Man, psychotherapy is a tough one. On one hand, you want to go down the cognitive behavioural route and change the patient’s thinking patterns in the short term. This can then get them started on a road that will lead them to identify and solve the problems. On the other hand you just want to drug them up to the eyeballs to stop them molesting cats.
DATELINE:
October 2106 (Prog 389).
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?:
John Wagner and Alan Grant go Jungian and Ron Smith brings the Freud.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT (IN ONE SENTENCE)?:
Dredd undergoes a psychiatric assessment on his fitness for Judging.
WHO’S THAT IN THE HELMET?:
Judge Rheinhart is a psychiatrist who wears specs. Don’t you have contact lenses, dude?
Chief Judge Hilda McGruder overrules any attempt at psycho surgery on Dredd.
ANY LAW LORE?:
The uniform is in two parts instead of being one jumpsuit.
Dredd apparently wears dog tags.
Dredd entered the Academy of Law aged five.
WHAT THE DROKK?:
Dredd is undergoing a psychiatric assessment, so why the fuck is he stripping to the waist?
WHAT’S THE ART LIKE?:
Smith once again does some cracking layouts, and his nod to the old-style Judge helmet is a nice touch.
HOW MANY LINKS?:
There’s some more depth added to Dredd’s personality here as we learn he was initially quite hurt about being a clone. Later, sure of his purpose, he tried to separate his feelings for Rico in case it interfered with his judgement. It’s a bit of a let down from the previous two stories but still four links worth for what it gives us. The only two clunkers are that final line from McGruder and the fact that this never really goes anywhere. It’s forgotten about for years and only a mention of the tight boots around the time of Dredd taking the Long Walk has any call back for Dredd’s unease or his psychological make up.
Everything Comes Back To 2000AD 