| A
History of Mega-City One |
| 1999 |
Black
Friday. 1st Jan. 6.00am. Volgan Republic of Asia invades Western
Europe. (Find
this story - Invasion) |
| 2023 |
After the
end of the Volgan War against the Eastern Bloc countries, work
starts on building a vast Mega-City centred around New York,
in an attempt to cope with the rapidly soaring population of
the East Coast states. It is initially intended to house three
to four million people; America's population at the time is
rapidly approaching a thousand million. |
| 2031 |
The enormous
metropolis is nearing completion. Such a vast structure needs
a special form of government, and so a new form of policing
system is introduced to cope with the problems posed by such
a concentrated mass of humanity. The Judges are hand-picked,
at first, from the ranks of the regular police forces, but are
soon established as a separate entity, with recruits trained
from a very early age. They have a more senior status than the
regular police, and are respected and feared on the streets
for their grim impartiality. The first Chief Judge, Judge Fargo
(known to later generations as 'The Father of Justice'), is
responsible only to the president himself. |
| 2039 |
The success
of Mega-City One inspires other areas to build Mega-Cities,
and plans are drawn up for Mega-City Two, to run down the whole
of the Western seaboard, and Mega City Three, centred around
Texas and the other Southern states. Each is designed to accomodate
around two hundred million citizens. |
| 2040 |
Finished
in 2047, Mega-Cities Two and Three are built; on the streets
of all three Mega-Cities, the Judges have replaced the traditional
policeman, as violence and crime escalate under the already
crowded conditions. |
| 2050 |
Harlem
Heroes Aeroball team is decimated in a road-liner crash (Giant,
Slim, Hairy & Louis being the only survivors) but reforms
to win the World Aeroball Championship! (Find
this story - Harlem Heroes) |
| 2051 |
Judge Soloman
reluctantly takes over as Chief Judge on the death of Judge
Fargo, at the insistence of the other members of the Council
of Judges, the ruling body of the Justice Department of which
the Chief Judge is head. |
| 2058 |
Soloman
steps down, in favour of Judge Goodman, and returns to the streets
where he is happiest. |
| 2066 |
A new process
of accelerated cloning, coupled with Genetic Control screening
for probable Judge material, means that trainees are able to
become full Judges in record time. The legendary Judge Dredd
is one of the first children to benefit from this new technique. |
| 2070 |
Caught
in a maze of diplomatic wrangling, President Robert L Booth
of the USA starts the Atomic Wars, which rapidly devestate most
of the USA, USSR and Europe. The Mega-Cities escape direct nuclear
attack, however, because of experimental laser defence systems
installed just a year earlier. Shocked by such an abuse of power,
the citizens of America rise up and depose President Booth;
he still has many loyal followers, however, and control over
the country's robotic Mek-troop army, and a bloody civil war
starts. The citizens petition the Judges to take over the running
of the country. |
| 2071 |
In the
heart of the Cursed Earth, a vast irradiated wasteland formed
in the wars, Booth's Presidential Guard in finally defeated
at the Battle of Armageddon, but only at the cost of the lives
of a hundred thousand Judges and Mek-troops. Acting in his temporary
position as Grand Judge for all three Mega-Cities, Judge Soloman
pronounces his famous 'Judgement of Soloman', which states that
the deposed Booth should be put into suspended animation, and
entombed in Fort Knox for one hundred years. |
| 2072 |
A steady
inflow of homeless refugees from the ruins of the Cursed Earth
swells the post-war populations of the Mega-Cities; MC-1 has
550 millions, MC-2 has 350 millions, and MC-3 has 260 millions.
