A review by wenzy
The Department of Truth, Vol 1: The End of the World by James Tynion IV
5.0
“We’re off the edge of the map, boy. Here there be monsters.”
The Department of Truth is a unique horror noir comic that follows Cole Turner as he becomes part of a government organization designed to stop conspiracy theories from becoming more than just fiction. It deals with the concept of collective belief being so powerful that it becomes reality and alters what we know to be true. It even uses ‘tulpas’ as an example for what is happening which I thought was neat and if you don’t know tulpas are basically objects or beings created through power of the mind. Each issue deals with a different case that varies from false flag operations, reptilians, to even the flat earth theory and they all feel fresh and contribute to an overarching story involving a rival organization wanting to use fringe theories to alter reality and Turner’s past. While each case feels isolated, they’re not disposable. Tynion does an incredible job of weaving a tapestry or a “conspiracy board” of a story about an alternate history within alternate history. Furthermore, Tynion adds complexity to the story by having you question whether the Department of Truth is wholly good. It combines the genres of horror, noir, occult and espionage with a modern look at fringe theorists and America. Simmonds’ art works in tandem with Tynion by creating illustrations that are abstract and patchwork to reflect the conflict of truth in the story. Simmonds utilizes jagged edges, grime, and hard linework to put the reader ill at ease when exploring this story much like a descent into the deep web and forums of conspiracy theorists. The Department of Truth isn’t just about conspiracy theories and monsters but how powerful stories are and what they can do. A perfect example of this is the third issue of the series. I won’t spoil it but it deals with mass shootings, false flag operations, and “crisis actors”. It’s horribly devastating and a sobering image of America because people really go through this. Stories can carry so much weight and when in the hands of conspiracy or fringe theorists they seemingly become their reality and can damage the lives of innocent people. This is a comic series that might not be for everyone but for me it’s perfect so far and I’m going to keep up with it.
The Department of Truth is a unique horror noir comic that follows Cole Turner as he becomes part of a government organization designed to stop conspiracy theories from becoming more than just fiction. It deals with the concept of collective belief being so powerful that it becomes reality and alters what we know to be true. It even uses ‘tulpas’ as an example for what is happening which I thought was neat and if you don’t know tulpas are basically objects or beings created through power of the mind. Each issue deals with a different case that varies from false flag operations, reptilians, to even the flat earth theory and they all feel fresh and contribute to an overarching story involving a rival organization wanting to use fringe theories to alter reality and Turner’s past. While each case feels isolated, they’re not disposable. Tynion does an incredible job of weaving a tapestry or a “conspiracy board” of a story about an alternate history within alternate history. Furthermore, Tynion adds complexity to the story by having you question whether the Department of Truth is wholly good. It combines the genres of horror, noir, occult and espionage with a modern look at fringe theorists and America. Simmonds’ art works in tandem with Tynion by creating illustrations that are abstract and patchwork to reflect the conflict of truth in the story. Simmonds utilizes jagged edges, grime, and hard linework to put the reader ill at ease when exploring this story much like a descent into the deep web and forums of conspiracy theorists. The Department of Truth isn’t just about conspiracy theories and monsters but how powerful stories are and what they can do. A perfect example of this is the third issue of the series. I won’t spoil it but it deals with mass shootings, false flag operations, and “crisis actors”. It’s horribly devastating and a sobering image of America because people really go through this. Stories can carry so much weight and when in the hands of conspiracy or fringe theorists they seemingly become their reality and can damage the lives of innocent people. This is a comic series that might not be for everyone but for me it’s perfect so far and I’m going to keep up with it.