Orlok once witnessed a shocking indictment for that scourge of Halloween; trick or treat. Imported from the colonies, this accepted form of begging was met with ultimate force by Orlok’s neighbour who took to tricking every caller to his domicile. This started off with handing the kids wrapped up sprouts and by the end of the evening culminated in him launching a bucket of icy water over three screaming six year olds dressed as witches…
DATELINE:
October 2105 (1984 Dredd Annual).
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?:
John Wagner and Alan Grant attempt to scare us and Carlos Ezquerra achieves it.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT (IN ONE SENTENCE)?:
Mutants ruin Halloween for petty much everyone.
IT’S CULTURAL, INNIT?:
Marty Feldman was a bog-eyed British comedy actor.
The Two Ronnies were a popular comedy duo of the 1970s and 80s.
(Albert) Cubby Broccoli was a film producer most notable for the James Bond series of movies.
WHO’S THAT IN THE HELMET?:
Judge Eustace is shot dead by mutants but goes out calling it in.
ANY LAW LORE?:
Impersonating a known perp is an offence.
CANON FODDER?:
The elbow pads are the wrong colour, but the kneepads actually do shift from the wrong colour to the correct one.
It’s stated that the mutants simply sticked over the West Wall. Is nobody manning the thing these days?
And where did the mutants get the jet sticks just in time for Halloween? Are there jet stick sellers in the Cursed Earth?
WHAT THE DROKK?:
Dredd has not been coloured in at all on page 5. Either that or he really needs to see a haematologist.
What good would credits actually do a Cursed Earth mutant? I guess if they wanted to remain in the Big Meg they would need cash for a safe house or something but that’s a finite situation.
There’s some odd behaviour in this. Dredd hears a disturbance and sees someone being chased so immediately opens up with his gun. He’s shooting over them but still, he’s discharging his weapon without just cause.
On the flipside, Eustace shouts “freeze” while he is already firing. Why? Does he want them to stand even more still than dead?
WHAT’S THE ART LIKE?:
With yet another circle panel or two for the Geordie Princess, this is good stuff and odd colouring aside it works well. The mutant designs were well realised and bore a striking similarity to some Strontium Dog action.
HOW MANY LINKS?:
The mutants in this were pretty horrible, killing a child as casually as one might beat a ginner. The odd behaviour and logic gaps taint this a little so only three links.
Everything Comes Back To 2000AD 