More and more blocks are built, but demand fast outstrips the
supply of housing and many citizens form shanty-towns outside
the walls of the Mega-Cities. Gradually, the problem is eased
by new fast construction techniques, but space in the Mega-Cities
is becoming tight. |
| 2079 |
Joe and
Rico Dredd graduated with honours to become full Judges. A few
months after leaving the Academy, Judge Joe Dredd arrests his
clone-brother Rico for the crimes of taking bribes, vice and
murder. Rico is sentenced to twenty years on the penal colony
of Titan. |
| 2083 |
After years
of wrangling over independance and government, civil war breaks
out between Mega-Cities One and Three. The latter does not feel
it is getting a fair deal, being governed as it is by people
in the other Mega-Cities, and that its individual identity is
being submerged. The other two cities oppose the idea in the
interests of unity, however, and (probably more importantly)
the highly valuable resources controlled by Mega-City Three. |
| 2086 |
The war
ends in stalemate, however, and, deciding that further conflict
would simply be a waste of time, Mega-City One allows Three
to secede and declare its independance. Mega-City Three adopts
the name Texas City; the other two form closer links with each
other and form 'The Union'. |
| 2088 |
Luna-1
moon base is established by all three Mega-Cities. Although
it is hailed as a great scientific achievement, it is seen by
many as a diplomatic exercise, designed to renew and cement
relations with Texas City. Government of the colony is divided
initially between all three cities, with a senior Judge being
sent every six months to take over as Chief Judge. |
| 2099 |
William
"Whitey" Logan muders Judge Alvin while holed up in
the old Empire State Building. Whitey is apprehended by Dredd
and sentenced to life on "Devil's Island", surrounded
by speeding traffic. (Find
this story - Judge Whitey) |
| 2099 |
The people
of Mega-City One unveil the gigantic Statue of Judgement in
honour of the Judges. The city's population has risen to a staggering
eight hundred million, and many people are homeless. Some enterprising
citizens take to the road in ever-moving mobile homes, and all
of a sudden there are 18 million of them, perpetually driving
the roadways of the city. A robot rebellion, led by renegade
droid Call-me-Kenneth, brings about widespread destruction before
it is finally quashed; anti-robot lobbies gain much support. |
| 2099 |
Judge Giant,
son of John 'Giant' Clay of the Harlem Heroes graduates as a
full judge. (Find
this story - The Academy of Law) |
| 2099 |
Rico Dredd
returns to Mega-City One, and is killed by Judge Dredd while
attempting to take his revenge. (Find
this story - The Return of Rico) |
| 2099 |
Judge Dredd
becomes temporary marshall of the moon colony. |
| 2100 |
Judge Dredd
returns to Mega-City One. |
| 2100 |
Welch Logan
destroys the old World Trade Center buildings while holding
the city to ransom for the release of his brother, Whitey. Welch
is later executed by Dredd, and Whitey is returned to Devil's
Island. |
| 2100 |
Mega-City
Two falls prey to the deadly viral disease, 2T(FRU)T, which
threatens the very existence of the city. An overland mission
finally reaches the Mega-City with the antidote after a long
and dangerous trek across the Cursed Earth. (Find
this story - The Cursed Earth) |
| 2101 |
Judge Dredd
was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 20 years on Titan.
However, it was later discovered that this was a plot to discredit
him, involving a android lookalike. (Find
this story - Crime and Punishment) |
| 2101 |
Chief Judge
Goodman is murdered on the orders of the mad Judge Cal, who
takes control of the Mega-City for a hundred day reign of terror,
during which time he makes a goldfish his second-in-command
and sentences the whole city to death!
The resistance movement, led by Judges Griffin
and Dredd, finally rises against Cal and his alien mercenaries
the Kleggs, and the tyrant plummets to his death from the
top of the Statue of Judgement whilst proving his ability
to fly! Griffin takes over as Chief Judge, and the Mega-City
gets back to 'normal' in the Spring of 2102. (Find
this story - The Day the Law Died)
|
| 2102 |
Judge Death
arrives in Mega-City One. Declaring all life a crime, the supernatural
creature slaughters dozens of citizens, until his body is destroyed
by Judge Dredd. When the creature possesses Psi-Judge Cassandra
Anderson, she sacrifices herself by allowing herself to be sealed
in the "miracle plastic" Boing(tm), trapping Death's
spirit with her. (Find
this story - Judge Death) |
| 2102 |
On his
death bed, Psi-Judge Feyy predicts doom for Mega-City One in
2120 unless the Judge Child, destined to be the Chief Judge,
can be found. Dredd goes in search of the Child, who was abducted
by the Angel Gang. After tracking down and executing the gang
on a distant planet, Dredd rejects the Judge Child as evil and
returns to the City. (Find
this story - The Judge Child) |
| 2103 |
Judge Death
is freed by his compatriots, Judges Fear, Fire and Mortis. When
the Dark Judges seal off Billy Carter Block and begin murdering
its population, Judge Dredd and the revived Anderson enter the
block and force the unkillable things to retreat across the
dimension span to their own dead world. Anderson and Dredd follow
the creatures, and Anderson channels the wrath of the lost souls
on Deadworld to exorcise the Dark Judges. (Find
this story - Judge Death Lives) |
| 2103 |
A series
of Block Wars accelerate into Block Mania, under the influence
of Orlok the Assassin, a Sov agent who has been putting drugs
in the water supply. The Mega-City erupts into chaos, with neighbour
fighting neighbour, and even Judges being affected by the drug.
