V For Vendetta

A clever and dark futuristic England, and the downfall of its dictatorial political regime

by Alan Moore

Rating: Adult

Genre / themes: Politics, freedom, terrorism, Guy Fawkes, Future England.

Art level: Basic, gets the job done. All black and white and quite small.

Star Rating: 4/5

Number of Books: One.

Other notes: Very thick book, a lot of writing and talking. 'Classic' of graphic novels. The recent film starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman was based of this book. Alan Moore also wrote Watchmen




My Review
Another book by Alan Moore, V For Vendetta was recently made into a fantastic film featuring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. Futuristic England is in the grip of fear and dictatorship, and V is the mysterious terrorist who decides to bring back the memory of Guy Fawkes and free England. A very good book, and again, like Watchmen, not for kids.

A thick book, with small black and white illustrations and a lot of text, this is a very interesting book to read and well deserves to be ranked up with classic novels (I'd put it well above The Great Gatsby for example!)

This isn't light reading, but it's one you'll go back to.

The film of the book

V for Vendetta (Widescreen Edition)

The recent movie, starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman, is one of my favourite films. It neatens up the storyline (of course) but is still very effective - dramatic, with sword fights and bullets, classical music and explosions, mysterious masks, government cover-ups, medical testing, plagues, people being 'disappeared', the Voice of London, murders, and imprisonment. And roses.

Three of my favourite parts include the explosions to music, the story of the woman who was questioned and executed for loving another woman, that Evey found (...for three years I had roses and apologised to no one) and of course V's entire speech from his very vivacious and veritably versatile first appearance:

V: Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villian by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. (he carves a "V" into a sign) The only verdict is vengence; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. (giggles) Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.


Evey: Are you like a crazy person?


V: I'm quite sure they will say so.

The Fascinating Madame Tussaud

The Fascinating Madame Tussaud:
Expresso Collection by Rene Follet

A historical and biographical graphic novel of a real life person by Rene Follet

Rating: Young adult-adult

Genre / themes: History, French Revolution, Madame Tussaud

Art level: Very good - beautiful art by Rene Follet

Star Rating: 4/5

Number of Books: One

Other notes: The best parts are the art and the history lesson. The storytelling itself is less impressive (limited by translation and possibly by the facts)


Amazon Blurb
Paris, 1793. Marie Crossholz manages the wax museum set up by her father. In exchange for bribes, some executioners allow her to mould the faces of guillotined aristocrats. . . After the French Revolution, Marie Crossholz becomes Mrs. Tussaud. Disappointed by her marriage, she leaves for London with the ambition to create a wax museum there. New struggles and other tumultuous adventures await her. . . Thirty years later, in 1835, she inaugurates the famous Tussaud Museum of Baker Street in London, which today continues to grow with new celebrities and attracts millions of visitors! Publish Post

My Review
This historical graphic novel tells the story of Madame Tussaud's life; it starts in France where she makes wax likenesses of heads, during the Revolution, after which she flees to England and finally establishes her famous waxworks. The story is interesting, historically, but stays true to the original story (which isn't always the best possible plot!). It was originally written in French and it's possibly that it reads better in its original language. The artwork needs no translation, however - it is incredible - expressive, lovely to look at, and perfectly suited.

The story starts off exciting - the young Madame Tussaud tries to keep together the family business in Paris, making wax heads of executed nobles during the Revolution, but then intrigue rears its head and she is forced to flee to England. Here the story meanders somewhat, as Madame Tussaud travels around in a caravan, and grows older, showing off her wax likenesses. However, chance and fortune gives her the chance to open her own display and establish her famous Wax Museum.

I love this for the art, and that's why I'd buy it, if I get the chance.