Project MK-Ultra: Sex, Drugs and the CIA

Project MK-Ultra: Sex, Drugs and the CIA #1

by Stewart Kenneth Moore, Brandon Beckner, Scott Sampila

San Francisco, 1971. As the Vietnam War rages, the government wages war at home against the hippy counter-culture. High profile drug trials capture headlines. Seymour Phillips, a headstrong journalist eager to prove himself, discovers key information uncovering a vast drug network. A routine interview leads to a sensational accusation that the man accused of trafficking mass quantities of LSD, works for the CIA. Seymour is approached by CHASE, an eccentric, paranoid stranger in disguise who claims to be a former CIA operative and have the inside scoop on the CIA/LSD connection. Chase insists that Seymour has only scratched the surface. The two forge a most uncommon alliance in a dangerous and mind-bending quest for the truth behind quite possibly the most bizarre chapter of the CIA's history. While most Americans were watching Leave it to Beaver and listening to The Everly Brothers, an eclectic group of CIA operatives were spiking each other's coffees with LSD, throwing decadent parties and hiring prostitutes to slip unsuspecting johns drug-laced drinks in order to observe every stoned and kinky moment from behind two-way mirrors. And this was only when they weren't dreaming up the next far reaching "official" application for this new, all-powerful, mind blowing drug - a drug that would ironically fuel the counter-culture over a decade later. Coincidence? Maybe not.

Genres: Graphic Novels, History, Comics, Espionage

152 pages, Hardcover

First published October 19, 2021

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guten abend! MKULTRA always gives me the willies - the more you dig into what is verifiably known about what happened, and what happened in other such CIA projects, the more shocking it becomes. Reading about MKULTRA has made me a bit more sympathetic to conspiracy nuts - if governments have actually done insane mind control experiments, who can blame people for thinking there's more?



So it's interesting to see a graphic novel on the subject. I do question the decision to use what is known and sort of narratively "play" with the facts, as I think it's a pretty serious subject (basically unwilling human experimentation). But I also get it - facts in this case are all over the place, a lot of it is unconnected narratively, so an author has to do some work on it.



And the story is okay, and becomes something more than that because of the trippy, hallucinatory art. It makes the whole thing deservedly weird. This is the sinister world of the Yellow Submarine crossed with Ralph Steadman.



One point against the book: this is only volume 1, and sadly it doesn't end on a natural narrative endpoint, you're basically left hanging. That's not very nice.

3.5 stars

(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story with art just as trippy as its subject matter. It's the story of a journalist investigating the CIA's involvement with the proliferation of LSD as part of the MK-Ultra project. The story meanders in places but there's enough here to keep you interested. Moore takes the various rumors and theories around MK-Ultra and morphs them into his own thing.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trippy, uncomfortable, mind-expanding, disturbing, and revelatory, and that's just the art! The story itself was more standard government conspiracy hippy noir (based on a true story!), but this may be one of the best uses of art to advance theme that I've seen in the past few years. And it's a great examination (on both the CIA and the muckracker side) of whether the ends justify the means.
Looking forward to seeing how this ends.

**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was certainly an odd book, but that's the point. It offers readers like me a good look at a time where recreational drug use's origins. Because like most things including GPS and social media, it was apparently a military breakthrough that was meant to test people's mental abilities. Of course, it offers good commentary on how LSD bending the lines between fantasy and reality with crossing moral boundaries. There's an air of addiction and the justifications people make to support it. I just wish some of the concepts like the Goatman were properly explained. Because the visuals are trippy to keep in the back of my mind... oh god I'm addicted.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Diamond Book Distributors/Clover Press for making available via NetGalley a temporary digital advance copy of ‘Project MK-Ultra: Vol 1’ created and illustrated by Stewart Kenneth Moore in exchange for an honest review. It is currently listed for publication in the U.K. in December 2021.

This graphic novel is subtitled ‘Sex, Drugs and the CIA’ and is an adaptation of a screenplay of the same name by Brandon Beckner and Scott Sampila. It is a fictionalised account of the CIA’s Cold War dark-op that had sought to weaponise the recently discovered LSD, including experimenting on unwitting subjects. This particular genie notoriously escaped the bottle and went on to fuel the counter-culture of the 1960s and beyond.

In San Francisco, 1971 there is a high profile case that attracts the attention of Seymour Phillips, a journalist eager to prove himself. He discovers key information uncovering a vast drug network and the sensational accusation that the man accused of trafficking mass quantities of LSD, works for the CIA.