(Find
this story - Block Mania)
|
| 2104 |
Supreme
Judge Bulgarin of East-Meg One launches an all-out nuclear strike
on the already-weakened Mega-City One, and the Apocalypse War
begins. Prolonged fighting devastates both the Mega-City One
and Sov sides, but a daring raid into Sov territory results
in the obliteration of East-Meg One by its own missiles, and
the invaders finally surrender. Chief Judge Griffin has died
in the war, along with over four hundred million other citizens
and Judges. Most of Mega-City One is in ruins, and millions
are homeless, setting up more makeshift shanty towns in and
outside the walls. Judge McGruder, head of the SJS, takes over
as Chief Judge. (Find
this story - The Apocalypse War)
|
| 2105 |
The city
is gradually rebuilt over the next 2 years, but many parts still
lie in ruins, and irradiated Sectors (or Rad-pits) are dotted
around the city. Disease is a common hazard, and pollution is
not diminished by tough laws. Unemployment is nearly 90%, and
many bored citizens turn to crime, often just for something
to do. A wave of insane crazes sweep the city, inspired by controversial
vid shows and renegade Juve gangs, and the Judges are ever-more
hard pressed to keep the peace. They are strong, though, stronger
than ever, and they have The Law on their side! |
| 2106 |
Tek Division
produces the Proteus, a prototype time machine. The machine
is used by Judges Anderson and Dredd to travel forward to 2120,
in order to discover the truth of Judge Feyy's final prediction.
In 2120 they discover the ruined Mega-City, ruled over by the
Mutant, a vastly powerful psionic being created from the cloned
tissue of Owen Krysler, the Judge Child. Dredd loses his eyes
in combat, and battles his undead future self. The Judges return
to 2106 with "Zombie Dredd", and Chief Judge McGruder
orders the termination of the Grunwalder and the destruction
of his castle in an attempt to prevent the calamity from taking
place. The inactive "Zombie Dredd" is placed in the
Black Museum, and Judge Dredd is fitted with bionic eyes. (Find
this story - City of the Damned) |
| 2107 |
Judge Anderson
is lured to Deadworld and duped into reviving the Dark Judges,
and is left for dead by them when they return to Mega-City One.
The Dark Judges use their Dimension Jump technology to teleport
across the city, always one step ahead of the Judges and killing
thousands. Eventually Psi-Division manages to predict their
arrival point and the Dark Judges are trapped in limbo through
the use of a prototype Dimension Jump device. |
| 2108 |
After a
error in judgment results in widespread destruction, McGruder
resigns as Chief Judge and takes the Long Walk. Judge Silver
assumes the office. The Democratic movement in the City gains
momentum. (Find
this story - A Chief Judge Resigns) |
| 2108 |
The Exploding
Man incident. (Find
this story - The Exploding Man Incident) |
| 2108 |
Democratic
Tendency take over Channel 48 breakfast show. |
| 2109 |
The Judda
attack MC-1. |
| 2109 |
Judge Dredd
breaks up the Democratic Charter March, but has doubts that
his actions were justified. |
| 2109 |
Public
call for Chopper's release to compete in the now-legalized Supersurf
in Oz prompts the judges to move him. Chopper escapes and begins
a long trek to Oz to race. Meanwhile, cloned judges from the
race banks of father judge Morton Judd, known as the Judda,
begin their strike against MC-1 from their base in Ayers' Rock.
Dredd teams with Oz Judge Bruce to handle both problems and
destroys the Judda with a nuclear device, but the Oz Judges
let Chopper go free after he loses the race to Jug McKenzie.
