“Hey, what happened to you?” you may ask.
MUTILATION BY MIDTERMS!!! THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!
Intro
Random question: Has anyone ever noticed that The Brits have an obsession with the little
symbol that starts in two parallel areas then comes down to a point? You know, this one: V.
Yes, for some reason the little island of the north-west coast of Europe has a knack of making
that particular symbol so omnipresent in their culture. Don’t believe me, take for example
Shakespeare’s Henry V...
symbol that starts in two parallel areas then comes down to a point? You know, this one: V.
Yes, for some reason the little island of the north-west coast of Europe has a knack of making
that particular symbol so omnipresent in their culture. Don’t believe me, take for example
Shakespeare’s Henry V...
...Churchill’s V for Victory…
...heck, there’s even a tv series simply called V.
However I’m not exactly complaining because this little attachment has brought me a little something
called V for Vendetta.
called V for Vendetta.
A work that I love so much that, to show my love for it, I’ve had the pleasure of gettting Natalie Portman’s
prisoner haircut.
prisoner haircut.
DISCLAIMER: I got that because I miscommunicated with the barber and got a frickin’ buzzcut;
that and I realized the resemblance on a fleeting whim.
that and I realized the resemblance on a fleeting whim.
FURTHER DISCLAIMER: I hate the movie.
So with in mind, here’s why this text from Vertigo is a Valorous, Vigorous, Volume of Vast Value
Vitalized by a man at Variance with the Vulgar Violations of the Villains within his government
(I am so sorry you had to endure that).
Vitalized by a man at Variance with the Vulgar Violations of the Villains within his government
(I am so sorry you had to endure that).
Plot Summary
The story takes place in the British Isles during the bleak, dystopian year of 1997
(so little faith in humanity). A fascist government rules over the country with iron fist using its
many institutions to rob the people of the nectar of liberalism which for some reason are named
after body parts. You’ve got the Head which is well, the head of the government
(brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department); the ear which does
audio surveillance; the Finger which is charge of law enforcement; and vice versa
(Though the body part that would best represent the whole bloody government would be the
rectum because they’re all full of crap - OHHH BURN!!!).
And as we can expect they’re up to the usual far-right dystopian shenanigans that you know
and are indifferent to: scapegoating certain groups; keeping a pervasive police presence;
and blaring propaganda over the radio, such as for its citizens to “Make Britain Great Again”.
What is it about these Hitler wannabes and their obsession with restoring their nation to its
former glory?
(so little faith in humanity). A fascist government rules over the country with iron fist using its
many institutions to rob the people of the nectar of liberalism which for some reason are named
after body parts. You’ve got the Head which is well, the head of the government
(brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department); the ear which does
audio surveillance; the Finger which is charge of law enforcement; and vice versa
(Though the body part that would best represent the whole bloody government would be the
rectum because they’re all full of crap - OHHH BURN!!!).
And as we can expect they’re up to the usual far-right dystopian shenanigans that you know
and are indifferent to: scapegoating certain groups; keeping a pervasive police presence;
and blaring propaganda over the radio, such as for its citizens to “Make Britain Great Again”.
What is it about these Hitler wannabes and their obsession with restoring their nation to its
former glory?
Could that mean…
...no frickin’ way.
However, as with every bloody work of dystopian fiction, there’s always going to be someone
who’s going to stand up to it, and contrary to what his mask has come to represent today,
this story does not follow a pretentious, self-righteous 20-something hacker who has way too
much free time (the hacktivist group Anonymous in case if you didn’t get it).
Instead The titular rebel is rather a knife wielding, Parliament exploding, soldier gutting,
Guy Fawkes revering, anarchy adoring, Shakespeare quoting, classic book collecting,
maiden saving, news-station-hijacking vigilante who’s out to, as the title implies,
satisfy a Vendetta against the government that did him wrong.
who’s going to stand up to it, and contrary to what his mask has come to represent today,
this story does not follow a pretentious, self-righteous 20-something hacker who has way too
much free time (the hacktivist group Anonymous in case if you didn’t get it).
