V for Vendetta

1984 by George Orwell (1949)

This classic piece of dystopian fiction, like V for Vendetta, serves as a cautionary tale for its readers. Set in the near future relative to its composition, it depicts a totalitarian version of Great Britain embroiled in constant war. Like Moore and Lloyd’s Norsefire, Orwell’s “Party” uses police violence, state propaganda, and ubiquitous surveillance to control its populace.

• 1984 on SuperSummary

Watchmen, written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons (1986)

Watchmen is a critically-acclaimed limited comic series published by DC Comics from 1986 to 1987. While V for Vendetta depicts an alternate future, Watchmen imagines an alternate history in which superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1960s to fight in World War II and the Vietnam War, helping the United States win the latter. As V for Vendetta is partially a reaction to Thatcherism in Britain, Watchmen is partially a reaction to Reaganism in the United States. Moore, who is openly critical of the superhero genre, uses the series to complicate the concept of heroism. In comparison to V for Vendetta, it is much more explicitly animated by Cold War fears.

• Watchmen on SuperSummary

Anarky in Gotham City written by Alan Grant and illustrated by Norm Breyfogle (1989)