CO 2 5) cs 3 a J ot by as a rm =] cy fa 6 8I began V for Vendetta in the summer of 1981, during a working holiday upon the Isle of Wight. My youngest daughter. Amber, was a few months old. I finished it in the late winter of 1988, after a gap in publishing of nearly five years from the discontinuation of Englands Warrior Magazine. its initial home. Amber is now seven. I don't know why I mentioned that. Its just one of those unremarkable facts that strike you suddenly, with unexpected force, so that you have to go and sit down, ‘Along with Marvelman (now Miracleman), V for Vendetta represents my first attempt at a continuing series, begun at the outset of my career. For this reason, amongst others, there are things that ring oddly in earlier episodes when judged in the light of the strip’s later development, I trust you'll bear with us during any initial clumsiness, and share our opinion that it was for the best to show the early episodes unrevised, warts and all rather than go back and eradicate all trace of youthful creative inexperience. ‘There is also a certain amount of political inexperience upon my part evident in these early episodes. Back in 1981 the term “nuclear winter” had not passed into common currency, and although my guess about climatic upheaval came pretty close to the eventual truth of the situation, the fact remains that the story to hand suggests that a nuclear war, even a limited one, might be survivable. To the best of my current knowledge, this 4s not the case, Naiveté can also be detected in my supposition that it would take something as melodramatic as a near-miss nuclear conflict to nudge England towards fascism. Although in fairness to myself and David, there were no better or more accurate predictions of our country's future available in comic form at that time. The simple fact that much of the historical back- ground of the story precedes from a predicted Conservative defeat in the 1982 General Election should tell you how reliable ‘we were in our role as Cassandras. Its 1988 now. Margaret Thatcher is entering her third term of office and talking confidently of an unbroken Conservative leadership well into the next century. My youngest daughter is seven and the tabloid press are circulating the idea of concen. tration camps for persons with AIDS. The new riot police wear black visors. as do their horses, and their vans have rotating video cameras mounted on top. The government has expressed a desite to eradicate homosexuality, even as an abstract concept, and one can only speculate as to which minority will be the next legislated against. I'm thinking of taking my family and getting out of this country soon, sometime over the next couple of years. Its cold and it's mean-spirited and I don't like it here anymore. Goodnight England. Goodnight Home Service and V for Victory. Hello the Voice of Fate and V for Vendetta. Alan Moore Northampton, March 1988 Avene, New York, NX (et aed iets \V FOR VENDETTA 1 Fubisbed monthly by DC Comes ne, 688 20105. © 1988 DE Cons tne All igh Reserved The stoves ‘neotone in this magazie ae emily Fictional. Al characters feature i thi abe ad the ‘lune keneses thereof ae ademas of DC Come In V FOR VENDETA, Book 1 Chapters 4 est plished 1982 tn the ated Kingdom by Quay Communications Linited DC Comics ine A Warner Communtatone Compan. Printed is Canadi E H i : 3 nie i;= IWASPEECH TODAY ME. MR KAREL WENT ON | Itaar ifs THE DUTY OF EVERY MAN IN THIS COUNTRY Pasar, Ue, ene i)Lwecorasos.