Title: V For Vendetta
Genre: Graphic Novel
Pages: 300
Origin: borrowed from Plymouth University library and read during July-August 2012
Nod Rating: 4 out of 5
The Worm confesses to developing an infatuation with Alan Moore in recent months. As can be seen in recent reviews, a massive 5 nods was given to his Watchmen graphic novel, whilst a further 3 nods was laid out for his short book on the art of writing for comics. Is this a sign that the Worm is becoming far too generous in his older age? The Worm stresses that these nods are for a fantastic writer who is always on the hunt of widening our imaginations in his story telling.
As such, the Worm thought it best to return to the near beginnings of Moore’s career: V for Vendetta. It is a dystopian story set in the near future, in the world of the late 1990s in which nuclear bombs have been set off, and power in Britain has been taken over by a fascist religious political party. Hidden behind a mask, and dressed in the sartorial style of Guy Fawkes, V is on a one-man quest to bring down the government and show everyone the existence of their chains; and more importantly, the power to break those chains to reclaim their liberty.
The story principally follows V in his underworld alongside his new sidekick, the naïve and uninitiated Evey; as well as the groups who pursue him with their own motivations and reasons. V is at odds with everyone in this nightmarish vision of the future: his love of poetry and good music is a rebellion against the dark skyline, drab coasts and kitchen-sink dramas played out in the city of London. V’s seemingly riddled and flowery prose may be slightly annoying at first, but as each page is turned they are increasingly seen as the light to behold against the dark forces that have taken control of old Blighty. In typical Moore fashion, the “good guys” and the “bad guys” are never clear cut: is V a hero or simply a psychotic murderer? It is up to the readership to decide. Alongside this ambiguity lies stylish and always interesting framing of the page; seen nowhere more clearly than at the beginning of Book Two: The Vicious Cabaret in which sheet music is displayed when connecting all of the various plot strands.
However, V for Vendetta is not an entirely accessible read. Beside the nature of the subject, many of which could find off-putting (in essence, an anarchist terrorist killing fascists), there is the actual storyline itself. There is a heady mix of convoluted plot and an array of characters – many of which are hard to distinguish from one another – which means that this is not a book to merely flipped through in a day. The Worm had the pleasure to read the story over the period of several weeks, continually dipping back towards the beginning, and thumbing through pages to link the various plots. It must be advised that other readers should take the same luxury of an amble walk, rather than power read.
In this handsome edition (containing the full comic strips, prefaces from both writer and artist, as well as extended essay on the genesis of V for Vendetta), Moore discusses just how badly his own predications shown to be: no, Thatcher was not removed from office in the 1983 election, and no, a socialist type government did not take control. Of course, the Falklands factor put paid to Thatcher’s ousting in ’83; but the story is not one based on concrete fact, but rather of ideas. These ideas – of freedom and liberty – remain imbedded within us; as are the threats that these ideas and beliefs face from forces all around us. In the character of V, Moore and Lloyd have created an eternal character that is used to rally the forces of liberty against her would-be destroyers: within the comic’s conclusion, as well as in real life. Such real life similarities can be seen in the choice of the group Anonymous and their V masks as a potent symbol.
Avoid the dull, tame movie from 2006 and instead go full flying into the original comic. It may not be to your political taste, but it will surely inflame and excite the bones in your body.
Buy it here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/V-Vendetta-Edition-Alan-Moore/dp/1845762274/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346093967&sr=8-1
Read the review for Watchmen right here:
http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/11/watchmen-alan-moore-dave-gibbons.html
