Department of Truth, Vol 1: The End Of The World (The Department of Truth)
Department of Truth, Vol 1: The End Of The World (The Department of Truth) book cover

Department of Truth, Vol 1: The End Of The World (The Department of Truth)

Paperback – March 2, 2021

Price
$9.99
Format
Paperback
Pages
144
Publisher
Image Comics
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1534318335
Dimensions
6.5 x 0.4 x 10.1 inches
Weight
10.5 ounces

Description

"A story for our zeitgeist. SIMMONDS' art invokes Bill Sienkiewicz."-Entertainment Weekly "Hickmanian conspiracy games, Burroughsian crime, Sienkiewiczian style. The Truth: you want it." -Kieron Gillen "A wonderfully dizzy mixture of Men in Black, John Carpenter, Stephen King, The Matrix, and 1970s conspiracy thrillers."-Forbes "The hype on this is real."-Brian Michael Bendis "It is FANTASTIC. Can't wait to read the whole series!"-Patton Oswalt "A new conspiracy thriller comic that should appeal to anyone with a fondness for The X-Files."-IGN PUBLISHERS WEEKLY -- This twisty paranoid thriller follows a secret government organization devoted to “making sure that conspiracy theories stay conspiracy theories.” Cole, an FBI researcher, gets recruited to the shady Department of Truth and is paired with Ruby, a seasoned agent. Initiated into the reality-warping revelation that “the more people believe in something, the more true that thing becomes,” they race to stop Satanic sacrifices, Reptilian invasions, a flat Earth, and dark alternate histories of America from becoming real. Simmonds's streaky painted art, strongly reminiscent of Bill Sienkiewicz, gives the series the feel of a classic 1990s Vertigo comic, as does the nightmarish X-Files-like atmosphere. The plot, though, takes a while to coalesce and sometimes wanders into simply describing conspiracy theories and how they work. In the age of QAnon, a thriller about cultlike thinking feels exceedingly relevant, but it's sometimes uncomfortable that the comic jams seriously dangerous beliefs like school shooting “false flags” against fringe goofiness like tinfoil hats and dark doings at the Denver International Airport. But it's a visual treat, and the setup has the potential for further uncanny adventures, provided the story can gel. (Mar.) “Hickmanian conspiracy games, Burroughsian crime, Sienkiewiczian style. The Truth: you want it.” -Kieron Gillen"A wonderfully dizzy mixture of Men in Black, John Carpenter, Stephen King, The Matrix, and 1970s conspiracy thrillers."-Forbes"It is FANTASTIC. Can't wait to read the whole series!"-Patton Oswalt"A new conspiracy thriller comic that should appeal to anyone with a fondness for The X-Files."-IGN“A story for our zeitgeist. SIMMONDS' art invokes Bill Sienkiewicz.”-Entertainment Weekly"The hype on this is real."-Brian Michael Bendis Read more

Features & Highlights

  • Best of 2021 Lists:New York Public LibraryEntertainment WeeklyIndigoAnd more..."A wonderfully dizzy mixture of Men in Black, John Carpenter, Stephen King, The Matrix, and 1970s conspiracy thrillers."-
  • Forbes
  • “A story for our zeitgeist. SIMMONDS' art invokes Bill Sienkiewicz.”-
  • Entertainment Weekly
  • "It is FANTASTIC. Can't wait to read the whole series!"- Patton OswaltCOLE TURNER has studied conspiracy theories all his life, but he isn't prepared for what happens when he discovers that all of them are true, from the JFK Assassination to Flat Earth Theory and Reptilian Shapeshifters. One organization has been covering them up for generations. What is the deep, dark secret behind the Department of Truth? From bestselling writer JAMES TYNION IV (BATMAN, SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN) and breakout artist MARTIN SIMMONDS (DYING IS EASY)!Collects DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1-5

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(524)
★★★★
25%
(218)
★★★
15%
(131)
★★
7%
(61)
-7%
(-61)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

MUCH MORE THAN A SIMPLE COMIC

Let's be real, most comics are assembled for teenage boys. Department of Truth is something else entirely. It's a window into a deeper cosmic truth.

The art is really something special. It's very uncomic like, but perfect for the mood of the story. The actual story itself is a work of genius, really.

If you're not a teenage boy, but have been looking at comics and graphic novels, then you need look no further as this is exactly what you've been searching for.

I could compare it to the Matrix or X-files or Men in Black, but it's so much more than its predisessors. Seriously. This is some next level graphic fiction!

The ultra modern storyline, only serves to highten the intrigue. It will make you question everything you take for granted. Which is maybe a good thing. . . Either way, it definitely makes you think about things in new ways. So that's at least good, right?
10 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

No matter what you believe, this book you should read

This is completely different. It's an interesting story dealing with current issues we face in today's times with TRUTH and Popular Conspiracy Theories like flat earth and stuff. I really love how the author doesn't take a side, as one would say. No matter your beliefs or truths represent, the author presents a story that will have both sides of whatever spectrum of Truth/Life entertained from start to finish! Ge presents real life situations and conspiracies that keep you guessing, okay so wheres the Truth! Well the truth is...this book is waiting for you to be lost in Truth, Conspiracies, Government Lies/Ties and Real Current Emotions and Events.
6 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Hard to follow the story; feels like some storylines are incomplete

Overall, I thought the total effect--the juxtaposition of images and text were interesting; however, even after I read it twice, I was still confused about some of the storylines and how one episode connected to another. Also, I am not entirely clear whose side the author is taking. Is the author saying that right-wing conspiracies are bad for the country or that they are good? And if they are good, why? Is he satirizing conspiracy theories or is he implying that some might be real, but that the government (in this series) wants to keep people thinking they are conspiracies, yet the government knows they are real? I haven't decided if I will get the second book yet. I have to read the first one again. I don't want to end up supporting an author who thinks conspiracy theories are real and beneficial.
✓ Verified Purchase

It’s intended to be dark and heavy, but manages to be intelligent and engrossing.

The Department of Truth, by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds (Image)

In 2021, I picked up this trade just after it received Eisner nominations for “Best New Series”, “Best Continuing Series”, and “Best Writer”. Tynion went on to win “Best Writer” for his body of work in 2021. In 2022, both the series and Tynion are recognized with nominations again (“Best Continuing Series” and “Best Writer”). Volume 1 was extremely well-developed and well-executed. It’s intended to be dark and heavy, but manages to be intelligent and engrossing. Simmonds art is very fitting for the theme (reminds of a combination of Sienkiewicz and Maleev). I loved this book.
✓ Verified Purchase

Stunning Artwork and Intriguing Story, but Plainly Derivative of Gaiman's Work

The artwork in this comic is outstanding. 12/10. I'm truly impressed by the technique and the creativity that went into pretty much every damn frame in book. The story is also gripping. The reader is unable to decide whom they should trust, so they are forced to hold back from all of the characters and watch the story unfold.

My main complaint with this book is that it feels too closely inspired by Neil Gaiman. The artwork screams Sandman, and the plot line screams American Gods. The work is a novel pastiche of these two things, but I think it's important to highlight how neither the story nor the artwork is exactly original, even if it is exceptionally high quality.