Character Analysis
Doomsday Prepper
We feel confident that not even (insert crazy political candidate of your choice) would nominate Judge Doom to the Supreme Court. This guy is crazy. The police officer, Lt. Santino, tells Eddie that Doom "bought the election," which explains how a xenophobic nutcase who advocates punishment by death was able to take public office.
Who knew Roger Rabbit made such a compelling argument for campaign finance reform?
Judge Doom looks a wee bit like Toht (the crazed Nazi from Raiders of the Lost Ark). And, like Nazis, he has no problem with large-scale, systematic murder. In fact, he wants to wipe Toons off the map with his Dip cannon. You might even say that the Dip would be the "final solution" for Toons…because it's a) a plan of genocide and b) literally a solution of turpentine, acetone, and benzene.
Even if he looked non-creepy and dressed in a less oppressive outfit, Doom would still be evil. This guy probably goes out of his way to kick puppies on the way to work—just watch his glee as he dunks a cute innocent shoe in Dip.
But Judge Doom's a special kind of criminal—he commits heinous acts because of his own self-loathing. Check out his rationale for supporting a Toon death penalty:
JUDGE DOOM: Since I've had Toontown under my jurisdiction my goal has been to reign in the insanity. And the only way to do that is to make Toons respect the law.
He thinks Toons don't respect the law, yet he robbed a bank. He thinks Toons are insane, yet he has no problem killing Toons. And he is a Toon, but he wants to wipe out Toontown.
Judge Doom is crazy dangerous. And dangerously crazy.
In the Shadows
Judge Doom hides his identity as a Toon until the film's climax, but if you pay careful attention you can catch some clever foreshadowing.
Remember how Lt. Santino said Doom bought the election? How'd he get that money? The clue is in the story of the Toon who killed Eddie's brother during a bank heist. He got away with the money, and that dirty money funded his shady election.
The other big clue comes when Doom lures Roger out of hiding by tapping the tune to "shave and a haircut" on the walls of the speakeasy. Eddie makes a shrewd observation and doesn't even realize it:
VALIANT: I don't know who's toonier. You or Doom...
Doom knows Toon logic well. A little too well. Takes one to know one.