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The Department of Truth #1
El Departamento de la Verdad, Vol.1: El Fin del Mundo
CUANDO MUCHOS CREEN UNA TEORÍA, ¿ESTA SE CONVIERTE EN LA VERDAD?
Cole Turner ha estudiado las teorías de conspiración toda su vida. Desde el terraplanismo hasta el asesinato de JFK o los modernos actores de crisis, pero no está preparado para vivir en un mundo donde la creencia colectiva puede convertir esas delirantes teorías en realidad. Este terrible secreto es revelado a Cole cuando es reclutado en el DEPARTAMENTO DE LA VERDAD, una organización del Gobierno de Estados Unidos encargada de que esas conspiraciones no se asienten en el mundo real. Pero mientras Cole duda de todo lo que antes aceptaba como un hecho, también debe preguntarse si este misterioso departamento es una fuerza del bien... o si tiene razones más siniestras para querer controlar LA VERDAD.
Del guionista bestseller según el New York Times James Tynion IV (Batman, Hay algo matando niños) y el impactante artista Martin Simmonds (Dying is Easy) llega esta nueva reflexión sobre el poder de la ficción sobre la realidad y quién tiene el poder de decidir cuál es cuál.
Cole Turner ha estudiado las teorías de conspiración toda su vida. Desde el terraplanismo hasta el asesinato de JFK o los modernos actores de crisis, pero no está preparado para vivir en un mundo donde la creencia colectiva puede convertir esas delirantes teorías en realidad. Este terrible secreto es revelado a Cole cuando es reclutado en el DEPARTAMENTO DE LA VERDAD, una organización del Gobierno de Estados Unidos encargada de que esas conspiraciones no se asienten en el mundo real. Pero mientras Cole duda de todo lo que antes aceptaba como un hecho, también debe preguntarse si este misterioso departamento es una fuerza del bien... o si tiene razones más siniestras para querer controlar LA VERDAD.
Del guionista bestseller según el New York Times James Tynion IV (Batman, Hay algo matando niños) y el impactante artista Martin Simmonds (Dying is Easy) llega esta nueva reflexión sobre el poder de la ficción sobre la realidad y quién tiene el poder de decidir cuál es cuál.
152 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2020
177 people are currently reading
3622 people want to read
About the author
James Tynion IV
1,640 books1,982 followersPrior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 705 reviews
February 27, 2021
We’ve all heard the conspiracy theories: who was really behind the JFK assassation, the moon landings were faked, Flat Earth theory, crisis actors and false flag events, and the Illuminati - the secret group controlling the governments of the world. But what if they were all true? Cole Turner is head-hunted by the secret Department of Truth and enters the shadow war that’s been going on for decades between the Department and another clandestine group called Black Hat - a group whose members include a woman in a red dress with black crosses for eyes and the Devil himself…
James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’ The Department of Truth, Volume 1: The End of the World touches on the interesting ideas of conspiracies permeating our culture and systems of control, without really cohering them into a good comic that makes much sense or is all that fun to read.
Like all of Tynion’s comics, he manages to overwrite each page without creating a clear or compelling story at the end of it all. I was never sure what was going on or what the story was besides that The Department of Truth and Black Hat butt heads and both seem to want Cole to join them, though we don’t know why Cole is so important (I’m sure we’ll find out in later books but I’m not hanging around for that).
At first I thought the Department was making sure the truth of the conspiracies didn’t come out, but then later on we find out that Black Hat is manufacturing evidence to support these conspiracies and the suppression of that evidence is what the Department is really trying to do. Also - in a way we’re never told - Black Hat have the ability to turn collective belief in fringe theories into reality. What?!
So, if I understand that correctly, that means that if enough people believe that the Earth is flat and there is an ice wall at the edge then that somehow transforms into reality?! That makes no sense. And I guess - because we’re never told; again because Tynion is a feeble writer - the motivation/goal is some kind of power struggle/control over the masses? Except this is the dumbest version of that concept.
I was never pulled into or cared about the story because I didn’t understand what was happening or why or what the stakes were (maybe make clear what happens if dangerous conspiracies do get a foothold in the real world?), and not a lot happened anyway besides numerous sequences of dreary exposition that failed to land. Exploring conspiracy theories though remains interesting and that first issue isn’t bad - I do think there’s a great book to be written on this subject even if this one falls well short of realising that.
To those of you who know comics, Martin Simmonds’ art screams ‘90s Vertigo. Think every Bill Sienkiewicz or Dave McKean comic, or Duncan Fegredo’s art in Kid Eternity, and that’s what you get here. To those of you who don’t know those names, it means the art is overly scratchy, deliberately messy, highly “stylised” art that’s horrendous to look at. I’ve never liked this art style and I didn’t like it here.
Tynion’s popularity continues to bamboozle me. He’s such a bad writer! I’ll put it down to what I call the Hickman effect, who’s another awful writer with an unfathomably huge following. This could’ve been a decent comic if a decent writer were at the helm but it’s Tynion so this turned out to be a convoluted, confusing mess of murky, half-baked ideas and sloppy storytelling with matching chaotic, grimy art. The Department of Truth, Volume 1: The End of the World is boring, trite nonsense.
That said, the Denver Airport probably is satanic…
James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’ The Department of Truth, Volume 1: The End of the World touches on the interesting ideas of conspiracies permeating our culture and systems of control, without really cohering them into a good comic that makes much sense or is all that fun to read.
Like all of Tynion’s comics, he manages to overwrite each page without creating a clear or compelling story at the end of it all. I was never sure what was going on or what the story was besides that The Department of Truth and Black Hat butt heads and both seem to want Cole to join them, though we don’t know why Cole is so important (I’m sure we’ll find out in later books but I’m not hanging around for that).
At first I thought the Department was making sure the truth of the conspiracies didn’t come out, but then later on we find out that Black Hat is manufacturing evidence to support these conspiracies and the suppression of that evidence is what the Department is really trying to do. Also - in a way we’re never told - Black Hat have the ability to turn collective belief in fringe theories into reality. What?!
So, if I understand that correctly, that means that if enough people believe that the Earth is flat and there is an ice wall at the edge then that somehow transforms into reality?! That makes no sense. And I guess - because we’re never told; again because Tynion is a feeble writer - the motivation/goal is some kind of power struggle/control over the masses? Except this is the dumbest version of that concept.
I was never pulled into or cared about the story because I didn’t understand what was happening or why or what the stakes were (maybe make clear what happens if dangerous conspiracies do get a foothold in the real world?), and not a lot happened anyway besides numerous sequences of dreary exposition that failed to land. Exploring conspiracy theories though remains interesting and that first issue isn’t bad - I do think there’s a great book to be written on this subject even if this one falls well short of realising that.
