America is wounded severely and becomes brain dead.īenny implants his brain in America's body to honor her memory. He chooses to inform the Judges about their plans. Benny is a witness, but he lies to protect America.Īmerica visits Benny to thank him for covering for her and her friends, but she also convinces him to fund explosives to blow the Statue of Liberty. Years later he meets America again while she is involved with a bunch of terrorists who actively fight the regime. He is refused, so he leaves home and becomes a famous singer. It's much more mature than I expected, given the political and emotional overtones, so if you're expecting brainless shootings, look elsewhere.Īmerica's best friend Benny eventually gets the courage to ask her out. The comic has three stories that follow America's fight against the system, her father's love for her and reluctant involvement in the democratic movement and their daughter's intention to change the system from within the Judge program. A baby girl named America grows into a young woman who thinks she can change the regime, return to a true democracy. The USA's Judges have replaced freedom and democracy with enforced law and order. A strong democratic response develops, but the Judges have the power and jurisdiction to stifle it. Democracy is also criticized harshly, but ultimately there are some aspects of it that are desirable, like the way law is applied. There is less focus on shooting and punishing than on describing the oppressive regime enforced by the Judges.

The price is freedom.' As far as I know, this story is among the few that present the Judges in a bad light.

Judge Dredd in America by John Wagner