Editing Judge Dredd (section)

==Fictional character biography==
{{Further|Judge Dredd#Major storylines}}
In 2066, Joseph Dredd and his older (by twelve minutes) "brother" [[Rico Dredd]] are cloned from the DNA of [[Chief Judge Fargo]], the founder of the Judge System, who was said to have died in the line of duty years before.<ref>"A Case for Treatment," in ''2000 AD'' #389</ref> Their growth is artificially accelerated in gestation so they are "born" with the physiological and mental development of a 5-year-old child, with appropriate knowledge and training already implanted in their brains.<ref name="Origins, in 2000 AD #1515">"Origins," in ''2000 AD'' #1515</ref> The last name "Dredd" is chosen by the genetic scientist who created them, [[Morton Judd]], to "instill fear in the population."<ref name="Origins, in 2000 AD #1515" />

In 2070, the corrupt President Robert Linus Booth starts World War III, also known as the [[Atomic Wars]], and the Judges move to restore order to the panic-stricken public. Cadets Joe Dredd and Rico Dredd are temporarily made [[Judge (2000 AD)|full judges]] to help restore order under the supervision of Judge Kinnison, despite being physically and mentally only nine years old. They make their first kills stopping a rape gang but are unable to prevent Kinnison's death in action.<ref>''2000 AD'' #1517</ref> During the war, they discover their clone-father Eustace Fargo is still alive, hidden by higher ranking judges. Seeing them as kin, Fargo recruits Joe and Rico to be his temporary bodyguards. He openly tells them his doubts regarding the Justice Department, wondering if the system has taken away "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" while trying to instill strict order and control. Three weeks later, Fargo is placed in suspended animation and the Dredd brothers return to the Academy. After the Battle of Armageddon in 2071, President "Bad Bob" Booth is captured, tried for war crimes, and sentenced to suspended animation. In the wake of World War III, the office of the President is retired and the Judges now have full control over what's left of America.

Distinguishing themselves, the Dredds are fast-tracked through the Academy of Law. Rico graduates at the top of their class in 2079, with Joseph graduating second. Joe's final assessment is done under the supervision of Judge Morphy, who is impressed with the young man and passes him. Joe later discovers Rico has embraced corruption, engaging in multiple crimes including murder, justifying his actions by saying Judges are thugs and killers by nature. Rico asks Joe to help him cover his crimes, but Joe arrests his brother instead, sentencing him to 20 years of hard labour on the penal colony on Saturn's moon Titan (a typical punishment for corrupt Judges). Joe Dredd continues operating as a judge, quickly gaining a reputation throughout the city as a formidable and incorruptible law enforcement agent. In 2099, Rico Dredd returns to Earth after serving his 20-year sentence. He comes after Joe for revenge, challenging him to a fast draw. No longer used to Earth's gravity, Rico loses and Joe shoots him dead in self-defence. Visibly upset, Joe insists he be the one to carry his brother's body away.<ref name="ReferenceA">"The Return of Rico," in ''2000 AD'' #30</ref>

Over the decades, Joe Dredd becomes a major force protecting Mega-City One and is sometimes the biggest catalyst in preventing its destruction. Offered the opportunity to become [[Judge (2000 AD)|Chief Judge]] in 2101, Dredd declines, preferring to serve on the streets enforcing the law, though he does temporarily serve in other senior positions.<ref>"The Day the Law Died," in ''2000 AD'' #108</ref> In "Tour of Duty", Dredd is appointed to the Council of Five, Mega-City One's highest governing body below the Chief Judge,<ref>"Tour of Duty," ''2000 AD'' #1693</ref> on which he serves for two years (2132 to 2134).<ref>"Day of Chaos," ''2000 AD'' #1789</ref> On several occasions, he saves his city from conquest or destruction by powerful enemies, and in 2114, he saves the entire world during the [[Judgement Day (Judge Dredd)|Fourth World War]].<ref>"Judgement Day," in ''2000 AD'' #786–799</ref>

In 2107, Dredd loses his eyes in combat during the story ''[[City of the Damned]]''. He has them replaced with bionic eyes that grant him night-vision. In 2112, he suffers near-fatal wounds when a battle causes him to fall into a lake of acidic chemicals, burning his entire body. Later on, he undergoes rejuvenation treatment, healing him and adding more vitality than a man his age would normally have. In 2130, Dredd is diagnosed with cancer of the [[duodenum]], though it was benign.<ref>"The Edgar Case," ''2000 AD'' #1595</ref> In 2138, at 72 years old, Dredd undergoes another "rejuve" treatment after being ordered to. It is specified that his entire epidermis, vascular, and muscular tissue are rebuilt on a cellular level, once again restoring some lost youth and vitality. He turns down an offer for a full treatment that would rebuild his internal organs and skeleton.

