2000 AD #916

A massive campaign billboard dominates the cover of Prog 916, its stern close-up of Judge Dredd's helmeted face staring down at a crowd of silhouetted citizens beneath the unmistakable slogan "Vote Dredd — Vote for the Law." The tagline at the bottom — "Who will be the new Chief Judge?" — frames the whole image as a pivotal moment in Mega-City One's political landscape, with Mick Austin's painted cover perfectly capturing the unsettling spectacle of authoritarian electioneering. If you've ever wondered what democracy looks like in a future megalopolis, this December 1994 issue of 2000 AD makes for a compellingly grim answer.