Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 12 – Burger Law!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 12 – Burger Law!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 72

DATELINE
8 July 78

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd and Spikes must escape the Burger Barons.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time that a story has reached twelve parts and I'll bet this is 2000 AD's first lynching as well.

INFORMATION
The lack of government after the Atomic War left a power vacuum, which the hamburger chains have sought to fill.

Cattle have mutated to the size of elephants.

Those affiliated to Burger King have declared it a crime to work for a different hamburger chain.

JUDGE DREDD
He and Spikes are taken to MacDonald City. They are locked up in a hamburger warehouse, but escape. They steal a pre-war truck from a transport depot and leave MacDonald City. They encounter a stampede caused by the Burger King vigilantes. Dredd and Spikes are found guilty of Hamburger Crimes and sentenced to death by the Burger King judge. They are to be hanged, but the sentence is interrupted by an attack by Judge Jack. They continue their journey.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SPIKES 'HARVEY' ROTTEN
He and Dredd are taken to MacDonald City and locked up in a hamburger warehouse, but they escape and steal a pre-war truck from a transport depot and leave the city. The run into a cattle stampede caused by Burger King forces and are arrested for Hamburger Crimes and sentenced to death by hanging. Judge Jack intervenes. They continue their journey.

JUDGE JACK
He finds Dredd and Spikes' Q-Bikes abandoned at In Between and heads to MacDonald City, but discovers the lynching instead and attacks the Burger King forces in the land-raider and saves Dredd and Spikes from being hanged .

ARRESTS
At least six. Dredd and Spikes are found guilty of Hamburger Crimes and sentenced to death by the Burger King judge. Jack subsequently arrests at least four Burger King soldiers and is forced to release them.

DEATHS
Two. 'Ronald MacDonald' shoots an employee dead and a Burger King soldier dies in Jack's attack.

BEST LINES
'Ronald MacDonald': "Don't worry, folks. Everythin' in MacDonalds is disposable - includin' the staff."

WORST LINES
Stampede Starter: "Hyaa! Move, lil' doggies!"

What?

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
'Ronald MacDonald' paraphrases the "I have a dream" speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr (1929–1968) in 1963. He mentions Hershey Bars and the New York Yankees, and the lyric "From sea to shining sea" is a line from 'America The Beautiful' by Katharine Lee Bates and Samuel A. Ward (1895).

MISTAKES
Part 11 took place in Kansas, but it's stated here that Dredd has reached Arkansas.

RETROSPECT
Dredd says he will return and "deal with that crazy hamburger war", which seems unlikely given IPC's 'banning'.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Tom Frame

T.B. Grover is another in John Wagner's line of pseudonyms.

REVIEW
This is better. 'The Bit With The Burger Barons' comes to an end with more of the satire and dark humour than it began as competition gives way to dreams of monopoly. The opening double page splash of MacDonald City and the panel of the lynching in silhouette (both above) are astonishing pieces of work.

Next Prog: The Coming Of Satanus!

Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 11 – Battle Of The Burger Barons

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 11 – Battle Of The Burger Barons

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 71

DATELINE
1 July 78

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd becomes embroiled in a war between two Burger Barons.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time that a story has reached eleven parts and this is also the first of the 'banned' strips.

INFORMATION
The Great Atomic War turned Kansas into a nuclear dustbowl and it suffers from dust storms. In Between is a town with a population of 99, mainly normal. The town got its name because it is 'In Between' the land of the neighbouring burger barons. 'Ronald MacDonald' leads Macdonald's Marauders from a base in Macdonald City to the north of In Between, while the 'Burger King' leads the Burger Boys from Burgerville to the south.

JUDGE DREDD
He fights in the battle between the MacDonald's Marauders and the Burger Boys, but is kidnapped when 'Ronald MacDonald' wins.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SPIKES HARVEY ROTTEN
He rides into In Between with Dredd and orders a hamburger from a café, which causes the locals to pull a gun on him believing he is spying for one of the Burger Barons. He fights in the battle between the MacDonald's Marauders and the Burger Boys, but is kidnapped when 'Ronald MacDonald' wins.