{DONT BELIEVE\Tarse tala We ri a7Ls. PHONE SURVEILLANCE NBICATES: THAT A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE, HH, PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT’ ‘THE, UH. EXPLOSION, THAT's ASE LONDON, Sinan Siannee bee ener Beae aS ae Beak, WE WAVE JUST UNDER THREE HALES OF WEYE POUND THE PEVCE PRO BABLY USED TO LAUNCH THE WELL, WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE REST OF Te HEAD THAT LEAVES POLL. MR. ALMOND THREE FAGEREN. WERE nc2D LAST NGHT BY Oe Sau NATE. THIS SAME PERSON HAD EARLIER PLANTED AN EX- PLOSNE DEVICE OF SHETNG CAMBY WITHIN THE MOLSES Om 2aR LAMENT.veumnae Wil ox ncomerence ys costs veneer aces, BoA SiniNe Pease! THNKABLE. SOME ONE MURS. Fou wor CONSULT HE. DASCONBE AT JORDAN | Towne BEFORE MAKING ANY OFFICIAL PRO- VOUNCEMENTE. ‘ak EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT, LEWIS! WE Ate GOT UP EARLY THIS MORNING, DONT =] Wer NOW IF WE CAN SUST. 2) "aun THROUGH Ir veer MORE | oly = BEPORE WE PUTTIN THE (CAN, THEN. WEELL, IE WANTS Us 7 say Twas A 1° GONG our ON THE BIGHT OCLOCK, DASCOMBE. SEVERAL TIMES. WHATS RATE PUTTING OUT ON THE SCAEDLLED DEMO- LTTOW UNDERTAKEN(GOP MORNING LONDON. [aw eames DOE YOu SAYING ABOUT THE FIREWORKS? THE FIREWORKS. F ANY. 285 METRES IN THE Ohie ASKS CATER WELL MEDUM WAVE. Gr wo ‘SAY 17 WAS A FREAK ie =” rime USTENTOLEWS._BNT. DONT BE STUPID OASCOMBE He AARYELLOUS? FATE THE WHOLE (Od04 $ THAT PEOPLE AEALLY HAD AVOCE WOULD THINK IT 472 TALKING. IT MAKES| SOUND 7uS7 UKE THAT ONLY FATE APPEAR MORE HUMAN, PEOPLE Ary WHAT A (GNES PEOPLE CONFIDENCE. (G00 JOB HES DONG, KNOW. WOULDN'T THA Te WOULD YOU? BIG MAN LIKE: THAT COLLECTING DOLLS. HE'S “SENSITIVE YOu SEE YOU CAN TELL BY MS 1O1CE, YES ALOT OF YOu HEDA AEOPLE ARE" SENS/TWE: . AREN'T YOu? | DON'T KNOW WHY THE LEADER TOLERATES YOU My = DEAR DEREK THE LEADERS THE MOST SENSITIVE OF US ALL. rr (N FACT. WHEN = You FINISHED EX- PLAINING HOW A LONE: LUNATIC COMLP Wik, REE FINGER HEN AND BLOW UP Bama tev7 | Sou) (MAGNE HE WAS 128” EASIVE ‘BITTER YOURE ALMOND" OH A DEGAEB IE DEAE ME! HA DASCOMae HAHAHA HAHA,THEY exapcaren some A ve wave vo sez PidiRes nove Marcon sea Wear weeaw oe Socmanes ‘aout THA THAN THEY. WELL BLOCKED TEDIONT KAYE THE CARRIAGE Fuca OF CNILIANS CinuAN DONT] APPRECATE TRANS. TAKES Bere AW TO, APPRECIATE TRANS, lee. ves ME PROT feed, (Tink You | | BRACE GWT.” AUND YOU, aca wave KEN | | CUA A MILITARY Man. ASK TONED TONCEOR | | YOUR AVERAGE CITIZEN, HE'D WIE, VERY SAY DOUs WERE FOR (NTERESTING MVSBLE IVE ALWAYS Ng Das. YOUR AVERAGE BEGN 8 cADIES' NAN. GITAEN DOES TALES (COULD TELL YOU NOT GE A ACMA (ABOUT WHEN | WAS IN ADEN. ABOUT BOLLS. NO} APRRE COPTION, Ou SEE? DI | TELL Yew | COLLECTED Dous, GEORGE? aD REMEMBER ONCE, PORK] ‘APPLEBY AND MYSELF MET THESE TWO NATIVE. GELS.BAGS CAUGHT ON A FENCE O8 SOvE TWNG | SUPPOSE.