Four years ago, James Tynion IV made his mark on the comic scene. Granted, he wasn’t exactly an unknown writer thrust into the spotlight. After all, he had a great run writing Batman. For all the acclaim Tynion earned with DC Comics, he didn’t truly become a star writer until 2019’s Something Is Killing the Children. Fan support was so strong that BOOM! Studios elevated it from a limited to an ongoing series prior to the debut issue being published.
SIKTC’s booming success began Tynion’s ascension in the world of horror comics. With plenty of buzz and rave reviews from SIKTC, comic book readers and investors paid close attention to his next project, The Department of Truth. Once again, Tynion had another massive hit on his hands. TDOT, however, is a much different type of horror than SIKTC.
A spiritual successor to the classic sci-fi series The X-Files, Department of Truth puts a terrifying and intriguing spin on virtually every popular conspiracy theory. From the JFK assassination plot to Bigfoot sightings and shape-shifting lizard people, the comic is hinged on the idea that all these stories are true. The mysterious Department of Truth is tasked with keeping them all under wraps.
In 2021, it was reported that TDOT was optioned by a film studio. News has been sparse in the two years since, but the word on the internet is that the show will be back in development once the Hollywood writers’ strike has ended. That should have you keeping track of the comic’s first issues, and now is a great time to invest.
There are far too many editions to list in one post, so today let’s take a closer look at a couple of standouts.
DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1 STANDARD EDITION
As Tynion laid his claim as the premiere name in horror comics, collectors and investors were scooping up these issues with eyes on future profits. Thanks to the film rights bidding war in 2021, the graded 9.8 for the standard edition averaged over $130 with a high of $228.
Last year, prices took a considerable dip, and the fair market value was less than $70. So far in 2023, those prices have continued to fall, but that’s not bad news. At the moment, you should be able to get a 9.8 for under $50.
DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1 COVER F
It was only fitting that Werther Dell'edera did an homage to his own famous cover for Something Is Killing the Children #1. Out of the numerous Department of Truth #1 covers, this has been the most coveted with the price tag to match. The graded 9.8 has earned as much as $600 this year with a $488 average for the past 90 days.
While those are no cheap finds, it’s a far cry from 2021 when that same grade was easily bringing $800 and occasionally cracking the four-figure mark. Suffice it to say, if you’ve got the budget, this would be an opportune time to grab a copy.
SALES DEPARTMENT
It’s still early in the developmental process when it comes to Department of Truth’s television series. Once we get some casting announcements, the buzz should pick up and boost comic values.
If we’re lucky, Tynion will lead the writing team and perhaps stay on as a producer as well. As we have seen with The Sandman’s success on Netflix and HBO’s The Last of Us, having the creators guide those ships makes for quality television and happy fans.
