The Department of Truth Volume 01: The End of the World
James Tynion IV, writer; Martin Simmonds, artist; Aditya Bidikar, letterer
Image Comics, 2021
FBI agent Cole Turner is a longtime student of conspiracy theories, but he is in for the shock of his life when insiders give him a look at what is really happening. Apparently sufficient collective belief can turn fringe theories into reality: e.g. if enough people believe the Flat Earth Theory they can actually alter the physical world. Turner is drafted into the Department of Truth, a top-secret branch of the U.S. government that has been in charge of making sure that dangerous conspiracies don't gain a foothold in the real world for decades. So in a sense Cole learns that every conspiracy theory he has ever heard is true, at least potentially.
The situation is further complicated by the competing organization Black Hat. They are spreading conspiracy proof in the world, perhaps in an effort to reveal the existence of the Department of Truth (their effectiveness depends upon their secrecy). When the head of Black Hat contacts Cole he has a very different story: the Department represents the latest version of a historical conspiracy, the one responsible for the actual secret history of the world. According to this version of the story, they are not the good guys. And why have both groups tried to recruit Cole? So many questions.
This is the beginning of a fascinating trip down a rabbit hole, with surprising twists and turns guaranteed. Simmonds' art is a powerful tool for creating a mysterious atmosphere, very reminiscent of the great Bill Sienkiewicz. Letterer Bidikar definitely earns his cover credit, as the lettering makes an expressive contribution to the visuals.
Replies
I've really been enjoying the series, Mark. You definitely like the art more than I do. Its just too scratchy for my tastes. Thankfully, the story is strong enough to carry me through that portion.