The Cursed Earth

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Cover of 2000 AD #63
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Cover of 2000 AD #63

The Cursed Earth is the second extended storyline of the Judge Dredd character to appear in 2000 AD, and the first to exceed twenty episodes: as such it is sometimes called the first Judge Dredd epic. Written by Pat Mills, the series added many core elements to the backstory of the world of Mega-City One. The storyline ran from progs 61 to 85 (May to October 1978).

Contents

[edit] Plot

In 2100 Mega-City Two, on the West Coast of North America, becomes infected with a virus called 2 T (fru) T that makes its victims into a violent mob. Scientists in Mega-City One have been able to make an antidote, but it is impossible to safely land at the airports in Mega-City Two. The only option is to send a land expedition of Judges in a tank across the nuclear wasteland that covers most of the former US. Judge Dredd is assigned to lead the mission and en route they encounter many perils including a cloned tyrannosaurus rex called Satanus, and President Robert L. Booth, the last president of the United States.

[edit] Controversy

The Cursed Earth was also notable for a spat involving the publishers of 2000 AD, McDonalds, Burger King, and the Jolly Green Giant. One story line in the series featured wars between rival gangs, headed by the Burger King and Ronald McDonald - including scenes of Ronald executing gang members who spilled a milk shake. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the owners of these characters objected to the use of their trademarks, and the offending episodes have never been reprinted.

[edit] Reprints

The series has been heavily reprinted. However, given the controversy mentioned above, they are missing "Burger Wars" (episodes 11-12) and "Soul Food" (episodes 17-18) from the full 25 episode run.

Notable reprints include:

[edit] Trivia

  • It is said to have been inspired by Roger Zelazny's Damnation Alley.
  • The Land Raider two part vehicle used by Judge Dredd and his team was made by Matchbox toys in the UK as part of a range of similar themed vehicles. When the Cursed Earth story began, the Matchbox toy was offered as a competition prize in the comic.

[edit] External links


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Judge Dredd
Judges: Mega-City One: Judge Anderson • Judge Buell • Judge Castillo • Galen DeMarco • Judge Dredd • Judge Edgar • Chief Judge Fargo • Judge Giant • Judge Goodman • Judge Grice • Judge Griffin • Judge Guthrie • Judge Hershey • Judge Janus • Judge Karyn • Judge McGruder • Mechanismo • Judge Niles • Judge Shenker • Judge Silver • Judge Solomon • Judge Volt

Other: Detective-Judge Armitage • Johnny Woo • Devlin Waugh • Shimura

Villains: Angel Gang • Mean Machine Angel • President Booth • Oola Blint • Judge Cal • Dark Judges • Judge Death • Armon Gill • Morton Judd • Kleggs • Judge Kraken • Stan Lee • PJ Maybe • Nero Narcos • Sov Judge Orlok • Rico Dredd • Jacob Sardini • Shojun the Warlord
Characters: Chopper • Vienna Dredd • Fergee • Minor Characters • Yassa Povey • Otto Sump • Walter the Wobot
Storylines: "America" • "Apocalypse War" • "Block Mania" • "City of the Damned" • "The Cursed Earth" • "The Dead Man" • "Democracy" • "Judge Child" • "Judge Dredd vs. Aliens" • "Judgement Day" • "Judgement on Gotham" • "Mechanismo" • "Necropolis" • "Predator vs. Judge Dredd" • "Origins" • "The Robot Wars"
Spin-offs: Banzai Battalion • Low Life • Red Razors • The Simping Detective
Crossovers: "Judge Dredd vs. Aliens" • "Judgement Day" • "Judgement on Gotham" • "Predator vs. Judge Dredd"
Locations: Academy of Law • Brit-Cit • Ciudad Barranquilla • Cursed Earth • East Meg One • Grand Hall of Justice • Hondo City • Mega-City One • Mega-City Two • Pan-Africa • Statue of Judgement • Undercity
Other media: Judge Dredd film • Dredd vs, Death computer game • Judge Dredd role-playing game
Publications: 2000 AD • Dice Man • Judge Dredd Megazine • Zarjaz
Miscellaneous: 2000 AD crossovers • 2000 AD glossary • Atomic Wars • Chief Judge of Mega-City One • City Block • Council of Five • Diktatorat • Lawgiver • Long Walk • Mayor of Mega-City One • Psi Division • Public Surveillance Unit • SJS • Sky-surfer • Technology