Graphic Novel of the Month: Feburary

V for Vendetta

Written by Alan Moore, art by David Lloyd

Most of the world is gone, the government is filled with fascists and they keep power
through an iron fist. This is the world of V for Vendetta, an expertly crafted and drawn
read, straight from the mind that has given us other great works like The Killing Joke.
As mentioned, V for Vendetta is set in an alternate timeline where a fascist party,
headed by leader Adam Susan, has taken control of England after a nuclear war
crippled not only the nation but has also destroyed large parts of the world. This
setting is uplifted by the stunning art style which highlights the darker elements.

Of course, such a setting requires a hero, however dubious the use of that word may be, and that comes in the form of the V, a terrorist with a passion for Guy Fawkes masks and theatre. While we don’t know much about him apart from his origins, which you’ll have to read to find out, he supplies a vexing moral dilemma. This is loudly echoed through his companion, a young girl named Evey Hammond, plucked from the streets by V after a harrowing encounter with a group of fingermen.

While V might be the one who sets things in motion, it is also the role of the secondary characters which really demonstrate the high level of writing. From the highest of position to the lowest depths of the moral barrel, it is these characters which drive the story forward.

To end, while I won’t give anything away, the ending of this book is one of the most fulfilling I personally have read in a long time, bringing together every thread of this winding tale and I highly suggest you keep reading straight to the climatic conclusion.