To those of you who know comics, Martin Simmonds’ art screams ‘90s Vertigo. Think every Bill Sienkiewicz or Dave McKean comic, or Duncan Fegredo’s art in Kid Eternity, and that’s what you get here. To those of you who don’t know those names, it means the art is overly scratchy, deliberately messy, highly “stylised” art that’s horrendous to look at. I’ve never liked this art style and I didn’t like it here.
Tynion’s popularity continues to bamboozle me. He’s such a bad writer! I’ll put it down to what I call the Hickman effect, who’s another awful writer with an unfathomably huge following. This could’ve been a decent comic if a decent writer were at the helm but it’s Tynion so this turned out to be a convoluted, confusing mess of murky, half-baked ideas and sloppy storytelling with matching chaotic, grimy art. The Department of Truth, Volume 1: The End of the World is boring, trite nonsense.
That said, the Denver Airport probably is satanic…
February 12, 2021
Holy shit, James Tynion. He’s grown so much as a creator and has been very good on most of his recent books, but this? It’s a damn revelation, and a book that puts him at the very top tier of modern comic writers. And Martin Simmonds, hot damn. Absolutely stunning comic in every way. It’s been a while since I’ve had a series I’ve been this eager to pick up every month.
May 27, 2021
“The people who control the truth control the world.”
The Queen, in Alice in Wonderland, tries to persuade Alice that you can believe impossible things -- and suggests that it helps if you practice. "Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast," she declares.
The Department of Truth: The End of the World is a series about conspiracy theories and the destabilizing effect they have on the world. What conspiracy theories do you subscribe to? Aliens? UFOs? (Hey, maybe not a joke anymore?!). What about a long-standing one, the rumor that Jews eat Christian babies. The faked moon landing? Flat earth? Faked Sandy Hook with child actors? JFK as CIA victim? Rigged 2020 election? Clintons as murdering pedophiles? The eighties Satanic panic? Jewish lasers starting California forest fires? Reptillian illuminati? Marjorie Taylor Greene actually exists?!
In an over the top style reminiscent of Jonathan Hickman, James Tynion creates a first volume of mostly exposition touching on many conspiracy theories and their origin not in QAnon or Breitbart or Russian Bots but in an organization called Black Hat, at war with the Department of Truth over the political and economic soul of the universe, though who the good and bad guys are is still up in the air. There’s a kind of X-Files “smoking man” spouting shadowy theories. There’s a woman in red with no eyes, and some kind of Satan character? A guy named Lee Harvey Oswald and his assistant Ruby working for the Department of Truth? Is someone on acid here?? (Wait, now they're telling it is good for you, again? That theory?!)
In the middle of this is Cole Turner, who teaches about conspiracy theories. He attends a Flat Earth conference where he flies to the end of the world and sees that the world is actually flat. Then everyone but he on this Arctic expedition is killed, for some reason, and why he is not killed is not clear. So he is confused, naturally, and never quite decides what is going on. Sometimes "they" seems to inhabit his dreams. What is real??!
I really really like the idea of a comics series about conspiracy theories, especially one that isn’t just satire but tinged with horror, as this one is, but this all seems like the wheels have come off on a fast corner, as I always think when I read Hickman. There’s some suggestion that we have always lived with conspiracy theories (the Plague as punishment from God, AIDS as punishment from God, and so on), and postwar US taking control of the Truth Machine makes some sense, but this comic is as crazy as QAnon to me right now.
There’s a suggestion in this volume that 11//22/63--the day of the JFK killing in Dallas, and the almost immediate skepticism about who killed him and why--is the day the world started to really fall apart, where cracks really first became visible in the world as we thought we knew it. Intriguing? kInd of! This could be seen as an inventive fantasy with appropriately shadowy/sketchy/splashy artwork or just crazy.
Reminds me of Burroughs, 11/22/63 by Stephen King, Men in Black, with shadowy collage art similar to Bill Sienkiewicz and Dave McKean that I actually like a lot more than the story at this point. But I want this to make sense! I want to like it and learn from it, but there might be just three or four threads than it can handle. I may read one more volume to see if the fog clears.
The Queen, in Alice in Wonderland, tries to persuade Alice that you can believe impossible things -- and suggests that it helps if you practice. "Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast," she declares.
The Department of Truth: The End of the World is a series about conspiracy theories and the destabilizing effect they have on the world. What conspiracy theories do you subscribe to? Aliens? UFOs? (Hey, maybe not a joke anymore?!). What about a long-standing one, the rumor that Jews eat Christian babies. The faked moon landing? Flat earth? Faked Sandy Hook with child actors? JFK as CIA victim? Rigged 2020 election? Clintons as murdering pedophiles? The eighties Satanic panic? Jewish lasers starting California forest fires? Reptillian illuminati? Marjorie Taylor Greene actually exists?!
In an over the top style reminiscent of Jonathan Hickman, James Tynion creates a first volume of mostly exposition touching on many conspiracy theories and their origin not in QAnon or Breitbart or Russian Bots but in an organization called Black Hat, at war with the Department of Truth over the political and economic soul of the universe, though who the good and bad guys are is still up in the air. There’s a kind of X-Files “smoking man” spouting shadowy theories. There’s a woman in red with no eyes, and some kind of Satan character? A guy named Lee Harvey Oswald and his assistant Ruby working for the Department of Truth? Is someone on acid here?? (Wait, now they're telling it is good for you, again? That theory?!)
In the middle of this is Cole Turner, who teaches about conspiracy theories. He attends a Flat Earth conference where he flies to the end of the world and sees that the world is actually flat. Then everyone but he on this Arctic expedition is killed, for some reason, and why he is not killed is not clear. So he is confused, naturally, and never quite decides what is going on. Sometimes "they" seems to inhabit his dreams. What is real??!
I really really like the idea of a comics series about conspiracy theories, especially one that isn’t just satire but tinged with horror, as this one is, but this all seems like the wheels have come off on a fast corner, as I always think when I read Hickman. There’s some suggestion that we have always lived with conspiracy theories (the Plague as punishment from God, AIDS as punishment from God, and so on), and postwar US taking control of the Truth Machine makes some sense, but this comic is as crazy as QAnon to me right now.
There’s a suggestion in this volume that 11//22/63--the day of the JFK killing in Dallas, and the almost immediate skepticism about who killed him and why--is the day the world started to really fall apart, where cracks really first became visible in the world as we thought we knew it. Intriguing? kInd of! This could be seen as an inventive fantasy with appropriately shadowy/sketchy/splashy artwork or just crazy.
Reminds me of Burroughs, 11/22/63 by Stephen King, Men in Black, with shadowy collage art similar to Bill Sienkiewicz and Dave McKean that I actually like a lot more than the story at this point. But I want this to make sense! I want to like it and learn from it, but there might be just three or four threads than it can handle. I may read one more volume to see if the fog clears.
March 29, 2021
Picked this up because I’ve enjoyed Tynion’s Batman work. I’m glad I did, even though if I wasn’t paranoid before, I certainly am now. Holy mindforks, Batman—this book is crazy. And also crazy good. Looking forward to more.