$0 LETS Just Meng iT NCE MORE IN YOUR OWN WORDS. ‘THE TRAN ENTERED THETUNNEL. AND THEN WHAT? WeNELL, | MEAN, (78 DIFFICULT TO SAY, IT ALL HAPPENED 80 QU/CK, DIDNT IT? IDENT acruaLLY MBAR. ONYTHING. JUST SORT OF CAUGHT SOMETHING MOVING OUT THE CORNER OF MME YE, AND BY THEN TT WAS ALL OVER, WANNIT 7 couvovousveusa = DESCR/PTION OF YOR ATTACKER? WBIOHT, ORES. | = ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WELL, if WAS JUBT ORT OF BLACK. KNOW WHAT | MEBN? JUST THIS BAZ MACK SHAPE COMIN BT AND THAD A Face, OnLy NoTA 2eO2Ee BACB S667 AN TT WRS SUNG. TSEE. AND THEW WHAT NO, | MEAN, THAT HAPPENED? DID IT #77 YOU, STRKE YOU IM ANY VAN? WAS THB FUNNY BT TT Just goat OF TOUCHED ME UP HERE ON ME NECK. =| s VOLT THIS... IT WAS UKE AN LECTHIC SHOCK, SORT OF. AN THEN | JUST PaSseD our. [AND CAME TO AN HOUR LATER WHEN THE SECURITY PSY FORCE ARRIVED ON THE CONE. SEE EU. | THINK THATS ABOUT 77, MR. BISHOP. THE OFFICER WIKL TAKE YOUR ADDRESS IN CASE WE NEED TO CONTACT YOU. THANK YOu FOR YOUR TROUBLE. qa WELL MRLFINCH, WHAT DO YOu THINK 16 THE SAME BLOKE WHO DID THE PARLIAMENT BOMBING OR WHAT? | HOPE $0, DOMINIC, Because I's 407 THEN THERE MUST BE 70 OF eM, AND Zvars a POS SIBILITY 0 RATWER NOT CONSDER WITHOUT A STIFF RINK TO MAND.Z Wuse want DOMINIC. OF mock OMT Wearblacrivage we unten sue RAN DANE BY TOL Coaaase ueRet mo om cower Ou Tne neck. aotenae 5TH CHRETERT PeDrce Can 20 Tana tt ner nine 8 G0W0 Too FAR 10 say THAT MOST NORMAL PEOPLE HOVE NEVER BVEN Consansaa BLOWING UP THE souseS OF PARLIAMENT. PF 50 wusr wens we soamere sSneoue wwe x noeuee Prone. eiruee Pavscans of anu 8m Men Pat prr tua BoTHERS Me MAN, ALL THIS BUsNESE [ABOUT BOARDING MOV “TRAINS 18 LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF ME Sicruieas. WORMAL PEOPLE CAN'T 20 THNGS LiKE THAT. — ico, perros od a wanae nears a Sin 8 sro tee te ermaomes ne sramremeateree, Vay oa Een rarer ANYTHING BEEN TOUCHED IN HERE? HMM... NBEO SOME PHOTOORAPHS OF THIS Cmes7 WOLD. DAMNED IF 1 KNOW. GET 2 BHOTOGRABH OF 17.4NO LST ME HAVE some 29-07 WASNT A AWE OR SCAAPINGS FOR 2WA- BULLET THAT DID 98/8. THis.. VAC. :¥8 Gor a wagry Suspicion fant w= . free Do TMar Ir P| | war acon Win hele soe. remeweee Pemnas Ts Decne PEOPLE BACK AT 7H Moe WILL BE ABLE JO TELL US SOMETHING, ALTHOUGH FRANKLY | 20UBT TtSPEAKING. Like ITS THE AMENTAL THAT BOTHERS ME. Hi ATTITUDE TO KiLUNG. ‘say Sie isLAST NIGHT...THOSE MEN, ‘THEY WERE GOINGTO... THEY SAID THEYD 4742 ME AND YOu RESCLED Me. my Name is Wom woBODY. ever... evEY SPECIE WAMMONE JR WOT Lie yOu. 3-VES. IN SEPTEMBER, WE USED TO LIVE ON SHOOTERS IN SOUTH LOND NICE THERE. I- VE GOT & PHO ‘GRAPH \F YOU WANT TO SEE B-BUT THERES NOTHING JO 7ELL IM ONLY 5/X- TEEN. | HENENT DOM, SIXTEEN. THEN you wens conn J} UST ME AND NUM AND DAD. DIDNT WAVE ANY TW WAS CURING THE Cece OF THE GIONTIES ©YEAH... DONT RE- MEMBER AucH aB0UT THAT. KNOW DAC SAID AND THE We) BY. 00 You REMEMBER THE Waa? THINGS DIOWT Get uUcw ETTER WHEN CARLA? GOT NTO POWER HE SUD THAT THE ‘ONLY ELECTION PRO MUSE THAT THEY KEPT WAS GETTING