(Find
this story - Oz)
|
| 2110 |
'The Mutant'
(Clone of the Judge Child) attacks MC-1 and turns the Judges
into 'Blues' vampire like creatures. |
| 2111 |
Kraken,
last of the Judda in Mega-City One, is failed by Dredd on his
final assessment despite a flawless performance. Kraken is sentenced
to be terminated, and administers his own lethal injection,
which is in fact merely a powerful sedative.
After experiencing severe doubts about his
role as a Judge, Dredd resigns and takes the Long Walk. (Find
this story - Tale of the Dead Man)
|
| 2112 |
Chief Judge
Silver makes Kraken a Judge, and uses him to replace Dredd.
Under the influence of the Sisters of Death,
Kraken kidnaps Psi-Judge Agee. The Sisters use her mind to
form a bridge to Mega-City One, and force Kraken to free the
Dark judges from dimensional limbo. The City becomes a Necropolis.
Despite the efforts of Dredd and other Judges, over sixty
million citizens are killed before Agee's death breaks the
bridge between worlds, and three of the Dark Judges are imprisoned
in Boing(tm) once more. Judge Death remains free, however.
Chief Judge Silver dies during the disaster and McGruder re-assumes
the office. (Find
this story - Necropolis)
|
| 2112 |
The Hunt
Club organises 'Death Aid', a sponsored massacre, in order to
raise funds for those unfortunate children left parentless as
a result of Necropolis. (Find
this story - Death Aid) |
| 2113 |
Judges
Dredd and Dekker round up conspirators who were plotting to
murder Dredd and sabotage the Democratic Referendum. The conspirators
included Judges Grice and DeGaulle. The citizens overwhelmingly
re-elect Justice Dept. to govern the City. |
| 2113 |
Grist escapes
Titan penal colony and attacks MC-1 with 'Meat Virus'. |
| 2113 |
Silver,
thought to be dead, returns in a zombie-like form, explaining
that Death had left him alive for regular torture and demands
that McGruder relinquish control to him. Dredd settles the matter
by executing Silver for promoting Kraken and giving the Dark
Judges a foothold. (Find
this story - Return of the King) |
| 2114 |
Judgement
Day. Sabbat the Necromagus arrives from the year 2178, and sets
about reanimating the dead all over the world. Billions die
as several Mega-Cities are completely overrun by zombies, and
are nuked out of existence to prevent Sabbat's army growing
further. Aided by Johnny Alpha, a mutant bounty-hunter from
Sabbat's time, an elite squad of Judges end the conflict. Sabbat's
head remains alive atop a mystical lodestone, and is transported
to Mega-City One for incarceration. A side-effect of Sabbat's
presence is that zombies occasionally rise at Resyk, forcing
the Judges to ensure that workers there are armed with shotguns.
(Find
this story - Judgement Day)
|
| 2114 |
Mechanismo
project started. (Find
this story - Mechanismo) |
| 2115 |
Ankhor
discovered in Luxor City. Supreme Judge Traktorfactori assassinated. |
| 2116 |
McGruder resigns
(again). Judge Hadrian Volt becomes Chief Judge. |
| 2116 |
Cal-hab 'Song-in-the-Sky'
satellite destroyed. |
| 2117 |
Dredd takes
over sector 301. (Find
this story - The Pit) |
| 2118 |
Galen DeMarco
is discovered to be having an affair with another Judge. (Find
this story - Unjudicial Liaisons) |
| 2118 |
Riots sweep
sector 301. (Find
this story - Bongo War) |
| 2120 |
The disaster
predicted by Feyy does not come to pass. The "Zombie Dredd"
stored in the Black Museum spontaneously reanimates, but is
destroyed by Dredd. (Find
this story - In the Year 2120) |
| 2121 |
Dredd is captured
by Orlok the Assassin and taken to the new Kremlin to stand
trial. He escapes, causing the destruction of the floating Kremlin. |
| 2121 |
Nero Narcos
programs the new Mark 11 Lawgiver to self destruct and robots
to turn on the Judges after his signal is given. He then defeats
the Judges with assassinator robots. With help from Brit-Cit,
Dredd leads a team which reprograms Narcos' robot reinforcements
to turn on their comrades. (Find
this story - Doomsday for Dredd and also Doomsday
for Mega-City One) |
