V for Vendetta
Ratings329
Average rating4.2
So thick with text it might as well be a book, which could be either a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
There are chunks of political [or maybe it's philosophical?] musings which might have been interesting if it was a form of English [and I'm not talking about American versus British here] I could understand. I'm talking about words that don't come up in everyday conversation which when you hear them you still say “Hunh?”
I'd already seen the movie so it was interesting to catch some differences, especially in Eve's personality.
I always expect to be blown away when something has the sort of following this has but the second half seemed convoluted and uninteresting. I can see how this would have resonated in Thatcher's Britain though.
An interesting read over all. I feel conflicted about the character of Evey and her almost blind acceptance of some of V's methods and convictions. I wish that she had been older and more questioning, as I think that could have enhanced the story.
In an attempt to remain morally ambiguous, all characters become reprehensible through their actions which consequently, induces a sense of apathy to any of the events without a single likeable character to relate to. Moore's anarchist biases are so pronounced through the novel that it becomes obvious - not debatable, not ambiguous - where his ideals truly lie. V is barely a character, but instead a bundle of political beliefs that he sporadically spouts alliteration advocating anarchism and violence.
In fact, most of the characters themselves are caricatures and ciphers rather than actual people - which makes that entire first book almost insufferable to read due to how blatantly Moore makes his characters to be as propaganda pieces. He dehumanizes the government, making them all undeniably horrible people that you side with V's ideas of anarchy since there is no other choice, making his side almost holy in comparison. It is with the extreme endorsement of anarchism that the book runs into ethical problems, seemingly endorsing torture and violence in support as long as the ends are justified. Mental rape happens, only for it to be brushed off after the girl realizes how great anarchy really is (?).
The book doesn't challenge you, nor does it want to ask you a question to convert you to its side. It masks moral ambiguity with strawmanning and propaganda, making anarchism seem like the answer to all.
Still didn't hate it for some reason, probably because I stretched this reading over the course of 1 month. But it is so obviously a flawed book that I can't imagine rereading this.
Sometimes I think modern works like this, which to me are about privacy, civil liberties, corruption, freedom, and so forth are unimportant, because everyone knows about those things already. Other times I think they are they most important works of all, because so many people have clearly forgotten about all of those things, and so it's good to have someone raise them publicly.
As you've probably gathered, I'm a fan of this one. A note: Alan Moore hates the film adaptation. He hates adaptations of all of his works, so this is unsurprising. Personally I think the film does a fine job of capturing most of what the comic has to offer. It's missing a bit, so if you enjoyed the film and want to dig a little deeper, go ahead and pick up a copy. I rarely read graphic novels, for several reasons, not least of which is that the writing is so often garbage. Moore is one of the few who transcends the rest of the genre, and I think V For Vendetta is worth reading for that as well as for its treatment of the ideas it explores.
A solid 3.5/5 for me.
This is a perfect example of just not the perfect audience for this book. I do like the themes and the pastiches and the references. However, Moore's work will always rub me the wrong way in how he treats his women characters. How there is always a theme of very underaged girls with older men; rape/threat of rape being a constant source of drama/reveal/torture; etc. etc.
Glad I read it. Glad I read a library copy. Probably won't read it again.
Always wanted to extensively read Alan Moore's work. Finally started with V for Vendetta.
This year (2024) I have collected as many literary and cultural references I can find in this note.
To me, this is Alan Moor's greatest work. He is so clear, and so in command of the ideas he wanted to expose, I couldn't find a place where they got watered down which is so much common in comics.
Most of the characters in V for Vendetta are complex. Seldom there is a major character like Bishop Lilliman who is typical. So well-crafted the characters are, their inner struggles, and conflicts with the world out that they felt real, yet full of surprise. Moore has shown a mastery in psychology which I consider a hallmark of great fiction writers.
However, the characters are only backdrops here. Alan Moore used these characters to effectively convey some very elaborate ideas— freedom, anarchy, justice, integrity, etc.
So, when V started his vendetta, it was not only against some people. It is against the system, even against the lack of aesthetics that the system enforces (hence the theatrical nature of V).