‘The Wreath Murders'
Mega City One Year: 2099
Published 6th August 1977, 2000ad Prog: 24 (Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 01.)
Parts: 1
Script: Malcolm ShawArtist: Mike McMahonLetters: John Aldrich
Synopsis
As a series of grisly murders takes place across Mega City One with a wreath left at every scene, Dredd is puzzled as to how they get away and leave no trace evidence at each scene. Consulting the Judges central computer, known as Macro Analysis Computer, its analysis of the scenes shows the same ambulance number at every scene. Tracing the ambulance, the information proves correct, just as the killers, identified as Med-Tech’s, are about to take their next victim. Dredd arrives on the scene, and as one of the murderers launches at Dredd, cleaver in hand, Dredd throws him over his shoulder, the cleaver taking out the other murderer in the face. The other killer grabs Dredd’s Lawgiver, but his attempts to fire at Dredd fail. Dredd explains that not only will the gun not fire as it only works for Dredd’s prints, it also contains a self destruct mechanism that has immediately triggered, and the remaining killer is felled.
Review
A brief yet vital Dredd tale, The Wreath Murders is a major turning point for the series. Medical technicians using their positions to commit such depravity shows a deep sense of a troubled populous. Best of all is the introduction to the Lawgiver’s safety protocols. It will be used multiple times across the strip and it’s nice to see it introduced so early into the strip.
Line of the strip: Med-Tech: "Your ambulance is here, sir!" Victim: "I don't need no ambulance!" Med-Tech: "You do now!"
Be back next time citizens for : 'You Bet Your Life'
