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 England's Warrior Magazine. its initial home. Amber is now seven. 1 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 is 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 dont 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 \V FOR VENDETTA | Fubished mocthy by DC Comes Ie. 686 Fh Avena, New Yoek, NX TOW © 198 DE Comics Inc AI Rights Retereed The toncn, cates ae Incdents ‘neotone! in this magaaie ae emily ional. Al characters feature a thi abe ad he ‘lsncve Ukeneses thereof ae mademarks of OC Comics In V FOR VENDET, Book 1 Chapters 1-4 est plied 1982 Inthe ated Kingda by Quay Communications Limited. BC Couice inc A Warner Communications Compan. Printed is CanadFi a F Fe ct a F P 7 i Ee ; i us ; E 5 éVFOR VENDETT: 15 6 ING Wrea : F BELIEVED TOBE A MATOR TECEORST RNGf IWASPEECH TODAY ME. MBKAREL WENT OM 2 PaaS, Uae, ee fiom Gamer TREELwecorasos. | AG DEA ON p GH “THE MULTIPLYING VICLAINIES OF NATURETHE Neu MSORENEO? He Just CAME OUT OF Mowmeee AND. Just WHAT THE HELL Aa™aEUED”|i ae Pre ore odes Le tepals elect ea re REALLY DID THAT NOW MUSH THERE'S MEE. asc arp ie da anal ZGMOEMBER THE SATA, POT IFIS SR THIRTY TH Ls. PHONE SURVEILLANCE INDICATES: AAT A CARGE PROPDETION OF NE, HH, PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT’ ‘THE UH. EXPLOSION, THAT $ ASIDE LONDON, Pre ITs SOmasTIC- FON | SHOULE SAY THAT. [THe Device was ALWOST CER. TAIN MME: HAE, AND IS LATPACEABLE: SORRY, LEADER NOTHING & MENTS AND AWATT 4 Beg aae Pabvails: GENTLEMEN WE HAVE JUST UNDER THREE HALES OF USEABLE FOOTAGE, Teapee THE vaece” MATOETY OF OUR TWILL HEAR YOUR "REPORTS NOW, ‘GENTLEMEN’ WRALVOND S WITH NE ArPReseMr Sha FORM HIM. MR. RACY WILL SPEAK FOR THE 40 THAN TOU MR HEYER, MR ETHERIDGE Wid. NOW SPEAK FOR THE EARS| WEYE POUND THE PEVCE PRO |CAGINGS "NDVIDUALLY WEIGHTED FLARES AT A GUESS, WELL, WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE REST OF Te EAD THAT LEAVES FOL. MR. ALMOND THREE FAGERMEN, WERE <2 LASTGHT BY OMe SaueY CoAT HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT THIS SAME PERSON HAD EARLIER PLANTED AN EX- OSNE DEVICE OF SHETNE LAMENTSCEVT THNKABLE: SOME- ONE MURS. eames Wal ax ncomrrence scoot us me ouALoven Vi STIS SEES, eB ite Geb AND A JARRING PROMGANDA THIS CREATURE AND His BSOCIATES FOLAD, MR, nea ANY OFFICIAL PRO= VOUNCEMENTE, Fou wor CONSULT A DASCONBE AT TOROAN| ToWaEe BEFORE NAKING ‘ak EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT, LEW. we? TIMES. WHATS RATE PUTTING OUT ON THE PARLIAMENT BONS WEE, mT WANTS Us7e shy rwas A SCEDILED DEMO TAU UNDERTAKEN SINGH TO AID TREC CON ESSE 1° GONG our ON THE BIGHT OCLOCK, Does IA THE OIE OF