The Robot Wars
Encyclopedia
The Robot Wars was the first extended storyline for Judge Dredd
during which the character became the most popular in the comic 2000 AD
. The first episode saw the first appearance of a long-running supporting character, Walter the Wobot
, Dredd's robot manservant.
Dredd resigns in protest when his superiors refuse to pass stricter anti-robot laws to deal with the threat, but when war breaks out he returns to duty. In the war the Judges are almost defeated, but some droids remain loyal and, led by Dredd, are able to form a resistance movement. The 'new order' promised by Kenneth is nothing of the sort as the droids are subjected to work as slave labour. Dredd confronts Kenneth on the city's weather control centre, where Kenneth falls to his destruction.
The story was set in 2099. A second Robot War in 2121 was depicted in "The Doomsday Scenario
," published in 1999
. Both stories were written by John Wagner
and had various artists.
In 2008 one reviewer wrote: "The very first story in which the Judge Dredd series finally comes alive is the Robot Wars, where the parallels between the robots in the story and black slaves is made quite explicit."
The loyal robots are programmed to follow the Laws of Robotics
invented by Isaac Asimov
for his robot stories, though evidently the laws are not as effectively implemented in the Judge Dredd story.
The story has undergone extensive reprinting, most recently in Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 01 (2005).
Judge Dredd
Judge Joseph Dredd is a comics character whose strip in the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD is the magazine's longest running . Dredd is an American law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine the powers of police, judge, jury and executioner...
during which the character became the most popular in the comic 2000 AD
2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
. The first episode saw the first appearance of a long-running supporting character, Walter the Wobot
Walter the Wobot
Walter is a fictional character from the Judge Dredd comic strip in British comic 2000 AD.-Fictional character biography:Walter was Judge Dredd's house robot. He is usually used in stories to provide comic relief, and he has a speech impediment which causes him to pronounce his R's as W's...
, Dredd's robot manservant.
Plot
In the first episode, a robot called Call-Me-Kenneth runs amok killing people until it is apparently destroyed by Judge Dredd. However the next episode has Call-Me-Kenneth being revived in a new body. He was supposed to have been reprogrammed, but somehow his malignant persona remains and after killing the human technician that restored him he calls upon the droids of the city to rise up against their masters.Dredd resigns in protest when his superiors refuse to pass stricter anti-robot laws to deal with the threat, but when war breaks out he returns to duty. In the war the Judges are almost defeated, but some droids remain loyal and, led by Dredd, are able to form a resistance movement. The 'new order' promised by Kenneth is nothing of the sort as the droids are subjected to work as slave labour. Dredd confronts Kenneth on the city's weather control centre, where Kenneth falls to his destruction.
The story was set in 2099. A second Robot War in 2121 was depicted in "The Doomsday Scenario
The Doomsday Scenario
The Doomsday Scenario is the collective name of a series of Judge Dredd comic stories published in 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine in 1999...
," published in 1999
1999 in comics
-February:* February 3: Pioneering editor Vin Sullivan dies at age 87.* February 26: John L. Goldwater, co-founder of Archie Comics, dies at age 82.-March:* Incredible Hulk is canceled by Marvel with issue #474.-May:...
. Both stories were written by John Wagner
John Wagner
John Wagner is a comics writer who was born in Pennsylvania in 1949 and moved to Scotland as a boy. Alongside Pat Mills, Wagner was responsible for revitalising British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has continued to be a leading light in British comics ever since.He is best known for his work on...
and had various artists.
In 2008 one reviewer wrote: "The very first story in which the Judge Dredd series finally comes alive is the Robot Wars, where the parallels between the robots in the story and black slaves is made quite explicit."
Cultural references
Wagner uses parodies of the speeches of Hitler for most of Kenneth's dialogue.The loyal robots are programmed to follow the Laws of Robotics
Laws of robotics
Laws of Robotics are a set of laws, rules, or principles, which are intended as a fundamental framework to underpin the behavior of robots designed to have a degree of autonomy...
invented by Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
for his robot stories, though evidently the laws are not as effectively implemented in the Judge Dredd story.
Publication
The story had a single issue prologue leading into the main story:- Judge DreddJudge DreddJudge Joseph Dredd is a comics character whose strip in the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD is the magazine's longest running . Dredd is an American law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine the powers of police, judge, jury and executioner...
(all written by John WagnerJohn WagnerJohn Wagner is a comics writer who was born in Pennsylvania in 1949 and moved to Scotland as a boy. Alongside Pat Mills, Wagner was responsible for revitalising British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has continued to be a leading light in British comics ever since.He is best known for his work on...
):- "Robots" (with Ron TurnerRon Turner (artist)Ron Turner was a British illustrator and comic book artist.- Early life and career :Ron Turner became interested in science fiction at an early age, with numerous works across several media: the novels of H.G...
, in 2000 AD #9, 1977) - "Robot Wars" (with Carlos EzquerraCarlos EzquerraCarlos Sanchez Ezquerra , who has also worked under the alias L. John Silver, is a Spanish comics artist who works mainly in British comics and currently lives in Andorra...
(1), Ron TurnerRon Turner (artist)Ron Turner was a British illustrator and comic book artist.- Early life and career :Ron Turner became interested in science fiction at an early age, with numerous works across several media: the novels of H.G...
(2, 4 and 7), Mike McMahonMike McMahon (comics)Michael McMahon is a British comics artist best known for his work on 2000 AD characters such as Judge Dredd, Sláine and ABC Warriors, and the mini-series The Last American....
(3 and 6) and Ian GibsonIan Gibson (artist)Ian Gibson is a British comic book artist, best known for his 1980s black-and-white work for 2000 AD, especially as the main artist on Robo-Hunter and The Ballad of Halo Jones, as well as his long run on Judge Dredd.-Biography:...
(5 and 8), in 2000 AD #10–17, 1977)
- "Robots" (with Ron Turner
The story has undergone extensive reprinting, most recently in Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 01 (2005).