Anyone keeping up with the various Occupy protests going on around the world might have noticed a familiar visage making recurring appearances: the Guy Fawkes mask popularized with Alan Moore's "V for Vendetta."
The mask was originally released as a merchandise tie-in to the 2006 adaptation of Moore's novel, but has since started appearing in protests held by groups like Occupy and Anonymous. Even the reclusive Moore has seen the signs of his creation being worn in the anti-corporate protests. The Guardian caught up with the elusive author on the phone recently, and he admitted that he is pretty pleased to see his work continuing to have an influence.
"I suppose when I was writing 'V for Vendetta' I would in my secret heart of hearts have thought: wouldn't it be great if these ideas actually made an impact?" he said. "So when you start to see that idle fantasy intrude on the regular world... It's peculiar. It feels like a character I created 30 years ago has somehow escaped the realm of fiction."
Editor's Note: The following story was originally published on November 5, 2009, but in what's becoming an annual tradition, we're posting it again to mark the occasion of Guy Fawkes Day. And what better way to view Guy Fawkes than through the smirking lens of "V for Vendetta," one of our favorite comic book tales? Enjoy! -JW