V for Vendetta {New Edition}
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
V for Vendetta is, like its author's later Watchmen, a landmark in comic-book writing. Alan Moore has led the field in intelligent, politically astute (if slightly paranoid), complex adult comic-book writing since the early 1980s. He began V back in 1981 and it constituted one of his first attempts (along with the criminally neglected but equally superb Miracleman) at writing an ongoing series. It is 1998 (which was the future back then!) and a Fascist government has taken over the UK. The only blot on its particular landscape is a lone terrorist who is systematically killing all the government personnel associated with a now destroyed secret concentration camp. Codename V is out for vengeance ... and an awful lot more. V feels slightly dated like all past premonitions do. The original series was black and white and that added to the grittiness of the feel while the colouring here in the graphic novel sometimes blurs David Lloyd's fine drawing. But these are small concerns. Skilfully plotted, V is an essential read for all those who love comics and the freedom, as a medium, they allow a writer as skilled as Moore. The graphic novel contains all the V series plus two additional stories concerning V that were originally considered "interludes". This edition also contains an essay from Moore dating from 1983 explaining the creation process. For any comic fan it's a must-have. --Mark Thwaite
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
It's probably the most openly political of Moore's works, as well as being the most idealistic. --No. 9, SFX Best Eve
A work of passionate individuality and morality, a work of outrage and hope. --The Comics Journal
A work of passionate individuality and morality, a work of outrage and hope. --The Comics Journal
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First Sentence
Good evening, London. It's nine o'clock and this is the voice of fate broadcasting on 275 and 285 in the medium wave...it is the fifth of the eleventh, ninteen-ninety-seven. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Good evening, London. It's nine o'clock and this is the voice of fate broadcasting on 275 and 285 in the medium wave...it is the fifth of the eleventh, ninteen-ninety-seven. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To understand 'V For Vendetta', you have to understand the times in which it was written. Britain of the 1980s was wracked by recession and with discontent against the Conservative government. Hanging over this was the ever-present Cold War mentality.
The premise of this book is that the Conservative government are voted out (as Moore expected at the time, but which didn't come to pass) and the new Labour government insists on nuclear disarmament. So it is that when the Cold War becomes World War 3, Britain is uninvolved, but not unaffected.
As nuclear fallout affects the weather and radiation causes widespread death a fascist regime rises to offer England stability and order. The price for this is the internment and execution of blacks, homosexuals, liberals and all those who don't conform to the fascist ideals. The future Moore paints is a bleak and painfully believable one.
However, one man decides to destroy this new order so that freedom can be rebuilt from the rubble. The man is known only as V. When it comes down to it, V is the greatest element of this book. He's cultured, witty, mysterious, charismatic and ruthless. Also, David Lloyd's design of the character as a man dressed in a smiling mask and Guy Fawkes costume is inspired. My favourite bit of the book is when V sneaks into the home of a child-abusing bishop and confronts the corrupt clergyman with a Rolling Stones quote; 'Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste'.
There are numerous other characters integral to the story; the widow Rose, forced to become a stripper; the Leader, an insane fascist in love with Fate, the computer which effectively controls England; as well as the various heads of the Party. However, there are two characters who reveal about V what he never reveals himself.
The first is Mr. Finch, a police officer tasked with hunting down V, who undertakes a personal quest to understand V's mind (which includes an LSD trip in a death camp).
The other character is Evey. At the beginning she is a helpless girl who turns to prostitution to make ends meet. However, after meeting V she begins an education at his hands in the meaning of freedom which breaks her and then remakes her.
At it's most basic level this book is about freedom, both personal freedom and freedom as an abstract concept. Dark, disturbing and thought-provoking, this book still manages to be exciting and uplifting. Certainly one of the best pieces of literature (not just comic-form) that I've ever read.
The premise of this book is that the Conservative government are voted out (as Moore expected at the time, but which didn't come to pass) and the new Labour government insists on nuclear disarmament. So it is that when the Cold War becomes World War 3, Britain is uninvolved, but not unaffected.
As nuclear fallout affects the weather and radiation causes widespread death a fascist regime rises to offer England stability and order. The price for this is the internment and execution of blacks, homosexuals, liberals and all those who don't conform to the fascist ideals. The future Moore paints is a bleak and painfully believable one.
