No recommendation list really feels complete without this classic by Alan Moore (unfortunately, no relation to our Jessica) and David Lloyd. Critically acclaimed and translated to the big screen in 2005, with Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman, V for Vendetta follows the story of two characters named V and Evy in a 1990s dystopian Britain. Following a nuclear war in the late 1980s, Britain is now under the control of a fascist government, Norsefire and its citizens live regular, day-to-day lives under their watchful eye. The novel is bold, seminal and shocking. Divided into three parts, each part has its own complete narrative arch that ties into a brilliant overarching story. A masterful example of what a Graphic Novel can do, it’s a novel you simply cannot put down once you start.
With its first issue published in 1988, the Graphic Novel is influenced by events of the 1980s, including Moore’s conviction that fascism was just around the corner. He considered it naïve to think it would take something as catastrophic as a nuclear war to bring dictatorship to Britain. Considering the current political climate, both in the UK as abroad, this Graphic Novel makes a clear case for resistance and is, perhaps, more relevant than ever before.
It is difficult to underestimate the impact V for Vendetta has had on the comic book industry and the wider world. With hacker-group anonymous assuming the Guy Fawkes mask, which Amazon now sells thousands of per year, it’s certainly a recognizable reference. In fact, Channel Four announced in 2017 that they are developing a TV series! In academia, the Graphic Novel has received a considerable attention with books like V for Vendetta as Cultural Pastiche and Interrogating the Manipulation of Fear. Our library has several copies of the V for Vendetta Graphic Novel, although we do not seem to have a copy of the 2005 film.
