Judge Dredd: 'The Neon Knights'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'The Neon Knights'
(according to Barney this strip is also known as 'KKK')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 29

DATELINE
10 September 77

This prog also boasted a Supercover by Evi and Invasion, Dan Dare, Tharg's Future Shocks, M.A.C.H.1 and Shako strips.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Robo-Hunter Book 2, Judge Dredd: The Early Cases 4, Judge Dredd Annual 1984, Cyber Crush 05, The Complete Judge Dredd 3 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd takes on a Klan determined on vengance against robots.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Judge Dredd work by Pat Mills.

INFORMATION
Mega City One's Hi-Tower Cemetery contains the remains of several deceased Judges. Named Judges: Judge Rock, Judge Sterne, Judge Gorgon (all deceased, killed during the Robot Wars).

Following the Robot Wars there is an increase in ill feeling toward robots and their owners, nicknamed 'Robo-Lovers'. Klans, such as the Neon Knights, have formed to take revenge on robots. They are lead by a Grand Master, smash up robots for minor offences and have imposed a Ten o'clock curfew on them.

Mek-Doctors fix broken robots.

JUDGE DREDD
He investigates the murder of a robot and his murder and later comes to Walter's aid. He takes on the Neon Knights and fights their Grand Master. He unmasks him as a cyborg and arrests his disenfranchised followers.

OTHER CHARACTERS
WALTER
He is attacked by a Klan on his way to Dredd's apartment. Dredd comes to his aid. Despite taking damage the Mek-Doctor says he can be fixed.

ARRESTS
At least seven Klansmen are seen being ushered into a Police vehicle in the last panel, but they probably arrested them all.

DEATHS
Two. Clive the robot and his owner are murdered by the Klan.

BEST LINES
Grand Master Of The Neon Knights: "Tell me I'm human! Please! Tell me I'm normal!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "Huh? Those burning torches...Could be the Klan's hide-out. Better take a closer look..."

CATCHPHRASES
Walter says Cwoss, Cwuel, Dwedd, Fwee, Fwend, Howible, Huwwy, Pwoud, Wain, Wemember, Wight, Wisked and Wobot, while one of the Neon Knights gives us an "Aieeee!". Dredd says "I am the law" and oddly insists that the assembled Neon Knights shout "You are the law, Judge Dredd!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
This strip directly references Judge Dredd: Robot Wars.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Ku Klux Klan are an obvious influence here, notably featured in films like The Birth Of The Nation (1915), The Burning Cross (1947) and Blazing Saddles (1974), while the unmasked Cyborg looks very like the Kraal androids of Doctor Who's The Android Invasion (1975).

MISTAKES
When the Grand Master of the Neon Knights says "Hold it! Destroying free robots is dangerous." etc, the speech bubble has two tails? It looks like Walter could be saying it.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Ian Gibson
Letters: Tony Jacob

REVIEW
A strip dealing with the aftermath of 'Robot Wars' was a great idea, but while 'Robot Wars' was a subtle and thought-provoking allegory for slavery this instead has very obvious and unfortunate roots. I don't think that the hooded Klansmen with a K theme helps the strip, that said the action sequence is great and it's nice to see Dredd standing up for Walter.

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