Reviews

The Department of Truth, Bd. 2: Die Stadt auf dem Hügel by James Tynion IV

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cinemazombie's review against another edition

5.0

James Tynion IV creates a world where the rantings of right-wing political pundits, the screeds of in-the-woods radical libertarians, and the platitudes of limp-dicked liberals are all correct, are all lies, and are all coming true right now. The pages of this book are are non-stop adrenochrome-drenched conspiracy theorizing, their text the in-the-margins scribbling of madmen driven by nightmares of black helicopters, Bigfoot, and Satan running the Deep State. The too-real world depicted here has placed the fringe is in the mainstream, the mainstream is in the basement, and the basement contains ntohing but a bile-spewing hellmouth with the face of Ronald Reagan and the voice of an angel.

The scariest thing about this book is that hiding within the psyche-breaking hurricanes of terror is weaves lie breadcrumb after breadcrumb of truth about the history of America, of western civilization, and about humanity itself. The things that will trickle ice down your spine while consuming this manifesto are not just the the horrifying visages of hideous face-trading tulpas, but the realization the inferno we sit in now was set in motion thousands of years ago and that the gears slowly grinding you and I into gore could be stopped by those who wield the levers of power simply choosing to say no. Instead of these leaders and visionaries becoming our saviors, they choose to become modern pharaohs under a red, white and blue sky, content to bury themselves within pyramids of bone and gold while the rage of the sun burns us, their abhorred slaves, to ash.

What government, what country, what god can save us when we are born into the bottom of an ocean of blood with our only choices being hold our breath until the darkness comes or to inhale a fathomless and boiling crimson insanity?

Five stars, highly anticipate the next trade.

scoobierubie's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

waldowade's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

roach's review

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dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

But first of all, you should know how sorry I am that I could never show you the impossible.

[Quote translated from German.]

The first volume of this drew me in very strongly and I think I enjoyed this second volume even more. I'm still very engaged in this Men in Black-esque story with conspiracy theories instead of just aliens. The chaotic, smeared art is still amazing and I'm very curious where this story will go in the remaining two volumes. I really hope it won't fall off towards the end and finish with a disappointing mess.
I gotta say though, the Bigfoot hunting chapter in this volume was really great. I never thought I'd get this engaged in a Bigfoot story.