Posted in: Comics, Image | Tagged: department of truth, image comics, james tynion iv, Martin Simmonds

Department Of Truth #1 by James Tynion, Martin Simmonds, Image Comics

Published Wed, 17 Jun 2020 16:00:43 -0500

James Tynion IV wasn't just talking Batman on his newsletter. He also wanted to revel in what else he has been up to, such as a new Image Comics title for September, Department Of Truth, with Martin Simmonds. Previously using a codeword to talk about it in other newsletters, we can now gather up what he has said about it before.

The artist and I have been talking about this book since September 2018, and it's been in my head since summer 2017. I have a logo and a cover mockup staring at me from my desktop, and it looks really fucking cool if I have to say so myself.

I had a very very raw idea for a thing the other day that I probably won't be able to write for years, but I'm kicking its tires to see whether it's actually a project I have any interest in pursuing. That specific idea-seed came to me when I was thinking about a one-shot connected to PROJECT DALLAS, while also thinking about the Tou Ganabe Lovecraft adaptations, and the power of working from source material… Maybe it'll come to be something and maybe it won't. But I'm enjoying the discovery process.

I think issue 1 is gorgeous, and issue 2 has some of the most frightening sequences of anything I've written. Given the state of the world, I have no idea when this will be announced or released. Hopefully will have some discussions with its Publisher in the next month to help cement that. My hope is that it will make it out sometime later this year, but we'll see if it sneaks into 2022. In any case, I'm keeping the project moving in the meantime.

But this is what he says now about Department Of Truth.

It is the story of a young man named Cole Turner recruited into a shadowy organization within the United States government that makes sure that conspiracy theories stay conspiracy theories, a job that will push him to his own limits as he grapples with the nature of truth, history, the human condition, and the American dream. It is a conspiracy thriller, told with a horror edge.

Every issue will build on the last, but is meant to be read standalone as well. Each will highlight a different conspiracy theory. The first issue deals with Flat Earth Theory. The second with the Satanic Panic of the 80s. The third deals with False Flag conspiracy theories. I've got big plans for a lot of conspiracies, from UFOs and Chemtrails, to Reptillians and Atlantis, and obviously, the assassination of JFK. I've done more research for this book than any I've written in my career. The books I've bought, and the podcasts I've listened to have almost certainly put me on a dozen government lists, and I'm sure I'll be on the rest of them by the time the series is done.

It is written by me, with art by the phenomenal Martin Simmonds, letters by the amazing Aditya Bidikar, and design by the magnificent Dylan Todd. It is edited by the incredible Steve Foxe. Martin is doing physical media collage covers for the issues, and the covers are just staggering works of art… There's a whole fun history to the first cover that I'll dig into as we get closer to the book. I want to spoil it all now, but I guess I can be "patient." We also have a Cover B by Jenny Frison that I am absolutely in love with. It features a mysterious character from the series known only as "The Fictional Woman." I know people went crazy over Jenny's variant for Something is Killing the Children #1, so be sure to grab this one while you can.

Oh and he's giving away a hundred of these.

I just put an order in on a set of 100 pins, featuring the in-universe logo of the Department of Truth (as designed by Dylan Todd). If you personally want a pin, it will cost you $10. If you're a retailer, and want to buy in bulk orders, it'll cost you a bit less. This is all lo-fi with no store front, so be patient with me. If there's a big demand, I'll put in a second run of pins! But look at the mock-up! They're super rad! I'm not going to start promoting them on Twitter until I have them in hand, so this is your chance to wipe out my inventory early. I DARE YOU! Email DepartmentOfTruthComic@gmail.com with an order request, and I'll do my best to get back to you in some kind of orderly fashion. (Note: I won't be receiving the pins for another couple of weeks at the earliest, so this would go in the mail some time in July).

And that means of course that Tynion will have your street address… which could inspire a lot more conspiracies.