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V For Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
01/01/2006 . Source: Shaun Green 
pub: Titan Books. 296 page illustrated hardback graphic novel. Price: £24.99 (UK). ISBN: 1-84576-182-0. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out websites: www.titanbooks.com and www.vertigocomics.com
I think it's safe to say that if you are at all familiar with comics you'll be aware of who Alan Moore is so we can dispense with unnecessary introductions. You don't have to read the rest of this paragraph. If, on the other hand, you're not familiar with Alan Moore then here's the lowdown: since the 1980s, Moore has been amongst the forefront British writers working on intelligent, astute and sophisticated comics. Assuming an unfamiliarity with the medium, it might also be necessary to point out that an intelligent, astute and sophisticated comic is not a contradiction in terms.
'V For Vendetta' was one of Moore's earliest works and was a collaboration with artist David Lloyd. It should be noted that 'V For Vendetta' is a dual-authored work in a very real sense, as the afterword to this collector's edition makes clear. Lloyd was responsible for designing the titular V and also suggested the unusual technique of dispensing with captions, thought-balloons and sound effects entirely.
The story itself is set in a post-war Britain which has survived the nuclear conflagration of World War 3. A fascist one-party state has taken the country's reigns in the vein of 1984. Surveillance is omnipresent, secret policemen are everywhere and undesirables like lesbians or non-white ethnic groups are taken to camps where they are 'disposed of'. This regime has had many years in which to cement its power. Its enemies, real or perceived, are dead. The people of Britain shoulder their lot. The death camps are forgotten and abandoned ruins. The backdrop of 'V For Vendetta' is a dark canvas indeed.
Into this environment comes V, a mysterious individual wearing a cape and a Guy Fawkes mask. He is powerful, has at his disposal many resources and he is utterly opposed to the state. He is an anarchist and a terrorist and his mission to bring down the fascist government is nothing if not theatrical. He blows up the Houses of Parliament - a largely symbolic action, as they have been abandoned for many years. Then he rescues a young girl who has been forced to prostitution but, due to her naivete, approaches a secret policeman who threatens to rape and kill her. This girl, Evey Hammond, becomes something of an apprentice of sorts and her role over the course of the story is an increasingly important one. Unlike V, she refuses to kill. Not for revenge and not even for V.
'V For Vendetta' is told in three parts. There are some disparities between the three, mainly due to their being written some time apart. The strips were originally published in 'Warrior' (1982-85) but the comic folded before 'V' could be completed. It was not until 1988 that DC Comics printed a mini-series that saw the story to its conclusion. Still, these issues are minor and, on first read at least, are scarcely apparent. It might even be argued that they tie in well with the developing and entwined roles of V and Evey.
The art is attractive and appropriate to the subject matter, even reminding me of some old Soviet propaganda art. It is composed of thickly inked lines and large areas of darkness, perfectly befitting the darkness of dystopian, fascist Britain and the tendency of V to operate from the shadows. It reflects, too, the darkness inside V and the twisted men and women who made him. The colours by Steve Whitaker are mostly muted and subtle, giving a slightly washed-out feel.
The basic concept of the story is a wonderful exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of anarchism and the burdens that must be shouldered in order to combat fascism. It is also a realistic portrayal of people under a fascist government. Most of them beaten down, many of them informers simply to try and get a little bit ahead. It is only in the latter parts of the book that its true strength as a political work shines through. To say too much would spoil the surprise, but suffice to say that it's one worth waiting for.
Shaun Green
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