The Blind Woman
She is the ultimate Dredd villain. She doesn't break the law; she is as familiar with the rules of MC-1 as he is. Nonetheless, she represents the greatest threat his city will ever face.
A powerful psychic, she despairs of the seething hatred she senses in the citizens. Years of exposure to their feelings have made her take a stand against the city. She knows what they feel: resentment; despair; fear; and helplessness. In her heart, she knows these are the forces that drive citizens to crime while Dredd can't, or won't, see this.
Her epiphany comes when she helps Dredd save the city, but is blinded accidentally by him and coldly left for dead while he bids to save the city. She survives and makes her way to the undercity, where she gathers a following of troggies, muties and outcasts to whom she preaches a peaceful way of life. They are organises into better communities, and the undercity dwellers come to rely on her.
Rumours of a the "Blind Woman" in the undercity reach the Judges. Concerned at the possibility of an organised uprising, Dredd leads a patrol to wipe them out. They find a struggling community, but no overt signs of aggression. Even so, Dredd cannot believe there is no nefarious purpose behind the organisation and feels that, in time, they would come to resent the city dwellers and strike out at them. The Blind Woman is absent at this time, preaching in the still uncivilized parts of the undercity, but returns to find her people dead.
Realising that she must act against the city if she is to avoid being hunted down, the Blind Woman moves into the slums of MC-1. She preaches a kind and gentle way of life, and an almost communist ideology where everyone should help each other to better themselves rather than fighting and bickering.
Slowly, her movement gathers momentum. Images of the Blind Woman, leaning on a stick, begin to be scrawled on walls. Crime, bizarrely, starts to fall in some of the poorer sectors. Perps found guilty of petty crimes (smoking, owning sugar) claim not to be afraid of the judges as they know the Blind Woman will come to their aid eventually.
An investigation into the Blind Woman's activities shows she has done nothing wrong, although Dredd is suspicious that she won't show herself. Crime is also being committed in her name, although her followers are quick to report the perps in question.
Eventually, her movement begins to sweep through the city. It is perceived as a greater threat to the absolute rule of the judges than democracy. Dredd leads an assault team to assassinate the Blind Woman.
Eventually, he tracks her down – killing innocent citizens on the way. In a final confrontation, Dredd recognises the Blind Woman. She attempts to show him the error of his ways, and refers to their past connections. Dredd concedes he can see her point of view, but that he is compelled to save the city as he knows it. With regret, he executes her – despite her having committed no crime.
The Blind Woman is Judge Anderson.
She is the ultimate Dredd villain. She doesn't break the law; she is as familiar with the rules of MC-1 as he is. Nonetheless, she represents the greatest threat his city will ever face.
A powerful psychic, she despairs of the seething hatred she senses in the citizens. Years of exposure to their feelings have made her take a stand against the city. She knows what they feel: resentment; despair; fear; and helplessness. In her heart, she knows these are the forces that drive citizens to crime while Dredd can't, or won't, see this.
Her epiphany comes when she helps Dredd save the city, but is blinded accidentally by him and coldly left for dead while he bids to save the city. She survives and makes her way to the undercity, where she gathers a following of troggies, muties and outcasts to whom she preaches a peaceful way of life. They are organises into better communities, and the undercity dwellers come to rely on her.
Rumours of a the "Blind Woman" in the undercity reach the Judges. Concerned at the possibility of an organised uprising, Dredd leads a patrol to wipe them out. They find a struggling community, but no overt signs of aggression. Even so, Dredd cannot believe there is no nefarious purpose behind the organisation and feels that, in time, they would come to resent the city dwellers and strike out at them. The Blind Woman is absent at this time, preaching in the still uncivilized parts of the undercity, but returns to find her people dead.
Realising that she must act against the city if she is to avoid being hunted down, the Blind Woman moves into the slums of MC-1. She preaches a kind and gentle way of life, and an almost communist ideology where everyone should help each other to better themselves rather than fighting and bickering.
Slowly, her movement gathers momentum. Images of the Blind Woman, leaning on a stick, begin to be scrawled on walls. Crime, bizarrely, starts to fall in some of the poorer sectors. Perps found guilty of petty crimes (smoking, owning sugar) claim not to be afraid of the judges as they know the Blind Woman will come to their aid eventually.
An investigation into the Blind Woman's activities shows she has done nothing wrong, although Dredd is suspicious that she won't show herself. Crime is also being committed in her name, although her followers are quick to report the perps in question.
Eventually, her movement begins to sweep through the city. It is perceived as a greater threat to the absolute rule of the judges than democracy. Dredd leads an assault team to assassinate the Blind Woman.
Eventually, he tracks her down – killing innocent citizens on the way. In a final confrontation, Dredd recognises the Blind Woman. She attempts to show him the error of his ways, and refers to their past connections. Dredd concedes he can see her point of view, but that he is compelled to save the city as he knows it. With regret, he executes her – despite her having committed no crime.
The Blind Woman is Judge Anderson.