aren(OOP MORNING LONDON, aM WHAT ARE WIE DOESNT TANG] you saving gout WF we stouu> MENTION THE FIREWORKS? THE FIREWORKS F ANY. ONE ASKS LATER WELL ‘SAY IT WAS A FREAK EFFECT OF THE Ree sr 285 METRES IN THE MEDIUM WAVE USTENTOLEWSS. ENT. 5 Fe MARVELLOUS? FATE THE WHOLE (O04 18 THAT PEOPLE REALLY HABA VOCE IF WOULD THINK IT (3472 TALKING. IT MAKES| SOUND 7uS7 UKE THAT ONLY FATE APPEAR MORE HUMAN, PEOPLE My WHAT A ‘GNES PEOPLE CONFIDENCE. (G00 JOB HES DONG COLLECTS BOLLS, 1 KNOW. WOULDN'T THIN Te WOULD YOU? BIG MAN LIKE: THAT, COLLECTING DOLLS. ME'S “SENSITIVE YOUSEE YOU CAN TELL BY MS HOVE, YES ALOT OF Yu HED AEOPLE ARE SENS/TWE: AREN'T YOu? | DONT. KNOW WHY THE LEADER TOLERATES YOU PPT FACT WHEN =" youp FINSHED &) PLAIKING HOW A LONE’ LANATIC COLD Wik, TREE 7 FINGER HEN AND BLOW ‘aiTTER UP aaeaiiev7 | sro) YOU RE ALMOND" OH (MAGNE HE WAS Ee” A DEGEAEB ATE DEAE ME! Ha ‘BEASIIVE pasconiae HAHAHA HAA,WE ARE N THE SHADOW GALLERY HS 18 MY HOME.THEY eRapcarer sone fig AT |R\ e Tinos one nescane BERENS Wear wee Be SORRY, THs COMPARTMENT. 6 PLL BE RDCLLOLS, MAN! I$ HET APART PROV YOu THREE’ THERE'S PLENTY OF. WELL BLOCKED, TED) ONT KAYE THE CARRIAGE Fuca OF CNILIANS. CiulANS DONT] AOPRECATE TRANS. TAKES MerDeRY MAW TO APPRECIATE TRANS, lee. ves Me PRowt 7 Jena, (Thnk You | | ERACTLY RIGHT” MND YOU, Mea weve KEN | | POUR A MiLITIRY NaN ASK TONED ToNCEOR| | YOUR AVERAGE CITIZEN, HE'D WIE. VERY SAY DOS WERE TOR (NTERESTING MVSBLE IVE ALWAYS BEEN 8 cADIES' NBN TALES {COULD TELL YOU BOLT WHEN [WAS AW ADEN. TREMEMBER ONCE, PORK | APPLERY AND MYSELF MET THESE TWO NATIVE GELS. Ne DOS. YOUR AVERAGE CITIZEN DOES ABOUT BOLLS, WO APPRE COrTION, OU SEC DIP TELL Yew | COLLECTED Baus, GEORGE?$0 Lets Just wena iT [NCE MORE IN YOUR OWN WoRDS. ‘THE TRAN ENTERED THETUNNEL. AND THEW WHAT? WeNELL, | MEAN, (7'6 DIFFICULT TO SAY, IT ALL HAPPENED 80 QU/CK, DIDNT IT? IDENT acruaLAy HEAR ONTTHING UST SORT OF CAUGHT SOMETHING MOVING OUT THE CORNER OF MME ESE, AND BY THEN TT WAS ALL OVER, WANNIT 7 COULD YOu Ove UB A DESCRPTION FOR — Arracasa? uBlonT oReSs. —— | AROTHING CRE THAT? WELL iT WAS JuBT s0RT OF BLACK. KNOW WHAT | MEAN? JUST THIS BA? SACK SHAPE COMIN BT J ME FROM THE SIDE-WINDOW) = OF THE CAB. NO. MEAN. THAT ony Nora 2e0ree HAPPENED” DID IT 4/7 YOu, Was THE FUNNY BT Pace seetan runs | | $7242 %0u MANY VAN? “rear SORT OF ano Hao A Sace | [1SEE. AND THEW WHAT TOUCHED ME UP HERE ON ME NECK. s UKE AN ELECTHIC SHOCK. SORT OF. aN THEN 1 JUST PasseD our. AND CAME TO AW HOi BY f LATER WHEN THE SECURITY PY FORCE AaRive> OW THE ene. See NEL | THINK THR gout 7 MR. BISHOP. THE OFFICER WikL TAKE YOUR ADDRESS IN CASE WE NEED TO CONTACT YOU. THANK YOu FOR YOUR TROUBLE ANA WELL