Remember, Remember, the 5th of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.
If you’ve never read V for Vendetta by Allan Moore, now is the time. Go and buy a copy. Because it is perhaps the most important graphic novel to understand a lot of what is going on today.
V is set in a dystopian future Britain ruled by Norsefire, a fascist government. V is also the name given to the main character, who was once of victim of Norsefire’s tyrrany and now attempts to destroy their government. He does this with the help of a girl named Evey whom he first saves, then invites into his home, then later kidnaps and terrorizes and manipulates.
But why is V so important?
First, the hacker group Anonymous has adopted the Guy Fawkes mask worn by V as a symbol. You’ll see people at many of the Occupy rallies wearing Guy Fawkes masks. All because of V.
And this 5th of November, Anonymous has promised something big. I can only hope it isn’t actually blowing up a building like in V for Vendetta or anything that would, say, disrupt airline travel on that day (I’ll be flying back home from DC then and so help me, Anonymous, if you make me not able to fly. . . .ok, that’s an empty threat. I got nothing. But please don’t.)
And so, as much as I will recommend these comic books, please remember two things: they’re only comic books and Allan Moore is f#$#%ing nuts. Too many people can get lost in this world and start thinking about things like how “cool” it might be to engage in terrorism against an oppressive government. The thing to remember is where to draw the line of what oppression means and when aggression is warranted and is not. Don’t get lost down the rabbit hole of V. Don’t be drawn into the black hole of insanity that lives inside Allan Moore’s beard.
In any case, V is one of the most important graphic novels ever written and you ought to own a copy.
And remember, People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.