V For Vendetta

Post by **peter** » Wed Jan 06, 2016 5:23 am

Two-thirds through this graphic novel (Moore's first I think) and mmmm......... I'm a bit disappointed I think. I'm a big Moore fan but in this case I preferred the film.

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:31 am

It's been many years, so I don't remember it too well, but I feel the same way. The fact that I don't remember it too well is because it didn't burn itself into me, and I didn't do multiple readings.

Post by **sgt.null** » Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:35 am

have not read the graphic, picked it up at the library, but seemed a bit dense and dry.

Post by **peter** » Wed Jan 06, 2016 4:21 pm

It's a humourless piece [no shame in that] that certainly suffers from it's now being divorced from the time at which it was written. As a product of 'Thatchers Britain' with it's police battling the miners, and calls for AID's victims to be segregated, one can see where it was coming from, but in the light of 9-11 and the war on terror etc it has not aged well. The V of the novel has little of the panache and vigour of the film charachter, and the girl somehow fails to get your sympathy. I'll finish it for sure......but then it goes onto ebay!

Post by **Hashi Lebwohl** » Wed Jan 06, 2016 4:50 pm

Watchmen suffers from the same defect--it was a product of its time and does not "mesh" well into the world of 2016. That being said, this is rare case of the movie being better than the book but that is because Hugo Weaving is a good actor--he was able to make the character of V engaging an entertaining even though we never see his face.

Strangely, even though the story was written in the context of Thatcher's Britain it took on new meaning and new life here, especially among the people who still believe that Bush orchestrated 9-11. V is still the go-to book for certain subcultures because of this.

Post by **sgt.null** » Thu Jan 07, 2016 10:26 am

Alan Moore seems to embody the law of diminishing returns nowadays.

Post by **peter** » Thu Jan 07, 2016 4:46 pm

And yet he was adamantly against both films, demanding that his name be removed from the credits and denying any connection to the works at all. He estimates this act of 'principle' has cost him several millions of dollars; Moore fool him I say!

Did finish it indeed last night and remain unimpressed. I've read most of his stuff now - just the 'swamp thing' comics to go which I do quite fancy.

And of course 'The Killing Joke', his foray into Batman territory, which is a must at some point!

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Thu Jan 07, 2016 5:47 pm

Saga of the Swamp Thing is very good, peter.

Post by **peter** » Thu Jan 07, 2016 9:23 pm

Excellent to hear Murrin: I'm guessing it can be ordered in my library - I'll report back when I've given it a go!

Post by **Hashi Lebwohl** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 5:22 am

I still have my first print first edition "special green color" Killing Joke; I don't think it has been out of its bag in over 20 years--still near mint.

Post by **peter** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 4:56 pm

Did you buy it as a Moore fan Hashi, or a Batman one [the latter I'd guess]. Given that you haven't returned to re-read it in those many a years, can I assume that it was somewhat mediocre in your opinion?

Post by **Hashi Lebwohl** » Mon Jan 11, 2016 3:10 pm

Neither--I bought it because it was a special first-edition release. I haven't reread it in many years because I know the story well enough that I need not peruse it again.

Aside from what happens to Barbara Gordon, I think it also marked the first time we got any sort of Joker backstory about his life before the Red Hood and that aftermath. Whether that history is accurate, though, is anyone's guess.

Post by **sgt.null** » Sat Feb 20, 2016 9:11 am

the Joker is more a totem than a person at this point. tell his origin however it fits your story. it can be explained as the rantings of a lunatic.

Post by **peter** » Sat Feb 20, 2016 8:32 pm

There is a great deal of 'history' out there in comic-land that I'm totally ignorant of, mores the pity!

Post by **sgt.null** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 7:09 am

peter wrote:There is a great deal of 'history' out there in comic-land that I'm totally ignorant of, mores the pity!

ask away, we have enough people who are fans to help you out.

Post by **peter** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 7:21 am

We've just got our first dedicated comic shop opened up in town Sarge. Some of my workmates are keen fans so one day soon I'll get down there and have a look at the material.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:27 am

Hashi Lebwohl wrote:I still have my first print first edition "special green color" Killing Joke; I don't think it has been out of its bag in over 20 years--still near mint.

I just reread my copy not 2 weeks ago.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

V For Vendetta

V For Vendetta