1. V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
Ave Atque Vale
A frightening and powerful story of the loss of freedom and identity i n a
totalitarian world, V for Vendetta takes place in an alternate future in which
Germany wins WWII and Britain becomes a fascist state. A vigilante
named V stalks the streets of London trying to free England of its
ideological chains. Moores poetic language coupled with Lloyds eerie,
washed-out color art makes this a captivating read sure to stay with you.
Features:
While Alan Moore remains best known for his work on the influ ential comic
series/graphic novel Watchmen, the 1980s were an incredibly productive
time for the subversive writer. Among a slew of successes came what is
arguably Moore's second biggest work, V for Vendetta.
The three-part story follows the actions of a person known only as "V," who
dons a Guy Fawkes mask as he preaches anarchism and carries out a
one-man war with a totalitarian government in what was then considered
the "near future," the 1990s. But like most stories that deal with the "not-
too-distant future," V for Vendetta has much in common with current
situations in the world, and as much has arguably stayed the same, the
story remains relevant today.
V first appears as a Batman-like character, emerging masked from the
shadows, striking fear in the enemy as he rescues a young girl, Evey
Hammond, from corrupt cops who plan to rape and kill her. That's about as
far as comparisons to the Bat go. V speaks as though raised on
Shakespeare and proudly proclaims responsibility as the Houses of
Parliament explode and fireworks light the sky. He apparently has no
qualms about killing and destroying.
As the story unfolds, we learn more about V's background, as Evey learns
more about the ideals of the masked man. V isn't through after the Houses
of Parliament. There is a bigger plan, and the powers are scrambling to do
everything they can to keep the propaganda rolling and bandage the
damage V is doing to their ideals.
At its core, V for Vendetta advocates terrorism, or at least presents
someone referred to as a terrorist as a protagonist of the story. He kills,
bombs, and brainwashes in the name of his ideals. But that is what Moore
challenges throughout. Is terrorism in the face of oppression "terrorism," in

2. the negative sense, or is it patriotism if carried out in the name of a wakeup
call to bring things back to the people?
There is an important battle brewing throughout the story involving "Fate"
and "Justice." V for Vendetta is a book about ideals. This terrorist is
someone who, literally in this sense, has been imprisoned, experimented
upon, and tortured by his government. He wants freedom, not only for
himself--he already has a slice of that in his subway dwelling--but for
everyone. And he's fighting for it, breaking down the walls to give others
the opportunity to do the same. He is like the protagonist of 1984, but he's
willing to blow things up to change the world rather than run until he
eventually gets a metaphorical bullet to the head.
The art of David Lloyd is unique, to say the least. The ima ges strike a
realistic tone but are often shaded in white, blue, and sometimes yellow
tones that seem to deprive the panels of some detail. It is a style that may
not work for many readers.
But at the core of things, V for Vendetta is about the ideas it presents. In a
three-book arc, Moore creates a cinematic story that entertains and, more
importantly, will leave readers questioning their ideals for years after the
last chapter is read. It is another fantastic entry into the world of subversive
comics by the industry's best.
-- William Jones
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