Most comics you read. This is a comic you experience.
Conspiracy theories come and go. It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole of different possibilities pertaining to different subject matter. Some can seem pretty reasonable and even possible. Others are easily dismissed as the ravings of a questionable individual.
Conspiracy theories often make their way into different works of fiction. TV shows such as The X-Files, The Fringe, and even Utopia established their entire premise with the idea of shadowy mysterious groups and deadly secrets attempting to control the world. When it comes to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, who even knows how many different theories there are.
With The Department of Truth, James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds show us there is more to the “conspiracy theory” genre than you realize. With a stylized and intriguing cover (that happens to feature JKF), you’ll have no idea what you’re about to get into
Tynion knows how to set up an intriguing story. As I read this issue, I was getting pulled further and further into the story. I was getting anxious while reading. My heart was actually starting to speed up with each turn of the page. And when I got to the last page, I blurted out, WHAT?!?”
What exactly is the book about?
It opens up in Dallas, Texas, during the familiar date of November 22, 1963. Yeah, I know, we’re getting the Kennedy assassin thrown in our faces from the very beginning. That’s totally okay because the direction of the scene and the way it plays out simply feels different from anything we’ve seen before. We’ve seen many stories where Lee Harvey Oswald was a patsy. Tynion and Simmonds makes it feel like we’re actually witnessing an unseen secret moment in history.
We have a pretty dang spooky situation, and Simmonds art amplifies the vibe. You start feeling like you’re seeing something you’re not supposed to. Many may believe there was more to the assassination. That’s different from starting to see an actual truth given to some of those ideas.
The story then cuts to the modern day with the introduction of Cole Turner. This is a guy who has been studying various conspiracy theories and may have gotten too close to the wrong truths…or maybe the wrong lies, you never really know. The idea of a mystery government agent taking you into custody can be a frightening thought.
As Turner describes what he’s seen and taken part in prior to being brought to a dark interrogation room, this is where readers fall down Tynion’s rabbit hole. Turner’s description of what he sees almost makes you wonder if that could really be the truth. I know that sounds totally silly. Then again, there are loads of people who would actually buy into the “theory” shown.
And if we didn’t have enough conspiracies and mysteries, what’s the deal with the lady in read with x’s over her eyes?
Tynion and Simmonds have easily won me over with The Department of Truth. I am completely hooked. I need the next issue ASAP. We have an interesting and compelling story where anything goes mixed with gorgeous and eerie artwork. I have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen with the story or what we might see. I love that feeling. You owe it to yourself to buy this book.
What the Heck is going on?!? 