England Prevails.

That's the motto of the fascist government of Britain in Alan Moore's brilliant V for Vendetta, which takes dystopian political sci-fi and superhero conventions to create a breathtaking experiment all its own.

Originally published in the early 80s, V for Vendetta still stands the test of time, despite some of its inaccurate predictions. The basic storyline is that it's the late 1990's. After a limited nuclear exchange in the 80s, Britain has emerged as a fascist state, complete with Concentration Camps, cameras on the corners--and human medical experimentation.

Enter V, a mysterious vigilante, who dresses as Guy Fawkes, bombs government buildings and kills high-ranking fascists--and also appears to possess superhuman powers. Powers that are later revealed to be the result of a medical experiment in a concentration camp where V was held prisoner.

I won't spoil the plot for you, because the twists and turns are half of the joy of this book. The other half is the incredible detail and quality of Alan Moore's writing. Without question, Alan Moore is the best writer in the comics industry, and that shines through even in this--one of his earlier works.

Dave Lloyd's art also shines in this book, giving a realistic, creepy feel to a fascist England. Uncharacteristic for comics--especially for this period--there are no ideal looking human beings here. Everybody, whether good, bad, or in-between, looks normal. Except for V, of course. And the washed out coloring and shaded inks bring added depth and a feeling of hauntedness to the work.

As with much of Moore's work, the panels are rich and detailed, not to mention inter-related. (I have read, though not verified, that when Moore scripts a book, each panel takes an entire page to describe). You can also see the beginnings of shared imagery to tell a greater story that Moore used to great effect in his classic Watchmen.

Clear, accessible, dark, moody--yet ultimately hopeful, V for Vendetta shows how graphic novels can handle themes and stories that no other medium can match.