The Department of Truth, Vol. 3: Free Country

I'm so behind in my reviews. Class is back in full session and taking up my extra time. I recently punched out a slew of Marvel Comics Presents reviews to finish that series up. And I'm just tired and really want to focus on things that relax me, like recateloging my collection to a new database.

I read the third volume of Department of Truth sometime in August, I think. Maybe early last month. 'Free Country' documents the after-story of Lee Harvey Oswald that occurs prior the events of November 1963. Here, while in hiding, Oswald digs through ancient texts that may explain why nothing actually happened during the Dark Ages, the truth behind Alistair Crowley and his occult practices in during the second world war and just maybe who really are the Men in Black.

As Oswald ages, he gets a chance to venture out on his own. But this little bit of freedom, especially during Summer of Love and the rise of LSD might just be too much for the possible assassin of JFK. It also might reveal that Oswald is just another fiction dreamed up by the Department of Truth...

After Volume 2, which with its take on the Satanic Panic of the 80s and thoughts about the reality of god and the world itself, this volume was a breath of fresh air. Plus events in Volume 2 were eerily similar to a lot of what has been going on with January 6th and what feels like a looming Civil War (or a just really dirty mid-term election cycle), made me feel weary and kinda dirty. Here with the legend of Lew Harvey Oswald, I felt like I was back on more familiarly safe terms within the realm of conspiracy theories. It was like when I first watched The X-Files all over again.

Another thing I liked about this issue was that the artwork was much different. The regular art of Martin Simmonds (Punks Not Dead) is very impressionistic. Everything looks smudgy and spray painted. Like the reader is getting a secret glimpse at the down and dirty foundation of reality; which is essentially what this series is all about. But I liked the different art styles of guests artists like that of Elsa Charretier (Star Wars: Forces of Destiny) and Tyler Boss (4 Kids Walk Into A Bank). That just added a like bit of variety to things.

This is a series that I hate to love. So much about this book and the covert ways our government is trying to prevent conspiracies from becoming actuality is just so unsettling; if only because there's a smattering of truth in the crux of everything. But I want to know what happens next. Dammit, Batman's James Tynion IV- why'd you have to go and craft such a chilling mystery?!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Department of Truth, Vol 2: The City on a Hill

It's training day for the Dept. of Truth's newest recruit, Cole Turner. His trainer is a real piece of work. First up on the agenda: an airport in Denver and a Bigfoot hunter in the Pacific Northwest. As Turner learns about the process of changing myth into truth and how to repeal conspiracies that seek to alter our reality, he'll face his old demons- literally. 

It's been about 8 months since reading the first volume to this book. I tell you, this is one scary series from James Tynion IV (Something is Killing the Children). It's not because of the demons or historical references to Aleister Crowley and his sex magic occult. It's because of how close to accurate this book hits with public sentiment against/for the COVID-19 vaccine and events of January 11th, Pizzagate and Jeffrey Epstein. 

I feel like I'm to blame for some of this book. In the 90s and 2000s, I was big on conspiracy theories. And in some ways, I guess I still am. Though I'm not wearing tin foil hats or worrying that the FBI is listening in on my phone calls, I still have alternate views on things. Take climate change for instance. I believe that it's real. I just think how it's coming about is less man made carbon level related and more man made sin nature. See, I'm sounding like a nut too.

We all have our conspiracies. How many of you out there think Tupac faked his death or that red M&Ms cause cancer? We live in a world of distrust and misinformation. So really, who can blame us?

James Tynion IV seems to really have done his conspiracy theory research. With a book about two sides fighting to change reality, he does a very good job of presenting multiple points of view on things like the JFK assassination and UFOs. There's a really solid mystery to the Department of Truth. I just hope that Tynion doesn't fall into the trap Chris Carter did with The X-Files and keep dragging the story out ad nauseam. Let there be a definitive ending. Above all, don't take the easy way out by saying things were all a dream like with the end of X-Files season 10 going into the premiere of season 11. 

Worth Consuming and scary as hell!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Department of Truth, Vol. 1: The End of the World

Everything you know about conspiracy theories is a lie. That is, until the conspiracies become true!

In this exciting new series from James Tynion IV (Batman) the clandestine Department of Truth must extinguish the sparks of subterfuge before the lies explode, triggering a total rewrite of not only world history but the very laws of physics too.

Everything revolves around FBI special agent Cole Turner. One day while in elementary school, Cole may or may not have seen the devil himself eating a baby. This so-called 'Satanic Panic' was proven to be an urban legend. Right? As Cole' eyes are opened to the inner workings of the Department of Truth, he finds evidence that other school children were forced to watch similar pagan feasts. Only these sacrifices didn't happen during the 80s like when Cole witnesses his. These events are happening today.

The Department of Truth is very much a product of this period in time. With birtherism, the questioned origins of 9/11, Qanon and the demise of Epstein, our nation is divided unlike never before. This isn't like the time of the Civil War where people fought over slavery and states rights. The conflict America faces now is based on cyper-wide misinformation and government distrust. 

This series is a cross between The X-Files and Men In Black and your favorite political thriller thrown in. It could be All The President's Men, JFK, or even a Jack Ryan movie. Then add in the Mandela Effect; a collective remembrance of something that didn't happen- like Nelson Mandela's death in the 1980s, 1999 or was it 2013? 

I love conspiracy theories. Though sadly, I think what is happening today is getting way out of hand. There's so much distrust in our world. And if you believe the wrong thing- you'll end up cancelled. Just like many of the minor characters at the hands of the agents of the Department of Truth. Only, those folks get permanently cancelled. 

Like with any conspiracy filled story, there's a lot of confusion. Mostly because viewers are thrown red herrings to keep things unpredictable. The Department of Truth is a fantastic story that I am wanting to get to the bottom of. I only wish I could say that I was a fan of the art. Dying is Easy's Martin Simmonds is given a whole bunch of art supplies to craft the artwork. Only, Simmonds seems to have decided to use crayons, pens and markers all at the same time. It's not pretty. But then again, that messy art kinda reflects how dirty conspiracies can be.

A mind-bending thriller that hits extremely close to home.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars