"Robot Wars Part 8”
Mega City One Year: 2099
Published 18th June 1977, 2000ad Prog: 17 (The Complete Judge Dredd 1 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 01.)
Parts: 8
Written by John WagnerArtist: Ian GibsonLetters: Peter Knight
Synopsis
Call-Me-Kenneth, now alone in his assault on Mega City One, is wounded but still dangerous as he fights his way through the city’s police forces in search of much needed oil to survive. Dredd, in hot pursuit, knows the robot is making its way to a nearby oil depot but must give chase as opening fire could blow up the whole depot. Call-Me-Kenneth hijacks the tanker and launches it into the air, but not before Dredd jumps aboard. As Dredd wounds its open circuits, Call-Me-Kenneth launches Dredd after catching an oil pipe that bursts. As he plummets off of the airborne tanker, Dredd fires at Call-Me-Kenneth, whose close proximity to the oil tanker ignites both it and the tanker, destroying both and ending the robot war.
Dredd is saved by the fire department, and the Grand Judge subsequently grants Walter’s rebellious recruits pleasure circuits for their service to Mega City One. As for Walter, he is granted freedom, but wants to look after Dredd and subsequently upsets his cleaner Maria.
Review
John Wagner’s first Judge Dredd tale comes to an end. If nothing else it serves as an interesting insight into the very early days of Dredd and the form of storytelling Wagner will offer for the next forty years and beyond. The mixture of artists provides different flavours each week but within the history of the comic it’s perfectly forgivable. It’s incredible to think that Dredd is a strip that has NEVER stopped. This also marked the end of Pat Mills’ reign as editor of 2000ad, who had allegedly pushed Ezquerra away from 2000ad despite co-creating its flagship character.
As for the Robot War, its comedy punchline ending is something Wagner would often, just not rarely after a two-month storyline that threatens Mega City One.
Line of the strip - random crowd robot: "I wish I got a pleasure circuit"
Be back next time citizens for “Brainblooms”