'THE BURGER KING'
Burger Baron in charge of the Burger Boys. He is not the original Burger King. He gave the people of In Between an ultimatum to decide which side they were on. When it ran out he and his troops entered the town to discover the result only to find that MacDonald's forces were also present. They clashed and the Burger King was beaten by MacDonald and his forces fled.

'RONALD MACDONALD'
Burger Baron in charge of the MacDonald's Marauders. He is not the original Ronald MacDonald, but instead the son of the man who ran MacDonald's before the Great Atomic War. His troops clash with those of the Burger King in In Between and win. MacDonald orders the town set on fire and the inhabitants kidnapped.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
At least four. We see three soldiers of indeterminate affiliation die in battle, while 'The Burger King' is killed by 'Ronald MacDonald'.

BEST LINES
'Ronald MacDonald': "You'll have to stay a MacDonald customer till this war is won - An' that might be quite a spell yet....This is big country - Burger Country!".

WORST LINES
The 'Burger King': "You've bitten off more'n yuh kin chew this time Ronald!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd understandably asks "What the drokk are you talking about?", a fast food fighter shouts an "Aieeeee!" and 'Ronald MacDonald' says "There's a difference at MacDonald's - - A difference you'll enjoy", which was a McDonalds advertising slogan between 1974 and 1986.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
M(a)cDonalds and Burger King are fast food restaurants.

MISTAKES
At one point Dredd's badge reads Dreed.

RETROSPECT
This strip was not banned per se, but after encountering problems with another trademark infringing two-part section of The Cursed Earth, IPC decided to play it safe and chose not to reprint this part or its successor.

NOTES
There is very little here to draw attention to the fact that Tweak is now part of Dredd's crew. He appears in the background of one panel.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: T. Frame

REVIEW
Mike McMahon's interpretation of 'Ronald MacDonald' is great and the genuine corporate rivalry left unchecked premise behind this strip is brilliant, but the end result is mostly ham-fisted.

Next Prog: Burger Law!!

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!

Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 9 – The Slay-Riders!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 9 – The Slay-Riders!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 69

DATELINE
17 June 78

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS

Judge Dredd 6, Judge Dredd Epics: The Cursed Earth, 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 meets an enslaved alien life-form who escapes and seeks the Judge's protection.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time that a story has reached nine parts and the first appearances of Dredd's log, alien life and Tweak.

INFORMATION
(This part takes place on Days Twelve and Thirteen of the journey)

The Mississippi river is a foul-smelling river of fire, polluted with petrol and nuclear waste from the Great Atomic War. There was an alien nature reserve near the Mississippi, but when the war began the specimens were sold off as slave labour.

The Slay-Riders retrieve any runaway slaves. They are a group of mutants, lead by the Alien Catcher General that ride an array of mutant steeds.

Robo-Navvies are a mechanised workforce.

JUDGE DREDD
He keeps a log of the journey. His reputation has reached the Mississippi (at least at co-ordinates A7..L5..3). He helps Tweak after he escapes from captivity. He fights and kills a Slay-Rider to protect Tweak. The two of them are attacked by the Slay-Riders napalm throwers.

OTHER CHARACTERS

TWEAK
An alien life-form. Tweak eats rocks and has incredibly strong pincers. He is a slave, until he encounters Dredd and escapes that night. He evades the slay-riders long enough to find Dredd. He is recaptured, but Dredd rescues him. The pair are attacked by the Slay-Riders napalm throwers.




ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
At least four. Dredd shoots a Slay-Rider dead with his bike cannon, while the weapons on the land-raider kills two steeds and one rider.

BEST LINES
Dredd (about Tweak): "Maybe he finds the way humans eat other animals just as stupid."

WORST LINES
Slaver: "Jodie, when the cages are all mucked out. Check they're locked tight. Don't want to have to call out the Slay-Riders after any runners."
Jodie: "Sure, Boss. Ain't nothin' getting' out o' here tonight."

