(2020) John Wagner et al, Rebellion, £10.99 / Can$18.99 / US$13.99, pbk, 96pp, ISBN 978-1-781-08754-1
Within the Judge Dredd cannon there are several story arcs returned to from time to time and the Mechanismo: Machine Law graphic novel represents the latest instalment of one such. However, fret not for those unaware of this plot thread, this graphic novel comes with a double page, catch-up spread, to bring you up to speed. (I'' summarise this for you now…)
Over a decade ago, the original Mechanismo (2009) graphic novel was published. I didn't seek it out even if the plot was written by Dredd co-creator genius John Wagner as the artwork (Peter Doherty) – or, to be possibly fair to him, the art reproduction quality – was not up to scratch. I also missed out on reading this in 2000AD as I already had over two decades' worth of the weekly comic hence 20 feet of bookshelf and so switched to the monthlyJudge Dredd Megazine topped up with the graphic novel collections. However I, nonetheless, got the gist of what was going on from references elsewhere in the Dredd cannon. Basiocly what happened was this…
With crime so high in Mega-City One and the Judges depleted after having to tackle so may apocalyptic threats (Sov Blok invasion, Judge Death's Necropolis, Judgement Day, Chaos Day, etc), it is decided to create robotic Judges. The idea for these actually came following Necropolis, but Judge Dredd was the only person to object: he did not agree with giving the life-and-death power of judgement over people to machines. A prototype went rogue, and, well, you can guess the rest.
This brings us to the present and Mechanismo: Machine Law, and what with the ravages of Chaos Day and with improved fail-safe's and programming, Chief Judge Hershey decides to have another go. This time the Mechanismo Judges seem to be a hit with many of the citizenry – even if a minority are disgruntled as is Dredd – as they are more polite. One even, determines that the Judges laws themselves are criminal…
The thing about this 'mechanismo' arc is that it reveals another aspect to Dredd's mind. We all know that he has a fervent faith in the law and that in addition he has a niggling, but growing, worry that perhaps the Judicial system (originally brought in during the President Booth crisis that precipitated the nuclear war that created the 'Cursed Earth') should be disbanded and that the reason why it was not was due to the 'big lie'. Dredd has never been fond of robots beginning with his own former, personal robot, Walter, who continually over-cosseted Dredd. So it is no stretch for him to be against robots taking part in Judicial duties.
Mechanismo: Machine Law is a fine continuation of the Mechanismo arc. Let's hope that in future years we will get more.
Jonathan Cowie
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