Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 10 – Requiem For An Alien!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 10 – Requiem For An Alien!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 70

DATELINE
24 June 78

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd 6, Judge Dredd Epics: The Cursed Earth 1, Judge Dredd Epics: The Cursed Earth, Judge Dredd Epics: The Collected Cursed Earth, The Complete Judge Dredd 7 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd protects Tweak from the Slay-Riders.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time that a story has reached ten parts and our first insight into Tweak's backstory.

INFORMATION
Power swords presumably have an electric charge running through them.

Quasar Bikes have an auto-mortar.

JUDGE DREDD
He kills the Alien Catcher General. Dredd orders that the grave Tweak is guarding be dug up and upon seeing the contents, he assists Tweak in burying the occupants again.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SPIKES HARVEY ROTTEN
He fights in the battle with the Slay-Riders. He is suspicious of Tweak, but ultimately helps cover Tweak's grave.

TWEAK
A Slay-Rider's napalm thrower sets his fur alight. He accidentally activates the Quasar Bike's auto-mortar and kills a number of Slay-Riders and their steeds. After the battle, he returns to a rock-covered grave. Dredd surmises that it contains Tweak's mate and young, that they were shot dead for not working hard enough and that the rocks are food for the afterlife. Dredd, Spikes, Jack and the remaining robots help Tweak cover the grave with more rocks. Tweak prefers granite and quartz.

JUDGE PATTON
He is killed during the battle, eaten by one of the Slay-Rider's steeds.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
At least eight. Tweak kills two slay-riders and their steeds with the Lawmaster's auto-mortar and the Ferry-Master with his pincers. Dredd kills a napalm throwing slay-rider and the Alien Catcher General armed with power sword with their own weapons. Judge Patton is eaten by a Slay-Rider's steed. Spikes says that most of the robots have been destroyed, at least two have survived intact.

BEST LINES
Dredd (about the Alien Catcher General): You bit off more than you could chew, pal!

WORST LINES
Dredd: "Judge Dredd has no favourites! If Tweak is guilty of murder...I'll shoot him myself!"

CATCHPHRASES
Tweak says Twaar, Twaaaw, Twalk, Twark, Twilk, Twokk, Twolk and Twurrrrp once each, as well as Twurp twice and Tweak five times. Reliably Dredd thinks a "Drokk" and exclaims a "By Stomm", while one of the Slay-Riders lets out an "Aieee".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Brian Bolland
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
The fight sequence is great, Bolland's artwork is wonderful and, although not subtle, the last page and a half concerning Tweak's family are surprisingly effective, but it would have been nice to see Tweak returning the favour and helping bury Judge Patton.

Next Prog: The Battle Of The Burger Barons!