CIA: Operation Ajax

Totally crazy, dynamic experience. I spent the first two chapters just completely distracted by the zooming, swishing panels and figures, and getting all a-lather by the enriched, “add-on” stuff (little blinking stars showing you more information), the archival news footage, the background music, the sound effects, the craziness!

But once my brain and senses accustomed to this full-metal onslaught, I started to enjoy the story for its own sake. Based on a couple non-fic books, this graphic novel-cum-crazy tells the story of the 1953 Iranian coup, where Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh was ousted in a CIA-orchestrated scheme.

The true story is powerful, and this telling is an emotional roller coaster. It covers a lot of the same ground as Argo (jaded CIA agent running around Tehran riots, “Death to [insert your problem here]!” chants, etc.), but does it waaay better. This is a multifaceted, rich tale which leverages a multifaceted, rich medium - the iPad - to tell a story to its fullest. I learned LOADS, and I'm hungry for more.

On the meta level, this was just a really interesting, trailblazing experience. I didn't think it would work: how could they successfully bridge the reading with the cinematic experiences? Essentially, this is just a LOUD book. But once your ears are accustomed to it, the soundtrack really starts to add to it. Same with the buzzing, chanting, screeching sound effects. I also am so glad I read (watched? experienced?) this after reading Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, as my brain was already abuzz with all the potentials of the comix medium - and this was just such a medium pusher. (I'm disappointed that McCloud hasn't commented on this specifically. Oh well!)

This is what a graphic novel should be on an iPad. Brilliantly executed. Don't know how accurate the story is historically, but it sure does explain the current Iranian's antagonism towards the West.