Judge Dredd: The Problem With Sonny Bono

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Problem With Sonny Bono

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 208

DATELINE
18 Apr 81

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 3, Judge Dredd Paperbacks Monkey Business & Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 05.

SYNOPSIS
Sonno Bono Block declares independence and Dredd puts down their rebellion.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One designates certain citiblocks as Problem Blocks and moves in problem families, ex-criminals, rent dodgers and known troublemakers.

Sonny Bono Block and Patsy Ann Noble Block are neighbours. Mega-Vit Synthi Foods have a store nearby.

Two weeks after it was designated a problem block, Sonny Bono Block was vandalised and covered in wallscrawl. Two months after it was designated a problem block, Sonny Bono Block was designated a slum. Three months after it was designated a problem block, Sonny Bono Block declares independence from Mega-City One. It transpire that the Citi-Def from neighbouring Patsy Ann Noble Block turned a sonic wave gun on Sonny Bono Block in the hope it would crumble and be condemned. The sonic frequencies at work are blamed for affecting the behaviour of the residents of Sonny Bono Block.

Synthi-Pie is synthetic pie.

A scanalysis is a combined scan and analysis.

JUDGE DREDD
He attempts to rescue Mayor Grubb from Sonny Bono and put down the rebellion. He discovers that they didn't have the Mayor hostage. He oversees the arrests of the entire block and their release when it transpires that the neighbouring Patsy Ann Noble Block's Citi-Def are responsible. Dredd sees that the relevant housing officer is fired.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MAYOR GRUBB
Sonny Bono Block claims to have him hostage, but instead he was at his club having a Skwidge bath and they were holding a pizza deliverer.

PRESIDENT DOG-EAR FITCH
Leader of Sonny Bono Block's campaign for independence. He is arrested by Dredd and later released.

ARRESTS
One entire block and another's Citi-Def. Sonny Bono Block are arrested for their attempt coup and kidnapping, the charges are later dropped.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
'Gard': "You here to negotiate, Judge?"
Dredd (as he lands on them): "Negotiate that, creeps!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Drokk" twice.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Sonny Bono Block was previously mentioned in Unamerican Graffiti, which also saw the most recent appearance of Mayor Grubb. Some graffiti in Sonny Bono reads "Don Uggie Lives", a reference to Don Uggie Apelino who first appeared in 'The Ape Gang'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Patsy Ann Noble Block is named after Patsy Ann Noble, an Australian singer and actress who appeared in Columbo, Buck Rogers In The 25th Century and Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. A piece of graffiti in Sonny Bono Block reads "Cher and Cher alike", a reference to Sonny Bono's wife, singer and actress, Cher.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T B Grover
Artist: Emberton
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
A nice mix of comedy and social commentary, which sees Dredd being surprisingly forgiving.

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