Instead The titular rebel is rather a knife wielding, Parliament exploding, soldier gutting,
Guy Fawkes revering, anarchy adoring, Shakespeare quoting, classic book collecting,
maiden saving, news-station-hijacking vigilante who’s out to, as the title implies,
satisfy a Vendetta against the government that did him wrong.
Critique
Pluses
-David Lloyd’s art style: Colours are damped and gloomy, heavy shadows are omnipresent,
and the illustrations are made in a way that properly realizes the story’s bleak setting.
and the illustrations are made in a way that properly realizes the story’s bleak setting.
-A different take on the Freedom Fighter: Now when it comes to idea of a “a noble hearted
rebel acting in the name of freedom against ridiculous odd looking to inspire a complacent or
ignorant populace of their oppression”, this story takes this idea a little differently, as with
V that’s not really the case. The only disciple he takes under his wing is a teenage factory worker
named Evey. That’s it. She’s just a vessel to pass on his ideals, he has no plans for
popular uprisings or raising a group of insurgents. Then there’s his morals, as V’s goal is more
than just revenge. Being a full-blown anarchist, he doesn’t just want to destroy malicious government,
he wants to get rid of government period. Furthermore, he vows to accomplish this through any
means necessary, even if it means hurting his only follower. Speaking of malicious government...
rebel acting in the name of freedom against ridiculous odd looking to inspire a complacent or
ignorant populace of their oppression”, this story takes this idea a little differently, as with
V that’s not really the case. The only disciple he takes under his wing is a teenage factory worker
named Evey. That’s it. She’s just a vessel to pass on his ideals, he has no plans for
popular uprisings or raising a group of insurgents. Then there’s his morals, as V’s goal is more
than just revenge. Being a full-blown anarchist, he doesn’t just want to destroy malicious government,
he wants to get rid of government period. Furthermore, he vows to accomplish this through any
means necessary, even if it means hurting his only follower. Speaking of malicious government...
-A different take on the Oppressor: Now, a lot of things come to mind when you think of the fascists
who run the government: a bunch of brazen, soulless, acid tongued, tighty whitey,
jack booted thugs who’s free time mainly consists drowning baby pandas in sulfuric acid.
Well, as with the hero they’re not so simplistic. They’re actually portrayed as *GASP* human beings.
For a genre that makes its antagonists so one-dimensional, this text gives us the pleasure of
looking at the worldview and their daily lives, giving us a sense that they’re more than just the
scum of the earth we typically make them out to be. They’re also given qualities that actually make
me feel sorry for them. LET THAT SINK IN! MADE ME FEEL SORRY FOR A FASCIST!!!!!
All of this, combined with a compelling anti-hero, makes a story in a genre where the morals are
not so black and white.
who run the government: a bunch of brazen, soulless, acid tongued, tighty whitey,
jack booted thugs who’s free time mainly consists drowning baby pandas in sulfuric acid.
Well, as with the hero they’re not so simplistic. They’re actually portrayed as *GASP* human beings.
For a genre that makes its antagonists so one-dimensional, this text gives us the pleasure of
looking at the worldview and their daily lives, giving us a sense that they’re more than just the
scum of the earth we typically make them out to be. They’re also given qualities that actually make
me feel sorry for them. LET THAT SINK IN! MADE ME FEEL SORRY FOR A FASCIST!!!!!
All of this, combined with a compelling anti-hero, makes a story in a genre where the morals are
not so black and white.
-A message for our time: As with every bloody work in this genre, it has a message to share
about it’s political climate. This graphic novel was published in an era during the controversial
ministry of Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, and with that it offers a vivid warning of what would happen
if we as citizens allow our government to overreach its boundaries, to become victims of our own
complacently.
about it’s political climate. This graphic novel was published in an era during the controversial
ministry of Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, and with that it offers a vivid warning of what would happen
if we as citizens allow our government to overreach its boundaries, to become victims of our own
complacently.
My Grade: V+
