Judge — April 23, 1927 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Judge" Magazine - "The Real Stuff" This comic strip, signed by Fortell, satirizes judicial corruption or incompetence. The narrative follows a judge character through nine panels arranged in a 3x3 grid. The sequence appears to show the judge repeatedly choosing alcohol (visible bottles throughout) over proper judicial duties. In the courtroom scenes (center and right panels), the judge sits at his bench surrounded by liquor bottles instead of legal documents. The outdoor panels show him literally stumbling and juggling papers and dishes while intoxicated. The title "The Real Stuff" likely refers ironically to alcohol, suggesting the cartoon mocks judges who prioritize drinking over administering justice. This reflects early 20th-century concerns about judicial ethics and courtroom corruption. The exaggerated physical comedy emphasizes the judge's incompetence and moral failings.