Armageddon: The origins that wasn't Origins

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Am I right in thinking that the Bunrning Man/ Armageddon story lines, back around the time the Meg was launched, was intended to be an epic sweeping into the creation of the Judges?

What happened?

Why didn't it go ahead? Have we ever learned what the plot would have been?

[Frank]

Am I right in thinking that the Bunrning Man/ Armageddon story lines, back around the time the Meg was launched, was intended to be an epic sweeping into the creation of the Judges?

What happened?

Why didn't it go ahead? Have we ever learned what the plot would have been?

My understanding is that, like Al's Baby, Armageddon: The Bad Man was just a creator-owned strip two Dredd stalwarts had on the go at a time The Megazine had more blank pages to fill than completed strips to fill them.

The (slender) Dredd connection was bolted on at the last minute, and (unlike Al's Baby) only mentioned in the editorial blurb around the strip, rather than on the page. 

Presumably, neither strip went any further with the idea of filling in the prehistory of Dredd's world because nobody had any kind of plan for how that would pan out or enthusiasm for doing so.  David Bishop tells you all about Wagner & Ezquerra's The Burning Man, a completely separate project (meant for the 2000jr spin-off from the nineties), HERE.

[JOE SOAP]

We have to go back...into the origins of the forum.

https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=145.0

[Frank]

We have to go back...into the origins of the forum.

https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=145.0

I think the 'History of Dredd' storyline should be done ideally by Wagner.

But start from scratch. Forget the Bad Man storyline. I would concentrate on the birth of the judge system itself. Introduce us to the key characters that created Dredd's world.

I think the story has tremendous potential. The conflict between the existing police and judicial system versus the advocates of a new system of justice.

You could also explore how the citizens of old America react to the new Mega City One.There could be riots, terrorism, anti judge leagues etc.

There is a lot you could do!

scojo the historian


The Invisible Hand, guiding 2000ad ... the only part he didn't get right was the fabulous idea of Fargo still being alive, which is everyone's favourite bit of Origins.

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Ach well, so the origins that wasn't Origins turns out not to be an origins.

[paddykafka]

I guess that's the difference between Apples and Origins.

[Woolly]

Something for a fanzine to pick up and run with maybe?
The Meg more or less coincides with my starting on the Prog, and i remember being intrigued by the design of the Bad Man - that is, he looks like Dredd.

That said, i remember thinking the same about Al Bestardi!

[JOE SOAP]

There were all sorts of fan theories about Armageddon, like the psychic girl – Lori LeMayne – being Anderson's ancestor – much like the one with Al Bestardi being Dredd's.

[Frank]

There's a fortnite in 2077 still unaccounted for.  And Faroe Islands Justice Dept has been criminally neglected.

[Tjm86]

I guess that's the difference between Apples and Origins.

Something something origins something?

[JayzusB.Christ]

Is that a DR and Quinch reference by any chance?

One thing I would have liked to see more of in Origins was more of the ordinary citizens' reactions to the near total destruction of the world.  Think Armageddon was going that way.

[K2]

Interesting thread, coincidentally directly relating to my own recent look-see into the 'Dredd Universe' via an exploration and efforts regarding Fargo and the founding of the system.  Though I can't speak on the series mentioned in this thread, what I can share is my 'impression' on other things regarding Fargo and the origins of the Street Judge system.

First off, the underlying story 'potential' regarding that system origin, and the shaping of the man is a great one.  The flaws in the logic as to the 'why' for the system are glaring, yet that simply lends itself to making a great tale as though exposing some dirty little secret to make it plausible, yet keep the existing story intact.

Equally so, giving reason for the vast leap of Fargo from a fortunate though gifted young prosecutor to diverge off the path he had been travelling to then cast himself into the worst parts of this world, looking at having to do the worst of things, and in the end having betray the very beliefs he was raised upon.

For both of those aspects to happen, to make such vast leaps and still be reasonable, will take a lot more explanation and extreme conditions for that to happen.  As I discovered, that makes for a truly incredible story in and of itself.

That said, I also came to the conclusion that unless one of the historical or existing highly acclaimed writers of the Dredd saga takes up the challenge, the die hard fans are not interested in having it investigated, unofficially or not.  Content to have it lie as is otherwise... the word that comes to mind being sacrilege.

Perhaps one day maybe Mr. Carroll or another reputed author of the series will take it up.  It's a great story, one that does not have to betray the original.

K2

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

I've had a beer so I'm gonna say it.

You are scojo and I claim my £5

[K2]

If that's directed at me, I don't get it?  No matter.

K2

[sheridan]

There's a fortnite in 2077 still unaccounted for.  And Faroe Islands Justice Dept has been criminally neglected.

Shouldn't that be Fargo Islands?