The new Image series from James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds looks like it plans to turn reality on its ear.
The Department of Truth 1
Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Martin Simmonds
In the age of social media, where anyone can post something as a fact without needing to back it up, the concept of truth and reality is likely at its most malleable. At the very least, truth is contested regularly, especially when it comes to online conspiracy theories and political arguments.
But what if actual reality could change if enough people believed something?
The Department of Truth, the new Image series from writer James Tynion IV and artist Martin Simmonds, takes place in a world where reality is just that malleable. And it’s up to the Department of Truth to ensure that reality doesn’t get turned around too much.
Tynion’s and Simmonds’ first issue revolves around an FBI special agent who specializes in conspiracy theories. As he goes to a Flat Earth Society convention, his concept of reality and truth is questioned when some rich Flat Earthers take the agent on a plane ride to the end of the world, a small area created by the belief of the Flat Earthers. It is, understandably, a little rough on FBI Special Agent Cole Turner’s constitution.
But it’s what happens next that turns everything on its ear, bringing Turner in to the Department of Truth, where he’s interviewed about his experience and brought on board to help combat changes to reality because of mass changes of belief. And preventing these changes is not always a clean and easy process, as we see here.
The Department of Truth was instantly compelling from its first panel, where an agent interviews Lee Harvey Oswald after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. While I thought the opening scene was just a vignette to set up the story, it pays off pretty well at the end. It caught me a little by surprise – maybe it shouldn’t have – and I loved it.
I admit, I’m hooked and I’m excited to see where the series goes next.