CATCHPHRASES
Tweak says Twurp three times and Twaaark once, while Dredd returns to "I am the law!".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The Slay-Riders were mentioned in The Cursed Earth, Part Four.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Slay-Riders is a pun on Sleigh Ride, which is the name of a famous orchestral piece composed by Leroy Anderson, who had the idea for the piece during a heat wave in 1946, he finished it in February 1948 and the orchestral version was first recorded in 1949 by Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops Orchestra. Lyrics were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950.

The cages and the washing down of their occupants resembles a scene from Planet Of The Apes (1968). The Alien Catcher General recalls the Witchfinder General. He wears a smiley (☺) badge, the smiley was apparently created in the USA in 1962 and initially meant to represent genuine happiness, but by 1978 it became, after years of cynical marketing and branding, a hollow symbol that now had the opposite meaning, while in the UK it accompanied psychedelic drug culture. He is also wearing a gollywog badge of a sort similar to those given away with Robertson's Marmalade between 1910 and 2002. Yes, 2002. The debate over whether gollywogs are an innocent toy or a racist caricature periodically rears its head. For the record, it's the latter.

MISTAKES
The prose style in Dredd's logbook is surprisingly florid.

RETROSPECT
One of Slay-Rider's steeds appears to be cross between a horse and Tyrannosaurus Rex.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
On the face of it, the moral of this section is that slavery is wrong, but to write this off accordingly is to do it a disservice. The Slay-Riders are mutants, and brilliantly realised mutants on brilliantly realised steeds at that. Mutants who would be second class citizens in Mega-City One exerting power over creatures that have travelled thousands of light years. The slaves have become the enslavers. Tweak is a masterstroke of design and may well be the cutest individual to appear in comics ever.

Next Prog: Requiem For An Alien!

Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 8 – The Sleeper Awakes!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 8 – The Sleeper Awakes!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 68

DATELINE
10 June 78

PAGE COUNT
7

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

SYNOPSIS
Believing him to be a Vampire, Ikkabod tries to take revenge on the last President of the United States of America.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First real appearance of Robert L. Booth, first example of war crimes, first appearance of Judge Solomon.

INFORMATION
In 2070, the American President Robert L. Booth pushed the button that began the Atomic Wars. Millions died and there were protests calling for his resignation and for his powers to be handed to the Judges, genetically chosen to be tough, but fair. Booth was tried before a Grand Council of Judges and found guilty of war crimes. His sentence was a hundred years of suspended animation, interred at Fort Knox with a trio of Medic Droids programmed to obey the Judges. Booth became the last President of the United States of America, by order of the Judges who took over the running of the country.

The Medic Robots checked and changed Booth's blood until Fort Knox was hit by a bomb that destroyed their supply of blood. The robots were forced to look further afield for their blood and the legend of a Kentucky vampire grew.

Named Judges: Judge Solomon (active circa 2070).

JUDGE DREDD
He convinces the Medic Robots to end their attack, descends to the lower level and prevents Ikkabod from killing Booth. He changes Booth's sentence to life.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ROBERT L. BOOTH
He was President of the United States of America in 2070, nicknamed Smooth Booth. He started the Atomic Wars, which lead to calls for his resignation and a trial before a Grand Council of Judges. Booth was found guilty of war crimes and sentenced to a hundred years in suspended animation at Fort Knox.

He was awoken and released in 2100 by a group who thought him to be a vampire. He begged not to be returned to suspended animation for another seventy years. Judge Dredd hears his appeal, changes his sentence to life and orders him to grow crops in the Cursed Earth under Ikkabod's watchful eye.

JUDGE SOLOMON
He presided over Booth's trial and sentenced him to hundred years in suspended animation.

SNAP, CRACKLE AND POP
Names Dredd gives to Booth's three Medic Robots. They checked and changed Booth's blood until a bomb hit Fort Know and destroyed their blood supply, their programming forced them to search for blood elsewhere which caused the legend of the Kentucky vampire. Dredd orders that they are to be reprogrammed to help re-cultivate the Cursed Earth.