MRLFINGH, WHAT DO yOu THINK 1617 THE SBME BLOKE WHO DID THE PARLIAMENT BOMBING O8 WHAT? | HOPE $0, DOMINIC BECAUSE IT's WOT THEN THERE MUST BE THO OF AND Zvars a POs SIBILITY 0 RATHER NOT CONSIDER WITHOUT B STIFF RINK TO MAND.ME NEITHER. MRAINCH WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE LP AGAAETHERET WHO 18 THS CHERACTER? ‘ABOUT BOARDING MOVING “TRAINS 18 LIKE SOMETHIN WORMAL PEOPLE CAN'T 20 THNGS LiKE THAT. BECAUSE IF IM GONG TO 7aCK THIS CASE. .AND "AH. 1M GOING TO HAVE TO GET ROMT NBIOS His HERD, ‘TO THINK THE WAY+a" THINKS, "au. HERE AND THAT SCARES ME WE ARE, ANYTHING BEEN TOUCHED IN HERE? PHOTOGRAPHS OF TH mes? WOUAD. WASNT A AWE OR BULLET THAT DID THis. W FACT, IVE GOT A WRBTY SUSPICION THAT WHO EVER DID THAT O10 7F WITH THER AAO. YOURE RIGHT, DOMINIC. O KNOCK OMT ‘8 TWIRTEEN STONE TRAIN DRIVER BY TDUCK- NO HIM LIDKTLY ON THE NECK, A0eHAC PEOPLE CANT 20 THINGS UKE THT. wn scr cour nas von ota oy far ade ota Sone ia wares wn otto sihnnstotie cues ‘eau PF 50 usr wens we soamsre sSneoue wwe > noenee Prove. aimee rasienes om Manaus 8 Men Fat br et BOTHERS Me NO, SIR. EVERYTHING a8 WE FOUND TT WHEN WE GOT THE TRAIN Our OF THE TUNNEL, DAMNED IF 1 KNOW. GET A PHOTOGRABH OF 17.4ND LST ME HAVE some 29-47 | SCAAPINGS FOR PWA- y8/8.. are win WANT A CoPy REMEMBER, Pemnas Ts LIEVE THAT THE VICE OF LEWIS PROTHERO is THAT OF THE FATE COMPLTER HE'S CERTANLY, CETTNG IT ISNT HE Me INCH? HES BLOWN UP THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, DISPATCHED Five OF ALMOND'S FINGER: MER aN Now HE § ASOUCT. ED OUR TOP BROADCASTER F PROTHERO 1S WWABLE TO MAKE His "VOCE OF FATE BROADCASTS AS SCHED- LED, OUR CRED» BaTANS SELIEE IN THE We COMDN'T MR DASCOMBE TEGRITY OF FATE 16 THE ARRANGE A SAND cOeneRsToue oF Que FOR PROTHERO , LEADER? NEW ORDER. ANY CHANGE INTHE YOCE ANB WT JUST WON'T BE THE SAME. 1 SEE, FROM A PROAA-| GANDA ANGLE WEVE BEEN PLT INA BIT OF ‘A SPCT_HAVENT FINCH. YOU HAVE EX- PRESSED SucH SENTIMENTS BEFORE. THAT YOu ARE STILL ALIVE 8 A MARK OF MY RESPECT FOR YOU AND YOUR CRAFT. ARE MANY PROBLEMS TO CONSIDER. | WiSH 70, SPEAK WITH FATE. PERSONALLY | DON'T GO MUCH FOR THIS"NEW ORDER BUSNESS 17'S JUST MY JOB, 70 HELP BRIAN OUT OF THS MESS. YOU. “ALREADY KNOW THAT, LEADER iii iia camaOH Win NOTHING. WAS JUST TRYING To GET USED 10 SAYING IT OUT Lou. v..'5A FUNNY THING TO CALL. v Lr YOURSELF. THE SHADOW GALLERY EVEY HAMMOND. PERSON, EYEY. YOULL FIND THAT OUT | WHEN YOU'VE KNOWN, E_LONGER A VERY FUNNY PERSON Se ETE events ever Tr EVERYTHING ENTRANCE, THE ad PS OE OSE SSB YOURE A KIND PERSON. LISTENING 70 ME TELLING YOU MY SOS STORY ALL ABOUT THE WAR, AND Must ANB BAD. ALL AgSUT We STUBBLE ARE YOU GOING To DO, V? THE