“My feeling is the Anonymous group needed an all-purpose image to hide their identity and also symbolise that they stand for individualism – V for Vendetta is a story about one person against the system.”

(protestors in V garb, pic by AFP, borrowed from the BBC site)

Eleswhere the article talks to comics commentator Rich Johnston, who seemed to consider the use of the masks as sometimes being intimidating: “It’s not a symbol of passive resistance but a symbol of active terrorism – it’s about bringing down a government and a country and that could be quite scary and alienating to some people.” Well, I suppose it could be taken that way, but personally I don’t find the image scary or aggressive as such, more of drawing on a potent symbol to remind supposedly democractic governments that they are the servants of the citizen and that all that power they so cover derives entirely from our consent, which can be withdrawn – it isn’t about violently overthrowing the state but reminding those in charge where their power comes from – the people. And reminding them that we too have power and they should be listening. And even if it is a scary image to some, it is certainly no scarier than a large NYC cop pepper-spraying a young girl in the face for no apparently valid reason during Occupy Wall Street, or London police ‘kettling’ thousands (including school children) while they exercise their democratic right to freedom of speech and assembly.

Remember, remember the fifth of November
The gunpowder treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, twas his intent
To blow up King and Parli’ment.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England’s overthrow.

By God’s mercy he was catched
With a dark lantern and lighted match.
Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the King.

Today’s the 5th Of November; Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night in Britain. An annual celebration where we commemorate the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band to blow up the Houses Of Parliament in 1605. And how do we commemorate it?

By having children make stuffed rag doll “Guys”, parade them around the streets begging for money from strangers until eventually, come nightfall, we throw the “Guy” on a huge bonfire and watch it burn, whilst letting off fireworks to represent the explosions that would have occurred if the gunpowder plot would have worked. Bizarre British customs are just great, aren’t they?

Of course, in comics we have our own special way of looking at Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night – Alan Moore’s V For Vendetta which is now available in softback and a gorgeous absolute edition. And should you wish to celebrate Guy Fawkes night in style there’s always this.