Judge Dredd: 'The Academy Of Law', Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'The Academy Of Law', Part 2 (according to Barney this story is also known as 'Rookie')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 28

DATELINE
3 Sep 77

This prog also featured Invasion, Dan Dare, Tharg's Future Shocks, M.A.C.H.1 and Shako strips, as well as a supercover by Lopez.

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Annual 1985, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) Issue 20, Judge Dredd: The Early Cases 4, The Complete Judge Dredd 2 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Rookie Judge Giant has to emulate his father and defy Dredd to save the day.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The first time a character from the another comic strip has crossed over into Judge Dredd and the first two part story.

INFORMATION
Heroes Bowl is where the Harlem Heroes used to play Aeroball, it is now part of Mega-City One. There is a Louis Mayer stand and statues of Mayer (and his brain) and John 'Giant' Clay.

The final test for a Rookie Judge is to be willing to sacrifice their future to defend the law. Rookies that become full Judges are awarded the black helmet and full Eagle badge in a ceremony that takes place in The Grand Hall of Justice and is presided over by the Chief Judge.

Kidnapping is not a crime that requires the death penalty.

JUDGE DREDD
He pretends he is going to execute Giant's prisoners to see if the Rookie will stop him.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JUDGE GIANT
He could have played pro-Aeroball, but his father wanted something better for him. He can handle a jetpack and uses one to rescue the kidnapped Anderson boy. He disposes of the bomb attached to the child and throws it into the score tank. He has always admired Dredd. He passes Dredd's final test and becomes a Judge.

THE CHIEF JUDGE
He awards Giant the black helmet and full eagle badge and invests him as a Mega-City Judge.

JOHN 'GIANT' CLAY
Judge Giant's father. He has retired from Aeroball and requires a stick to walk. His statue is in the Heroes Bowl. He attends his son's investment as a Judge, but his subsequent celebration party plans are cancelled as his son has other duties.

ARRESTS
Rookie Judge Giant arrests two of the kidnappers.

DEATHS
The third kidnapper presumably falls to his death.

BEST LINES
Rookie Judge Giant: "Air-strike! My first and last!"

WORST LINES
John 'Giant' Clay: "That's muh boy! Son, your old pappy is sure enough proud of you come on home now - We're gonna have a real big party to celebrate."

Giant never spoke like this in Harlem Heroes.

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Drokk you" to his Rookie, which is perhaps the first time it's been so insulting.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
John 'Giant' Clay attends his son's investment as a Judge and Louis Mayer (and his brain) are immortalised in a statue in the Heroes Bowl. They previously appeared in Harlem Heroes, more of that tomorrow...

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Harlem Heroes (1977).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
Judge Giant will go on to become an important character in future Judge Dredd strips.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits printed in the strip itself and so the following are taken from Barney.

Script: John Wagner
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Tony Jacob

REVIEW
When I first read this strip I had no knowledge of Harlem Heroes and so the references were largely lost on me. I have since read about the senior Giant's exploits and now Aeroball, Louis Mayer's brain and airstrikes all have a far greater significance to me. It's a nice touch to incorporate a beloved character from another strip and them treat them so badly. It reinforces the implacability of the Judges. I like this strip, but I'm aware that much of the affection I have for it comes from the Harlem Heroes references.

The End.