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Paradox Press series of Big Books
The Big Book of Conspiracies
Compiled by Doug Moench and 39 of the world's top comic artists, this collection presents some of the world's weirdest conspiracy theories. Did the Nazi Party help form the CIA? Did aliens form the Nazi Party? Are descendants of Jesus living in France? Is Jim Morrison still alive? The answers to these questions and many more may be found inside this book - or then again not.
223 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
5 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Doug Moench
2,071 books122 followersDoug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok. Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)
Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.
Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.
Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.
Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 11, 2022
This book is an anthology of different conspiracies. They’re all written by the same person but each story is drawn and lettered by different people. They start out with your standard conspiracies that are widely known CIA operations, and then get increasingly outlandish until you have Ancient Aliens/National Treasure/ DaVinci Code adjacent stuff.
The stories are a little repetitive, which I thought was due to being written by several people, until I realized it is all written by one person. The layout confused me slightly. Though it mostly stayed with the gradient of believable → insane. For example there will be a chapter on JFK that’s about the usual reasons– Bay of Pigs, firing Allen Dulles, pulling out of Vietnam etc, and then toward the end of the book is a section on how JFK and Marilyn knew about the aliens and needed to be taken out.
This book covered so much ground! Assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X, MK Ultra, Jonestown, The Branch Davidians, World Vision, Iran-Contra, Watergate, Operation Paperclip, the John Birch Society, the Masons, the Rosicrucians, various mysterious deaths, etc. Some of it is serious and historical, and sometimes it’s silly and fun and directly contradictory, like when there is a chapter on the secret camps on the moon and then the next chapter is about how the moon landing was totally faked.
There were some things I hadn’t heard of, like Karen Silkwood, a woman who was a union leader at a plutonium plant and was possibly assassinated for trying to speak out about the working conditions. Of course they add in a tinfoil hat angle about what she was *really* trying to expose. There’s a movie about it starring Meryl Streep and Cher, so I will be getting on that ASAP. There were also things I didn’t care much about, like Jim Morrision faking his death, and some old Hollywood drama I was unfamiliar with.
A shame this was written in the 90s and they didn’t have future vision, they were unable to include some of the all-time conspiracy bangers like Jeffrey Epstein and 9/11.
The problem is that you have to be very familiar with the cases to follow what’s going on. The JFK chapter is like 20 pages and I counted 41 names mentioned, which is nearly impossible to keep straight. I’m a tinfoil hat enthusiast and pretty familiar with most of these, and still I felt I was getting blasted with names. You are definitely expected to have at least a cursory knowledge of all of this. But still, I really enjoyed the different drawing/art styles, and I liked the general tone of the book with its blend of serious and silly.
The stories are a little repetitive, which I thought was due to being written by several people, until I realized it is all written by one person. The layout confused me slightly. Though it mostly stayed with the gradient of believable → insane. For example there will be a chapter on JFK that’s about the usual reasons– Bay of Pigs, firing Allen Dulles, pulling out of Vietnam etc, and then toward the end of the book is a section on how JFK and Marilyn knew about the aliens and needed to be taken out.
This book covered so much ground! Assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X, MK Ultra, Jonestown, The Branch Davidians, World Vision, Iran-Contra, Watergate, Operation Paperclip, the John Birch Society, the Masons, the Rosicrucians, various mysterious deaths, etc. Some of it is serious and historical, and sometimes it’s silly and fun and directly contradictory, like when there is a chapter on the secret camps on the moon and then the next chapter is about how the moon landing was totally faked.
There were some things I hadn’t heard of, like Karen Silkwood, a woman who was a union leader at a plutonium plant and was possibly assassinated for trying to speak out about the working conditions. Of course they add in a tinfoil hat angle about what she was *really* trying to expose. There’s a movie about it starring Meryl Streep and Cher, so I will be getting on that ASAP. There were also things I didn’t care much about, like Jim Morrision faking his death, and some old Hollywood drama I was unfamiliar with.
A shame this was written in the 90s and they didn’t have future vision, they were unable to include some of the all-time conspiracy bangers like Jeffrey Epstein and 9/11.
The problem is that you have to be very familiar with the cases to follow what’s going on. The JFK chapter is like 20 pages and I counted 41 names mentioned, which is nearly impossible to keep straight. I’m a tinfoil hat enthusiast and pretty familiar with most of these, and still I felt I was getting blasted with names. You are definitely expected to have at least a cursory knowledge of all of this. But still, I really enjoyed the different drawing/art styles, and I liked the general tone of the book with its blend of serious and silly.
