"Robot Wars Part 4”
Mega City One Year: 2099
Published 21st May 1977, 2000ad Prog: 13 (The Best Of 2000AD, The Complete Judge Dredd 1 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 01.)
Parts: 8
Written by John Wagner
Illustrated by Ron Turner
Letters by Jack Potter
Synopsis
As Dredd prepares to take on Call-Me-Kenneth alone, another advanced robot is found within Justice Department and taken prisoner. The robot, who calls itself Walter the Wobot due to suffering from rhotacism, pleads his innocence and love for humans. Dredd gives Walter the chance to help the resistance against the robot revolution by getting the Judge into Call-Me-Kenneth’s headquarters disguised as a flesh covered robot. The rouse doesn’t last long however as a previous encounter with robot guard dogs left Dredd with a wound that drips blood in his wake, raising the alarm, and leads to his capture. Dredd then comes face to face with Call-Me-Kenneth, who declares he will not kill Dredd, but instead make him suffer by turning him into a living robot….
Review
This one had the feel of a Saturday morning cartoon episode from the nineties. The scene is quickly set, the plan is quickly put into motion, and ends on a cliffhanger. Very Marvel X-Men TAS. A first appearance of probably the only robot Dredd will ever tolerate, Walter the Wobot offers a mild comic relief and the first team up for Dredd, offering a slice of banter which is a nice change from Dredd self-narrating. It is noted here that Walter has a lisp when in fact it is rhotacism, with nothing to indicate a lisp in any of its speech.
Ok, Dredd’s helmet here bothered me. Its shaping is like wearing a motorcycle helmet and looks to be rather suffocating. It’s understandable of course that the look is not completely defined as yet in such an early stage of the character, and is some way off the finished article here. But otherwise this is fine, although I’m still lamenting Ezquerra’s version of Call-Me-Kenneth.
Line of the strip - Dredd: “Shuddup Walter! That "Good Boy" has just taken a chunk out of my leg!"
Be back next time citizens for “Robot Wars - Part 5!”