Although Dredd holds his duty above every other priority, this devotion is not blind. On two occasions (in "The Robot Wars" and "Tale of the Dead Man"), Dredd resigns from the force on principle, but both times he later returns, believing the Judge System, while imperfect and vulnerable to corruption, is the best protection that currently exists for people.<ref>"Robot Wars," ''2000 AD'' #11; "Tale of the Dead Man," ''2000 AD'' #668</ref> In 2113, Dredd insists the Justice Department gamble its existence on a referendum to prove its legitimacy.<ref>"Nightmares," ''2000 AD'' #706</ref> [[Mechanismo|In 2116]], he risks 20 years imprisonment with [[Penal labour|hard labour]] when he challenges the policy of a Chief Judge.<ref>"Prologue," ''Judge Dredd Megazine'' vol. 2 #57</ref> In 2129, Dredd threatens to resign if the Chief Judge doesn't change the city's harsh [[Mutants (Judge Dredd)|anti-mutant apartheid laws]].<ref>"The Spirit of Christmas," ''2000 AD'' #2008 (a December 2007 New Year issue)</ref>

In 2129 (''[[2000 AD (comic)|2000 AD]]'' #1535), Dredd is present when his clone-father Eustace Fargo is revived from cryogenic suspension, only to die later the same day. Before Fargo dies, he calls for Dredd to be at his side and admits his conclusion that the Judge system was a mistake that killed the American Dream, that it was meant to fix things but not last forever. Since Joe and Rico Dredd are his blood, Eustace hopes they will fix his mistakes, implying they should replace the Judge System with something else (he was unaware Rico Dredd had gone renegade and later died by Joe's hand). After Eustace Fargo dies, Dredd decides not to share the man's final words.

In more recent years, Dredd has met other Fargo clones such as Kraken and Nimrod. He has also developed a family of sorts with the introduction of two younger clones of his own named Dolman and Judge Rico (no first name). Dredd also discovered his older brother Rico Dredd fathered a daughter, Vienna Dredd, who now sees Joe as an uncle.