IKKABOD
He promises to keep an eye on Booth.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Snap: "I'm afraid it's true. We..."
Crackle: "...did go around "drinking" everyone's motion lotion."
Pop: "And we've like to apologise!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "You want an explanation? Okay, you got it! Now listen...and listen good..."

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Drokk it!" twice.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Dredd refers to Walter as "that metal freak I left behind in Mega-City One", Walter was last seen in Judge Dredd: Firebug.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Watergate scandal and President Richard M. Nixon's subsequent impeachment presumably served as inspiration for Booth's fall from grace. Dredd dubs the Medic robot trio Snap, Crackle and Pop which are the names of the three elf mascots seen on boxes of Kellogg's Rice Krispies since 1933. He also mentions Count Dracula who famously appeared in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel and numerous films.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
President Booth will become a significant character later on.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
The resolution to 'The Bit With The Vampire' is far more rewarding than expected. In a beautiful example of world building, the flashback provides a fascinating insight into the last days of America, the arrival of the Judges and Robert L. Booth as a name for a US President somehow just sounds right.

Next Prog: The Slay-Riders!

Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 7 – Night Of The Vampire!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 7 – Night Of The Vampire!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 67

DATELINE
3 June 78

PAGE COUNT
7

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

SYNOPSIS
Dredd attempts to bring a vampire's reign of terror to an end.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of a vampire and the as-yet-unnamed last president of the USA in Judge Dredd.

INFORMATION
In what used to be the state of Kentucky, the ruins of Fort Knox still stand after it was destroyed by a fusion bomb during the atomic wars. It has been equipped with automatic laser cannons and a trio of Medic Robots to guard both the gold and the last president of the United States of America. One of the Medic Robots has been programmed to collect blood from living individuals as far as fifteen miles away. The process kills the blood donor and leaves two distinct puncture wounds on the neck. This has lead to tales of a vampire that stalks the area.

JUDGE DREDD
He decides to assist Ikkabod in going after the vampire. They head to the vampire's lair at Fort Knox and Dredd disarms its laser cannon defences. He and Spikes are attacked by two of the three Medic Robots.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SPIKES 'HARVEY' ROTTEN
He accompanies Dredd to Fort Knox. He and Dredd are attacked by two of the three Medic Robots.

ELMER
Farmer living fifteen miles south of Fort Knox. He feeds Dredd and his men. When Ikkabod's daughter is killed by the 'vampire' Elmer accompanies his neighbour to Fort Knox to confront it.

IKKABOD
Elmer's neighbour. His daughter is killed when one of the Medic Robots drains her blood. Ikkabod heads to the vampire's lair for revenge.

THE MEDIC ROBOTS
Three Medic Robots who guard the last President of the United States of America. They share a collective personality, but are capable of independent action. One of them drained Ikkabod's daughter of all her blood, but is apparently programmed against its own will and has a concept of human beauty. Later, two of them attack Dredd and Spikes.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
One. Ikkabod's daughter is killed by the vampiric medic robot.

BEST LINES
Ikkabod: "Neighbour Elmer...get thy boys from their beds...we goin' to hunt down an' destroy the vampire once and for all!"
Elmer: "You-you mean it struck again, neighbour Ikkabod?"
Ikkabod: "That it have! My lovely daughter...and not even the garlic protected her!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "Please explain, citizen."

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd breaks out both a "Stomm!" and a "What the drokk...?"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
A US President called Bates was mentioned in Judge Dredd: 'You Bet Your Life'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Vampires appeared in Eastern European folklore long before Western fiction ran with the concept. The most famous works are The Vampyre by John Polidori (1819) and Dracula by Bram Stoker (1987). I can't find any evidence of robotic vampires before the publication of this strip, but the look of the Medic Robots is presumably influenced by Nosferatu (1922).

Fort Knox is a US Military base that was built in 1918. It was used to house the nation's gold bullion and did so successfully enough for the name Fort Knox to become synonymous with secure. The interior as seen here owes a lot to Fort Knox's appearance in Goldfinger (1964).

