Judge Lopez
Encyclopedia
Judge Lopez is a character in the epic Judge Dredd
story, The Judge Child, which originally appeared in the British science fiction
anthology comic
2000 AD
issues 156–181, in 1980.
under the pseudonym John Howard, and was first drawn by Brian Bolland
. He was also drawn by Ron Smith
and Mike McMahon
, albeit in the latter's case in just one frame when he appears on a monitor screen. Later McMahon included Lopez along with the other Judges on the cover of the first volume of a three-volume reprint of the Judge Child story for Titan Books
.
and pilot Judge Larter in his quest for the mysterious Judge Child. However Dredd takes an irrational dislike to Lopez for no other reason than the fact that he has a moustache
. Recording entries in his log, Dredd reveals himself to be petty-minded regarding the presence of facial hair on the face of an officer of the law
, contrasting being a Judge with being in a beauty contest
. Claiming that Lopez is "proving difficult re moutache", Dredd's reaction is to deny him involvement in the team's investigations on the planets they visit, leaving him aboard the craft to carry out menial tasks the robots would usually perform. Hershey advises Lopez to shave off his moustache to prevent further discrimination, but Lopez naively asserts that since he is not breaking any regulations Dredd has no valid reason to single him out.
The conflict between the two Judges reaches critical point when Dredd has Lopez strapped down and makes him take a dangerous hallucinogenic drug called Oracle Spice in the name of the mission. The drug will enable the taker to learn the location of the Judge Child. Dredd refuses to take the drug itself, claiming that Lopez's personality profile shows him to be "the most unstable member of the crew - the most receptive to information from the oracle spice". A single drop has an instant effect causing Lopez's vision to be twisted seeing the other Judge's faces stretched like rubber
, a moment which was also captured memorably on the front cover of 2000AD issue 172. Lopez's hallucinations include seeing his own coffin being ejected from the space-ship and himself being devoured by a gigantic toad
. He also sees a moustached toad whose back is covered with gravestones which informs him that payment for the information he seeks will be Lopez's own life. Later Lopez does indeed die, prompting Hershey to cry while Dredd coldly remarks "he knew the risks and he accepted them. Try to follow his example, Hershey".
When the Judge Child proves to be corrupt and cruel rather than the supposed saviour of Mega-City One
, Dredd's quest ends in failure, and Lopez's sacrifice is proved therefore to have been vain.
When his body is committed to space, Dredd writes in his log "Every Judge must be prepared to give his life for the city. When his moment came, Lopez was not found wanting. He will be remembered". Judge Lopez gave his life to a hypocritical and unsympathetic system of rule and despite Dredd's comments he has never been remembered by either the Judges or the citizens of Mega-City One for whom he gave his life. Only Dredd himself seems to have reflected on the sacrifice later: In a story published in issue 1280 (in 2002), it was revealed that Dredd kept Lopez's badge to remind him of his responsibility for Lopez's death, and that Dredd regrets not taking the fatal Oracle Spice himself.
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...
story, The Judge Child, which originally appeared in the British science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
anthology comic
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
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...
issues 156–181, in 1980.
Publication history
The character of Lopez was created by writer John WagnerJohn 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...
under the pseudonym John Howard, and was first drawn by Brian Bolland
Brian Bolland
Brian Bolland is a British comics artist, known for his meticulous, detailed linework and eye-catching compositions. Best known in the UK as one of the definitive Judge Dredd artists for British comics anthology 2000 AD, he spearheaded the 'British Invasion' of the American comics industry, and in...
. He was also drawn by Ron Smith
Ron Smith
Ron or Ronald Smith may refer to:*Ron Smith , American poet born in Georgia*Ron Smith , British comic artist*Ron Smith , Canadian author, poet and publishing house founder...
and Mike McMahon
Mike 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....
, albeit in the latter's case in just one frame when he appears on a monitor screen. Later McMahon included Lopez along with the other Judges on the cover of the first volume of a three-volume reprint of the Judge Child story for Titan Books
Titan Books
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
.
Fictional character biography
Previously unseen in the comic, Lopez was assigned to assist Dredd along with Judge HersheyJudge Hershey
Judge Barbara Hershey is a fictional character in the Judge Dredd series that appears in British comic 2000 AD. For nearly two decades she regularly appeared as Dredd's sidekick, before being promoted to become his superior: she was chief judge for nine years...
and pilot Judge Larter in his quest for the mysterious Judge Child. However Dredd takes an irrational dislike to Lopez for no other reason than the fact that he has a moustache
Moustache
A moustache is facial hair grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face.-Etymology:...
. Recording entries in his log, Dredd reveals himself to be petty-minded regarding the presence of facial hair on the face of an officer of the law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, contrasting being a Judge with being in a beauty contest
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
. Claiming that Lopez is "proving difficult re moutache", Dredd's reaction is to deny him involvement in the team's investigations on the planets they visit, leaving him aboard the craft to carry out menial tasks the robots would usually perform. Hershey advises Lopez to shave off his moustache to prevent further discrimination, but Lopez naively asserts that since he is not breaking any regulations Dredd has no valid reason to single him out.
The conflict between the two Judges reaches critical point when Dredd has Lopez strapped down and makes him take a dangerous hallucinogenic drug called Oracle Spice in the name of the mission. The drug will enable the taker to learn the location of the Judge Child. Dredd refuses to take the drug itself, claiming that Lopez's personality profile shows him to be "the most unstable member of the crew - the most receptive to information from the oracle spice". A single drop has an instant effect causing Lopez's vision to be twisted seeing the other Judge's faces stretched like rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, a moment which was also captured memorably on the front cover of 2000AD issue 172. Lopez's hallucinations include seeing his own coffin being ejected from the space-ship and himself being devoured by a gigantic toad
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
. He also sees a moustached toad whose back is covered with gravestones which informs him that payment for the information he seeks will be Lopez's own life. Later Lopez does indeed die, prompting Hershey to cry while Dredd coldly remarks "he knew the risks and he accepted them. Try to follow his example, Hershey".
When the Judge Child proves to be corrupt and cruel rather than the supposed saviour of Mega-City One
Mega-City One
Mega-City One is a huge fictional city-state covering much of what is now the Eastern United States in the Judge Dredd comic book series. The exact boundaries of the city depend on which artist has drawn the story...
, Dredd's quest ends in failure, and Lopez's sacrifice is proved therefore to have been vain.
When his body is committed to space, Dredd writes in his log "Every Judge must be prepared to give his life for the city. When his moment came, Lopez was not found wanting. He will be remembered". Judge Lopez gave his life to a hypocritical and unsympathetic system of rule and despite Dredd's comments he has never been remembered by either the Judges or the citizens of Mega-City One for whom he gave his life. Only Dredd himself seems to have reflected on the sacrifice later: In a story published in issue 1280 (in 2002), it was revealed that Dredd kept Lopez's badge to remind him of his responsibility for Lopez's death, and that Dredd regrets not taking the fatal Oracle Spice himself.