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Sud666's Reviews > V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta by Alan             Moore
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it was amazing
bookshelves: comics, favorites

V for Vendetta is superb. For people wanting to read this book, that's really all you have to take away from my review. Written in a period of liberal angst (over Thatcher's Election as PM) wherein he forecasts a dystopian view of England's future. There has been a nuclear war (not very specific as to the who/why) but England has been spared. The government is Fascist and uses Orwellian terminology for it's different departments-the Head, the Fingers, the Eye, etc. In this world we are introduced to V.
The story is about V and his attempt to bring down the government. V channels his inner Guy Fawkes (aka Guido Fawkes-a Catholic Englishman who attempted to kill King James I by blowing up Westminster Palace. Um he didn't. He was found guarding the Gunpowder, arrested and managed to fall off the scaffolding, before being hanged, and promptly broke his neck.) by blowing up Parliament.
He is joined inn this by Evey Hammond. Evey was nearly raped and killed by a group of Fingermen, when she is rescued by V. Her metamorphosis from meek to her "reincarnated" mindset near the end of the story is quite remarkable. As far as V- he is something more than human. I shall not spoil the rest of the story or the plot for you-especially if you are unfamiliar with what happens.

The plot of the angst driven anti-hero fighting a fascist government is really not that original, but what sets this book apart is Alan Moore's prose. It is quite simply beautiful. It flows smoothly and compels the reader to pay attention to each and every word-a rarity in comic writing. This is Moore at his finest (though Watchmen and Swamp Thing are also of similar quality) using Shakespeare and other famous authors to give V's speech a measure of class and culture that serves up memorable lines. This is a story that can be read merely for the writing itself.

The art is quite decent especially considering the time. The art complements the dark story line. The colors are muted and only a few colors are used. The entire feel is a mix of dreary, depressing and yet sinister all at the same time. Quite in keeping with the nature of the government in the tale.

If you are looking for a great story, phenomenal prose that will stay with you after finishing the book and most of all- the salient points it makes about people and their particular relationship with their government, self-development and concepts of what is freedom make this a deep book. Unlike most comics, this not only entertains-but it gives food for thought. It paints a stark warning of the price people will pay for "security". This is not a fun tale, though there is a great deal going on and is meant to be more of an engine to drive the thoughts of readers. There is a lot of subtle things such as V- is it V for Vendetta? Each chapter of this tale has a word that starts with "V" as its title. There is something to be said also for "Evey" (V?) and her eventual transformation.

A superbly written tale. That's the best summation for this magnum opus from the mind of Alan Moore. Even people who have no use for comics, should read this one. The prose alone makes it worth it. Highly recommend to anyone for with a love for the written word. Do yourself a favor and do not let the movie be the reason you know this tale- read the original, far deeper, far darker version.
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Reading Progress

February 14, 2017 – Started Reading
February 14, 2017 – Shelved
February 14, 2017 –
page 22
7.43%
February 15, 2017 –
page 33
11.15% ""Everybody is special. Everybody. Everybody is a hero,a lover, a fool, a villain. Everybody. Everybody has their story to tell.""
February 15, 2017 –
page 33
11.15% ""It's everything,Evey. The Perfect Entrance. The Grand Illusion. It's everything. And I'm going to bring the house down. They've forgotten the drama of it all,you see. They abandoned their scripts when the world withered in the glare of nuclear footlights, I'm going to remind them about melodrama. About the Tuppenny Rush and the Penny Dreadful. You see,Evey, all the world's a stage and everything else-is vaudeville""
February 15, 2017 –
page 80
27.03%
February 15, 2017 –
page 112
37.84%
February 19, 2017 – Shelved as: comics
February 19, 2017 – Finished Reading
May 3, 2017 – Shelved as: favorites

Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)

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Trish This is still one of my favourites although I have to give credit where credit is due: the movie adaptation doesn't have to hide behind it despite some pretty big changes. I watch it every year on November 5th. :)


Alejandro Truly glad that you liked so much this awesome graphic novel :) It's my favorite in this kind of format :)


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Fabulous review, Sud!! I'm glad you loved it too 😊


Sud666 The Prose alone is worth it Melissa. Glad you enjoyed it.


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Yes! And thank you 😊


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