Newbie question

Kal-El · 04 October, 2003, 07:24:05 AM

I've got a question for everyone (obviously), but I feel kind of stupid asking this: can anyone give me some information on Judge Rico? I'm an American reader, and I can't always find new Dredd material over here. I didn't even know about Rico until I read the new Dredd vs. Death novel. So, if anyone could help out this confused yank, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Kal

The Amstor Computer · 04 October, 2003, 07:39:30 AM

OK, here goes:

In 2000AD, Rico is Judge Dredd's clone brother. They both trained with the Academy of Law and became street Judges. Dredd was a model Judge, but his brother turned bad. Dredd arrested him and Rico was sent to Titan, a jail planet for rogue Judges.

Many years later, Rico - now disfigured from the implants needed to survive on Titan - returned, seeking his revenge on Dredd. He confronted Dredd, but was killed when he tried to outshoot him.

Rico has reappeared twice since. Once in a "remake" of the original story, and again in the recent Dredd story "Helter Skelter", by Garth Ennis, where he was part of a gang of villains from Dredd's past drawn together from alternate dimensions (and yes, that was as bad as it sounds...)

IIRC, he also appeared in the US Dredd comics, but as I don't own those, I can't tell you anything about them.

He also appeared in the movie, again as Dredd's brother. Although some aspects of the original story were kept, much was lost in the translation.

...And that's it. If you're interested, I'm sure we could fill in the details.

Kal-El · 04 October, 2003, 07:48:54 AM

Hey, thanks! Actually, though, I thought Judge Rico was a fairly new character, I'm fairly familiar with Dredd's clone brother Rico Dredd. I thought I'd read that there was another clone from Dredd's bloodline that was now a recurring character. Maybe I read wrong, though...
Thanks, again.

Kal

The Amstor Computer · 04 October, 2003, 08:02:49 AM

My apologies - I'd completely forgotten about the new Rico.

Yes, there is now another Rico, and yes, he's a clone from Dredd's bloodline - IIRC, he was rescued as an infant by Dredd during the story "Dredd Angel" in prog 370-something. There have been several stories over the past few years featuring him, the most recent being a one-off in prog 1281.

He's a full Judge, just like Dredd, and he's still out there somewhere, waiting for John Wagner to decide what to do with him :-)

petemaskreplica · 04 October, 2003, 08:10:28 AM

Judge Rico is a clone from the same DNA stock as Dredd.

There was also a Rico who was Dredd's "brother" (ie a clone created at the same time as Dredd) who grew up to be a bad 'un. This idea was used to bad effect in the Stallone film. Best not to think about that too hard.

Kal-El · 04 October, 2003, 08:30:41 AM

Thanks, again. I'd like to try and track some of those stories down. Any recommendations?

Kal

Bart Oliver · 04 October, 2003, 08:42:18 AM

The new Judge Rico I believe received his primary training in Texas City (formerly known as Mega City 3) before arriving on the streets of MC1 and now lives in Dredd's old apartment in Rowdy Yates block.

The Amstor Computer · 04 October, 2003, 08:44:32 AM

All of the new Rico stories are fairly recent, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding them (you may even be able to get some direct from Rebellion as back issues)

All of the Rico stories are listed below:

Blood Cadets
Prog 1186-1188

Sector House
Prog 1215-1222

Leaving Rowdy
Prog 1280

Love Story III - The End of the Affair
Prog 1281

The two most important stories in the development of the character are "Blood Cadets" and "Sector House". "Leaving Rowdy" is a nice story that has a lot of impact for long-time readers of the comic, and "Love Story III..." is a fun, but ultimately rather slight one-off.

Hope this helps.

Queen Firey-Bou · 04 October, 2003, 07:17:30 PM

don't forget the bad rico fathered vienna when he was on titan.

don't be afraid to ask questions Kal-El, you'll find the collective recall on these matters mind boggling & i'm sure nobody minds an excuse to dredge the dredd-memory banks.

Kal-El · 05 October, 2003, 12:15:41 AM

Thanks a lot everyone, all this info has been really helpful.

Kal

DavidXBrunt · 05 October, 2003, 01:19:30 AM

Aditional appearances for the original Rico -

Dredd Dominion - the novel opens with a flashback to Joes original confrontation with his brother.

Trapped on Titan - In the C.D. the legacy of Rico's time on Titan is explored and we hear what he sounded like.

Generally Contrary · 05 October, 2003, 03:30:03 AM

Wasn't (new) Rico one of the baby clones in the 'Treasures of Liberaces (sp?) Tomb'?

DavidXBrunt · 05 October, 2003, 04:25:31 AM

Yep, that was in 'Dredd Angel'

Floyd-the-k · 05 October, 2003, 05:24:32 AM

Hey, new person!

Thanks for the question. Is the Dredd novel any good?

cheers,

Floyd Kermode

Link: http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/phantom/about.htm" target="_blank">The chronicles of my ancestors...

Kal-El · 05 October, 2003, 07:46:45 AM

Thanks for the welcome! I really enjoyed the new novel, the first half was great, IMO. My only complaint was that I felt it was wrapped up a little too quickly, but I'm sure that has more to do with the game than the author. This was my first exposure to Mr. Rennie's work and I thought he did a wonderful job.