What makes 'V for Vendetta,' so inspirational?



By Bernard O’Shea

03/11/14





As the fifth of November approaches, it is perhaps timely to explore the cultural impact of one of the finest graphic novels in existence; ‘V for Vendetta.’

Over the last number of years this graphic novel and its subsequent movie version, has featured regularly in the media spotlight most often in a political context.

In 2008 the hacker-activist group ‘Anonymous,’ organised a protest in London against Scientology where the protestors dressed as the fictional character ‘V,’ from, ‘V for Vendetta.’ In May 2009, protestors dressed up as V and set off a fake barrel of gunpowder outside Parliament in demonstration against British MPs’ expenses. In November 2012 the wearing of Guy Fawkes masks painted with the colours of the UAE flag during the UAE National Day was declared illegal.[1]

The stylised Guy Fawkes mask associated with the character, ‘V,’ has become a fashionable symbol for those who wish to associate themselves with anti-establishment politics.

It is almost unfathomable that a comic book could have such a profound impact on the political activities of so many individuals. Therefore it is worth examining why does this work of fiction inspire so many people? and What is the significance of V?

‘V for Vendetta,’ originated in British anthology magazine, ‘Warrior,’ the brainchild of former Marvel UK editorial director Dez Skinn. The magazine brought together established British comic book creators and new and emerging talent such as writer Alan Moore. In 1982 Skinn asked David Lloyd to create a mystery strip for Warrior and suggested Alan Moore as the writer having previously worked with both in Marvel UK. When Warrior folded in 1985, V for Vendetta was acquired by DC comics in 1988; who reprinted the original black and white Warrior issues in a 10 issue colour format and printed the final issues. It is nowadays most commonly available as a fully coloured graphic novel published by Vertigo an imprint of DC Comics.

‘V for Vendetta,’ presents a post apocalyptic, dystopian vision of the UK set in an alternative 1997. In this timeline, Nuclear War has rendered much of the world uninhabitable. What remains of the UK is controlled by a fascist party named, ‘Norsefire.’ They rule the UK as a police state, having used concentration camps to exterminate all possible opposition.

Enter ‘V’ the charismatic, anarchist revolutionary who adopts the guise of a modern day ‘Guy Fawkes.’ V’s mission is to inspire the populace to mount an insurrection against its rulers. That mission begins with V extracting revenge on prominent members of the state who held him captive in Larkhill; one of the states concentration camps. He is aided in this mission by his aptly named young protégé, ‘Evey Hammond.’

Evey Hammond is a central character in V for Vendetta and in many ways readers experience this Big Brother-esque future through her. When the story begins Evey is sixteen years old and V saves her from government agents known as ‘Fingermen.’ The story details how she lost her family, how she loses her lover to the criminal connections of Norsefire and how she grows in self-awareness and in her understanding of V.

An understanding of the character ‘V,’ is key to establishing why the story resonates with people today. Very little is actually known about the character V. Although there are many theories about the real identity of V. Some people believe V is a character that the reader encounters during the course of the story. Some say V is Evey’s father. There are those who say that V is ‘Valerie,’ another prisoner from Larkhill concentration camp. There are some who theorise that Alan Moore drew inspiration for V from an earlier idea for a strip called the ‘Doll,’ which he had submitted in 1975 to publishers DC Thomson which featured a Transsexual terrorist.[2]

The answer to V’s true identity is intriguing, but it is irrelevant. It is not so much who V is but what V is. V wears the face of Guy Fawkes, perhaps the one figure in British history who best represents the spirit of revolution. In doing this V becomes more than just a person, V becomes a symbol of revolution. It doesn’t matter if V is Evey’s father, Valerie or a transsexual. The image V projects as a revolutionary is more important that what meaning can ever be achieved as a person. Evey Hammond grapples with this throughout the story but she eventually understands it, and in one of the most important lines from the story she says of V, “If I take off that mask, something will go away forever, be diminished, because whoever you are isn’t as big as the idea of you.”[3] The power of symbols are that they point to larger meanings, V confirms this in a description of himself at one point in the story; “There’s no flesh or blood within this cloak to kill. There’s only an idea. Ideas are bulletproof.” Perhaps V understands that where there is fear and apathy, where people have been let down by their politicians, it takes more than an individual to inspire people into action. It requires symbolic power, something for people to believe in, to help them break free of tyranny.  

People identify with V because he represents anyone who has ever been a victim of the state; anyone who has ever been abused, mistreated, neglected or cheated. V is a symbol for the oppressed in society. We identify with the romantic notion of the anarchist working from within to topple the system. Secretly, we wish we could be V.