May 1, 2017
This was the book that hooked me into the BIG BOOK series. I love the introduction:
"If you investigate deeply enough, sometimes you become part of the conspiracy...You start out paranoid about THEM, and the next thing you know, you're one of THEM...You can't simply uncover a conspiracy and leave it at that. You always have to take into account the DELIBERATE DISINFORMATION possibilities. The murkiness level can become literally maddening. That may be the whole idea."
Each of these stories makes the conspiracy seem not so far-fetched, even the ones having to do with visitors from a distant galaxy. I'm crazy about this book!
"If you investigate deeply enough, sometimes you become part of the conspiracy...You start out paranoid about THEM, and the next thing you know, you're one of THEM...You can't simply uncover a conspiracy and leave it at that. You always have to take into account the DELIBERATE DISINFORMATION possibilities. The murkiness level can become literally maddening. That may be the whole idea."
Each of these stories makes the conspiracy seem not so far-fetched, even the ones having to do with visitors from a distant galaxy. I'm crazy about this book!
August 31, 2011
As a person who was completely ignorant of any JFK conspiracy theories, this book started off with a bang. The first chapter was a huge plate of intricate details that, when coupled with the amazing illustrations, left me satisfied and craving more. However, after JFK, the ideas got increasingly stretchy. The stories went from those of assassinated presidents and civil rights leaders to "Jim Morrison faked his death!" and "Jonestown was a CIA cover-up!" Eh. This book had the potential to be a five-star if it kept its momentum. Instead, it just fizzled into accounts of UFOs...
August 17, 2012
You don't have to wear a tinfoil hat to love this book!
April 14, 2025
“The Big Book of Conspiracies” by Paradox Press is a fascinating, whirlwind ride through the shadowy corridors of conspiracy lore—from the JFK assassination to aliens, secret societies, mind control experiments, and plenty of lesser-known rabbit holes you’ve probably never even heard of.
Written by legendary comic writer Doug Moench and illustrated by a diverse team of talented artists, this hefty volume delivers its content in bite-sized comic-strip segments. The result is both entertaining and informative—like reading the wildest chapters of human history through the lens of pop culture and paranoia.
What really struck me is how the book presents these theories not as truth, but as part of our cultural narrative—highlighting how some people believe, some debunk, and many stand somewhere in between. It doesn’t force a point of view. It lays out the stories, the speculations, and the strange coincidences, then lets you draw your own conclusions.
That said, the subject matter is hard to talk about without stepping on someone’s toes. Are you reading this as a skeptic? A curious mind? A believer? The book doesn’t make it easy to tell. And maybe that’s part of the point—it reflects the murky, shifting nature of the conspiracies themselves.
If you’re into graphic non-fiction, social psychology, or just enjoy reading about the weird, this one’s worth checking out. Just be ready to question… well, everything.
Written by legendary comic writer Doug Moench and illustrated by a diverse team of talented artists, this hefty volume delivers its content in bite-sized comic-strip segments. The result is both entertaining and informative—like reading the wildest chapters of human history through the lens of pop culture and paranoia.
What really struck me is how the book presents these theories not as truth, but as part of our cultural narrative—highlighting how some people believe, some debunk, and many stand somewhere in between. It doesn’t force a point of view. It lays out the stories, the speculations, and the strange coincidences, then lets you draw your own conclusions.
That said, the subject matter is hard to talk about without stepping on someone’s toes. Are you reading this as a skeptic? A curious mind? A believer? The book doesn’t make it easy to tell. And maybe that’s part of the point—it reflects the murky, shifting nature of the conspiracies themselves.
If you’re into graphic non-fiction, social psychology, or just enjoy reading about the weird, this one’s worth checking out. Just be ready to question… well, everything.
February 20, 2021
I LOVE this series... I believe I have almost all of the Big Book titles. This particular volume is probably my second or third favorite after the Big Book of Weirdos and the Big Book of the Unexplained. I first read this one more than 20 years ago, but I always enjoy picking it up and reading it again. It's funny how many core understandings about the JFK plot I got from this one book. But reading it again always seems to offer fresh insights and details that I had not appreciated before. For example, did you know that one of Lee Harvey Oswald's fellow marines wrote a book that was basically about Oswald *before* November 1963?!
Like all of the Big Books, this is in comic book format, featuring the work of multiple artists with one writer's voice. Moench takes us on a fascinating and head-spinning journey through conspiracy lore. JFK gets prominent attention, but so do Martin Luther King Jr., Bobby Kennedy, and Malcolm X. Beyond assassinations there are also great features on MK Ultra, Jim Jones, aliens, William Randolf Hearst, Jim Morrison, even the alleged royal bloodline of Jesus Christ. Also, there are more CIA plots than you wave a Freedom of Information Act request at! Not everything in this volume is believable or even plausible, but it sure is fun and terrifying to read. Highly recommend.
