared it a no-go area. One of the tunnels into the Cursed Earth is called the South Mutieland Tunnel. Access in one-way.

City Garbage uses trucks that can follow vocal instructions.

Judges can revoke citizenship and exile lawbreakers.

JUDGE DREDD
He goes into Southside Sector 41 alone, arrests several Cosmic Punks, has their citizenship removed and exiles them to the Cursed Earth for ten years.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GESTAPO BOB HARRIS
Leader of the Cosmic Punks gang and self-appointed Chief Judge in Southside Sector 41. Dredd humiliates him, arrests him, removes his citizenship and exiles them to the Cursed Earth for ten years.

JUDGE FILETOOTH
Member of the Cosmic Punks gang and self-appointed Judge in Southside Sector 41. Dredd arrests him, removes his citizenship and exiles them to the Cursed Earth for ten years.

ARRESTS
At least twenty-six. Dredd arrests at least twenty-six Cosmic Punks, removes their citizenship and exiles them to the Cursed Earth for ten years.

DEATHS
One. Dredd kills a shooter with a hotshot.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "The street gangs have lost their fear of us. It's time we gave it back to them...Let's show them one Judge is worth a hundred Punks - Cosmic or otherwise!"

WORST LINES
File-Tooth: "The dumb crumbo tried ta come inna district widout payin' his toll. We're tkin' him ta the Hall of Justus fer trial"

CATCHPHRASES
A Cosmic Punks lets out an Aiiee! as he dies.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Their are references to Cal's reign and the events of 'The Day The Law Died'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: B. Bolland
Letters: T. Frame

REVIEW
It's good to see Dredd getting back to what does best, but it's also reassuring that the strip is acknowledging Cal's legacy as it gets back to normal. Bolland's art is as fantastic as ever.

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 6

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 7

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 8

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 9

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 10

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 11

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 12

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 13

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 14

Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 15

Flesh File: Big Hungry!

Star Pin-Up: Ro-Jaws And Hammer-Stein

Futuregraph: Judge Cal Propaganda Poster

Ro-Busters: The Tax Man Cometh!, Part 1

Ro-Busters: The Tax Man Cometh!, Part 2

Ro-Busters: The Tax Man Cometh!, Part 3

Star Pin-Up: Fergee

Ro-Busters: Death On The Orient Express!, Part One

Ro-Busters: Death On The Orient Express!, Part Two

Judge Dredd: Punks Rule!