The Law In Order: Judge Minty

Age ain’t nothin’ but a number. Now, that’s dangerous talk if you are someone like R Kelly, and even more dangerous if you are a long in the tooth lawman trying to bring in a gang of twats. Luckily in the latter case there is help in the form of Joe Dredd, a man for whom age ain’t important when he’s giving you a thirty year stretch for whistling out of tune.

DATELINE:
January 2102 (Prog 147).

WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?:
John Wagner puts the plight of an aged public servant front and centre here and Mick McMahon’s art is a thing of joy.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT (IN ONE SENTENCE)?:
Dredd partners the aged Judge Minty in hunting down the Kovaks Mob.

WHO’S THAT IN THE HELMET?:
Chief Judge Jurgen Griffin offers Judge Minty a teaching post at the Academy.
After failing on the streets, Judge Minty takes the Long Walk to the Cursed Earth.
Judge Young forms part of the honour guard who see Minty off on the Long Walk. The name is probably a bit on the nose.

ANY LAW LORE?:
A Judge can file an Adverse Report on a fellow Judge. This can end the latter’s career but generally isn’t going to be a good thing.
A Judge who retires with honour can teach at the Academy of Law. There will never be a Tutor Judge Ross.

WHAT THE DROKK?:
Minty calls Dredd a young fella even though Dredd is physically about 40 years old.
Mutieland is again used instead of the Cursed Earth and it seems to be more than just a nickname.

WHAT’S THE ART LIKE?:
Stunning stuff that pulls off the action superbly.

HOW MANY LINKS?:
This is bona fide classic and for good reason. It has wit, Dredd being a bastard and the aged Minty coming across as a sympathetic character in the light of his attitude compared to Dredd’s. There’s also something ultimately tragic about the man since he has been drained by the city and the service he has given. A seven link story.