Who is V? V for Vendetta (Spoilers) classic question.

[unkiedev]

So I just got around to reading V for Vendetta. I liked it. Not my favorite Alan Moore work by far, but it certainly is the primordial ooze from which all his other stories crawl.

Now, being the cheeky lad that he is, Alan says in the closing essay in the version I read that he "Isn't going to tell us who V really was", but it does imply that the character, irregardless to who he/she becomes or symbolizes, is an actual person who's identity can be gleaned by the clever.

I bet this has been debated a bunch of times, but can you comic book resources folks tell me:

Who is V?

[Spiff]

Here I thought V was always supposed to just be an unknown. I'd need to reread it to "gather clues," although I'm sure I'd be just as clueless.

[Expletive Deleted]

My impression is that V could be one of Evey's suspects, but . . . if he is, it doesn't matter.

[Lurker]

Its been awhile but wasn't he patient #5 and then the girl carried on for him?

[kmeyers]

Its been awhile but wasn't he patient #5 and then the girl carried on for him?

But who is patient #5?

[Watchman]

V is an idea.

He says so in the book. :p

Who he actually is physically is never shown. It doesn't matter, his identity is much better kept a secret.

[kmeyers]

V is an idea.

He says so in the book. :p

Who he actually is physically is never shown. It doesn't matter, his identity is much better kept a secret.

Definitely.

I hope we never see the face of the actor playing V in the movie, either.

V could be anyone, noone and everyone at the same time.

[Sandoz]

All we know for sure is that V wasn't Evey's father. Since he was in the concentration camp, he was either gay, Jewish, an ethnic minority, or someone with extreme liberal/socialist leanings.

It's not as if V has a secret identity; he is V, all the time. There's no mystery to solve.

it does imply that the character, irregardless to who he/she becomes or symbolizes, is an actual person who's identity can be gleaned by the clever.

I don't think he was implying that. Rather, was saying that he never intended to give V a lengthy origin or a soliloquy about his pre-camp life.

[unkiedev]

I disagree. The story takes place between 1985-97. The story was written in 82-83, I believe.

Yes, V is an idea and it DOESN'T MATTER who this person was, but I do believe there is an actual person that V is. I'm almost positive I've read a quote from Moore saying "Read the clues, it's there."

Moore, with his obsession of magic and literature might have picked some actual cultural/historic figure of the 70's/early 80's to be this person...or it could be a mentioned character.

I know it's not important who V is, but I do think it was supposed to be somebody.

[Sandoz]

Yes, V is an idea and it DOESN'T MATTER who this person was, but I do believe there is an actual person that V is. I'm almost positive I've read a quote from Moore saying "Read the clues, it's there."

If you can find the quote, I'd be interested in reading it.

I know it's not important who V is, but I do think it was supposed to be somebody.

But why would Moore go through the trouble of giving V a "secret identity" if it is completely irrelevant to the story and goes against the very point of the character?

[Jack Destruct]

I hope we never see the face of the actor playing V in the movie, either.

Well, seeing as the ad I saw didn't even mention Hugo Weaving's name, I'd say that we probably won't.

Which is definately a good thing.

I agree with the naysayers, I doubt there are any clues in the story. 'Cause the story has nothing to do with his identity, just his fight.

[TomGun13]

Well, seeing as the ad I saw didn't even mention Hugo Weaving's name, I'd say that we probably won't.

Which is definately a good thing.

I agree with the naysayers, I doubt there are any clues in the story. 'Cause the story has nothing to do with his identity, just his fight.

Speaking of the movie, anyone read the article on Larry Wachowski (I think it was Larry) in a recent Rolling Stone?

[stealthwise]

V is an obscured, twisted version of the "everyman," which is certainly why I don't to see Weaving's face or even hear his very-recognizable voice. The whole point of exploiting the comic form's ability to mask sounds and voices would seem to be shot otherwise.

I don't think that V was intended to be anybody who actually exists in popular form.

[unkiedev]

Here is an article on this topic. It puts forth the "Who cares, it's not important" philosophy.

http://www.shadowgalaxy.net/Vendetta/whov.html

At the end of the article the writer quotes line from Moore at the end of V's epiloge:

"I was going to go on from this point and tell you exactly who V really is, but I'm afraid I've run out of room. The only real hint I can give is that V isn't Evey's father, Whistler's mother, or Charley's aunt. Beyond that, I'm afraid you're on your own." --Alan Moore

-Who are the faces that Evey imagines are v? I know one is her father, and one is herself at 16. Who where the other 2 faces? I didn't recognize them.

[unkiedev]

Here's the thing, or at least why I'm sticking to V actually having a real identity apart from the idea that V represents:

Alan Moore is just that clever. The man's head is a treasure trove of every book, movie and song he has ever heard. Have you read his essays on the L.E.G.? He has stated a few times he doesn't do second drafts of his work, that he just sits and writes.

Read the L.E.G. unofficial companions. The author has a few quotes from Alan about characters he and the artist just threw in for laughs to see if anyone ever noticed. It seems to me Alan Moore would do the same thing with V, have it be some actual, possibly obscure figure just for laughs...kinda like the movie Six-String Samurai.