Contract killing is a messy business. Back in his shitty hometown Orlok knew a bloke who would supply weapons as well as tattoos, which was a neat sideline. In the far flung future city, tattoos are off the menu but if you want someone whacked, you simply go and see some professionals. Presumably there is some sort of Craigslist option in the Big Meg to make this an easier task than asking for a “slag tag from the special ink set”.
DATELINE:
June 2103 (Prog 215).
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?:
John Wagner and Alan Grant indulge in contract killing while Ron Smith hides the bodies.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT (IN ONE SENTENCE)?:
Depressed cits Rita and Teddington Lumly take a blitz contract out on themselves.
WHO’S THAT IN THE HELMET?:
Giant (remember him?) assists Dredd with the investigation by looking in from the side panel and doing fuck all else.
Forensics Judge Johns looks for clues to Teddington’s murder. He and his buddies seem to be instagramming the stiff.
Judge Low is one of the Judges called when Teddington is shot dead.
IT’S CULTURAL, INNIT?:
Sir Kenneth Clarke was an author, museum director, broadcaster, and one of the best-known art historians.
Mark Clark was possibly a reference to the member of the Black Panthers gunned down in 1969.
Grover Cleveland was a two time US President renowned for his political reform and fiscal conservatism.
ANY LAW LORE?:
Conspiracy to a blitz murder will get you 15 years.
Blitz agents are implanted with suicide boxes to prevent capture.
WHAT’S THE ART LIKE?:
The designs here are a little unusual, swinging between 1980s Detroit and the bizarreness of Reeta Lumly’s liquorice allsorts bodysuit. That said, it conveys the flow of the story well.
HOW MANY LINKS?:
Dredd’s keen logical mind deduces that deliveries are just “robot work” which sounds a bit racist. Despite that this is a decent enough tale of despair leading to tragedy and in the end the Judges cannot adequately protect their charge unless she is banged up. So, like the last story, there is a sense of the futility here. I wonder if the blitzers ever caught up with her after the 15 stretch? There’s probably a novella there. Four links.
Everything Comes Back To 2000AD 