1950s Spy Narrative on iOS: 'CIA: Operation Ajax'

Taking a peak into the web of quiet communique and orchestrated revolt generated by Western clout in an otherwise democratic Middle East, the interactive graphic novel CIA: Operation Ajax isn't necessarily about current events, but its creators' deft knowledge of historical precedent and the magic of comic book storytelling may leave readers intrigued with this declassified tale of a good old fashioned coup d'etat. Initially hitting the app market last year for the iPad, CIA: Operation Ajax now spreads to additional iOS devices, very much a leading contributor to the outright reinvention of the graphic novel [related A.I. news: "New Animation Bottom of the Ninth Hits iOS" (06/2012)].

In short, CIA: Operation Ajax is the true narrative of the 1953 overthrow of the democratically elected Mohammad Mosaddegh, then Iran's Prime Minister, at the planning of the British and U.S. intelligence agencies. At length, CIA: Operation Ajax is an iOS graphic novel that expands your traditional comic book opportunity into an angular, interactive, and full-sensory spy experience. In this comic book, gun-toting soldiers flit among the margins with curious ease, roadside explosions jar the camera, and inlaid dialogue finds its place, comfortably, amid an excitable flurry of detailed character art and animation.

Announced this past week at Comic-Con 2012, CIA: Operation Ajax ($2.99) is expanding its reach to include the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The property, a creation of Mike de Seve (Baboon Animation; New York, NY) and Dan Burwen (Cognito Comics; San Francisco, CA), is a bit of historical fiction but with the telling advantage of twenty-first century technology on its side.

de Seve and Stephen Kinzer, an award-winning foreign correspondent and best-selling author, penned the story of CIA: Operation Ajax, and didn't skimp on the details. The interactive graphic novel includes actual declassified documents, original photography, and personnel dossiers.

The United States (CIA) and Britain (SIS) staged a revolution in order to oust the recently elected Prime Minister. At the heart of the conflict: land ownership, fears of communism, and the near-unanimous importance of foreign oil.

The coup would seek to transition Iran from a constitutional monarchy into an authoritarian regime ideally controlled by the foreign entities that laid the groundwork for such a usurpation of power.

What for all the political maneuvering, de Seve and Burwen's graphic novel is toted as a pure spy thriller. The comic actively combines its true-to-life stories with period newsreels and declassified documents, all primed for reader insight.

Who were the major players? What backroom deals were going down? Which global power wants the upper hand (and which actually holds the upper hand)? The value of oil is exploding and everyone wants to be the one in charge. Unfortunately, that also means that everyone else will probably have a few words to say on the matter. CIA: Operation Ajax digs its heels into mid-century spy culture, international revolutions, and more.