V FOR VENDETTA- AN UNFORGETTABLE READ

You might be amazed to know that I started my reading habit by reading Tamil comics. At first, I read Rani comics and then seeing the quality of Lion and Muthu comics, I became an ardent fan and an avid reader, which I still am. When I started writing a blog, I wanted to honor my most loved comics. But, time sure flies and I’m glad that it’s better to be late than never. So, here goes…..

I’ve tried to review one of the best comics I have ever read. Mind you, it is not your usual superhero type story, which I loathe and often wish that somehow those kinds of books are to be purged out of the market so that comics can get a good reputation, instead of this child’s stuff image. This is a realistic story of a possible future and of it’s dire implications.

Now, over to the story……

Set out in a totalitarian and futuristic England which is the result of a nuclear war, V for Vendetta is a powerful novel on freedom and individuality.

In a nation where freedom does not exist and hope is just a mere word, In a nation where Your every move is watched ,every deed is planned and everybody’s fate is decided by one man, there comes along another man, in a smiling mask and in a Guy Fawkes costume ,with seemingly obscure acts and a very serious mission. The race between fascism and anarchy starts.

V tends to deliver the people a most wonderful present and the only thing that’s both yearned and feared by them.

Freedom.

He starts as a riot, develops into a terrorist and evolves to be the icon of freedom and resistance.

There are some important bureaus that work under the Leader to watch over and control the people. They are
The Ear(Surveillance by phone and micro phones).
The Eye(Video Surveillance).
The Fate(The media used to make people “learn” of the happenings).
The Finger(The Police).
The Nose(Forensics and information).
The Mouth(Broadcasting).

The novel starts with V saving Evey Hammond from the policemen (The Finger) , who being impoverished, tries to get extra money by prostituting, just like so many others and is saved from nearly being raped and killed by them. V then demolishes the Parliament by bombing it. Upon hearing this, the Leader orders for the quick arrest of the masked maniac. Meanwhile, V takes up Evey to his place and gives her sanctuary. While an intelligent cop tries to find out the identity of V, he has his hands filled up in selectively killing people of no apparent connection except that they work for the Leader.

First, he abducts a man popularly called as the ’Voice of fate’ amongst the government circle, who works as the voice of the government in the Fate.

The next time, when V uses Evey to help him kill a Priest, she protests later that she will never kill, not even for him.

When V strikes back again, they find out from the diary of the murdered doctor, which being purposefully left back by V, that he was one of the experiment subjects in a war camp sometime back, from where he managed to escape and he preys on the former officials of the camp. V had been doing this for several years killing several people in what seem to be natural deaths. So, the question arises, Why let know of his killings and his deeds? What’s his plan? Was it just revenge or was it something more sinister?

After returning to his hiding place, he tells Evey that he has a surprise for her and leads her through a passage blindfolded. When she unfolds, she sees that she has been led out of the hiding place and been left up in the cruel world by V.

Then, V goes to the broadcast station and makes out an appearance condemning the ‘management’ of its cruelty and the people of their ignorance. He manages to escape successfully.

Meanwhile, Evey is caught by a guy called Gordon while she was nicking food from his dustbin and he takes her in his protective wing. But, Gordon is a gangster and he is soon killed by a crazed rival. Evey plans to extract vengeance by shooting that guy in an alley. But, she is stopped by the officials and is taken to interrogation. They accuse her of being an accomplice to V . Hearing none of her protests, she is taken away and she is tortured and starved. Sometime later, they want her to sign a ‘Confession letter’. When she refuses, it is ordered to shoot her.

When she gets back to the hiding place of V (now you won’t like me to give away all the suspense, will you? ) , she gets to know that she was left outside by V as a test and she has gained his trust. She comes to know that V is planning something very big to oppose the Leader.

Like he had informed Evey , V strikes the Eye and Ear sectors and demolishes them. He also strikes the Mouth sector thus destroying it and himself broadcasts a news to the people of London that they are free to do anything of their will, without the hindrance of the cameras and the microphones , for 3 days as an act to commemorate Guy Fawkes.

At first, the people are unable to cope up with the sudden thrust of absolute freedom upon them and they get bewildered. Then, chaos erupts. But, when the ‘government’ tries to undermine them by shooting up people, even the women, protests start. The Leader is shot and killed by a woman. Meanwhile, the detective on the trail of V, manages to run into V and manages to wound him. V manages to get back to his place and asks Evey to complete her job. The problem is, she does not what to do. Government announces that V has been killed.

Meanwhile, power politics has started in the government circle where powerful people fights within themselves to get the position of Leader. But, following the assassination of the leader and hearing that V got killed , the people gets agitated and they gather near the central building to know about the condition of V. Knowing this, Evey understands what her duty is and dons the cloak of V and goes to the gathering and addresses a speech asking people to decide of their own fate. People get Enraged and Revolution starts.

What happens then? What happens to V? What happens to the power struggle?

To know the ending, download it and read. This is available in all torrent sites and rapidshare links can be got from google. All I ask from you are just two things.

Don’t underestimate this as just a comic. V is something more, something serious, pondering over a possible future following a nuclear war. What makes it special and noteworthy is that it is not a periodical work. It is something that will stand alone and be recognized at any point of time for it’s ingenious plot.

If you like this comic, Please do buy it. It is more than worth the money.

Now, there are some very intelligent scenes in here. Especially the one, where V after being wounded, asks Evey to go and unmask him (Mind you, he’s never unmasked in the entire story). Evey tends to, but realizes that V is not just a man behind the cloak, but an idea. A rebel. She leaves without unmasking him and smiles a knowing smile just like the one seen in the face of the Guy Fawkes mask that V dons suggesting that she’s ready to don the cloak.

Some great quotes:

“It does not do to rely too much on the silent majorities Evey, for silence is a Fragile thing..
One loud noise and it’s gone.”(V at the backdrop of people’s upheaval.)

“Our masters haven’t heard the people’s voice for GENERATIONS Evey…
…and it’s much, much louder than they care to remember.”

“There’s NO blood or flesh to kill this cloak. There’s only an IDEA. And Ideas are bulletproof.”(When getting wounded.)

Evey: “I know who V must be.”(At the point of unmasking).

Wishing you all a great time with V. Meet you soon.
Those who need links, mail me. I’ll send them.

Disci:
To all those ‘Big guys’ who think that comics is just a kid’s stuff……
Well, what do you think now?
This is the proof that comics are not just a kid’s stuff.
V for Vendetta: A true literature in the form of a comic.