V (TV series)

V is a science fiction franchise revolving around aliens known as The Visitors who want to conquer Earth. It started as a two-part TV miniseries in 1983, then the three-part V: The Final Battle followed in 1984, and finally a weekly TV series for one season with 19 episodes in 1984-85. There also were tie-in novels and a novelization, comics (from DC as well as a Japanese manga adaptation), and videogames. Creator Kenneth Johnson also wrote an AU novel (2008), with an alternate ending for his series, called V: The Second Generation.
A series remake (2009-11) lasted two seasons and featured a cameo return by Jane Badler (as Diana), this time playing the mother of her previous alien character's analog, Anna.
==Fandom==
Sarah "Nyssa" Groenewegen ran a small group for "V" fans when she was based in Australia.
The Australian science fiction media convention, Con Amore, was held June 7–10, 1985, in Brisbane, Queensland. One celebrity Guest of Honor was Judson Scott. He had recently completed Season One of V: The Series, as Lieutenant James. (The series was announced as axed in the US the morning Scott arrived Down Under.) A group of interstate fans, soon to be known as Harpic Productions, created opening and closing ceremonies in cosplay, using V as the theme. Attendees filled in a survey form as they entered the main hall, ticking a box for their preferred method of preparation (fried, baked, broiled, etc.). Visitors in uniform handed out jellied rats-on-sticks. The Master of Ceremonies was Strop (Ian McLean), a Visitor from the Sydney Mothership. Even the hotel's catering staff became involved, presenting a banquet with impromptu "V"-themed foods.
At 1987's Eccentricon, a skit, "Cooking with Strop", involved the selection and participation of a seemingly hapless audience member, Neil. A returning Strop proceeded to explain efficient and delicious ways To Serve Man, using the Kanamits' infamous cook book from The Twilight Zone episode. As can be seen by the photographs, the human was one Strop "had prepared earlier".
Image:Strop.jpg|Cooking with Strop, Eccentricon, 1987.
Image:Strop2.jpg|Cooking with Strop, the other side, Eccentricon, 1987.
=== Fan Clubs ===
* Freedom League
* The Robin Hood Brigade
===Fanzines===
* Crazy Quilt (multimedia)
* Diverse Doings (multimedia, slash)
* Edge of the Vth (gen anthology)
* Fifth Column News (fan club zine)
* The Fixer's Fix (gen novel)
* The Freedom Network (gen)
* Green Floating Weirdness #6 (gen crossover with War of the Worlds)
* Growing Pains (gen novel)
* Lizards of Oz #1-2 (gen)
* Martin - Karen Sackler (gen)
* The Milton Keynes Confusion - Oriole Alma Throckmorton (gen)
* Poisoners and Prawns - Oriole Alma Throckmorton (gen)
* Pretanama (gen)
* Red Dust #1-3 (gen)
* Reluctantly to Bed (slash)
* Remote Control #6 (multimedia, gen)
* Scenario (multimedia, gen)
* Scorpion Files (multimedia, gen)
* Syndicated Images (multimedia, gen)
* "The Kick Inside" by Sarah Groenewegen in The Garden Spot of Ceti Alpha V
* The Tyler Expedition (gen)
* To Serve Man (cookbook)
* Uncharted Waters (multimedia, slash)
* Undercover (multimedia, slash)
* V: Alternatives (gen)
* V Compiled (gen)
* V for Victory (gen crossovers)
* V: The Battle Continues #1-3 (gen)
* The V Saga (gen anthology)
* Vacation from War (het)
* Victory! (gen)
* Visiting Time (gen Time Tunnel xover)
* Visitor Technical Manual (gen)
* Visitors, Rebels and Allies (gen)
* Vive la Resistance! (gen)
===Links===
*V The Fan Club, a Yahoo Groups mailing list.
*The Visitor Home Page.
*V webring.
===Customized action figures===
In the first miniseries, some of the young human characters are shown playing with small action figures of the Visitor characters and models of their vessels. Several times over the decades, toy companies, such as LJN Toys, have announced plans to release such toys commercially - there was a 12" official figure, a blaster toy and a short-lived line of Spanish non-articulated figures - but licensing rights have proven to be elusive. In 2018, an Australian fan, Ian McLean, created his own set of customised "V" characters, using resculpted and repainted parts from existing ReAction, Funko and Big Bang Pow! figures. His online friend, Russell Meyers, made 3D-printed blasters to scale.
In 2021, Lobos Collectables Australia created a short unlicensed run of custom-carded sets of "Enemy Visitor" figures: "Visitor with human mask", "Diana with 'delicious' rat", and "V Trooper with weapon".
Image:Visitors1.jpg|Customized ReAction-scale Visitor action figures.
Image:Visitors2.jpg|Customized Visitors and human Resistance members.
Image:Visitors3.jpg|Customized Visitors meet some Starfleet officers.
Image:Visitors5.jpg|Customized Visitor tabards and paper template.
Image:Visitors4.jpg|Customized Visitors with tiny 3D-printed weaponry.
Image:LobosCollectables.jpg|Non-articulated "Enemy Visitor" figures, Lobos Collectables Australia.
==Notes and References==
===Notes===
===References===
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