===Family and associates===
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Rico Dredd|Judge Rico Dredd]].''' Judge Joe Dredd's older "brother," also cloned from Chief Judge Eustace Fargo and initially superior to him in physical skills. Soon after Joseph and Rico Dredd became Judges, Rico became corrupt. Joe arrested him and sentenced him to twenty years on the penal colony on Saturn's moon [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]. Twenty years later, Rico sought revenge, and Joe killed him in self-defense.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* '''Vienna.''' The daughter of Rico Dredd and a journalist who visited him on Titan. Dredd considers her his niece and goes out of his way to help her on occasion.<ref>''2000 AD'' #116 and #1300</ref>
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Rico|Judge Rico]].''' A clone created directly from Joe Dredd's own DNA, identical to him but decades younger. Rather than adopt the same last name as Joe Dredd, this clone decides to redeem the name of Joe's late, corrupt older brother and so becomes Judge Rico with no first name. Judge Rico eventually inherits Joe Dredd's old apartment at Rowdy Yates Block.<ref>''2000 AD'' #1186–88, #1280</ref>
* '''[[Judge Anderson]].''' For years, Dredd had a close but uneasy friendship with Cassandra Anderson of Psi-Division, which came to an end when Anderson briefly abandoned the law. After she returned to duty, Dredd initially denied their friendship, but re-affirmed it after she was injured while saving the city. Dredd has great respect for Anderson's abilities and trusts her often with his life, but sometimes finds her flippant attitude and playful jokes annoying.<ref>''Judge Dredd Megazine'' vol. 3 #1–7</ref>
* '''[[Judge Hershey]].''' Dredd knew Chief Judge Hershey for forty years. Like all chief judges since [[List of minor characters in Judge Dredd#Goodman|Goodman]], Dredd had easy access to her, but they also had a personal relationship based on mutual respect. While they had differences at times, Dredd believed her to be "the best chief judge we've ever had".<ref>''2000 AD'' #1632</ref> After Hershey became terminally ill, she hid her illness from Dredd and all others but requested him to be at her side when she chose to be euthanised. Her death was initially faked so she could leave the city on an undercover mission, but after completing her private mission (and one final meeting with Dredd) her illness claimed her on her own terms - while bringing law to the lawless.
* '''Dolman.''' Another clone grown from Joe Dredd's DNA, but years younger. Formerly a trainee judge and member of the MC1 Space Corps. Has undergone face changing procedures to hide his heritage and so bears no resemblance to Dredd or Rico, and Vienna is the only person outside the Justice Department who knows his true identity.
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Beeny|Judge Beeny]]'''. Dredd's [[Mentorship|protégée]] since 2007. On Dredd's recommendation, Hershey appointed her to the Council of Five.<ref>''Judge Dredd Magazine'' #367</ref>  She was initially dismissed from the council when Hershey stepped down but was later reappointed by Chief Judge Logan.
* '''Walter the Wobot and Maria.''' Dredd used to rent his Rowdy Yates Block apartment from Maria, a landlady with a thick, stereotypical Italian accent. After helping the Judges fight a robot revolution, a former vending machine robot called Walter the Wobot became the city's first free robot and moved in with Dredd, acting as his cook and housekeeper out of love. After several years, Dredd parts company with both Walter and Maria. Walter starts a business, then briefly goes rogue and starts his own robot revolution, leading Dredd and the second Judge Giant to arrest him. Dredd later assigns Walter a probation sentence of community service as house robot and caretaker of Mrs Gunderson.<ref>''2000 AD'' #60 and 288</ref>
* '''Mrs Gunderson.''' A deaf widow living in Sylvia Plath Block in a large apartment with multiple bedrooms that she often rents. Following the "Necropolis" affair, the supernatural alien [[Judge Death]] rented a room from her, using the name "Jay De'Ath." Mrs. Gunderson was unaware of Judge Death's true nature due to the fact she is partially deaf and nearly blind, and he spared her after concluding she was the one truly innocent soul he had met. Since that story, she has been an occasional recurring character used for comic relief.
* '''Galen DeMarco'''. A former Judge infatuated with Dredd. This breach of regulations led her to resign from the Justice System and become a [[private investigator]]. Dredd first tried to help her adjust to civilian life but she severed contact when he again rejected her advances.<ref>''2000 AD'' #1101–1110, 1167; ''Megazine'' vol. 3 #52–59</ref> She has her own occasional series called ''DeMarco P. I.''
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Fargo Clan|Fargo clan]].''' A town occupied by the mutated descendants of Ephram Fargo, the twin brother of Chief Judge Eustace Fargo. These [[Mutants (Judge Dredd)|mutants]], who share the common mutation of an overly large, exaggerated chin, are relatives of Judge Dredd himself, and consider him a "cousin". This led to Dredd campaigning to have Mega-City One's mutant segregation laws repealed.<ref>''2000 AD'' #1511–1512, #1542–48, #2008</ref>
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Morphy|Judge Morphy]].''' Dredd's [[mentor]] at the beginning of his career. The two maintained a respect and appreciation for each other over the years, arguably making him one of Dredd's only friends. The same day he told Dredd he would retire from street duty soon and hoped to become a teacher, Morphy was killed in the line of duty.<ref>''2000 AD'' #387, 662–668, 775</ref>
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Logan|Judge Logan]].''' Dredd's assistant for a number of years, later promoted to Senior Judge and later Sector House Chief (Sector 6).<ref>''2000 AD'' #2115</ref> Dredd encouraged Logan to stand for Chief Judge when Hershey resigned. Dredd's and Hershey's public endorsements were instrumental in Logan being elected as Chief Judge.<ref>''2000 AD'' #2117–2118</ref>
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Giant|Judge Giant Senior]].''' Dredd's first cadet trainee, introduced during Dredd's first year of stories. Having graduated from the Academy of Law, he was assigned to Dredd for his final field assessment, which he passed. Giant was a recurring character for years and saved Dredd from execution when Mega-City One was temporarily controlled by the insane Chief Judge Cal. Judge Giant Sr. was shot in the back and killed in the line of duty during the "[[Block Mania]]" story (1981) while trying to arrest [[Orlok the Assassin|Orlok]], just before the [[The Apocalypse War|Apocalypse War]].
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Judge Giant Jr|Judge Giant Junior]].''' Judge Giant fathered a child in 2101 before his death, despite judges being prohibited from having sexual relations. Orphaned in 2104, Giant's son was inducted into the Academy of Law. Years later, the ten-year-old Cadet Giant was supervised on a field test by Judge Dredd. Giant spent the next several years as a cadet, helping Dredd on different occasions such as during the "Necropolis" affair and "Judgement Day." Five years after his introduction, Giant's final assessment was conducted by Judge Dredd and he became a street judge in 2116, the youngest to do so, at age 15.<ref>''Judge Dredd:'' "Giant" (by John Wagner and Ian Gibson, in ''[[Judge Dredd Megazine]]'' vol. 2 no. 50-52, 1994)</ref>
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Dekker|Judge Dekker]]'''. Dredd's second cadet trainee, first appearing in "Super Bowl" (in ''2000 AD'' #370–371, 1984). Dekker quickly proved her worth and became a judge after Dredd's assessment. The two fought alongside each other several times after she became a full Judge, and Dredd considered her his best cadet trainee. She died during the [[1992 in comics|1992]] story "[[Judgement Day (Judge Dredd story)|Judgement Day]]."
* '''[[List of Judge Dredd characters#Kraken|Judge Kraken]].''' Another clone of Chief Judge Fargo, decades younger than Joe Dredd but otherwise identical in appearance and similar in skill. Kraken was created by Morton Judd, the geneticist who cloned and named Joe and Rico Dredd. Kraken was one of the Judda, clones subservient to Judd. After Judd's defeat, Kraken is groomed to one day succeed Dredd and trained to become a Judge, though Dredd believes he isn't mentally fit. When Dredd first temporarily quits, Chief Judge Silver makes Kraken a Judge and has him impersonate Dredd so others won't know that one of Mega-City's greatest lost faith in the system. Kraken is then manipulated and corrupted by the [[Dark Judges]], forced to help them temporarily turn Mega-City One into Necropolis, leading to the deaths of 60 million. After the Dark Judges are defeated, Kraken's mind is free and he peacefully accepts execution by Dredd.
* '''Cadet Jessica Paris.''' A clone of Joe Dredd grown without [[Testis determining factor|SRY]], making her a woman as a result. Has only made a single appearance in the comic to date in which she was shown as being heavily pregnant and the decision on what to do with her and the child being left ambiguous.<ref>''The Forsaken'' ''2000 AD'' #1830–1835, reprinted in Judge Dredd – Day Of Chaos: Fallout</ref>

