Judge Dredd Chronicles #2: The New You
One of the shortest Dredd strips introduces more aspects of Mega City culture
"The New You"
Mega City One Year: 2099
Published 12th March 1977, 2000ad Prog: 3 (Reprinted in Judge Dredd Annual 1986, The Complete Judge Dredd #1 and Judge Dredd the Complete Case Files 01)
Parts: 1
Written by Pat Mills
Illustrated by Mike McMahon
Letters by John Aldrich
Mega City science is explored for the first time, as Dredd chases a face-changing criminal
Synopsis
Judge Dredd is alerted to the presence of lawbreaker ‘Scarface’ Joe Levine nearby by Justice Department Control whilst on patrol, providing video, picture and voice print identification on the perp. Scarface, already on the run for the multiple murders committed, stops at an ‘Instant Genetic Surgery’ business, the titular ‘The New You’, to get a new face in mere minutes in order to hide. Scarface forces the staff to change his appearance at gunpoint, boasting there is no chance he’ll be caught. Whilst in his buggy, he spots Dredd on patrol, wanting to rub in his new physical identity in the law’s face.
Unfortunately for Scarface, greeting Dredd is his downfall as his disguise is seen through and Dredd takes down the wanted man by leaping from his Lawmaster bike to the buggy and causing it to crash following a shot to the chest. As they wait for an ambulance, Scarface asks how Dredd knew it was him, and Dredd reveals that alerting the Judge earlier provided a voice match with the files provided by Justice Department, proclaiming “NO ONE CAN ESCAPE JUSTICE!”
This short tale introduces permanent elements that make up foundations of both Justice Department and Mega City One. Firstly, the name Mega City One is used for the first time, as is the name of the Justice Department motorbike, the Lawmaster. The strips title The New You refers to one of Mega City One’s face parlours, Establishments where citizens can have their face changed in minutes, legally, but in the case of Scarface he ducks in to get his face changed much like having a car sprayed a new colour in the Grand Theft Auto video game series. Scarface’s reference to “weather control” all but confirms that the weather in Mega City One is regulated and controlled. The first mention of the Justice Department’s jail cells are also mentioned - referred to as “Time-Stretcher” jail - and implies time dilation is involved.
The world of Judge Dredd is planting its foundations subtly, ensuring there is no overload of world-building and terminology and using simple catch-a-criminal cases is the perfect way to do it. Dredd’s final form is yet to be determined in terms of the iconic chin and grimace but the Judge’s uniform already looks definitive, as does the Lawmaster and yet to be announced Judge’s weapon, the Lawgiver.
The New You is Mega City One’s form of plastic surgery, and given its quick and painful process implies it is simply re-writing of DNA. And as Scarface believes this to be perfect way to escape detection, it is clear that Justice Department use facial recognition software to catch criminals. Both this and face transplant technology did not exist back in 1977 when this story was conceived.
Once again in just a few panels the action is pretty spectacular. Dredd’s leap from his Lawmaster to Scarface’s vehicle is an intense three-panel beauty, as well as the subsequent takedown. Dredd shows no mercy in the capture of criminals, yet once incapacitated he declares his show of mercy when Scarface questions how Dredd knew it was him talking on the freeway. In just four pages, “The New You” covers a lot of ground in such a straightforward, action-packed tale. The strength of these single strips will continue and remain consistent ahead of the first multi-part adventure in just a few week’s time.
Line of the strip: “When will lawbreakers learn… In the 21st century - NO ONE CAN ESCAPE JUSTICE!”
Be back next time citizens for “The Brotherhood of Darkness”!