July 18, 2021
Oh, who doesn't love a good conspiracy? Half the country at this point believes stupid ass ones that make them look like fucking idiots and when you give them factual information they instead claim "Fake News" like fucking morons.
Anyway, personal rant aside, this was pretty good.
We have a guy just minding his own business...well kind of. He gets involved in a group that believes the earth is flat and goes to one of their meetings but it turns out there might be some TRUTH to their conspiracies? I mean he sees the moon landing was fake so what now? When recruited into a new group of people trying to preserve the truth you begin to get into the thick of things of what is real, and what is truly made up.
I really enjoyed a lot of this. The story is basically a "what is real and what isn't" while touching on real subjects throughout the years. The strongest, or best issue, for me, was the one about the "fake" actors and kids dying in a school shooting. You can even go on Youtube and look at these ridiculous idiots claiming those shootings are fake all to "Take muh guns" and you have to really just eye-roll at these idiots but this book shows the display of how sick people can be. I really loved that issue.
But overall the entire book is pretty damn good with the exception of the art, didn't love it. Hard to tell what happens sometimes. I think it fits somehow, and I got used to it but took me a while.
A 4 out of 5.
Anyway, personal rant aside, this was pretty good.
We have a guy just minding his own business...well kind of. He gets involved in a group that believes the earth is flat and goes to one of their meetings but it turns out there might be some TRUTH to their conspiracies? I mean he sees the moon landing was fake so what now? When recruited into a new group of people trying to preserve the truth you begin to get into the thick of things of what is real, and what is truly made up.
I really enjoyed a lot of this. The story is basically a "what is real and what isn't" while touching on real subjects throughout the years. The strongest, or best issue, for me, was the one about the "fake" actors and kids dying in a school shooting. You can even go on Youtube and look at these ridiculous idiots claiming those shootings are fake all to "Take muh guns" and you have to really just eye-roll at these idiots but this book shows the display of how sick people can be. I really loved that issue.
But overall the entire book is pretty damn good with the exception of the art, didn't love it. Hard to tell what happens sometimes. I think it fits somehow, and I got used to it but took me a while.
A 4 out of 5.
March 18, 2021
Really cool introduction to an interesting concept. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
March 13, 2021
This was quite ambitious in scope and execution and turned out to be exactly what I was hoping it would turn out to be. Conspiracies and secret organizations working in the shadow to hide a mind-boggling truth? Count me in. The abstract and blurry artwork work perfectly with the cryptic reality-bending narrative.
There's a lot of pieces that needed to be set before getting to the juicy part but the following volume will surely have the task to push this world's axis to unexpected frontiers.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
There's a lot of pieces that needed to be set before getting to the juicy part but the following volume will surely have the task to push this world's axis to unexpected frontiers.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
December 14, 2023
Read in a different edition
February 19, 2021
We all know what makes something true - proof. But what if what made something true was something else entirely? What if you could make something true, just by believing in it?
Cole Turner finds himself trapped in a deadly game between the Department Of Truth and a shady organisation named Black Hat, who are out to ensure that all of the conspiracy theories you think might be true, actually are. Even if they absolutely shouldn't be.
This latest brainchild from James Tynion IV is a peculiar little book, but after the first issue, I was totally hooked. The premise is super intriguing, and while I don't know a lot about American conspiracy theories, Tynion IV does enough of the groundwork to let me fill in the gaps. He also manages to humanise the story by populating it with a good lynchpin in Cole, and a supporting cast of characters that are quirky and weird all in their own right, as well as by hammering Cole's story right into the heart of the battle of the conspiracy theories.
The art takes a little more getting used to. Martin Simmonds' visuals can be a tad out there at times, like a very abstract Alex Maleev, but he knows when to reign it in for the actual human conversations, which makes the insane stuff that goes on as the story progresses pop even further. There are a lot of double page spreads full of exposition that Simmonds manages to sell with creepy visuals, making dumps of information something ghoulish that you can't look away from.
I think it's well-established at this point that I basically love everything Tynion IV writes, but this one is very different to anything else he's done before. A unique idea presented in a very grounded way with peculiar artwork really goes a long way to ensure that the Department Of Truth stands out from the crowd.
Cole Turner finds himself trapped in a deadly game between the Department Of Truth and a shady organisation named Black Hat, who are out to ensure that all of the conspiracy theories you think might be true, actually are. Even if they absolutely shouldn't be.
This latest brainchild from James Tynion IV is a peculiar little book, but after the first issue, I was totally hooked. The premise is super intriguing, and while I don't know a lot about American conspiracy theories, Tynion IV does enough of the groundwork to let me fill in the gaps. He also manages to humanise the story by populating it with a good lynchpin in Cole, and a supporting cast of characters that are quirky and weird all in their own right, as well as by hammering Cole's story right into the heart of the battle of the conspiracy theories.
The art takes a little more getting used to. Martin Simmonds' visuals can be a tad out there at times, like a very abstract Alex Maleev, but he knows when to reign it in for the actual human conversations, which makes the insane stuff that goes on as the story progresses pop even further. There are a lot of double page spreads full of exposition that Simmonds manages to sell with creepy visuals, making dumps of information something ghoulish that you can't look away from.
I think it's well-established at this point that I basically love everything Tynion IV writes, but this one is very different to anything else he's done before. A unique idea presented in a very grounded way with peculiar artwork really goes a long way to ensure that the Department Of Truth stands out from the crowd.
February 6, 2022
4.25 stars. I had had read these first 5 issues as the singles were coming out. Liked it so much I grabbed the trade for this and volume 2. Been awhile so I figured I’d reread vol 1 in preparation for vol 2. Story was still as good as I remembered it. Our main character, Cole is recruited by this Department of Truth. They snuff out big conspiracies before they get out and become real in the public’s psyche. Very intriguing, dark, creepy and the rough looking art fits it all perfectly. See the single issues for more of my thoughts. Onward to vol 2.
March 11, 2021
Although I think no one should believe deeply in conspiracy theories, they are continuously fascinating through the fictional tales that sprung from films and movies, not matter how fun or outlandish they are. At the very least, when you think of The X-Files or The Matrix, they can make you think, but first and foremost, they should entertain. Going into The Department of Truth, which makes the Image debut of writer James Tynion IV, he is about applying the horror twist to the whole idea of conspiracy theories.
Having studied these theories as a teacher who has done field-work for the FBI, Cole Turner’s attendance to a Flat Earth conference takes an unexpected and unexplainable turn revealing a manifested truth out of this theory. This discovery leads Cole to being inducted in the Department of Truth, a top-secret branch of the American government that has been tasked for generations with making sure dangerous don’t gain a foothold in the real world.