Then Seymour is approached by Chase, a paranoid stranger in disguise, who claims to be a former CIA operative. Chase insists that Seymour has only scratched the surface. They forge an alliance in a quest for the truth…

Although I was already generally aware of Project MK-Ultra from my reading about the history of psychotropic drugs, I admired Moore’s ability to translate this twisted tale into graphic novel format. I cannot imagine how horrific it would be to be dosed with LSD without consent and no idea of what was happening.

The artwork is in places jarring and grotesque and far from gentle pop or psychedelic art associated with the period. Yet I felt that it was effective to illustrate this dark tale of espionage and conspiracy and that Moore captured the sense of fear and of ecstasy as the doors of perception where opened.

It will be interesting to see where the story goes in Volume 2.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastical, embellished re-telling of a frighteningly true CIA mind-bending experiment. Crazy artwork, crazy characters, crazier story. Looking forward to the next installment.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel mixes fiction with the historical events, and – in a bizarre inversion of the usual – the most outlandish parts of the story tend to be the history. It tells the story of the CIA’s ill-fated and highly illegal “experiments” with LSD, studies that involved dosing unwitting individuals on American soil. The fictionalized through line of the story involves a San Francisco journalist who stumbles onto the CIA’s illicit activities in 1971, and – even after being discredited – continues to pursue the story with the help of a whistleblower. The book includes a prologue that shows the accidental dosing of chemist Albert Hofmann in his laboratory, an event that marked the discovery of LSD. And it comes to an end showing Operation Midnight Climax, a sub-project of MK-Ultra that was among the most audacious plots because it involved setting up a brothel at which johns were involuntarily dosed with LSD and watched through 2-way mirrors as they did the deed [or freaked out, as the case may be.]


The art is interesting. A lot of the frames are psychedelic, reflecting the fact that one is seeing the world through the eyes of tripping individuals. Most of the rest are retro to give the feel of the time at hand. In most cases, that’s 1971 San Francisco, but some of the story jumps back to events in the 50’s and 60’s. At one point the frames reminded me of Archie and Jughead comics.


I enjoyed how the story was told, using the driven newbie journalist as protagonist. That said, the book may be annoying for individuals who are curious about what is fact and what is fiction. Footnotes are occasionally used to help in this regard, as well as to give information about period references used for authenticity.


I found this book compelling, but – having read a fair amount about MK-Ultra – I had some idea what was true and recognized the names of key figures. If you’re interested in the ridiculous annals of the CIA and aren’t bothered by the fact / fiction mixing, check it out.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Diamond Book Distributors for an advanced copy of this graphic history.

Project MK-Ultra: Sex, Drugs and the CIA by Stewart Kenneth Moore is a graphic novel that tells the true story of how the CIA decided to become merry pranksters investigating the uses for lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD. By investigating the members of the CIA a government agency formed to protect the United States, gave samples, or dosed, themselves, co-workers, family, friends, and anyone else they could get. The hope was that this new wonder drug would stop communism and protect the free world from those who wanted to destroy it.

Using a fictional reporter the book follows the real tale of the drug's creation to the CIA getting their hands on it and setting up a program to test the effects in the real world, with unsuspecting people. Could it turn a fanatical communist to an American ally? Could it make a strong willed person betray their country and secrets. Could it make the guy at the water cooler howl like a dog for his co-workers amusement. The things done of the defense of freedom.

The story is beautifully illustrated. A real work of love. The psychedelic aspect is quite sharp and a close to a legal trip as possible. The story is real, and that is what makes it both funny and sad at the same time.

This is Volume 1 and Volume 2 can't come soon enough. A very interesting history told quite well with amazing art. Perfect for history fans, fans of CIA high jinks, and sequential art lovers.

[Michael J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writer/Artist Stewart Kenneth Moore takes the stories of CIA experimentation with LSD and mind-control during the 1970's and blends them into his sensationalistic story.
San Francisco, 1971. Seymour Phillips is a hippie journalist who discovers the information, which leads his investigation down a dark path that puts his life in danger. He becomes paranoid and wears disguises, on the advice of Chase, another disguised person claiming to be a former CIA agent. After Phillips learns that a recently arrested drug trafficker also works for the CIA he goes down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, etc.
The CIA seems to be unscrupulous in their efforts to explore the possibilities of LSD, even spiking the coffee or drinks of fellow CIA agents and prominent politicians. Whether all the things detailed in this graphic novel actually occurred, it's an interesting spin. The art reflects the psychedelic, hallucinatory nature of the proceedings and in places simulates the effects of a bad trip. This gets a bit hard to follow in places, and the story ends without reaching a conclusion/resolution. Apparently this is just Volume One.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 3 out of 5]

The graphic novel PROJECT MK-ULTRA gives entirely new meaning to the phrase "wild and crazy ride." Referencing a CIA program operating from 1953-1973, which weaponized LSD and other drugs to utilize in psychological interrogation, this novel relates how the program tested on innumerable unwitting, unaware, subjects who were brought in by prostitution, drug use, and musical venues. Reading this is like a conspiracy theorist's nightmares come to life, and poses questions of how much administration of these drugs in order to cause psychological breakdowns changed the personality of subjects, and altered their genetics, subsequently affecting future generations. Those who planned and carried out this nefarious program have an enormous amount of culpability to atone for.