However, one man decides to destroy this new order so that freedom can be rebuilt from the rubble. The man is known only as V. When it comes down to it, V is the greatest element of this book. He's cultured, witty, mysterious, charismatic and ruthless. Also, David Lloyd's design of the character as a man dressed in a smiling mask and Guy Fawkes costume is inspired. My favourite bit of the book is when V sneaks into the home of a child-abusing bishop and confronts the corrupt clergyman with a Rolling Stones quote; 'Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste'.
There are numerous other characters integral to the story; the widow Rose, forced to become a stripper; the Leader, an insane fascist in love with Fate, the computer which effectively controls England; as well as the various heads of the Party. However, there are two characters who reveal about V what he never reveals himself.
The first is Mr. Finch, a police officer tasked with hunting down V, who undertakes a personal quest to understand V's mind (which includes an LSD trip in a death camp).
The other character is Evey. At the beginning she is a helpless girl who turns to prostitution to make ends meet. However, after meeting V she begins an education at his hands in the meaning of freedom which breaks her and then remakes her.
At it's most basic level this book is about freedom, both personal freedom and freedom as an abstract concept. Dark, disturbing and thought-provoking, this book still manages to be exciting and uplifting. Certainly one of the best pieces of literature (not just comic-form) that I've ever read.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Back to graphic novels after a long absence, I had never read V before, but ordered a copy.
Lets just say I'm not often motivated enough by a book or CD to want to review it on Amazon, but this book does.
Absolutely superb read, complex story with super characters. Really couldn't put this one down.
After reading, immediately watched the movie which has had mixed reviews. In my view not a truly bad film at all, but a far cry from the book with some serious storyline changes. I mention this because if you have seen the film, dont let that cloud your judgement of whether to read the book.
The book is a lot more sinister - due to its age it actually carries a wonderful style - very Orwellian, very Brazil (The film, not the country!).
Please read, its well worth it.
Lets just say I'm not often motivated enough by a book or CD to want to review it on Amazon, but this book does.
Absolutely superb read, complex story with super characters. Really couldn't put this one down.
After reading, immediately watched the movie which has had mixed reviews. In my view not a truly bad film at all, but a far cry from the book with some serious storyline changes. I mention this because if you have seen the film, dont let that cloud your judgement of whether to read the book.
The book is a lot more sinister - due to its age it actually carries a wonderful style - very Orwellian, very Brazil (The film, not the country!).
Please read, its well worth it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
V for Vendetta is a story of a number of individuals that come together and collide to bring about a change in an apocalyptic Great Brittan. But it's not simply a story, but a story that is being used to make you think. Vendetta isn't great because of its narrative or suspenseful set piece but because of how it uses those to get you thinking about more important things.True that it's not the most original piece of work story wise, but it tells its story in a special way and is the best of its kind as well as being a rarity in quality in the comic book genre.
Read this look around and see the way were all going , we need to make a stand and soon or it will be too late and the world this introduces will be our final reality.
Read this look around and see the way were all going , we need to make a stand and soon or it will be too late and the world this introduces will be our final reality.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I haven't read a comic since childhood but this one is cool
I am not big on politics but this comic is obviously political and I thought its politics were interesting although less edgy than I thought they might be... Read more
Published 4 days ago by SACB
Required Reading!
From start to finish, through lyrics and philosophy, through mixed up characters and illegible drawings, through gore and chaos and 'The Second Coming' by Yeats, this book is... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Anna Clare
Inspired by the Isle of Wight??
It's been said many times before, but Alan Moore is the master par excellence of the graphic narrative form. Read more
Published 2 months ago by John Moseley
Kindle edition - Not available on Kindle - How does that work?
When I try to purchase this I get a screen telling me that I don't have a device that supports Kindle content.. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rob
Essential reading
just as cited in the introduction, if you are the kind of guy that do not switch off your radio/tv when the News are on (and you don't just use your laptop and your smartphone to... Read more
Published 4 months ago by thodoris
Great book bad delivery!
The book is actually great couldn't put it away from reading - made me understand the movie and the whole story better even if the actual book is different from the movie. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Shmitze
Poor Quality Product
I have no idea what the orignal version was like, but feel that the quality of the images must have been better than in this edition. Read more
Published 5 months ago by F for Frustration
New Experience
I ordered the book off the back of the film, i was anticipating a good read. I didnt however consider that this was going to be a comic. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Daniel Kavanagh
Great story, great book
I used to own the individual issues of this series but over the years they got dog-eared and ripped, so I thought I'd buy this compiled edition. Read more
Published 6 months ago by lexusperplexus
a great stroy, stunning artwork...
not too sure why or how i came about this graphic novel, but after reading this i can see why it's considered a great book. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Gcrikey
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