Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    EA Sports Madden NFL 26 Head Coach But Why Tho 5

    Dear EA Sports, Why Can’t I Make A Hot Coach?

    08/14/2025
    Blade in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5

    Blade Can Shut Down The Other Team In Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 If You Know How

    08/08/2025
    John Cena and Cody Rhodes during Summerslam 2025

    The SummerSlam 2025 Main Event Was A Fever Dream We All Needed

    08/08/2025
    Street Fighter 6 Sagat

    Sagat Brings Depth And Approachability To ‘Street Fighter 6’

    08/07/2025
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Image Comics » REVIEW: ‘Department of Truth,’ Issue #1

REVIEW: ‘Department of Truth,’ Issue #1

Charles HartfordBy Charles Hartford09/30/20203 Mins ReadUpdated:06/10/2021
Department of Truth #1
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Department of Truth #1

Department of Truth #1 is published by Image Comics, written by James Tynion IV, art by Martin Simmonds and letters by Aditya Bidikar. FBI Special Agent Cole Turner researches conspiracy theories. But when he attends a flat earth conference he is witness to something he knows cannot be real. This experience will change Turner’s life, and what he does with it, forever.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Department of Truth #1 is a tricky story to talk about. It mostly exists to set up the big twist at the end of it’s narrative. And of course, I’d never spoil a story on you. So, I hope you will forgive me if I dance a round the plot a bit. I’ll give the tidbits I can and avoid the ones I can’t. This will be interesting. Any ways, let’s with the strongest aspect of Department of Truth #1, Tynion’s writing.

Tynion has been making quite a splash lately. If you’ve been following my Batman coverage for the last couple months you’ll be familiar with his work writing there. And while this book carries a much different tone that his work with the Caped Crusader, Tynion nonetheless delivers a strong character driven story.

The story here focuses almost exclusively on Agent Turner. Having been brought into a mysterious government organization for questioning, he is quickly established as a fairly regular guy. He’s nervous, has significant doubts about himself, as well as what he thinks he’s seen, and really just wants to get to go home and be with his husband. All in all, a fairly normal individual.

This normalcy that Tynion imbues Turner with makes his predicament all the more sympathetic. He got in over his head, and quickly found himself in circumstances he couldn’t believe. They say seeing is believing. But what if believing is seeing?

Department of Truth #1’s story is filled with all the heavy overtones you would expect from a conspiracy theory style narrative. Shadowy figures in black suits and strange circumstances flow freely from the story. While the issue itself focus primarily on a single conspiracy, I have no doubt that the story moving forward will expand into other shady situations.

Department of Truth #1

While I thoroughly enjoyed the story here, the art is another matter. While I can appreciate why this style of presentation was chosen for the story, it doesn’t really work for me. The painted frames often times look unfinished to me. Like artist Simmonds didn’t have time to give the images their proper details. While I’m sure this isn’t the case, the lack of clarity in many of the illustrations hurt the presentation for me.

Going out on a high note, we have Department of Truth #1’s lettering. Bidikar does a great job with the dialogue design in this story. Rather than simply applying the standard dialogue box template, something much more unique is utilized here. Much of the story is told with a sense of uncertainty. The fractured design of the dialogue boxes here does a great job of representing that uncertainty.

When all is said and done, Department of Truth #1 is an interesting first issue. The big reveal at the end is a bit hard to wrap your brain around, but at the same time presents too much possibility not to follow up on. It is as interesting a premise, as it is a terrifying one.

Department of Truth #1 is available now, wherever comics are sold.

 

 

Department of Truth #1
4

TL;DR

When all is said and done, Department of Truth #1 is an interesting first issue. The big reveal at the end is a bit hard to wrap your brain around, but at the same time presents too much possibility not to follow up on. It is as interesting a premise, as it is a terrifying one.

  • Buy via ComiXology Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Emily in Paris’ is Just the Serotonin You Need
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Mercy,’ Issue #6
Charles Hartford
  • X (Twitter)

Lifelong geek who enjoys comics, video games, movies, reading and board games . Over the past year I’ve taken a more active interest in artistic pursuits including digital painting, and now writing. I look forward to growing as a writer and bettering my craft in my time here!

Related Posts

Tenement #1- But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Tenement,’ Issue #1

06/23/2023
Battle Chasers #10- But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Battle Chasers,’ Issue #10

06/14/2023
I Hate This Place #9

REVIEW: ‘I Hate This Place,’ Issue #9

06/07/2023
Almighty #5

REVIEW: ‘Almighty,’ Issue #5

06/07/2023
Almighty #4

REVIEW: ‘Almighty,’ Issue #4

05/03/2023
I Hate This Place #8

REVIEW: ‘I Hate This Place,’ Issue #8

05/03/2023

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Still from Shin Godzilla
8.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘Shin Godzilla’ Is More Relevant Than Ever

By Sarah Musnicky08/16/2025Updated:08/17/2025

It is understandable how Shin Godzilla succeeded at the box office nearly a decade ago. The strength of its story still stands today.

Botanical Bliss Update Palia But Why Tho 5 News

Palia’s New Botanical Bliss Update Brings New Flora, Decorations, And Quest Mechanic

By Matt Donahue08/18/2025Updated:08/18/2025

The Botanical Bliss update adds new event, more plushes, and a host of quality-of-life improvements and more to celebrate 2 years of Palia.

BOOTS Netflix First Look promotional images News

First Look at Coming-of-Age Story BOOTS, Coming to Netflix This October

By But Why Tho?08/17/2025

Netflix is reporting for duty this fall with the new eight-episode series BOOTS, a comedic drama starring Miles Heizer and Vera Farmiga

Nuestra Magia Secret Lair Art Interviews

EXCLUSIVE: How The ‘Nuestra Magia’ Secret Lair Found Its Identity And Raised Over $1M

By Kate Sánchez08/15/2025Updated:08/15/2025

We spoke with Ovidio Cartagena about Magic: The Gathering’s Nuestra Magia Secret Lair drop, its impact, and the real treasure within.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here