Like all of the Big Books, this is in comic book format, featuring the work of multiple artists with one writer's voice. Moench takes us on a fascinating and head-spinning journey through conspiracy lore. JFK gets prominent attention, but so do Martin Luther King Jr., Bobby Kennedy, and Malcolm X. Beyond assassinations there are also great features on MK Ultra, Jim Jones, aliens, William Randolf Hearst, Jim Morrison, even the alleged royal bloodline of Jesus Christ. Also, there are more CIA plots than you wave a Freedom of Information Act request at! Not everything in this volume is believable or even plausible, but it sure is fun and terrifying to read. Highly recommend.
September 22, 2019
Whether you believe in these conspiracies or not, they sure are interesting. This is one of the most intriguing books I've ever read. The conspiracies range from the plausible (the Kennedy and King assassinations) to the far out (aliens establishing the human race, but who knows).
Just fascinating reading, and the graphic novel format keeps the sometimes dry material from getting too boring. I really love the whole "Big Book" series even though I feel like I'm late catching on. I read the Urban Legends and Wild West volumes years ago, but they didn't hook me like the last few I've read have. I'm curious to check out the volumes I missed. Not my usual, but great reading.
Just fascinating reading, and the graphic novel format keeps the sometimes dry material from getting too boring. I really love the whole "Big Book" series even though I feel like I'm late catching on. I read the Urban Legends and Wild West volumes years ago, but they didn't hook me like the last few I've read have. I'm curious to check out the volumes I missed. Not my usual, but great reading.
December 29, 2017
Entertaining mix of various conspiracy theories, which are enhanced by the high quality of the art work. The research behind the stories has been done well, and those that cover recent political scandals are particularly interesting.
November 29, 2023
Everyone should read this.
August 20, 2017
Now, this is where Paradox Press' Big Books Of . . . really come into their own. For me at least, previous entries in the series have varied in their quality, with The Big Book of Urban Legends being a quality entry in the series, albeit not perfect, but with The Big Book of Death really falling down on the job. The Big Book of Conspiracies, however, is the first in the series to hit on all cylinders.
Part of this is that writer Doug Moench, a veteran of all sorts of comics, is an excellent storyteller and excellent crafter of narrative; The Big Book of Conspiracies flows organically and cohesively in a way that many, if not most, other nonfiction comics anthologies don't quite accomplish. And equally important is that Moench, in his cohesive narrative, remains impartial. One might think that for a book detailing a wide variety of conspiracy theories, however outlandish or debunked, impartiality is a liability—after all, conspiracy-theory enthusiasts do have a certain notoriety in the popular culture, as Rev. Ivan Stang makes abundantly clear in his introduction to the volume—but the editors make equally clear that they neither endorse nor do not endorse any and all of the theories included in The Big Book of Conspiracies; rather, they, and Stang, explicitly instruct the reader to take everything—both the theories themselves and the "official" stories—with a grain of salt. Stang, Moench, and company strongly encourage skepticism above all else, an attitude embraced by many more theoretically "mainstream" authors, Robert Todd Carroll, James Randi, and Penn Jillette among them.
Indeed, when I read The Big Book of Conspiracies, as compelling as some of the theories contained therein were, I didn't, and still don't, buy into most of them. (Most notably in my mind is the overarching "conspiracy" regarding Freemasonry; I know too many Master Masons who are disturbingly boring in their everyday lives for me to believe they're part of any kind of conspiracy. Besides, is it really a conspiracy when Freemasons openly admit their ultimate goal of tikkun olam ?) But, as Stang and Moench reiterate throughout the book, several of these conspiracies have been confirmed, most notably the CIA's MK-Ultra program, with all its illegal experimentation on unsuspecting civilians (not to mention government conspiracies not described in the book, such as the Nixon administration's reading of Americans' mail and the Tuskegee syphilis experiments on African-American males); as such, by letting the readers make their own decisions as to the validity, or lack thereof, of the respective conspiracies in the book, Moench (and Stang) do the readers an excellent service, by trusting in the readers' intelligence and judgment.
And all of the above would be far less palatable if The Big Book of Conspiracies weren't as comparatively light-hearted as it is. After all, it's a credit to the book that it even includes the old chestnut, so popular in countless chain emails, about spooky coincidences regarding the lives of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, as well as two theories regarding whether the Doors' Jim Morrison faked his own death. (As for that second set of theories, that Moench quotes bandmate Ray Manzarek more than once, on both sides of the theory, gives extra credit, particularly considering that Manzarek even wrote a novel about the subject.)
