Comic Review: Judge Dredd Complete Case Files 02 (Part 1)
Time for Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 02. In this collected series, we track the strips from 2000 AD Progs 61 to 115, representing the years 2100-2101. For this review, I will break it into two parts as this is a crazy giant comic, and it would take a considerable amount of reading and writing to do it justice. Luckily for us (but mostly me), this book can be easily broken down into two story arcs: The Cursed Earth Saga and The Day the Law Died. So, without further ado, here is part one, which we will call.........
The Cursed Earth Saga
This story arc was the first true epic tale for Judge Dredd, lasting over a staggering twenty-two issues. It would introduce the readers to the world beyond Mega City-One, which is truly diverse and scary. We glimpse Mega-City Two and are treated to an in-depth view of The Cursed Earth. Gone are the massive towers and homes of the citizens, gone are the high-tech gadgets of the Justice Department, and all that exists is the burning atomic man-made hell and the creatures that exist there. So, let's dive in and enjoy!
Story: Forbidden Fruit - Judge Dredd's old friend Red informs him of the plague 2T(FRU)T. Which is currently spreading throughout Mega City-2. Fearing for their sister city, Judge Dredd has no choice but to ride across the Cursed Earth to deliver a cure.
Highlight: Judge Dredd's friend Red succumbs to the 2T(FRU)T plague and attempts to eat Assistant Grand Judge Fodder! Also, the fact that all victims chant tutti fruit.
Story: Into the Darkness- Dredd seeks his last team member, Spikes Harvey Rotten (see Complete Case Files 1). A hardened criminal serving life for being in a motorcycle gang.
Highlight: The K2001 Land Raider is a four-wheel drive, thermo-nuclear engined tank armed with a flamethrower and machine guns. This then connects to the Killdozer, a more heavily armed tank equipped with nemesis rockets, cannons, laser guns, and two quasar bikes and is nuclear blast proof.
Story: The Devil's Lapdogs- In the town of Deliverance, crime is judged by the Lawgiver, and one unlucky couple has been sentenced to be eaten alive by the Devil's Lapdogs.
Highlight: The Devil's Lapdogs- Mutated Rats that live on a Garbage belt carried across the desert by atomic winds.
Story: King Rat- The mutant rats are coming for Deliverance, and Judge Dredd is all that stands in their way.
Highlight: The Lawgiver’s classic ending at the hands of the Devil's Lapdogs.
Story: The Mutie Mountains- Judge Dredd and his team have arrived at Mount Rushmore, but whose face is that on the mountain?
Highlight: Brother Morgar is the self-installed leader of the Mutie Brotherhood. He wears a rat as a hat piece and owns a rare and powerful La-Saw (think UFO flying saw blade).
Story: Dark Autumn- Judge Dredd and his team are now relentlessly chased by the Mutie Brotherhood. Their escape leads them to Novar. But will he aid them against Morgar's forces?
Highlight: Novar is a Cursed Earth mutant who enjoys building trees from scrap metal and using his powers of telekinesis.
Story: Night of the Vampire- In a backward town near the ruined Fort Knox, townfolk are drained of blood. But who's behind these strange killings?
Highlight: How ancient myths get corrupted for a new modern setting,
Story: The Sleeper Awakes- In future Kentucky vampire medical robots collect blood for their sleeping master. President Robert L. Booth! Will Dredd let the Hillbillies kill the last President of America?
Highlight: Snap, Crackle and Pop the Vampire Medical Droids—this unlikely trio of medical droids named after a popular cereal.
Story: The Slayriders- 12 days into the mission Judge Dredd has reached the Mississippi River. The once tourist-attracting river is now a raging fire with petrol, pollutants and nuclear waste. To cross it, Judge Dredd has to employ slavers. But when one alien attempts to flee, can Dredd sit idle and watch as the Slayriders hunt down the slave?
Highlight: Tweak an alien ant eater who loves eating rocks..
Story: Requiem for an Alien- Judge Dredd has saved the alien Tweak. But now the team is left fighting for their lives as the Slayriders surround them for the final assault.
Highlight: The Slayrider General, a goat-headed mutant armed with a Power Sword and riding a spiky giant mutant lizard! What else could I pick as a highlight?
Story: The Coming of Satanus!- The team is caught in a dino stampede. But what has caused them to run?
Highlight: Dinosaurs must be a throwback from my youth. But I love me a dinosaur.
Story: For Whom the Bell Tolls- the local town folk have caught Judge Dredd, and he is to be sacrificed to the Great Satanus.
Highlight: Flashbacks of Satanus's life. Have got to love a baby T-Rex.
Story: Picnic at Black Rock- Judge Dredd escapes being Satanus's lunch and declares repentance to be razed.
Highlight: Claw fights- Think illegal dog fights but with Velociraptors!!
Story: Black Sabbath- Judge Dredd has condemned Repentance to be razed, and what better than using Satanus to do most of the work?
Highlight: Bull Cannon, the leader of Repentance, has a giant T-Rex tooth through his head, lol.
Story: Loser's Leap- The Team has made it to Nevada, hoping to find a safe hold in Las Vegas.
Highlight: Las Vegas Judges, aka the Mafia. After the wars, the Mafia killed the Judges and brought back gambling and a justice system based on the drawing of a card.
Story: The God-Judge- Judge Dredd has arrived in Las Vegas, which has been taken over by the Mafia and turned into a gambling nightmare. After a fight with the God-Judge, Dredd is forced to take the Losers' Leap.
Highlight: The story becomes like a gangster movie. So Tommy guns and gangster cars are everywhere.
Story: Tweak's Story- We find out about Tweak's past and how he managed to come to earth.
Highlight: Para-medic Storm Troopers heavily armed and armoured doctors. These guys are badass! If you can't cure it, kill it!
Story: Tweak's Story - We continue with Tweak's story and early time on earth until he meets with Judge Dredd.
Highlight: Tweak pretending to be stupid to save his planet from the human race.
Story: Legion of the Damned- Judge Dredd reaches Death Valley, where a War Memorial for the Battle of Armageddon 2071ad is erected. But they are not alone.
Highlight: General Blood 'n' Nuts- A decapitated war droid on a track unit—leader of the Legion of the Damned, the elite army unit of President Booth's army.
Story: Dredd's Last Stand - In a ruined fort outside of Mega-City Two, Judge Dredd, Spikes, and Tweak fight a desperate battle against the Legion of the Damned.
Highlight: The last stand of Spikes Harvey Rotten, the billionaire goes out in a blaze of glory and style.
Story: The Big Kiss Off - Judge Dredd is on the outskirts of Mega-City Two. He's beaten, dehydrated and facing down the past battles within the Cursed Earth. Will he survive or fall so close to victory?
Highlight: The return of Tweak. The furry alien arrives shortly after Dredd and is given his freedom to return home :)
Well, that's it for part one and the review of the Cursed Earth saga.
But what a saga indeed. Early on, we have to deal with a far-fetched disease named 2T(FRU)T, but then we are blessed with a great epic tale of mini tales building up to a heart-wrenching finale. Along the way, we meet strange and quirky villains and fall in love with great heroes. I feel this has it all and is a must-read story arc!
Have you read this arc? Or better, let have you read the missing stories to do with some burger companies? Let me know in the comments.
