Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Day The Law Died!, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 89

DATELINE
4 Nov 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Caligula 1, Judge Dredd Epics: The Complete Judge Caligula, Judge Dredd Epics: The Day The Law Died, The Complete Judge Dredd 8, Judge Dredd 9 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02. The story also formed part of the Judge Dredd radio adaptation of The Day The Law Died.

SYNOPSIS
The Chief Judge is killed, Cal replaces him and Dredd is shot.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First use of Betalgeusian in dialogue, last appearance of Chief Judge Goodman.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One has a rejuvenation clinic.

If the Chief Judge dies, then the Deputy Chief Judge automatically takes over his duties. Named Judges: Judge Schultz.

Chief Judge Goodman is killed and Deputy Chief Judge Cal takes his place.

JUDGE DREDD
He rushes to the Chief Judge's bedside. He realises that the Special Judicial Squad are responsible. Upon leaving his home, he is shot through the head and given a one in a hundred chance of surviving.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHIEF JUDGE CLARENCE GOODMAN
He has been Chief Judge of Mega-City One for 43 years and in considered a celebrity by some. He receives a monthly treatment at a rejuvenation clinic. He is set upon by knife wielding perps who stab him repeatedly. He later dies of his injuries, but not before he manages to place an SJS button ripped off in the struggle into Dredd's hand.

DEPUTY CHIEF JUDGE CAL
He orders the assassinations of Goodman and Dredd, has a haircut and takes over as Chief Judge.

JUDGE QUINCY
He is responsible for the attempts on the lives of Goodman and Dredd. He loses a button in the former and when Cal realises he orders him to conduct his duties in his underwear.

WALTER THE WOBOT
He fears for Dredd's life.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
One. Goodman is killed.

BEST LINES
Cal: "Mmm...the robe of office suits me perfectly! I was born to be Chief Judge - I've always known it. Haven't you, Schultz?"
Schultz: "Er, yes sir. Always."
Cal: "How could you always have known it, Schultz? You only met me two years ago. I have a way of dealing with liars!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Walter says bwutal, cwipes, cwime, Dwedd, hewo, tewwible and thwoo. Cal says "I am the law!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The story's title probably alludes to "The Day The Music Died", a lyric in Don McLean's song 'American Pie' that refers to the February 3, 1959 plane crash in Iowa that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper.

Cal's new haircut is very I, Claudius (1976).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This is a phenomenal beginning. The dialogue is sharp throughout, the assassination attempts are both shocking and Cal's punishment for Quincy is very, very funny.

Next Prog: The Tyrant's Grip!