History[]
Henry Ford is a character from the 2000 AD strip Judge Dredd. He was an irascible, carnivorous mutant horse with human-level intelligence and the power of speech who worked for a mutant called Moze Bigleftear on a (not very successful) farm in the Cursed Earth. In 2101 AD, Moze rode to Mega-City One on Henry to seek the help of Judge Dredd when his farm was overrun by the 'Black Plague', an invasion of killer mutant spiders that went on to threaten the township of Atom Gulch.
Fortunately for the citizens of Atom Gulch, Moze's assessment of Dredd's character — that he was a fair man who wouldn't stand idly by when people's lives were in danger — was correct. Dredd led a team of Judges who defended the township from the spiders, partly by setting fire to flammable materials in the drainage ditch around the perimeter to create a "thin red line." (Moze and Henry were on fire detail.) Eight people died before the swarm gave up and turned its attention to Mega-City One instead. Because radio interference meant that Dredd couldn't contact Justice Department, Moze suggested that Dredd ride to the city on Henry Ford to warn them.
Henry refused to leave Atom Gulch, but changed his mind when Dredd held a gun to his head. Having carried Dredd almost all of the thirty miles to the city, the stalwart horse finally collapsed from the effect of envenomed spider bites. However, the radio interference that had earlier cut Dredd off from Justice Department had now lifted, and he was able to call an H-wagon to retrieve Henry and himself. The spiders invaded Mega-City One by burrowing under the walls at midnight, but the Judges killed them all when Chief Judge Griffin followed Dredd's advice and ordered that an entire sector be burnt to the ground. Meanwhile, Henry spent the night recovering from his injuries, and by morning was fit enough to return to the Cursed Earth.
Henry later teamed up with Dredd again to thwart the Junkman.
Powers and abilities[]
Abilities
Carrying people; enhanced resistance to poisoning (it took two bites from a spider to kill a human, and Henry survived several).
Strength level
Normal equine strength of a mutant horse of his size and age who engages in as little regular exercise as possible.
Weaknesses
Jackrat steaks.
Paraphernalia[]
Equipment
Saddle; bridle; stirrups; reins.
Transportation
Himself; Justice Department land vehicle; H-wagon.
Weapons
None, but he has very sharp teeth.
Notes[]
Henry Ford's second appearance was in the Judge Dredd newspaper strip in the Daily Star, though the story was reprinted later in the Judge Dredd Megazine (volume two, issues #52-53). Years later, what appeared to be his preserved corpse was shown in the Judges' Black Museum (Judge Dredd Megazine #360).
Trivia[]
Henry Ford (the horse) was presumably named after Henry Ford (the man who made motor cars).
Links[]
- Appearances of Henry Ford
- Character Gallery: Henry Ford
- Images that feature Henry Ford
- Fan-Art Gallery: Henry Ford
- Henry Ford quotations
Discover and Discuss[]
- Search News for: Henry Ford · Henry Ford