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""Book I: Europe After The Reign"": It is the year 1997. In this post-nuclear reality, Great Britain has emerged as a controlled Fascist state. The monarchy has been supplanted by a leadership regime known as Norsefire.

Quote1 Remember, remember, the 5th of November, the Gunpowder Treason and plot; I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot. Quote2
V

V for Vendetta #1 is an issue of the series V for Vendetta (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1988. It was published on May 18, 1988.

Synopsis for "Book I: Europe After The Reign"

It is the year 1997. In this post-nuclear reality, Great Britain has emerged as a controlled Fascist state. The monarchy has been supplanted by a leadership regime known as Norsefire.

November 5th, 1997
A sixteen-year-old prostitute named Evey Hammond walks the streets of London eager for work. She approaches two men and propositions them, only to discover that they are Fingermen – high-ranking police officers that patrol the streets undercover. They grab Evey and press her against a brick wall, spitefully describing what they will do with her. Suddenly, a cloaked, masked avenger emerges from the shadows. Known only as V, he appears donned in a cape and a Guy Fawkes mask while quoting from Macbeth. V distracts the Fingermen with a concealed smoke-generator and kills one of them with an explosive artificial hand.

Having rescued Evey, he takes her to a London rooftop, where she witnesses his next unbeleavable feat. V bombs the Palace of Westminster, and enhances the dramatic flair of the event with a fancy fireworks display. The fireworks overtop London form the shape of the letter "V".

Norsefire leader Adam Susan responds to the terrorist plot. He consults with all of his department heads including Roger Dascombe, Eric Finch, Conrad Heyer, Derek Almond and Lewis Prothero. Prothero is a media orator who goes by the name "The Voice of Fate". Broadcasting his voice throughout the entire city, he alerts the citizens of London, that the destruction of the abandoned Westminister Palace was part of a scheduled demolition.

Susan sends Derek Almond to Jordan Tower to consult with Roger Dascombe. Dascombe is a technician who works for a Norsefire civil service branch known as the Mouth. The Mouth is Norsefire's propaganda machine, and Derek wants to make sure that the Voice of Fate can quickly quell any rumors of a terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, V takes Evey Hammond to his lair – a pop culture museum known as the Shadow Gallery. The Shadow Gallery is filled with books, music and movie posters that are now considered contraband by the auspices of the current ruling party. V leaves Evey at the Gallery and stalks off into the night.

He attacks a subway car carrying Lewis Prothero and several Fingermen. He incapacitates the driver, kills the Fingermen and kidnaps Prothero.

November 6th, 1997
Nose investigator Eric Finch and his junior assistant Dominic Stone investigate the Prothero kidnapping. Finch finds a Violet Carson at the scene of the crime – a calling card that he hopes will point him in the direction of the kidnapper.

V meanwhile, brings Prothero to a special section of the Shadow Gallery. He finds an immense cavern that has been converted to resemble a place known as the Larkhill Resettlement Camp. It is learned that Prothero was once an officer serving at the Larkhill Resettlement Camp in 1993. The Larkhill Camp was a concentration camp for Negroes, homosexuals and political dissidents. It is revealed that V was once a prisoner at Larkhill in Room #5. V terrorizes him throughout the evening and ultimately drives Prothero insane. He drops him off at Scotland Yard and leaves him for the Fingermen to find.

Appearing in "Book I: Europe After The Reign"

Featured Characters:

  • V (First appearance)

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Norsefire (First appearance)
    • Adam Susan (First appearance)
    • Brian Etheridge (First appearance)
    • Conrad Heyer (First appearance)
    • Derek Almond (First appearance)
    • Eric Finch (First appearance)
    • Lewis Prothero (First appearance)
    • Roger Dascombe (First appearance)
    • Fingermen (First appearance)
      • Frank (Single appearance; dies)
      • George (Single appearance; dies)
      • Ted (Single appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

  • Dominic Stone (First appearance)
  • John F. Kennedy (Mentioned only)
  • Mister Bishop (Single appearance)
  • Mister Hammond (Flashback only)
  • Mrs. Hammond (Dies in flashback)

Locations:

Items:

  • Fate computer
  • Violet Carson rose

Vehicles:

  • None

Notes

  • V for Vendetta is a ten-issue limited series.
  • V for Vendetta takes place within its own insular continuity, and does not share continuity with that of the mainstream DC Universe, or the continuities of any other DC Comics project.
  • Select chapters from this issue were originally printed in Warrior magazine by Quality Communications (issue numbers 1-4).
  • This issue is divided into four chapters:
    • Part I: The Villain
    • Part II: The Voice
    • Part III: Victims
    • Part IV: Vaudeville

Trivia

  • With subsequent releases of the V for Vendetta trade paperback, this series is now considered part of the Vertigo family of titles. The original comic book series however was not initially part of the Vertigo line of comics.
  • The title "Europe After The Reign" refers to the painting "Europe After the Rain" by Max Ernst, which is an apocalyptic depiction of a post-war world.
  • The line, "Remember, remember, the 5th of November, the Gunpowder Treason and plot; "I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot." is taken from an old nursery rhyme commemorating Guy Fawkes Night.


See Also

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Links and References

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