However there cannot really be a romantic version of anarchy. In many ways V is summed up by the words of the Russian revolutionary Sergey Nechayev who in his book, ‘Catechism of a Revolutionary,’ said; “The Revolutionary is a doomed man. He has no private interests, no affairs, sentiments, ties, property nor even a name of his own. His entire being is devoured by one purpose, one thought, one passion – the revolution. Heart and soul, not merely by word but by deed, he has severed every link with the social order and with the entire civilized world; with the laws, good manners, conventions and morality of that world. He is its merciless enemy…”[4]

V is an anarchist, strong in the belief that the state is immoral but V is also all-consumed by the vendetta. He is in his own words the ‘villain,’ of the piece; the enemy of the state. V carefully dismantles the many arms of the state including the church, the media, parliament, the judiciary and police in an effort to bring about complete chaos. The only glimmer of sentiment seems to come from his relationship with Evey and his collection of memorabilia in the Shadow Gallery. Yet, this at times seems superficial, he is often cruel to Evey and throughout the story he remains morally ambiguous and vindictive when it comes to achieving his goal.

Revolutionaries are often divisive figures, the old adage that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. The main principle of the ‘Catechism of a Revolutionary,’ was that a revolutionaries, ‘end will justify their means.’ As a revolutionary figure ‘V,’ attributes his actions to the higher goal of freedom. He explains to Evey as they load a train with explosives intended for Number 10 Downing Street; “Anarchy wears two faces, both creator and destroyers, thus destroyers topple empires; make a canvas of clean rubble where creators can then build a better world.”[5] Perhaps V understands that the world sometimes needs someone who will do the unspeakable, who will transcend their human boundaries, who is willing to sacrifice their lives for a brighter tomorrow.

In this way we can see how V might be viewed as a revolutionary icon in the same way as Che Guevara is. Che Guevara died a young man and as a result he has been immortalised as a symbol of revolution. When people wear a t-shirt with Che Guevara’s face or when they put on a V mask what they are really doing is emulating their revolutionary heroes. People need symbols to inspire them, to remind them that unless you stand for something you are likely to fall for anything.

The themes of freedom and revolution contained in V for Vendetta obviously inspired filmmakers to produce the 2005 movie version of the graphic novel. The film starred Natalie Portman as Evey Hammond and Hugo Weaving as V and was directed by James McTeigue based on a screenplay by the Wachowskis.

Alan Moore distanced himself from the movie, as with every film adaptation of his works. He criticised the Wachowskis screenplay because it did not reflect the spirit of the original material. Instead he felt it was more a liberal fantasy about Bush-era America, which more about liberalism versus neo-conservatism.

To an extent Moore has a point, the movie does differ greatly from the graphic novel. Evey and V’s relationship is more prominent, supporting characters stories are streamlined and the anarchist values of the comic book are non-existent. That said very few works of fiction that cross mediums ever really live up to the original. V for Vendetta the movie can be enjoyed in its own right, and like most film adaptations is connected a wider audience with the original source material.

Hugo Weaving as 'V,' in the 2006 film adaptation of 'V for Vendetta.'

The movie has had an obvious cultural impact as demonstrated by the internet based ‘Anonymous,’ protest group whom has adopted the Guy Fawkes mask as its symbol. This is a direct consequence of the V for Vendetta film, as in one key scene a large crowd disguised in ‘V,’ costumes and masks converge on the centre of London to make a stand against the tyranny of their government. Essentially the act, turns the Norsefire slogan; ‘Strength through unity,’ on its head. Similar scenes have been replicated by protestors on a number of occasions since the film was released.

Artist David Lloyd has gone on the record to say, “The Guy Fawkes mask has now become a common brand and a convenient placard to use in protest against tyranny-and I’m happy with people using it, it seems quite unique, an icon of popular culture being used this way…my feeling is the Anonymous group needed an all-purpose image to hide their identity and also symbolise that they stand for individualism – V for Vendetta is a story about one person against the system.”[6]

It seems fitting in a way that a fictional story about a lone anarchist who wanted to inspire the masses would in reality inspire an anti-establishment protest group to adopt him as their symbol for their ongoing crusade against the systems of government around the world. Even Alan Moore admits he has been tickled by the thought, but then again why wouldn’t he after all the best ideas are bulletproof.

Please note part two of the ‘Who is the biggest villain; Professor X or Magneto?’ will follow in due course.

 

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[1] Walters Rosie (2011) ‘V for Vendetta masks: Who’s behind them?’ BBC News Magazine – Accessed 28/10/14.

[2] Moore, Alan (1983) ‘Behind the Painted Smile,’ Warrior 17.

[3] Moore, Alan (w), Lloyd, David (p) ‘V for Vendetta,’ DC Comics, p. 250

[4]  Nechayev, Spartacus Educational website by John Simkin.

[5] Moore, Alan (w), Lloyd, David (p) ‘V for Vendetta,’ DC Comics, p. 266

[6] Walters Rosie (2011) ‘V for Vendetta masks: Who’s behind them?’ BBC News Magazine – Accessed 28/10/14.