R10 OF THE AMERICAN MISSILES THT WERE ‘STATIONED OVER HERE. IT WAS HOREIGLE. NOBODY KNEN 6 gaaAN woUD | GET BOMBED OR NOT. | REMEMBER MUM SAYING ERIOTS — OY MORE! THATS ALL SHE BAD, *\TMOUOMT ABOUT ALL THE LIONS AND ELEPHANTS BENG>DEAO. IT MADE ME CRY, | WAS ONLY SEVEN, WE COULD SEE RIGHT ACROSS LONDON FROM THE BEDROOM WinoOW. IT HAS NEARLY 2. UNDER WATER. THE THAMES 5 B2ER HEC BURST. THE SKY WAS Auk YELLOW AND BLACK. (VE NEVER SEEN A 3KY LIKE IT. OAD SAID LONOON| WAS FINISHED. HE WANTED TO AND ME TO THB COUNT KE MLM, a “OF COURSE | DO. | WAS ONLY SEVEN BUT | RE- MEMBER WHEN THE NEWS CAME OVER THE RADIO, DAD KEPT TELLING MUM NOT TO WORRY. HE WAS p ‘SCARED 10 DEATH... IT WAS ABOUT 20342 BND THE 2USe/24G WASH IT? AND PRESIDENT KENNEDY SAID MED USE THE BOMB IF THEY DION'T (GET OUT. THAT'S WHAT ORD TOLD ME, ‘BUT BRITAIN 2/247" GET BOMBED, NOT THAT IT MADE MUCH DHE ZUCE. ALL THE BOMBS AND THINGS HAD DONE SOMETHING TO THE He TEX. SOMETHIN JAD OOM. HE 3810 WE WANTED TO SHOW | US SOMETHING. ‘UMA WOULDN'T 00. JUST AS WELL, | SUPPOSE. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE COUNTRYSIDE WAS WORSE THAN THE TOWNS, THE WEATHER HAD DESTROYED AL TMG CROPS, SET PND THERE WAS NO £000 COMINS PROM EURO: EUROPE HAD GONE. LIKE APEICA,“TWERS WAS NO FOOD. AND THs SEWERS WERE FLOODED AND EVERYBOOY GOT SICK. MUM DIED 1M 191.080 WOULONT LET ME SEE HER. WAS ALL TWE FASCIST GROUPS, THE RIOHT- WINGERS. 'D ALL GOT TOGETHER WITH SOKA OF THE BIO CORP ORATIONS THAT HAD SURVIVED, WOMRREA-CE’ THEY | REMEMBER WHEN THEY MARCHED INTO LONDON. THEY aD aPLaG wit} THEIR SYMBOL ON. EVEEVONE WAS CHEERING, / THOUGHT “DAD aD BEEN mA Soc |RLIST GROUP WHEN HE Was YOUNOBR, THEY CAME FOR HIM ONE SEPTEMBER MORNING IN 1993. I] iM AractoRY witn a wor OF (OTWeR Laps. we WERE PLTING| MATCHES INTO BONES, “THERE WERE 4/07, AND PEOPLE WITH OLAS. NOBODY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. EVERYONE ‘WAS WRITING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO 20 SOMETHING. "aur Tene wasw7 ANY GOVERNMENT aN- MORE. JUST LOTS OF UITTLE Gane. ALL ‘TRYING To Tate Ove AND THEN IN 1992, SOMEBODY FINALLY 22. “TWey 600M GOT THINGS UNDER CONTROL, BLT THEN THEY STRRTEO TAKING PEOPLE AWAY. ALL THE BCACE PEOPLE IND THB PRESTANS. WHITE PEOPLE, 700. ALL THE AADCALE END THE MBNWHO, {OU KNOW, LiKeD OTHER MeN, The HOMOSEXUALS. | DONT KNOW WHAT THEY DIO.WITH THEM, aU. THATS HOW IT WAS FOR Four veaRs...NoT eNoUaH O00, NOT ENOUGH MONEY. MADE MONEY BOING With aa THATS WHAT WAS, GOING 70 00, LAST DHT, BUT THEY WERE PNGERMEN. THEY WERE 0006... THEY WERE G-GoING TO. *LUVED IN AHOSTEL. TWAS COLD AND DIRTY AND'| WuST J "15 WAS MY BIRTHDAY. | WAS TWELVE. | NEVER $80 HIM AAW, seo 70 cay ALL THE TIME. | WANTED MY ORD." THEY WERE GONG TO RUM. UH. RUMus CHO, Muah. m8 OVER NOW. W THEY MADE YOU NTO q [ ust raver we, eve, AND YOURE BAPE. THE PAST CANT KURT A Y/27IM4 EVEN. THEY YOU ANYMORE. NOT UNLESS YOU Mads YOU INTO A STAT arn.NOVEMBER _THE SEVENTM, T THE LEADER AAD Mie EACH. (_SEE_ THEN WE CANT Dow ASSUME TmaT CODE” | | THINK HE'S our NAME V"WiLL_BE> HAVE LIKE A CONVENT \ONAL TERRORIST. sue wes A PBYCHOPATH, LEADER