James Tynion IV is a New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award-winning comic book author and publisher. He has made a significant impact on the comic book industry with his work on titles such as Something is Killing the Children, The Department of Truth, and The Nice House on the Lake. Tynion is known for his ability to weave intricate, compelling narratives that often explore the darker and more mysterious aspects of human experience. His storytelling prowess has earned him a reputation as one of the most innovative writers in the industry today.

Michael Avon Oeming is a renowned comic book artist best known for his work on Powers, Cave Carson, and The United States of Murder Inc. Oeming’s distinctive art style, characterized by its bold lines and dynamic use of color, has made him a favorite. His ability to convey emotion and atmosphere through his artwork complements Tynion’s narrative style perfectly, making their collaboration on Blue Book a match made in comic book heaven.

Blue Book Vol. 1 retells the infamous case of Betty and Barney Hill, a couple from New Hampshire who reported being abducted by aliens in 1961. This case is notable for being the first widely publicized UFO abduction story, and it has since become a cornerstone of UFO folklore.

Tynion’s approach to this story is both respectful and intriguing. He presents the Hills’ experiences in a way that allows readers to immerse themselves in the narrative without feeling like they are being led to a predetermined conclusion. The story is told through a combination of factual recounting and imaginative exploration, making it both educational and entertaining.

Tynion employs a documentarian style in Blue Book Vol. 1 presenting the events as they reportedly happened with minimal embellishment. This approach adds a sense of authenticity to the story, making it feel like a true crime documentary. The narrative is primarily driven by an omniscient narrator, which gives the comic a prose-heavy feel. While this might seem like a drawback, it actually works in favor of the story, grounding it in a sense of reality.

One of the strengths of this narrative style is that it leaves room for ambiguity. Tynion does not take a stance on the truthfulness of the Hills’ story, instead allowing readers to form their own opinions.

Oeming’s artwork is a standout feature of Blue Book Vol. 1. His use of color, particularly various shades of blue, creates a haunting and atmospheric aesthetic that perfectly matches the tone of the story. The artwork is both simple and detailed, with Oeming’s unique style bringing the characters and their experiences to life.

The visual storytelling is particularly effective during the sequences that depict the Hills’ repressed memories. These scenes are depicted with a dreamlike quality that enhances the otherworldly nature of their experiences. Oeming’s ability to capture the emotional nuances of the characters adds depth to the story, making the reader feel connected to Betty and Barney Hill on a personal level.

The comic touches on the broader theme of belief and skepticism. By presenting the Hills’ story without judgment, Tynion invites readers to consider their own beliefs about the paranormal and the unexplained. This open-ended approach encourages reflection, making Blue Book Vol. 1 a potentially thought-provoking read, particularly for those previously uninitiated to the story.

One of the main strengths of Blue Book Vol. 1 is its commitment to authenticity. Tynion’s factual approach, combined with Oeming’s evocative artwork, creates a compelling narrative that feels both real and mysterious. The comic’s adherence to the true story of Betty and Barney Hill adds a layer of credibility that is often missing from fictional accounts of UFO encounters.

However, this commitment to authenticity can also be seen as a weakness. The story sometimes feels more like a report than a graphic novel, which personally dampened the appeal a bit. The lack of dramatization and the heavy reliance on narration can make the comic feel dry at times.

Ultimately, as an avid enthusiast of UFO mythology, Project Blue Book Vol. 1 I admire what Tynion and Oeming have collaborated on here. I would be most enthusiastic sharing these comics with the uninitiated. If you are a fan of UFO stories, true crime, or simply enjoy well-crafted narratives, Blue Book Vol. 1 is definitely worth a read. It provides a detailed and respectful retelling of one of the most famous UFO abduction cases in history, while also leaving room for personal interpretation and reflection. Spoilers ahead!

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Dark Horse Books
Published September 19, 2023

The Betty and Barney Hill incident is one of the most famous and well-documented cases in the history of UFO phenomena. It occurred in September 1961 when Betty and Barney Hill, a married couple from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrials in a rural area of the state.

Betty, a social worker, and Barney, a postal worker, were both active in the civil rights movement and were well-respected in their community. Their account gained significant attention due to their social standing and the detail of their story.

The incident took place on the night of September 19, 1961, while the couple was returning home from a vacation in Niagara Falls and Montreal. As they drove through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, they noticed a bright point of light in the sky that appeared to move erratically. Concerned and curious, Barney stopped the car and used binoculars to get a better look. He claimed to see a craft with multicolored lights and what appeared to be occupants inside.

Feeling uneasy, the Hills continued to drive but soon found themselves on a less traveled road where they encountered the craft again. This time, it hovered directly above them. Barney, under considerable emotional distress, stopped the car, and the couple reported that they then experienced a buzzing sound, vibrations, and a sensation of altered consciousness.

The next thing they knew, they were about 35 miles down the road with little memory of what had happened in between. Both Betty and Barney were distraught and confused. They noticed unexplained phenomena such as shiny spots on the trunk of their car, inexplicable damage to Barney’s shoes, and Betty’s torn and stained dress.

Following the incident, Betty began having vivid dreams about the abduction, which she detailed in a series of writings. Concerned about the missing time and their unexplained memories, the Hills eventually sought the help of Dr. Benjamin Simon, a psychiatrist and neurologist who specialized in hypnotherapy.

Under hypnosis, both Betty and Barney provided more detailed accounts of their experiences. They described being taken aboard the craft by beings who appeared nearly human and underwent medical examinations. Barney’s account, in particular, was highly emotional and consistent with Betty’s descriptions, though he had not been previously aware of her dreams or what she had recounted under hypnosis.

During these sessions, Betty also described seeing a map aboard the alien spacecraft, which she later drew from memory. The map depicted a pattern of stars, which Betty claimed were shown to her by one of the extraterrestrials as their home star system.

In the late 1960s, amateur astronomer Marjorie Fish attempted to identify the stars on Betty’s map. After years of study, Fish proposed that the map might represent the Zeta Reticuli star system, a binary star system located about 39 light-years from Earth. This interpretation gained some attention and support, particularly within UFO research communities, but it remains controversial.

The story of the Hills became public when a newspaper article was published about their experiences without their permission. They later collaborated on a book titled The Interrupted Journey, which detailed their experiences.

The scientific community has remained skeptical about the incident, with explanations ranging from misidentification of natural phenomena to psychological factors like stress and false memories induced by hypnosis. However, the story has remained a part of popular culture and UFO lore as one of the first widely-publicized claims of alien abduction.

The Betty and Barney Hill incident is often cited as the archetypal alien abduction story and has influenced much of the lore surrounding UFO sightings and alien encounters. The incident sparked an increased interest in extraterrestrial life and continues to be the subject of study and speculation within both the enthusiast and scientific communities.