So we’ve got these aliens, comin’ over here and killin’ people with alien weapons and taking professional killer jobs away from ordinary hard working humans. It’s enough to make you suddenly start voting for a giant wall to be built or for us to split off from the madness of a planetary union. Luckily we’ve given total control over all decisions to a hand picked elite of uber fascists. What can possibly be wrong with that?
DATELINE:
December 2102 (Prog 190).
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?:
John Wagner and Alan Grant ramp up the humour and the great Ian Gibson tops it off.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT (IN ONE SENTENCE)?:
An offworld hit squad is cornered in the Maze by Judges Dredd and Ginsberg.
WHO’S THAT IN THE HELMET?:
Judge Ginsberg is killed by the Nightmare Gun due to her fear of needles.
IT’S CULTURAL, INNIT?:
F.Loyd Mazny is clearly a riff on F. Lloyd Wright, innovative architect.
Jack Elam was a bolly eyed star of many westerns.
Betty Grable was a mid 20th century actress noted for her amazing legs.
Tony Curtis was a much married actor and philanthropist.
It may be a stretch but Ginsberg may be named for the poet/philosopher Allen who was no stranger to narcotics, though not of the needle kind.
ANY LAW LORE?:
Most Judges have their fears quashed by the harsh discipline of Academy training.
The Judges would go on to adapt the gun into the Fear Amplification Beam.
WHAT’S THE ART LIKE?:
Top stuff from Gibson and the look of the Gralls is right out of Star Wars.
HOW MANY LINKS?:
I’m giving this five because not only is it setting Dredd as something special, but also because it’s establishing aliens as part of the future city’s backdrop.
Everything Comes Back To 2000AD 