Ultimately, The Big Book Of . . . series finally accomplishes what it set out to do with The Big Book of Conspiracies, and that's perhaps the best thing anyone can say about the volume.
Part of this is that writer Doug Moench, a veteran of all sorts of comics, is an excellent storyteller and excellent crafter of narrative; The Big Book of Conspiracies flows organically and cohesively in a way that many, if not most, other nonfiction comics anthologies don't quite accomplish. And equally important is that Moench, in his cohesive narrative, remains impartial. One might think that for a book detailing a wide variety of conspiracy theories, however outlandish or debunked, impartiality is a liability—after all, conspiracy-theory enthusiasts do have a certain notoriety in the popular culture, as Rev. Ivan Stang makes abundantly clear in his introduction to the volume—but the editors make equally clear that they neither endorse nor do not endorse any and all of the theories included in The Big Book of Conspiracies; rather, they, and Stang, explicitly instruct the reader to take everything—both the theories themselves and the "official" stories—with a grain of salt. Stang, Moench, and company strongly encourage skepticism above all else, an attitude embraced by many more theoretically "mainstream" authors, Robert Todd Carroll, James Randi, and Penn Jillette among them.
Indeed, when I read The Big Book of Conspiracies, as compelling as some of the theories contained therein were, I didn't, and still don't, buy into most of them. (Most notably in my mind is the overarching "conspiracy" regarding Freemasonry; I know too many Master Masons who are disturbingly boring in their everyday lives for me to believe they're part of any kind of conspiracy. Besides, is it really a conspiracy when Freemasons openly admit their ultimate goal of tikkun olam ?) But, as Stang and Moench reiterate throughout the book, several of these conspiracies have been confirmed, most notably the CIA's MK-Ultra program, with all its illegal experimentation on unsuspecting civilians (not to mention government conspiracies not described in the book, such as the Nixon administration's reading of Americans' mail and the Tuskegee syphilis experiments on African-American males); as such, by letting the readers make their own decisions as to the validity, or lack thereof, of the respective conspiracies in the book, Moench (and Stang) do the readers an excellent service, by trusting in the readers' intelligence and judgment.
And all of the above would be far less palatable if The Big Book of Conspiracies weren't as comparatively light-hearted as it is. After all, it's a credit to the book that it even includes the old chestnut, so popular in countless chain emails, about spooky coincidences regarding the lives of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, as well as two theories regarding whether the Doors' Jim Morrison faked his own death. (As for that second set of theories, that Moench quotes bandmate Ray Manzarek more than once, on both sides of the theory, gives extra credit, particularly considering that Manzarek even wrote a novel about the subject.)
Ultimately, The Big Book Of . . . series finally accomplishes what it set out to do with The Big Book of Conspiracies, and that's perhaps the best thing anyone can say about the volume.
February 26, 2025
The title says it all!
This is a big book of conspiracies—an overwhelming amount of well-known names, places, and events, theorizing about some very questionable circumstances surrounding prominent figures and secret groups throughout history. The writing is also laced with dark humor, even though most of this has some very serious speculations about some pretty incredible as well as scary stuff. Thankfully, the playful tone used by the mysterious black-suited narrator makes it more digestible. And the illustrations are by multiple artists who use a variety of realistic styles and techniques, which are fitting for the real-life topics discussed in this.
Overall, some of this is off-the-wall and somewhat wacky, but then there are things that make you go... “Hmm, that seems probable and makes a lot of sense...”(especially with the political side of things). So if you're new to the world of conspiracies, try to go into this with an open mind. It's good to question things and search for truth.
This is a big book of conspiracies—an overwhelming amount of well-known names, places, and events, theorizing about some very questionable circumstances surrounding prominent figures and secret groups throughout history. The writing is also laced with dark humor, even though most of this has some very serious speculations about some pretty incredible as well as scary stuff. Thankfully, the playful tone used by the mysterious black-suited narrator makes it more digestible. And the illustrations are by multiple artists who use a variety of realistic styles and techniques, which are fitting for the real-life topics discussed in this.
Overall, some of this is off-the-wall and somewhat wacky, but then there are things that make you go... “Hmm, that seems probable and makes a lot of sense...”(especially with the political side of things). So if you're new to the world of conspiracies, try to go into this with an open mind. It's good to question things and search for truth.