Elmer was originally a surname, but was adopted as a first name in the United States as a result of the popularity of Ebenezer and Jonathan Elmer, supporters of the American Revolution, although it would be more famous in Britain as a result of Looney Tunes character Elmer Fudd. Ikkabod brings to mind Ichabod Crane from Washington Irving's short story The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow (1820), who was named after a real US Colonel (1787–1857).

MISTAKES
Technically, vittals is incorrect and should be vittles, but since that is itself the incorrect spelling of the word victuals it seems daft to complain about it.

RETROSPECT
Dredd will one day encounter a more traditional interpretation of vampires.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
The structure of The Cursed Earth is becoming clear: a larger overarching story made up of smaller tales. So after 'the bit with the rats' and 'the bit with the Mutants', here comes 'the bit with the vampire'. These localised stories show us more varied slices of Americana than Mega-City One ever could. A vampire myth that turns out to be a robot is a great idea, but letting the reader in on it and showing how the people of Kentucky could leap to that conclusion is brilliant. Mike McMahon's close-up on Ikkabod is fantastic and Pat Mills' neighbourly dialogue does more to cement the Cursed Earth as a place people actually live than anything that came before it.

Next Prog: The Sleeper Awakes!

Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 6 – Dark Autumn!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 6 – Dark Autumn!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 66

DATELINE
27 May 78

PAGE COUNT
7

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

SYNOPSIS
The Brotherhood of Darkness pursue Dredd's land-raider and another mutant comes to the Judge's aid.

FIRSTS & LASTS
This is the first time Dredd shows mercy to a mutant and the last appearance of Brothers Gomorrah, Obee, Jobee and Morgar alive.

INFORMATION
During the war, the Cursed Earth was affected by radiation leading to deforestation of trees and mutation among the human population. Mutations include extra fingers and telekinetic powers.

JUDGE DREDD
Novar reads his mind and declares that he is a good man. He invites Novar to join them.

OTHER CHARACTERS
NOVAR
A mutant with six fingers, telekinetic powers and the ability to read minds. He calls it the mind force. Novar lives with his mother, a radiation victim since the war. According to his mother, his father was "a good man". He builds a metal sculpture of a tree. Movar uses his mind force to briefly immobilise Dredd's land-raider and return Brother Morgar's knife to him. Dredd invites him to join them on the journey to MC2, but he declines.

SPIKES
He doesn't trust Novar.

BROTHER MORGAR
He pursues Dredd's land-raider to Novar's home. He throws a dagger at Dredd's back, but Novar uses his telekinetic powers to turn the knife around in mid-air and return to Morgar, stabbing him in the chest.

JUDGE GRADGRIND
He is killed fighting with the Brotherhood of Darkness.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
One. Judge Gradgrind is speared through the torso by a Brother.

BEST LINES
Morgar: "Why are we not going faster, Brother Gomorrah?"
Gomorrah: "A - er - Slight technical hitch, Brother Morgar...Brother Solom has been using poor quality nutty slag in the furnace - but we are picking up speed now."
Morgar: "We had better, or Brother Solom himself will be providing fuel for the furnace!"

WORST LINES
Morgar (throwing knife at Dredd): "Now, Dredd...Die! By the knife!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "My Drokk!" which I think is a first and Morgar mentions that the "Day of Atonement is at hand", which is not. Novar's mother says "Before they had the war" twice.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Again the convoy of the Brotherhood of Darkness brings to mind the mutants from Battle For The Planet Of The Apes (1973). Obee and Jobee reference "Come sweet death", a song for solo voice and basso continuo from the 69 Sacred Songs And Arias by Johann Sebastian Bach (1736).

MISTAKES
Some versions of this part name Judge Gradgrind as Judge Pollix.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is great. Another largely standalone instalment, which makes a more satisfyingly complex issue out of the mutant situation. Novar's mother is brilliantly characterised in just two panels and Gradgrind's death reminds us of the perilous nature of the quest.

Next Prog: Night Of The Vampire!