In light of the madness that has spawned out of the last decade, when it comes to conspiracies, such as the aforementioned Flat Earth theory and the false claim that former president Barack Obama was born in Kenya. Given his writings are predominately towards horror, Tynion does somewhat apply a modern twist to the X-Files formula, where there are some scary moments and oddball characters, but never quite reaches the potential it promises.
The biggest issue comes down to how Tynion tells the story, where you don’t seem to spend enough time where Cole and his unusual colleagues from the department, such as Director Lee Harvey Oswald (yes, he’s still around, apparently) and the doctor who wears a tin-foil hat to avoid the media hacking into his thoughts. Cole even partners up with the more professional Ruby and we don’t see enough of their dynamic, let alone his relationship with his husband, which is slowly being a distancing one.
Much of the storytelling relies on the cases that Cole participates in, such as a school shooting that is explored in the third issue. Given the tragic backstory behind this tale, Tynion’s writing can just be plodding with the heavy emphasis on word balloons and captions, despite the impressive off-set lettering by Aditya Bidikar. So much of this volume plods along by delving into the extensive history of theories, past and present, there’s never much action from the characters until the very end.
One other contribution to the book’s problems, is the highly stylized art by Martin Simmonds, whose work is reminiscent of the style of Bill Sienkiewicz. There's nothing wrong about the Sienkiewicz type of illustrating, but the abstract nature can be too much for some readers, who would like a more visually coherent read. That said, Simmonds’ art is impressively surreal as it plays with space and time, in terms of unconventional paneling and collage work. There is imagery that will stay with you, from the monstrous figures lurking in the darkness, to the stunning double pages.
On a surface level, The Department of Truth Vol. 1 is a technical accomplishment through art and lettering, but the storytelling just left me cold on a dramatic level, despite having a strong premise that is slowly making its way onto television.
Having studied these theories as a teacher who has done field-work for the FBI, Cole Turner’s attendance to a Flat Earth conference takes an unexpected and unexplainable turn revealing a manifested truth out of this theory. This discovery leads Cole to being inducted in the Department of Truth, a top-secret branch of the American government that has been tasked for generations with making sure dangerous don’t gain a foothold in the real world.
In light of the madness that has spawned out of the last decade, when it comes to conspiracies, such as the aforementioned Flat Earth theory and the false claim that former president Barack Obama was born in Kenya. Given his writings are predominately towards horror, Tynion does somewhat apply a modern twist to the X-Files formula, where there are some scary moments and oddball characters, but never quite reaches the potential it promises.
The biggest issue comes down to how Tynion tells the story, where you don’t seem to spend enough time where Cole and his unusual colleagues from the department, such as Director Lee Harvey Oswald (yes, he’s still around, apparently) and the doctor who wears a tin-foil hat to avoid the media hacking into his thoughts. Cole even partners up with the more professional Ruby and we don’t see enough of their dynamic, let alone his relationship with his husband, which is slowly being a distancing one.
Much of the storytelling relies on the cases that Cole participates in, such as a school shooting that is explored in the third issue. Given the tragic backstory behind this tale, Tynion’s writing can just be plodding with the heavy emphasis on word balloons and captions, despite the impressive off-set lettering by Aditya Bidikar. So much of this volume plods along by delving into the extensive history of theories, past and present, there’s never much action from the characters until the very end.
One other contribution to the book’s problems, is the highly stylized art by Martin Simmonds, whose work is reminiscent of the style of Bill Sienkiewicz. There's nothing wrong about the Sienkiewicz type of illustrating, but the abstract nature can be too much for some readers, who would like a more visually coherent read. That said, Simmonds’ art is impressively surreal as it plays with space and time, in terms of unconventional paneling and collage work. There is imagery that will stay with you, from the monstrous figures lurking in the darkness, to the stunning double pages.
On a surface level, The Department of Truth Vol. 1 is a technical accomplishment through art and lettering, but the storytelling just left me cold on a dramatic level, despite having a strong premise that is slowly making its way onto television.
September 5, 2022
Sometimes the popular opinion is correct. In this case it most definitely is. I was recommended The Department of Truth from almost every comic book seller, fan and acquaintance I have. Never mind that (seemingly) every major, minor and up-coming artist has done a variant cover for it. Luckily it really is crazy good, if also a bit bonkers at the same time.
The first thing to note is that the artwork is very unconventional. Martin Simmonds does an excellent job, with his unique artistic style, of making you feel a bit like your in a dream. Perhaps just like our leading man feels.
With James Tynion IV (the amazing genius behind my fave series of late, Something is Killing the Children) on board to write it is a very well thought out plot with only relevant dialogue and wording included. I love that our leading man is married to a man (just like Tynion) and does not come off as ‘overtly gay’. He’s just a regular guy who happens to work for the FBI and gets caught up in flat earth, reptilians, and every other conspiracy out there.
I really can’t say anything about the true plot other than that I can’t wait to learn more about the woman in red (Scarlett?) and really look forward to how much further into conspiracies we go. Meanwhile I have Vol 2 on order, and am going to go buy more beautiful variant comic covers of this odd, unique, exciting, and just bananas series. Grab a copy, I swear you won’t be disappointed. And if you are; I dare you to stop reading without learning who the woman in red is. I mean her eyes alone are a quandary I have to know the answer to!!!
The first thing to note is that the artwork is very unconventional. Martin Simmonds does an excellent job, with his unique artistic style, of making you feel a bit like your in a dream. Perhaps just like our leading man feels.
With James Tynion IV (the amazing genius behind my fave series of late, Something is Killing the Children) on board to write it is a very well thought out plot with only relevant dialogue and wording included. I love that our leading man is married to a man (just like Tynion) and does not come off as ‘overtly gay’. He’s just a regular guy who happens to work for the FBI and gets caught up in flat earth, reptilians, and every other conspiracy out there.
I really can’t say anything about the true plot other than that I can’t wait to learn more about the woman in red (Scarlett?) and really look forward to how much further into conspiracies we go. Meanwhile I have Vol 2 on order, and am going to go buy more beautiful variant comic covers of this odd, unique, exciting, and just bananas series. Grab a copy, I swear you won’t be disappointed. And if you are; I dare you to stop reading without learning who the woman in red is. I mean her eyes alone are a quandary I have to know the answer to!!!
May 20, 2024
Biggest letdown of the year so far.
This book had everything to be an amazing read. It’s everything I like. It has an X-Files vibe and delves into secrets behind the curtain: conspiracies, politics, paranormal activities, and the machine behind the machine.
So what happened?
It started off impressively! The illustrations are some of the best in the industry, the edition design is top-notch, and even the text balloons are badass. For this alone, the book deserves a flawless five stars.
My problem is with Tynion's writing... my god! I don’t even know where to start. It's hard to believe this is the same guy who wrote "Something is Killing the Children." However, he already let me down with "The Nice House on the Lake," so I’m not THAT surprised.