WORLD 'p $0 BiG AND HORRIBLE AND THERES JUST ne THEY VE FORGOTTEN THE DRAMA OF TAL, YOU see Mey ABANDONED THEIR SCRIPTS WHEN THE g° WenLs woreeeo ny ner Or. GLARE OF THE NUCLEAR Rigen, FOOTLIGHTS. WA GONG To. REMIND THEM ABOUT MELODRAMA, AgOuT THe TUPENNY use AND The PENNY DREADFLL. YOU SEE, ee IMPORTANT 70 fr ALL eat TEATRICALS STUFF. evey, THE WORLD'SA STAGE AND EVERY THING ELBE THE, SABDOW GALLERY LENS PROTHERD:YOU'VE GOT THE WRONE MANY, Chun, THE RE: canes ‘SuPPOSE YOU THINK ALL THiS 6 BLOODY FUNNY ALc THis RESETTLEVENT cae MALARKEY, ALL TH PUTTING MEN CNRORM. AE, teat rove Got BAAS Savy auces BRL SaNse oF muncuR SH TNFR ALL BRUSHED PRESSED AnD READY FOR DUTY, "38 GOOD MAN.cOM- MANDER PROTHERO, WORE, Seas WE? THESE CONCENTRATION Zanes “SORRY. THESE CAMPS. SORRY THE Sent RN Tee Selves bo Her? Too BART, ROW HMO TOU ARE OR now vou Gor THIG BLOODY SLY DEA TD vOUR Bonne Bor woUNe SNE Beane a? COMMANDER. WE'VE or tO MALE THE TOUR OF NSPECTON Now WO, RenenaeR. é WAY YOu USED 70 MAKE 1 Brey EVEN: peo graph at 065" ouD Save THING TO DO WITH TRE con at ae RESETTLEMENT au, COMING 1D YOu En? THE MAN BODY OF THE PRISONERS WOULD BE_GATHERED IN “He YARD AWAITING TOUR. INSPECTION. you SPL AD 70. Wau PROM YOU! SPACE DOWN pase THE] NISSEN HUTS, TURN THE CORNER.MY BOLLS. THATS PART OF MY DOLL COL” LECTION. HOW DID DLL. THEY WERE ALL SAFELY LOCKED Away WHEN | LEFT FOR WORK: — WHAT. MY GOD, IF YOUVE DAMAGED ANY OF THEM..THEY'RE PRICELESS! HARDLY ANY OF THE BIG COLLECTIONS SURVIVED THE WAR. IF YOUVE FLESH AND (COMMANDER? DC YOU. IS) REMEMBER WHEN T NAS PEOPLE GATHERED IN DW Mas Som crse ENCLOSURE? PEORE, HALE DEAD WITH STARVATION AND DYSENTERY?, ws ADMRABLE CONCERN, COMMAND: ER. YET IT'S DEED OBB, ISNT IT? HOW YOU CAN SAW SO MUCH CONCERN FOR PORCE- CAIN AND PLASTIC. Sus AONG | HERE. THIS 5 WHERE YOU REST THE ONES (wo TAKEN PART'N YOUR BENTSTS, EXPERIMENTS, COOK, YOU KNOW AS WELL AS [O0. WE HAD 7D BO WHAT WE DID. ALL THE DARKIES, THENANCY Boys AND THE BEATNIKS..T WAS US oR THEM. COME "ALONG, CONMANDER, YOUR TOUR ISN'T OVER YEE THERE ARE STULL THE PRISONERS TO ‘SEE. THE ONES IN THE WEDCAL COWPOND + you, Kap 70 WALK @ pagr “ws ROW OF DOORS EVERY NGHT, ROOM ONE, ROOM TWO, ROOM THREE:WHO..? HAVEN'T | 1 G000 OLD) IF YOUVE COME To \ToLD vou twar | | arrem TELL ME WHAT A \ MUSTN'T BE ALMOND. DO THOROUGHLY MISERABLE a | DSTURBSED COME IN SOB YOU'VE MADE OF PRID- = s NG, BOOR LEW, THEN, — = ‘SPARE ME Me AgoNY -— V EXPECTED A$ = = — = -——s — = -_ ss ee 4 OH, ON 2 7 WAIN, BOYS, THE CONTRARY, fo, neve FOLKD ROGER, OLD SOY HAN ALL RIGHT. WE'VE FOLNO HIM. OR AT LEAST. Toews? THATS ALL HES SAID FOR THE PAST THREE HOURS. GOOD LUCK WITH TONIGHT'S BROADCAST, ROGER, CLD Boy