use THE WORD IN ITS MOST PRECISE WE CANT. ASSUME THAT HE WiLL. EVENTUALLY 'SSUE A SET OF DEMANDS OR ASK FoR THE USUAL CONCESSIONS a= ey See ‘THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY BE ee Soli HE'S CERTANLY, CETTING IT ISNT HE Me FINCH? HES BLOWN UP THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, DISPATCHED Five oF ALMOND'S FINGER: NER. AND NOW WE'§ ASOUCT- ED OUR TOP BROADCASTER F PROTHERO IS LVABLE TO MAKE His "VOCE OF FATE BROADCASTS AS SCHED- ULED, OUR CRED. BLITY WEL SUFFER SRTANS FIN THE Ne 1 SEE. FROM A PRO-A-| GANDA ANGLE WEVE BEEN PUT INA BIT OF PERSONALLY | DON'T GO MUCH FOR THIS"NEW ORDER BUSINESS 17'S JUST MY JOB, 70 HELP BRITAIN OUT OF THS MESS. YOU. ALREADY KNOW THAT, LEADER, (COMDN'T ME DASCOMBE ARRANCE A STAR. FOR PROTHERO , LEADER? TEGRITY OF FATE 16 THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR NEW ORDER. ANY CHANGE IN THE YOCE AND «T JUST INDEED BO MR. FINCH. YOU RAVE Exe PRESSED SUCK SENTIMENTS BEFORE. THAT YOU ARE STILL PUVE 15a MARK OF MY RESPECT FOR YOU ARE MANY PROBLEMS TO CONSIDER. | WiSH 70, SPEAK WITH FATE. WON'T BE THE SAME. iieiniais. Wikies pias‘YOURE A KIND PERSON. LISTENING 70 ME TELLING MY $08 STORY ALL. ABOUT THE WAR, ANO Mum AND DAD. ALL ABOLIT MY STLIPID LIFE. LD I's $0 BiG AND HORRIBLE AND THERES JUST ‘YOLL.. AND me, P08. DREADFUL. YOU SEE, VEY, ALL THE WORLD'SA “« AND EyeRY- THING BLE. Chapler four nV a‘SUPPOSE YoU THINK ALL THIS 16 BLOODY FUNNY ALC THiS RESETTLEMENT CAMP MALARKEY, ALL THi6 PUTTING MEN LNIFORM. bey Aut | CAN BAY \g eat vouM R DAWN auees Bh, SENSE OF HLNoUR TNFORM ALL RUSHED PRESSED AND READY FOR DUTY, SEE. GOOD MAN, COM: MANDER PROTHERO, LET'S GET TO WORK, SHALL WE? THESE. CONCENTRATION CANES. SORRY. THESE Se dam Ces DONT RUN THe SELVES D0 THEY? Looe SMART, YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG MAN, CHUMMY. THE RE- SETTLEMENT CAMPS NOW WHO YOu ARE OR non You Gor Fhe BLooDy SLY COMMANDER. WE'VE Gor 10 MAKE THE TOUR OF INSPECT NOW 10% Remensee. ‘ON THE WAY YOK USED JO MAKE IT EVERY EVEN: NG. BACK IN THE 6005 oud Dave THING 7O Do WITH THE CON. WITH THE RESETTLEMENT CAMPS, ALL COMING BAcK TO yOu, EH? THE MAN BODY OF THE PRISONERS would BE GATHERED IN 7 ‘YARD AWAITING YOU INSPECTION. Pree WMPLY- AD TO WAU PROM YOUR SEPCE Down Past THE] NSSEN HUTS, TaRN THE CORNERMY BOLLS. THATS PART OF MY DOLL COL LECTION. HOW DID DLL. THEY MY GOD, F OWE. DAMAGED ANY OF WERE ALL SAFELY LOCKED Away WHEN | LEFT FOR WORK: % — wear THEM..THEY'RE PRICELESS! HARDLY ANY OF THE BIG COLLECTIONS SURVIVED THE WAR. IF YOUVE DAMAGED THEM, FLESH AND 6L00B. (COMMANDER? DO YOU. REMEMBER WHEN (T WAS PEOPLE GATHERED IN ‘TiS SORDID LTTLE ENCLOSURE? PEORE, HALE DEAD WITH STARVATION AND ADMRABLE CONCERN, COMMAND: ER. YET IT'S DEUCED OBB, ISNT IT? HOW YOU CAN SHOW SO MUCH CONCERN FOR PORCE- CAIN AND PLASTIC... Just ALONG. HERE. THIS 15 WHERE YOUREPT THE ONES HOD TAKEN PART'N YOUR. BOENTSTS. EXPERIMENTS, BELIEVE THEY USED SEE. THE ONES INTHE 70 CAL THEM WEDCAL WAAD + past “Hs ROW OF DOORS EVERY NGHT, ROOM ONE, ROOM’ TWO, ROOM THREE.MWHO..? HAVEN'T \TeLp vou "HAT rue ont eooct ove Sov, WE'VE FOLNO HIM.