September 23, 2012
I remember loving this book when I first got it years and years ago. Recently took it off the shelf for a quick re-read and it was still a lot of fun. As the title suggests, "The Big Book" offers illustrated conspiracy theories by various comic artists. These range from classic standards (JFK, MLK, Area 51, Jonestown, Freemasons, etc.) to the more obscure (Jim Morrison as CIA agent, the death of Karen Silkwood, and dozens of others). With so many illustrators contributing material, the quality of the artwork is a little uneven at times - overall, it's generally good - and at times, great. Hardcore conspiracy buffs will likely be familiar with the majority of these stories, but might nonetheless enjoy seeing them presented in graphic novel format. A funny, fast-paced, paranoia-inducing good time!
December 7, 2011
I just finished this book. I loved it! Comics artists illustrating conspiracy theories= much fun. And, while tongue is definitely often in cheek throughout, the chapters themselves are very substantive and well-researched. All your standards are here: JFK, RFK, MLK, MK-Ultra, Area 51, Freemasons galore. But there were also some that were new to me: Jim Morrison as secret agent, JPL scientist/Aleister Crowley follower Jack Parsons, Bush connection to John Hinckley Jr. And the chilling, tangled tale of Danny Casolaro. My full review can be found here:
http://chris-west.blogspot.com/2011/1...
http://chris-west.blogspot.com/2011/1...
August 15, 2014
I loved this graphic series in the nineties. I just reread this one. It was great to go back. It's freaky in a fun way, an out there way and then in a truly freaky way. They focus on the CIA more than anything but they bring a lot of the wilder and kookier ones together, too.
When this came out conspiracy theorists were way more on the fringe than they are now. An overview like this was pretty awesome for a curious one-book dabbler. It's funny to think how ubiquitous some of this information is now through youtube, bloggers, etc, as well as all of the new conspiracy theories that have come up since its publication in the nineties. It's definitely worth a look.
When this came out conspiracy theorists were way more on the fringe than they are now. An overview like this was pretty awesome for a curious one-book dabbler. It's funny to think how ubiquitous some of this information is now through youtube, bloggers, etc, as well as all of the new conspiracy theories that have come up since its publication in the nineties. It's definitely worth a look.
February 28, 2012
I got this on loan from a guy on my floor during my freshman year in college. It was a gripping read and I spent a long weekend in my room going through this and probably some other stuff that didn't stick out as much in my mind. I really enjoyed the way that the author took a lot of conspiracy theories well known in the popular consciousness and found a way to weave them all together with a common yet powerful thread. An enjoyable read that makes just enough sense to get you thinking like the people you used to make fun of.
February 12, 2008
The Big Books series is amazing, taking a theme and then assigning different stories within that theme to writers and artists to be produced as short documentary comic strips. And of the big books, The Big Book of Conspiracies is by far my favorite. It's full of all the hot poop and half-cocked BS that makes life worth living, some of it so plausible you may walk away convinced. This is the stuff dramatic plotlines are made of, but according to this book, it's all true.
August 24, 2007
When I was young, I probably found this chilling. Now, I find it an intriguing cocktail of paranoia, speculation, and historical synchronicities. I recommend it as a primer for modern conspiracy theory, though learning more about, say, the Illuminati or MK-ULTRA wil definitely require a more learned, less linear-art tome.
December 16, 2012
Pretty much exactly what you think it is. Probably the best of the Big Books (next to LITTLE CRIMINALS), though Moench keeps coming to aliens as the explanation for everything. (MLK's assassination? Really?) Though, come to think of it, considering how out there some of these theories are, what better explanation is there?
December 17, 2013
Not as satisfying as when I was a teen looking for any weird "secret knowledge" I could entertain and evaluate. But still a fun collection of conspiracy theories, several of which have become more famous (particularly the Priory of Sion and the version of the Holy Grail used in Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code).
November 9, 2015
Check out my review of this nostalgic comic and others in the Factoid Books series on my Booklikes article, Big Book of Factoids! 100% true, maybe not, but 100% '90s definitely!
April 16, 2008
Excellent fodder for the paranoid in all of us. Except that guy, in the second row.
Read
January 12, 2009Thanks Dan. Kept me off the deep end on this one. Jim Morrison was just a freaking alcoholic as you put it...
April 1, 2010
my husband made me read this on a long trip but it was a very fun fast book
January 15, 2011
Entertaining but not much else. Makes you feel better about yourself for not being a crackpot.
Read
July 29, 2011"Big Book of..." is great illustrated series on a wide variety of topics with lots of top-notch artists and authors.
January 12, 2013
Comics and conspiracy. What's not to like.
January 22, 2015
Wow! Highly entertaining.... And scary, to say the least!
July 20, 2014
There is quite a bit of repetition in this collection. Still, I learned a few interesting facts.
September 23, 2016
Entertaining graphic novel about various conspiracies. Highly recommended.
April 3, 2015
The Big Book series is always entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews