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#21 The Department of Truth Vol 1, 2, 3 by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds


Every year, no matter what trends come and go, a comic book reader can usually find something worth reading, there's something out there for every taste. But how often do you come across a work that truly captivates you, that grabs you the moment you open it and makes you feel like you've stumbled upon a masterpiece? Something you instantly know you’ll never forget, something you feel compelled to share with as many people as possible, as if spreading the word is a way of giving back, a gesture of appreciation for its existence.

That’s why today I’d like to talk briefly about the first three volumes of The Department of Truth. Once I’ve read the rest, I’ll follow up with thoughts on those too, one by one.

Let’s begin with the first volume, The End of the World.

Here we’re introduced, thrown headfirst, really, into the dark, violent, mysterious, and at times grimly humorous world crafted by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Martin Simmonds, who feels like the spiritual successor to Bill Sienkiewicz.

Cole Turner is our protagonist, though not in the traditional sense. This comic doesn’t follow standard narrative structure, and I won’t say much more on that because part of the experience is surrendering to Tynion’s hypnotic, feverish style and letting it carry you.

The Department of Truth is a secret government agency that deals with conspiracy theories and determines whether there’s any truth to them. The twist, and the foundation of the entire story, is that even the wildest theory can become true if enough people believe in it. In that sense, it works like a form of magic.

In this volume, you’ll encounter flat earthers and the ever-fascinating Satanic Panic that gripped America decades ago.

We’re also introduced to the main antagonist: a rival organization called Black Hat, whose goal is to shape reality itself—truth, essentially—for its own benefit. That’s all I’ll say for now.

Moving on to the second volume, titled The City Upon a Hill. Not The Hill—a Hill, which I personally find even more unsettling.

Things get darker here, starting with the assassination of Kennedy. The volume touches on topics like institutional abuse within the church, child exploitation rings, and, of course, the infamous reptilian conspiracies.

Cole gradually begins to trust the Department of Truth, realizing just how significant its role is on a global scale.

And then comes the third and, so far, my favorite part of the story: Free Country. In this volume, Tynion pushes the boundaries even further by collaborating with a range of outstanding artists, Jorge Fornés, David Romero, John J. Pearson, Tyler Boss, Elsa Charretier, Alison Sampson—and, in what I consider the strongest issue of the five collected here, Martin Simmonds returns with a completely different approach to paneling and pacing.

This one delves into mass manipulation, propaganda, the media, the documentation of history, and the role of the internet.

I’ve tried to keep things relatively general because this series thrives on mystery, and it would be a shame to spoil the details.

If you enjoy this kind of storytelling, The Department of Truth is, in my opinion, the best book out there right now, the best, for one very simple reason: it experiments with form, incorporates horror elements, plays with conspiracy lore, critiques structures of power and modern life in subtle ways, and even manages to weave in satire amidst the darkness. What more could you ask for?

Personally, I’m absolutely enthralled.

Until next time — be well, and keep reading.

It’s important!


https://currentreadings25.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-department-of-truth-vol-4-by-james.html


Accompanying Notes:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08ozElWwpzc

https://open.spotify.com/album/4KbPZYYiv1SlSg5QYuEsoN?si=1vJEXw1NQnOCB3W6jzZlTw

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