I rate this graphic novel at 18+ for content and explicit art.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel is an interesting delve into the beginnings of Project MK-Ultra, a horrible experiment done by the CIA to see if LSD could be used for mind control. This book is just the beginning with outher volumes planned to come out. At times the artwork can be disturbing as it tries to stimulate what a LSD trip for the reader would look and feel like. I think that was accurately conveyed because I felt disturbed just looking at the images I can't imagine how someone who was doped against their will must really feel like. This book is a slow start as you follow the life of the reporter who investigated this project but hopefully the second volume will provide me and others with more answers.

[Alex Nagler · Rating 4 out of 5]

It shouldn't be surprising that a graphic novel discussing MKUltra is a hell of a trip. Stewart Kenneth Moore's "Project MK-Ultra: Sex, Drugs and the CIA" details the initial stages of the very real Project MKUltra from the initial days, getting the CIA members on board to their descent upon San Francisco. It utilizes a fictional journalist narrator and a bunch of paranoid burnt out ex-GMen in a bevy of costumes. The first volume ends with the establishment of Operation Midnight Climax.

It will be interesting to see where the second volume goes and if it ends with the Church Committee and its findings. Either way, it's a hell of a trip.

[Gabriel Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC given by Edelweiss+ for Honest Review

Through the fictional tale about a young reporter who gets mixed up in a conspiracy we are told the very true story of drugs, secrets, and the CIA. MK-Ultra is a real LSD based experiment that was going on back in the 70's and this graphic novel uses fictional storytelling and uniquely outrageous art to let us look into one of the biggest cover-ups of US History.

The art is psychedelic and colorful and as close as you can get to tripping yourself, and the story is edge of your seat thrilling. Volume 2 will be very anticipated!

[Tyler Armendariz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though by no means comprehensive, this graphic novel achieves the impossible by making the history of the horrifying CIA initiative MK-Ultra palatable. Following the heroic work of the journalist Seymour Hersh, this psychedelic project exposes the horrors of the acts perpetuated by a small group of CIA operatives as they sought to utilize LSD in order to achieve mind control. This dark tale deserves more recognition, and this medium is an excellent format to relay what occurred (though it is admittedly fictionalized at times).

[Nathaniel Darkish · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting comic that does a decent job of showing just how messed up Project MK-Ultra was, as well as everything else the CIA was doing around that project.
One of the most interesting things about this comic was its use of art. I really liked how it played with the look of LSD pages and the beauty and horror of an acid trip, though there were definitely times where using those subversions from the art it used for non-trippy reality made it very difficult to follow, story-wise.

[Josee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel is a visually stunning, the artist uses black and white mixed with full color hallucinatory goodness. The story starts with a prologue setting up the premise of a real government plot to dose the public. Set in 1970's San Francisco, the story is very well written and keeps this fast paced action moving. There's the CIA, counterculture, war on drugs and a journalist trying to put it all together. I look forward to Vol. 2.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In San Francisco in 1971, Reporter Seymour Phillips stumbles upon some clues that a recent drug bust might not be all it seems. After an ill-fated trip to talk to the suspect in prison, Seymour’s life gets destroyed by a planted bag of marijuana that sends him to jail. He loses him his job and his girlfriend. A few years later, he meets Chase, a drug addict, potentially with some mental illnesses, who claims to have been part of a super top-secret CIA operation to develop compound LSD-25 into a tool for interrogation and mind control. Chase leads Seymour on a crazy ride that includes taking drugs, disguises, clandestine meetings, amongst other things, as they uncover an operation that included prostitutes and experimenting on Johns and the operatives themselves.

Read the full review, and find more graphic novel reviews, at The Graphic Library.

[Chris Tower · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pretty good. Better than I expected. 8.9/10.
I love the depiction of the psychedelic trips A LOT.
There's a great merging of styles, much of which draws heavily from Crum, Charles Burns, other alt-comic artists.

This one serves in part as research for a story on which I am working.

Interesting material on the MK Ultra program. I am moving on to the second volume.