===Recurring adversaries===
Dredd's adversaries generally do not return in sequels, since they are usually killed or sentenced to long terms of incarceration. However, a few notable villains have returned in multiple stories, and some later got their own spin-off series.

* '''[[Dark Judges|The Dark Judges]]''' are a group of undead judges from another dimension, who believe that since all crime is committed by the living, life itself should be a crime. Usually four in number, their leader '''[[Judge Death]]''' may be said to be Dredd's arch-enemy. Death was first introduced to the series in 1980 and has featured in many stories since, in ''Judge Dredd'' and in his own series.
* '''[[Orlok the Assassin]]''' was a secret agent from East-Meg One, the Russian counterpart to Mega-City One. He killed millions of innocent citizens with a chemical weapon.
* '''[[Mean Machine Angel]]''' is a psychopath from the Cursed Earth around Texas. He had a cybernetic arm and head, and preferred to kill people by head-butting them to death. Generally used as comic relief.
* '''[[PJ Maybe]]''' was a serial killer who murdered his first victim at the age of only 12. He evaded detection several times, and claimed thousands of victims,<ref>"Six" episode 2, in ''Judge Dredd Megazine'' #222 (2004)</ref> including a mayor and a deputy mayor of Mega-City One, over a criminal career lasting three decades.
* '''[[Judge Edgar|Judge Jura Edgar]]''' was a serious adversary of Dredd even before he discovered that she was a criminal. A high-ranking judge (the head of the Public Surveillance Unit), Edgar clashed with Dredd several times, and sometimes got the better of him: a very rare example of an opponent Dredd could not simply arrest or kill.