My generation has grown up reading comics, from the tabloid-size Dandy and Beano to the A-4 size Archie comics. They made you laugh, even at some really mean practical jokes. They were entertainment; not a single one touched on reality nor gave you a sense of guilt or joged your brain to think. Classic Comics, Tarzan, later Batman, still later Spiderman were socially commentative but yet remained within a fantasy world, like Gotham City. That the comics medium would evolve into serious literature, did not cross our minds. It has, and has been around for nearly three decades, but I read my first comics novel last week.
I was complaining to the whole world I had nothing to read. The book bazaar at Frere Hall offered nothing worth reading, or authors I had already read, like Elif Shafak. Out of pity my nephew gave me a comics medium novel 'I don't think she'll enjoy it, but she has nothing to read,' he told his wife, who was surprised when I said I loved it, was impressed and excited that the novel could be composed in the comics medium.
'V for Vendetta' is a classic bestseller written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. 'A frightening and powerful tale of loss of freedom and identity "V for Vendetta" stands as one of the highest achievements of the comics medium...' explained the blurb. The story conceived in 1981 is set in an imagined near further (the 1990s) England that has given itself over to fascism. Jackboots everywhere. Moral police imprisoning homosexuals in concentration camps. Audio and Video monitors mounted on poles in every street, spewing the brainwashing propaganda of the 'party'. The militarist regime only preserves its authority. The slightest hint of a challenge to authority means death to the free thinker. As the protagonist explains 'Authority when first detecting chaos at its heels will entertain the vilest schemes to save its orderly facade... But always order without Justice, without Love or Liberty cannot long prevent their world's descent into pandemonium. Authority allows two roles: the Torturer and the Tortured, twists people into joyless mannequins that Fear and Hate, while culture plunges into the Abyss.' Moore and Lloyd perceived this to be the future of England; they were both young 22-years-old and politically inexperienced back in 1981.
They failed to accurately predict what England's future would be, but they have perfectly imagined our world, here in Pakistan. That sent cold shivers down my spine. Scene after scene portrayed our world going to the dogs. The protagonist is modeled on Guy Fawkes who threatened to blow up Parliament. In the Comics novel the protagonist, his face in a smiling mask, and wearing a clock and tall hat that the original Victorian era Guy Fawkes wore, blows up all the institutions of established authority, the Parliament, Downing Street, the symbol of London Big Ben, and, of course, one by one executes the evil officers of the 'party'. The mask he wears is an essential element representing that anyone can take on the authority and eradicate evil (unfortunately, through more evil and violence) but it must be a covert act, the face of the challenger should always be hidden. That is the only way to strike fear in the heart of 'Authority' which is unable to deal with illusive opponents.
Despite its dark and gripping storyline, the novel is about the power of the human spirit which can rebel against coersion which is the hallmark of a police state. I should also say the hallmark of religious authoritarianism, like the IS. There are many novels written in the comics genre, but here in Pakistan it is the young age 20 onwards who read them. That they are highly popular here as elsewhere in the world is significant. It is generally believed young people do not read novels. They do, but not so much the kind of books we old fogies used to read, still read.
I was astonished that it took me fifteen minutes to read about five pages of the comics novel. That is because the script and the illustration combine to tell the whole story. So you have to spend time looking at the pictures with greater attention than you would have looked at say, the illustrations in an Archie comic. The comics novel is a teamwork and credit for its creation belongs both to the author and the illustrator in equal measure.
I like to take down quotable quotes. There are few novels which have offered so many. Here are some: Happiness is the most insidious prison of all. Ideas are bullet-proof. (Those victims of authority) who are affected most, they understand the least. Knowledge is not all your heritage. It includes also courage and belief and romance.
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