The premise is fantastic, but he manages to ruin it with the world’s slowest slow burn ever! If it were any slower, time would stop. This, combined with pages filled with massive text walls of narration that add little to the story, made my experience extremely boring, and the book is full of them! At times, I forgot I was reading a comic book.
By the 10th (and final) chapter, I was speed-reading and taking painkillers just to finish it.
Tynion’s writing here makes a Joe Sacco graphic novel feel like a pleasure. At least Sacco's content is interesting, even though it's extremely verbose. Honestly, at a certain point, I would’ve rather bashed my pinky toe into a wall.
In the end, I have no idea what I read. I feel like I’ve been going in circles and got nowhere.
This is one of the worst reading experiences I’ve had recently. The only reason it’s not getting a worse rating is because the illustration and edition work are truly exceptional—some of the best I’ve ever seen.
This book had everything to be an amazing read. It’s everything I like. It has an X-Files vibe and delves into secrets behind the curtain: conspiracies, politics, paranormal activities, and the machine behind the machine.
So what happened?
It started off impressively! The illustrations are some of the best in the industry, the edition design is top-notch, and even the text balloons are badass. For this alone, the book deserves a flawless five stars.
My problem is with Tynion's writing... my god! I don’t even know where to start. It's hard to believe this is the same guy who wrote "Something is Killing the Children." However, he already let me down with "The Nice House on the Lake," so I’m not THAT surprised.
The premise is fantastic, but he manages to ruin it with the world’s slowest slow burn ever! If it were any slower, time would stop. This, combined with pages filled with massive text walls of narration that add little to the story, made my experience extremely boring, and the book is full of them! At times, I forgot I was reading a comic book.
By the 10th (and final) chapter, I was speed-reading and taking painkillers just to finish it.
Tynion’s writing here makes a Joe Sacco graphic novel feel like a pleasure. At least Sacco's content is interesting, even though it's extremely verbose. Honestly, at a certain point, I would’ve rather bashed my pinky toe into a wall.
In the end, I have no idea what I read. I feel like I’ve been going in circles and got nowhere.
This is one of the worst reading experiences I’ve had recently. The only reason it’s not getting a worse rating is because the illustration and edition work are truly exceptional—some of the best I’ve ever seen.
January 13, 2023
Saying that you're "interested in conspiracy theories" is a statement that sure has changed in perceived meaning over the past few years. Sure, it may have seemed fun and reasonably harmless back in the day to imagine a shapeshifting reptilian Illuminati ruling over the world, but now even the most insane theories are wholeheartedly believed and loudly voiced by certain segments of the population (and serving U.S. government officials).
The Department of Truth is a very interesting comic with the central premise that if the majority of the population truly believes in a conspiracy theory, it literally becomes real. Cole Turner is a new agent at a Men in Black-style organization called The Department of Truth that is battling another seemingly evil organization (The Black Hat) for control over what becomes real or not. Each side tries clandestinely to either get the public to believe something crazy, or stop "proof" of crazy theories becoming widespread and creating potentially catastrophic situations.
That alone is enough for a very interesting book (and a future movie/tv show, which has already been optioned), but Tynion also focuses on smaller, more personal aspects of what this kind of world means to people. For instance, the mother of a school shooting victim is devastated by right-wing NRA conspiracy nuts accusing her of making up the story to get their gun rights taken away. But then after some nudging from The Black Hat, she realizes that if enough people believe the conspiracy theory, her child could come back to life. It's such a simple-sounding central concept, but Tynion masterfully explores all kinds of angles of it, resulting in some mind=blown moments.
And then there's the art. Martin Simmonds uses a wild combination of traditional drawing, painting, mixed media and god knows what else to produce some really eye-popping stuff. It's a style heavily inspired by comics legend Bill Sienkiewicz, and may be off-putting or unclear to some, but I think it works beautifully for this book. Check out some samples below:
Really great stuff. I'm only dinging this first volume a bit because a lot of it is set up and exposition (even if it is very interesting), but I have confidence this will continue to be really good as the series goes on and hopefully explodes. Recommended if you're into a decently smart thriller about politics, the nature of truth, and classic conspiracies.
The Department of Truth is a very interesting comic with the central premise that if the majority of the population truly believes in a conspiracy theory, it literally becomes real. Cole Turner is a new agent at a Men in Black-style organization called The Department of Truth that is battling another seemingly evil organization (The Black Hat) for control over what becomes real or not. Each side tries clandestinely to either get the public to believe something crazy, or stop "proof" of crazy theories becoming widespread and creating potentially catastrophic situations.
That alone is enough for a very interesting book (and a future movie/tv show, which has already been optioned), but Tynion also focuses on smaller, more personal aspects of what this kind of world means to people. For instance, the mother of a school shooting victim is devastated by right-wing NRA conspiracy nuts accusing her of making up the story to get their gun rights taken away. But then after some nudging from The Black Hat, she realizes that if enough people believe the conspiracy theory, her child could come back to life. It's such a simple-sounding central concept, but Tynion masterfully explores all kinds of angles of it, resulting in some mind=blown moments.
And then there's the art. Martin Simmonds uses a wild combination of traditional drawing, painting, mixed media and god knows what else to produce some really eye-popping stuff. It's a style heavily inspired by comics legend Bill Sienkiewicz, and may be off-putting or unclear to some, but I think it works beautifully for this book. Check out some samples below:
Really great stuff. I'm only dinging this first volume a bit because a lot of it is set up and exposition (even if it is very interesting), but I have confidence this will continue to be really good as the series goes on and hopefully explodes. Recommended if you're into a decently smart thriller about politics, the nature of truth, and classic conspiracies.
October 5, 2023
The world is flat. The moon landing was faked. Reptilian Illuminati rule the world. Most people don’t believe these wild conspiracy theories, but what if they became real because collective belief could turn these theories into reality? That’s where the secret Department of Truth steps in.
Cole Turner, an FBI teacher who teaches about conspiracy theories at Quantico, is attending a Flat Earth conference when he is convinced to get into a plane that takes him and flat earth believers to the end of the world where he sees that, indeed, the world is flat. Astounded by this, he disembarks with the others just to have everyone gunned down but him. He is taken to a bunker where he is interrogated about what he saw. There is some insightful conversation about why wild theories take hold, often it is about a loss of control in someone’s life, and the wish for them to come up with explanations that make them feel important and justified. The director (whose name will be familiar to you) reveals he and the other agents are from the Department of Truth and recruit him to their organization.
But the secrets go deeper than keeping fringe theories from becoming fact. Since outcomes can branch off into many different scenarios, agents need to make split-second decisions that don’t always tidy up neatly. A heartbreaking example is shown of a single mother whose child was killed in a school shooting, who begins to doubt her reality when she goes down the rabbit hole of internet rantings. She begins to believe her son was part of a “crisis-actors” set up, and he is being held hostage by shadowy officials. More theories are brought up- what if modern-day presidents have been puppets with their lives manipulated- including the Bushes, Clinton, Obama and Trump, all for some grand scheme?
