John Ridley's 'Ministry of Compliance': A New Sci-Fi Epic
By Liam McGuire
Nov 16th 2023
Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley has a brand-new series alongside Stefano Raffaele (The Joker) for IDW Publishing that’s set to tell a unique new epic in the world of science fiction. Colorist Brad Anderson and letterer Ariana Maher are also involved with the project. The Ministry of Compliance follows Earth after an invasion left an alien race called the Devolution overseeing the world and driving people to join their empire. With the Earth facing assimilation, Avigail Senia, the leader of the Ministry of Compliance, part of one of thirteen ministries that have transformed life on the planet, will take on the situation head-on.
The comic comes from the brilliant mind of Ridley, who has made a name for himself in comic space writing The Next Batman as part of DC’s Future State event, the history-spanning retelling of POC and non-American characters in “The Other History of the DC Universe, and writing Black Panther for Marvel Comics. With the Ministry of Compliance, Ridley and co. are telling a story in a world of their own making and it’s going to be one you’ll want to check out.
The debut issue features several covers, including the main one from Stefano Raffaele (available as a 1:50 variant). Ryan Sook draws a fierce and deadly variant featuring Avigail (also available as a 1:100 variant). Tim Leong’s design variant dives deeper into the data of the Ministry of Complicance. Edwin Galmon’s variant (also available as a 1:75 variant) showcases Avigail standing in front of a group of planets. Claire Roe’s 1:25 variant features two sword-wielding characters standing next to one another.
Eisner Award-nominated comic book writer John Ridley (The Other History of the DC Universe, I Am Batman) delivers a bold, new vision of science fiction with THE MINISTRY OF COMPLIANCE. Thirty-seven years ago, Earth was secretly invaded by an alien force known as the Devolution, and they have been shaping the direction humanity has been going in ever since to prepare us to be assimilated into their empire. The Devolution has thirteen ministries, each responsible for manipulating a different aspect of human life. The Ministry of Compliance, the most feared of all the ministries, led by the fierce Avigail Senna, makes sure all the ministries stay in line and remain focused on the Devolution's mission. As it appears the Ministry's mission is on the verge of being completed and Earth will be assimilated, things begin to go terribly wrong, and a conspiracy among the ministries breaks out that Avigail must deal with head-on. The beginning of comics' next sci-fi epic in this oversized debut issue from John Ridley and acclaimed artist Stefano Rafael (The Joker, GCPD: The Blue Wall)!
Check out CaptCan Comics in-store and online to pick up the first issue of The Ministry of Compliance #1. The comic book series from IDW Publishing is out right now!
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