Judge Dredd: 'The Guinea Pig That Changed The Law'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'The Guinea Pig That Changed The Law'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 126

DATELINE
18 Aug 79

The last ever 2000 A.D. and Starlord also contains ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Dan Dare and Project Overkill strips and a Disaster 1990 cover by an unknown artist

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 12, Judge Dredd 29 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd makes a stand against experimentation on animals.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Mega-Labs is a scientific facility in Mega-City One.

The Domestic Cat can be made to talk through stimulation of unused parts of the brain.

The common cold has been wiped out. The population has lost its resistance.

The Dredd Act bans the use of animals for experimentation.

JUDGE DREDD
At the behest of a talking cat he attempts to prevent the murder of Monty, but is powerless when he discovers the potential victim is a guinea pig.

OTHER CHARACTERS
DOCTOR GALT
Works at Mega-Labs. He is an expert in ancient diseases. Galt has written a novel under the pseudonym 'Rex Leaper' about an individual who blackmails Mega-City One by recreating the common cold ands threatening to spread the infection. He has recreated the common cold and plans to blackmail the city in the same way, but instead becomes infected himself.

THE TALKING CAT
A cat used as an experimental subject at Mega-Labs and is able to talk. It brings Dredd to Mega-Labs to prevent Monty's murder.

MONTY
A one-eyed guinea pig used as an experimental subject at Mega-Labs. Dredd gives him to Walter to look after.

WALTER THE WOBOT
Dredd gives Monty to Walter.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
One. Doctor Galt is killed by his own cold culture.

BEST LINES
Cat: "They're gonna kill Monty - but the deed ain't yet been did! Come on - I'll show you!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "See here, Doctor - a guinea pig is one thing, but you can't destroy an animal this cat out of hand."

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd exclaims a "My Dok", Walter says cwipes.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Galt says "That damned Cat", which references the title of the film That Darn Cat (1965)

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: John Cooper
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
On the face of it, this is ridiculous and Galt's novel which has the same plot as his plan is very convenient, but the unnamed talking cat may just be the most realistically characterised individual to appear in the strip to date and boasting some of its best dialogue.

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