The Law In Order: The Wally Squad

The life of an undercover law enforcer appears to be quite fraught and assignments must be a real mixed bag. For every Joe Cabot you investigate there must also be a Joe Exotic and that will rapidly get on your tits. Of course, being undercover has its benefits. Hanging out with hedonists, access to illegal items and a steady supply of on-tap sex with the underclass must be some of the perks. Shit, it’s like being in Cardiff.

DATELINE:
November 2106 (Progs 390-392).

WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?:
John Wagner and Alan Grant go deep, deep, deep undercover in Brett Ewins’ mind.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT (IN ONE SENTENCE)?:
Dredd deals with both a case of organ legging, and a renegade Judge.

WHO’S THAT IN THE HELMET?:
Judge Orde Benson goes rogue and is gunned down by Dredd to save a perp.
Wally Judge Howard Darth is knifed to death by organ leggers.
Judge Humpleman finds Shea’s body dumped on Ravioli and 12th.
Judge Wickland gets the honour of covering the stairs at Nancy Mitford.

IT’S CULTURAL, INNIT?:
The Lone Ranger and Tonto were western heroes made popular in a 1933 radio serial.
The Boys From Brazil is a book by Ira Levin about clones of Adolf Hitler. It’s probably Steven Ross’s favourite bedtime story.
Calvi Underhang is a too soon nod to the death of Roberto Calvi, found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge.
Nancy Mitford was a noted English novelist and socialite.

ANY LAW LORE?:
Judges prefer high profile policing.
When a Judge’s operational efficiency is called into question, a Senior Judge from outside the Division is brought
in to investigate.
Dredd has the authority to place a colleague on suspension.

WHAT THE DROKK?:
Dredd knew that Benson was lying, so why not just give him to the SJS and have them extract the info?
The bikes lack the cyclops laser.

WHAT’S THE ART LIKE?:
Ewins always does have some bonkers designs and he lets rip on both the citizens, wallies and racial stereotypes. It’s a little looser and less detailed in the later parts, but still good. The gun is fucking huge in the last part, which makes it look more McCarthy than Ewins.

HOW MANY LINKS?:
A solid four. Some of the street jargon used works well enough to show how into their roles the Wallies are, but the South Am dialect does get a little too much and veers swiftly into stereotyping. The panel work is lovely and helps this story flow effortlessly. The central theme here of Judges going off message (and paying the ultimate price) has some resonance. Remember, this is how two Dredds became one Dredd back in 2079, so you can see why Joe has very little truck with it.