The artwork is sketchy, abstract, and frankly, messy at times. While it is apropos that this shadowy tale also has shadowy panels, I found it overkill at times. There were some full-page spreads that had overlays of other graphics in a collage format that gave it an interesting stylistic look. The colors are muted, except for some splashes of red and the mysterious woman in a crimson dress who always wears sunglasses.
The graphic novel ends on a cliffhanger as Turner is confronted with yet another secret society, and the question begs, who is telling the truth? Who decides which secrets need to never see the light, and which should be revealed? Why was Turner recruited and who is the woman with the strange eyes that follows him? This was a promising, yet convoluted story with an X-Files vibe, that could go either way in the next volume. (Actual review 3.5/5)
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2021/04/0...
Cole Turner, an FBI teacher who teaches about conspiracy theories at Quantico, is attending a Flat Earth conference when he is convinced to get into a plane that takes him and flat earth believers to the end of the world where he sees that, indeed, the world is flat. Astounded by this, he disembarks with the others just to have everyone gunned down but him. He is taken to a bunker where he is interrogated about what he saw. There is some insightful conversation about why wild theories take hold, often it is about a loss of control in someone’s life, and the wish for them to come up with explanations that make them feel important and justified. The director (whose name will be familiar to you) reveals he and the other agents are from the Department of Truth and recruit him to their organization.
But the secrets go deeper than keeping fringe theories from becoming fact. Since outcomes can branch off into many different scenarios, agents need to make split-second decisions that don’t always tidy up neatly. A heartbreaking example is shown of a single mother whose child was killed in a school shooting, who begins to doubt her reality when she goes down the rabbit hole of internet rantings. She begins to believe her son was part of a “crisis-actors” set up, and he is being held hostage by shadowy officials. More theories are brought up- what if modern-day presidents have been puppets with their lives manipulated- including the Bushes, Clinton, Obama and Trump, all for some grand scheme?
The artwork is sketchy, abstract, and frankly, messy at times. While it is apropos that this shadowy tale also has shadowy panels, I found it overkill at times. There were some full-page spreads that had overlays of other graphics in a collage format that gave it an interesting stylistic look. The colors are muted, except for some splashes of red and the mysterious woman in a crimson dress who always wears sunglasses.
The graphic novel ends on a cliffhanger as Turner is confronted with yet another secret society, and the question begs, who is telling the truth? Who decides which secrets need to never see the light, and which should be revealed? Why was Turner recruited and who is the woman with the strange eyes that follows him? This was a promising, yet convoluted story with an X-Files vibe, that could go either way in the next volume. (Actual review 3.5/5)
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2021/04/0...
March 13, 2021
2.5 stars
Its distinctive art is the most impressive part of this book and it’s composed with obvious talent, though ironically it’s not very original in how it so closely mimics Bill Sienkiewicz’s iconic style. Regardless, many pages are still stunning as pieces of art by themselves, but they’re also sometimes ill-suited for clearly depicting the story.
Tynion’s writing in this is much more shaky to me. There’s a ton of overlap with Something Is Killing The Children, the other celebrated creator-owned ongoing horror series he currently writes: a dude from Wisconsin is brought into a secret organization fighting against monstrous things brought to life through the power of belief. TDoT swaps SIKTC’s monsters in the woods for contemporary headline happenings, and action movie bombast for spy thriller paranoia, but the two series still cover bizarrely similar premises.
In these first five issues Tynion involves what feels like every popular modern conspiracy theory (JFK, reptilians, QAnon, Sandy Hook false flaggers, satanic panic, Clinton murders, Epstein, 9/11, Flat Earthers, Obama birthers, fake moon landing) but only at a very surface level that offers nothing new if you also already have a superficial familiarity with them. More frustratingly, he writes in a ton of monologue that reads like his own self-righteous editorializing on the topic rather than the characters’ voices, and that might be okay if he had any interesting insight into these theories or the people who believe them, but instead it’s all laymen psychoanalysis like “conspiracy theories give people a false sense of superiority and control in their life that they don’t feel otherwise” plus a little bit of petty political snobbishness. And I don’t disagree with much of what he’s saying, but it’s just all stuff that was already in my own head before I opened this book, and it seems to think it’s much smarter or more daring than it is.
More positively, there’s a late reveal that suggests the plot might go in a direction that’s more interesting to me. There’s also a few neat touches I loved, like several of the antagonists’ striking character designs, or the agency’s archive essentially being a giant red yarn conspiracy board stretched out to the size of a large library.
Its distinctive art is the most impressive part of this book and it’s composed with obvious talent, though ironically it’s not very original in how it so closely mimics Bill Sienkiewicz’s iconic style. Regardless, many pages are still stunning as pieces of art by themselves, but they’re also sometimes ill-suited for clearly depicting the story.
Tynion’s writing in this is much more shaky to me. There’s a ton of overlap with Something Is Killing The Children, the other celebrated creator-owned ongoing horror series he currently writes: a dude from Wisconsin is brought into a secret organization fighting against monstrous things brought to life through the power of belief. TDoT swaps SIKTC’s monsters in the woods for contemporary headline happenings, and action movie bombast for spy thriller paranoia, but the two series still cover bizarrely similar premises.
In these first five issues Tynion involves what feels like every popular modern conspiracy theory (JFK, reptilians, QAnon, Sandy Hook false flaggers, satanic panic, Clinton murders, Epstein, 9/11, Flat Earthers, Obama birthers, fake moon landing) but only at a very surface level that offers nothing new if you also already have a superficial familiarity with them. More frustratingly, he writes in a ton of monologue that reads like his own self-righteous editorializing on the topic rather than the characters’ voices, and that might be okay if he had any interesting insight into these theories or the people who believe them, but instead it’s all laymen psychoanalysis like “conspiracy theories give people a false sense of superiority and control in their life that they don’t feel otherwise” plus a little bit of petty political snobbishness. And I don’t disagree with much of what he’s saying, but it’s just all stuff that was already in my own head before I opened this book, and it seems to think it’s much smarter or more daring than it is.
More positively, there’s a late reveal that suggests the plot might go in a direction that’s more interesting to me. There’s also a few neat touches I loved, like several of the antagonists’ striking character designs, or the agency’s archive essentially being a giant red yarn conspiracy board stretched out to the size of a large library.
March 9, 2021
BRILLIANT
The premise of this book is wild.
It directly incorporates qanon, flat earth, birthers, alex jones, and spins a wild metaphysical story about dark forces spreading lies, and how sometimes when enough people believe lies, they start to become true.
But then, there’s this curveball where some of the “truths” that currently exist started off as lies, and it’s like... so smart, because this book is about our world
It’s one of the craziest and most ambitious stories I’ve read in a while
The premise of this book is wild.
