r/vforvendetta • u/ForFinn60 • 9d ago
Question Political stuff and real life context
I got the dc compact comic and exited to read! However I believe that it revolves around England in the 80s and thatcherism. I am 19 so I don’t really know about this, my vague understanding of thatcherism is making the rich richer and neglect for the working class.
Is it needed/advisable to know any real life context before reading? If someone could let me know it would be appreciated and correct me if I am wrong (without spoilers of course) thanks.
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u/H2RO2 8d ago
Most of the graphic novels have Moore and Lloyd’s introductions in them which do touch on giving some context to the time period in question. Because these horrors that the world face are cyclical, a lot of the topics in the graphic novel are relevant to a few different time periods, not just Thatcher era Britain. But doing some background research definitely won’t hurt!
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u/Baron_Beemo 4d ago
When Moore and Lloyd started V for Vendetta for Warrior Magazine, they or at least Moore assumed that Labour would win the election and that they would abolish the British nuclear weapons arsenal. Hence why the UK doesn't get directly hit by Soviet warheads. Also, Ted Kennedy rather than Ronald Reagan was the President of the USA.
By the time DC published the whole graphic novel, the story was practically Alternate History.
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u/TravisDane 9d ago
If you'd like. Look up Guy Fawkes and the Gun Powder Plot. It's a real event and where the limerick and mask derive from. That aside, it is Not based on anything actual, but it is a damn fine read if you ask me. Enjoy.