It directly incorporates qanon, flat earth, birthers, alex jones, and spins a wild metaphysical story about dark forces spreading lies, and how sometimes when enough people believe lies, they start to become true.
But then, there’s this curveball where some of the “truths” that currently exist started off as lies, and it’s like... so smart, because this book is about our world
It’s one of the craziest and most ambitious stories I’ve read in a while
June 26, 2021
This book is dangerous: like Fight Club dangerous.
It's dangerous because, while I think I have a handle on Tynion's opinions and goals with the story, it is very ripe for misinterpretation. Anything that is delving into the philosophies of truth and perception has to walk a fine line to make sure its point is made without detouring readers into dangerous territory. And I don't think Tynion has quite managed that balance in this first volume.
The book is basically Neil Gaiman's 'The Dream of 10,000 cats' meets conspiracy theories, and Tynion is unsparing in making sure that both opposing sides are muddied and gray - while there's one side that is supposedly the heroes, there are enough discordant notes about them to make the reader (and the lead character) wonder. I think centering it on the conspiracy that he did, especially considering the leader of one of the factions, is putting a matchbook next to a powder keg.
That's not to say it isn't interesting - it's a complicated and deep look at truth and messaging wrapped around a promising central concept. The third issue especially, about the experience of a mother who lost her child in a school shooting, is powerfully gripping and terrifying in its arc (very reminiscent of Cory Doctorow's "Radicalized" short story), and should be read. The art is disturbing and distracting and very distinctive and very effective in pushing the story forward even through an occasionally muddy perspective. It matches the tone of the piece perfectly, which is an impressive achievement.
Ultimately, I'm torn on this one, and I think it's too early to judge. This volume is challenging and conceptually deep, but I can see it going off the rails in a terrible fashion, and if it does, the damage it can cause will be severe. In short, dangerous.
It's dangerous because, while I think I have a handle on Tynion's opinions and goals with the story, it is very ripe for misinterpretation. Anything that is delving into the philosophies of truth and perception has to walk a fine line to make sure its point is made without detouring readers into dangerous territory. And I don't think Tynion has quite managed that balance in this first volume.
The book is basically Neil Gaiman's 'The Dream of 10,000 cats' meets conspiracy theories, and Tynion is unsparing in making sure that both opposing sides are muddied and gray - while there's one side that is supposedly the heroes, there are enough discordant notes about them to make the reader (and the lead character) wonder. I think centering it on the conspiracy that he did, especially considering the leader of one of the factions, is putting a matchbook next to a powder keg.
That's not to say it isn't interesting - it's a complicated and deep look at truth and messaging wrapped around a promising central concept. The third issue especially, about the experience of a mother who lost her child in a school shooting, is powerfully gripping and terrifying in its arc (very reminiscent of Cory Doctorow's "Radicalized" short story), and should be read. The art is disturbing and distracting and very distinctive and very effective in pushing the story forward even through an occasionally muddy perspective. It matches the tone of the piece perfectly, which is an impressive achievement.
Ultimately, I'm torn on this one, and I think it's too early to judge. This volume is challenging and conceptually deep, but I can see it going off the rails in a terrible fashion, and if it does, the damage it can cause will be severe. In short, dangerous.
December 4, 2021
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*
“The most dangerous thing in the world is a simple story.”
“You can’t build things on a lie.”
A conspiracy theorist’s wildest dreams came true in Tynion’s latest creation with the most unexpected yet surprisingly engaging art style from Martin Simmonds.
This deep-dive into conspiracy theories both old and new was fascinating and mind-boggling. I came out of it even more confused than I had been going in because the plot was so bizarrely on-point that I had no idea what part was actually true and what part was a conspiracy theory within the plot. But all that confusion really added to the tense atmosphere created and furthered the protagonist’s struggles against his desire to side with the “good guys”. And yet I felt as though in this comic there were no “good guys” or “bad guys”. There were no conspiracy theories because “collective belief shapes the world, so everything had the potential to be true.” And, as fascinating a concept as that is, it doesn’t leave much room for clarity.
Still, despite all the confusion, there was a lot of relevant commentary about American society today that felt poignant. At times it was extremely sad and at other times very creepy. So I’d say this vol was pretty hard-hitting and emotional. A jumbled but emotional start to a promising new comic.
“The most dangerous thing in the world is a simple story.”
“You can’t build things on a lie.”
A conspiracy theorist’s wildest dreams came true in Tynion’s latest creation with the most unexpected yet surprisingly engaging art style from Martin Simmonds.
This deep-dive into conspiracy theories both old and new was fascinating and mind-boggling. I came out of it even more confused than I had been going in because the plot was so bizarrely on-point that I had no idea what part was actually true and what part was a conspiracy theory within the plot. But all that confusion really added to the tense atmosphere created and furthered the protagonist’s struggles against his desire to side with the “good guys”. And yet I felt as though in this comic there were no “good guys” or “bad guys”. There were no conspiracy theories because “collective belief shapes the world, so everything had the potential to be true.” And, as fascinating a concept as that is, it doesn’t leave much room for clarity.
Still, despite all the confusion, there was a lot of relevant commentary about American society today that felt poignant. At times it was extremely sad and at other times very creepy. So I’d say this vol was pretty hard-hitting and emotional. A jumbled but emotional start to a promising new comic.
February 1, 2021
Stunning to look at and chilling to read, The Department of Truth is Tynion's second big success of 2020 (the first one being the excellent anthology Razorblades, seek it out if you haven't.) It's ostensibly set in the "real" world that we live in, except there people can bring anything into life by simply believing it. The reptilian overlords, the flat earth, you name it. This is both a very interesting hook for a thriller and a reasonably timely take on the modern society, what with "fake news" being the hot new words of the decade. It's a snappy, snide story and so far it's been a joy to read. Let's hope that trend continues.
March 7, 2021
I've enjoyed everything by James Tynion IV that I've read, but this book made me too angry at conspiracy theorists to pay attention to the story. The art is dark and loose and chaotic, but I did end up appreciating the art for it's unpredictability and uniqueness.
December 21, 2022
What if Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson scripted a graphic novel illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz? "The Department of Truth" is like that - a mixture of black humour, paranoid delirium and graphic exuberance. Recommended.
March 4, 2021
Some good ideas here, but I just can't take the longwinded and heavy-handed treatment.
February 8, 2022
this book really said wholeheartedly fuck the government and i agree
November 6, 2022
Ostias. Debo decir para empezar que hacía muchísimo que un cómic no me volaba la cabeza como lo ha hecho este primer volumen de El Departamento de la Verdad. Es más. No ya un cómic, cualquier lectura en general. Ha sido realmente alucinante. Como en otras ocasiones he llegado a este cómic de chiripa, la verdad. En el podcast de cómics que suelo escuchar, Los Invencibles, han comentado de pasada su existencia cuando han hablado de otras obras de James Tynion IV, y hace un par de semanas en Alcalá Cómics vi que había salido el segundo tomo... y no sé, fue de esas veces en las que algo... como que te llama. Pero no le hice caso, y el otro día cuando fui, el primer tomo ya no estaba, así que se lo comenté a uno de los libreros, Javi, y me dijo algo así como "No está y no me extraña porque es la ostia". Así que nada, cuando los han repuesto, me ha guardado uno y el otro día estaba esperándome y ya he cogido los dos tomos... Y sigo flipando. Por todo.
En El Departamento de la Verdad, Tynion IV (mola mucho decirlo así, parece uno de los señores de Roca Casterly o algo así), sigue los pasos de Cole Porter, un agente del FBI especializado en seguir los pasos de los grupos de extrema derecha que se esconden tras ciertos foros de la conspiración de Estados Unidos, pero después de un hecho traumático, Cole es fichado por lo que parece ser una agencia gubernamental, el Departamento de la Verdad, que al parecer lucha contra las desviaciones de la realidad. Y esto es tal que así. Al parecer toda la realidad es un inmenso "tulpa", en el que las creencias de la mayoría dan forma a la verdad absoluta, de modo que basta con que suficiente gente crea que la Tierra es plana para que lo sea... y de hecho, para que el cambio sea retroactivo, es decir, para que siempre lo haya sido. Y con este concepto en mente, Tynion IV nos echa en cara paletadas y paletadas de mierda psicológica, de conspiraciones y temas que en los últimos meses (y más cuando salió, con Trump aferrándose a la presidencia y llamando a sus fieles a tomar el Capitolio... sí, ¿recordáis al hombre jabalí?) han sido noticias en muchos momentos, pero que en un giro que me recuerda muchísimo al juego de rol de Esoterroristas... Quizá el Departamento de la Verdad no sean exactamente los héroes de esta historia.
Y no se puede hablar de El Departamento de la Verdad sin hacer un hueco para echarle flores al dibujante. Martin Simmonds, que sin duda podría ser el heredero del mismísimo Bill Sienkiewicz, con sus trazos sucios y enrevesados, esas composiciones duras que parecen retorcerse ante los ojos del lector, y que hace que los personajes terribles sean absolutamente terribles y los que no lo son... pues tampoco parecen mucho de fiar. Absolutamente maravilloso.
En El Departamento de la Verdad, Tynion IV (mola mucho decirlo así, parece uno de los señores de Roca Casterly o algo así), sigue los pasos de Cole Porter, un agente del FBI especializado en seguir los pasos de los grupos de extrema derecha que se esconden tras ciertos foros de la conspiración de Estados Unidos, pero después de un hecho traumático, Cole es fichado por lo que parece ser una agencia gubernamental, el Departamento de la Verdad, que al parecer lucha contra las desviaciones de la realidad. Y esto es tal que así. Al parecer toda la realidad es un inmenso "tulpa", en el que las creencias de la mayoría dan forma a la verdad absoluta, de modo que basta con que suficiente gente crea que la Tierra es plana para que lo sea... y de hecho, para que el cambio sea retroactivo, es decir, para que siempre lo haya sido. Y con este concepto en mente, Tynion IV nos echa en cara paletadas y paletadas de mierda psicológica, de conspiraciones y temas que en los últimos meses (y más cuando salió, con Trump aferrándose a la presidencia y llamando a sus fieles a tomar el Capitolio... sí, ¿recordáis al hombre jabalí?) han sido noticias en muchos momentos, pero que en un giro que me recuerda muchísimo al juego de rol de Esoterroristas... Quizá el Departamento de la Verdad no sean exactamente los héroes de esta historia.
Y no se puede hablar de El Departamento de la Verdad sin hacer un hueco para echarle flores al dibujante. Martin Simmonds, que sin duda podría ser el heredero del mismísimo Bill Sienkiewicz, con sus trazos sucios y enrevesados, esas composiciones duras que parecen retorcerse ante los ojos del lector, y que hace que los personajes terribles sean absolutamente terribles y los que no lo son... pues tampoco parecen mucho de fiar. Absolutamente maravilloso.
January 2, 2022
If this continues to be this good, then damn.
August 6, 2024
Zaczyna się chaotycznie a główny bohater irytuje, wręcz wnerwia i mialem ochotę go uderzyć. Ale potem, coraz głębiej w króliczą norę i zaczyna to wszystko intrygować. Komiks bardzo na czasie, w dobie internetowych teorii spiskowych czy teorii spiskowych w ogóle. Łącznie ze złotym cielcem religijnej prawicy w USA, czyli Qanonem. Pomysł wyjściowy jest bardzo ciekawy - tytułowy Departament Prawdy pilnuje, aby teorie spiskowe nie stawały się za bardzo realistyczne. A to dopiero początek.
Trochę przeszkadza mi stylistyka rozmytych kadrów, choć rozumiem zamysł za tym stojący. Cieszę się na kolejne części.
Trochę przeszkadza mi stylistyka rozmytych kadrów, choć rozumiem zamysł za tym stojący. Cieszę się na kolejne części.
August 9, 2025
Underwhelming and I felt I didn’t understand it especially at the end. I doubt I’ll finish this series.
Read
May 18, 2025¿Qué es la verdad, lo que realmente sucedió o lo que una mayoría cree que sucedió? Esta pregunta, sencilla de responder desde un punto de vista ético, se vuelve más enrevesada en una época donde muchos prefieren una mentira sencilla y reconfortante a una verdad incómoda.
De eso habla 'El departamento de la Verdad', de Tynion y Simmonds. En la superficie, un cómic de espías y agencias secretas, un thriller conspirativo con tintes de terror. En el fondo, una metáfora bastante punzante sobre esta era de postverdad en la que poderosos, algoritmos y falsos profetas son capaces de inclinar la balanza hacia la mentira.
Para mí, uno de los cómics más imprescindibles de los últimos años, no solo porque es agudo y entretenido, sino porque aborda (con elementos de fantasía y terror) una de las mayores crisis de nuestro tiempo: la degradación de la verdad. Además, está traducido y rotulado por El Torres, lo que no deja de añadirle encanto e interés al asunto, porque es autorazo y colega.
Esta es mi verdad.
De eso habla 'El departamento de la Verdad', de Tynion y Simmonds. En la superficie, un cómic de espías y agencias secretas, un thriller conspirativo con tintes de terror. En el fondo, una metáfora bastante punzante sobre esta era de postverdad en la que poderosos, algoritmos y falsos profetas son capaces de inclinar la balanza hacia la mentira.
Para mí, uno de los cómics más imprescindibles de los últimos años, no solo porque es agudo y entretenido, sino porque aborda (con elementos de fantasía y terror) una de las mayores crisis de nuestro tiempo: la degradación de la verdad. Además, está traducido y rotulado por El Torres, lo que no deja de añadirle encanto e interés al asunto, porque es autorazo y colega.
Esta es mi verdad.
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