Operation Zero

Witch & Wizard Graphic Novel #2

by Dara Naraghi, Víctor Santos (Artist)

Whit and Wisty get the shock of their lives when a member of the New Order's inner circle, The One Who Bans Books, contacts them with a clandestine proposal: he wants their help in removing The One Who Is The One from power He confesses to having grown disgusted with the N.O., and reveals that he's aware of an ancient book of the occult that holds a spell for stripping an individual of all their magic. Unfortunately, the book is in a heavily-guarded N.O. bunker that's shielded against magic portals from Shadowland. But more importantly, can the Allgood siblings even trust this man who is willing to commit treason, or is his offer just an elaborate trap?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Young Adult, Comics, Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery

104 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2011

About the author

Dara Naraghi was born in Iran, but has made Columbus, Ohio his home for most of his life. His debut graphic novel LIFELIKE, a collection of slice-of-life vignettes, garnered many positive reviews from the likes of award-winning novelist Cory Doctorow, and cartoonist Sam Kieth.

His other notable graphic novels include: TERMINATOR SALVATION official movie prequel (3 weeks on the NYT Best Sellers list), THE ABSURD ADVENTURES OF ARCHIBALD AARDVARK, WITCH & WIZARD: BATTLE FOR SHADOWLAND (2 weeks on the NYT Best Sellers list) and WITCH & WIZARD: OPERATION ZERO, original graphic novels based on characters and settings from the James Patterson series of YA novels. His current project is the award-winning PERSIA BLUES trilogy of graphic novels.

Dara is also a founding member of the Columbus, Ohio-based comic book writers/artists collective known as PANEL. To date, he has contributed stories to - and helped produce - 20 volumes of their comics anthology, which he self-publishes under his Ferret Press imprint. For information on his latest project, check out www.DaraNaraghi.com

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second book in what I'm calling the Nick Experiment, wherein I read it, and then make the kid read it to verify (or not) my claims of suckage.
And this was making me feel like a superior parent.
Then a few minutes ago, I had my 9 year old lie and tell the Jehovah's Witnesses at the door that 'Mommy has the flu'.
And, once again, I've knocked myself out of the running for Mother of the Year.
Although, when you think about it, learning how to deflect JWs is a freakin' awesome life-skill to hand down to your children.
Can I get an amen?!
*crickets chirping*
M'kay. Well, I tried.
*shrugs*

Anyway.
So, I thought this one was a bit of an improvement on the first graphic novel, James Patterson's Witch and Wizard: Battle for Shadowland (Witch & Wizard: The Comic #1).
First, notice how it says The Comic #1?
Ok. That's where some of the confusion came in for me and the kid.
These are not (as we originally thought) graphic novelizations of the books. They're actually in-between stories, like the filler novellas that lots of writers put out.
Blah-Blah 1.5 or Blah-Blah 4.5.
Which explains why you're dropped into the middle of everything with little to no backstory.
This little nugget of information made my reading experience a bit better, but I still thought it was kind of a crap story.
But let's see what the Target Audience thought, shall we?

Me: So, what did you think of this one?
Him: Mom, nobody would be this stupid.
Me: Explain.
Him: Ok, first thing Whit does is teleport, or whatever, himself into the middle of the bad guys...because they're burning books.
*eye roll*
I mean, really?! I get that he loves to read, and that burning books is bad, but that's just stupid.
Me: Ok. But what if he really loves books?
Him: *massive eye roll*
Are you serious? So. What. Say they're burning books in another country. Are you telling me that you'd get on a boat, and paddle over there to try to make them stop? No. Because they'd probably just kill you and burn the books anyway.
Me: Jeez. They might just put me in jail. I think these violent video games are getting to you.
Him: *eyes completely roll out of his head*
Me: Fine. What else?
Him: They don't cuss.
Me: And?
Him: Well, they have words like 'creep' in black letters, like they're bad words or something. I'm telling you right now, if someone was shooting at me...I'd be cussing.
Me: It's a book for tweens, Nick. And a lot of parents don't want their kids reading books with cuss words in them.
Him: *eyes now rolling around on the ground independently*
Me: So what did you think about the new girl that liked Whit?
Him: Uuuuuuuuugh. That whole thing at the end? No.
Me: You mean when they decided to just be friends, because he still has a thing for his ex-girlfriend?
Him: You mean the dead ex-girlfriend that we've never seen? Why does he even like her? Did I mention that she's...DEAD?
Me: Yeah, but what about the new girl?
Him: First of all, in real life, there's no way that girl would have been all I understand, Whit! and given him a fist-bump. He basically dumped her for a dead girl. It would have gotten ugly.
Me: You never know, she could have been a really cool girl who just...
Him: *eyes now spinning like they're possessed*
Me: Fine. You're right. What did you think about the plot?.
Him: They just kept doing stupid things over and over again. And having a new leader elected each week? Even I know that's a dumb idea.
Can I go now?
Me: Yeah, sure. Hey, this was fun! Wanna do this again sometime?
Him: *snort* Yeah.
Me: *teary-eyed smile*
Him: Wait. You were serious?!

[ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel, wasn't my favorite, just like the first. I was a little disappointed with the plot and the graphics. I didn't think that the story was that intriguing, but it was better than the first graphic novel because I really liked the new character Katia Cherenkov. Her powers were pretty cool, and the story was better with the different dimensions, but now knowing about that, I wish that in the regular series they would have elaborated more on the different dimensions. Again, this wasn't as good as the normal books, but it was still pretty decent.

[Sakura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome♥

[Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whit "We're freedom fighters, Wisty, and what's more important than the freedom of speech? They're BANNING and BURNING books, for crying out loud!"

Wisty quickly discovers the weight of responsibility and horrific paperwork more tedious than school when it's her turn to be in charge of the Resistance. Margo and Whit are trying to talk her into missions - which she initially denies thinking it's a trap. Whit, an aspiring writer, goes anyway, walks into a trap and has to be rescued by a pretty powerful Witch. In the meantime, Wisty authorizes Margo's mission to obtain a Spellbook which has a spell that is able to remove magical power from The One!

The art has improved noticeably in this issue, colors being richer with clearly delineated outlines. However, it fails to convey kinetic energy as all the "fight" scenes look flat and boring. This is a disappointment, because the story, while predictable, deals with one of my "hot button" issues.

Book burning is is censorship. It is wrong in so many ways, as it is a method of trying to control how the masses think, and this is always a bad thing - as Pink Floyd sings in Another Brick in the Wall Part 2, "We don't need no Education, We don't need no Thought Control". I did like how the One who Bans Book has a good backstory and motivation, although some of the later developments didn't seem convincing. Overall, an average story.

[R J Royer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I liked the first one but sadly they're about the same. The art is adequate for the story and the story is about as interesting as the one in the first book which only made me remember that I have read it before and done better by smaller and bigger comic book companies. I suppose if you are are fan you should read the book, otherwise avoid them for something like "God loves, Man kills."

Just saying.

[The_Old_Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting with 5 stars...

-1/2 star Sometimes the correct sequence of frames to read is not easy to determine.

-1 star This series has an unabashed anti-religion bias. One example: the nefarious people in the City of Progress are referred to as "straight and narrow", a concept lifted from the Bible.

+1/2 star Operation Zero, with its smoothly developed storyline, is much improved compared to Battle for Shadowland.

[Peter Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second graphic novel in a series. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if there are others. In this, a brother and sister are in a resistance movement against a regime that has taken over and rules by oppression. The artwork and quality of the book are outstanding.

[Jess 🦋 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the witch and wizard series but I wasn't a fan of the story in this or the art style :-(

[Erin Dixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read James Patterson's Witch & Wizard Operation Zero graphic novel. The witch is Wisty Allgood, and the wizard is her brother, Whit Allgood. They've been cast out of their society, because they possess special magical powers, and they are told that they can bring down the New Order (N.O.), a totalitarian regime set to protect their society to dispose of anyone or anything that causes rebellion.
It is Wisty's turn to be the leader of their secret organization to oust the New Order's leader, The One, and she's stressed with her role to make such hard decisions for their group. Whit asks Wisty for her help in stopping a book burning, but Wisty tells him that it would not be in their best interest. Whit doesn't listen and goes alone and is met with resistance from guards of the N.O. Luckily, a girl, Katia, with a magical gift helps him to escape.
Meanwhile, Wisty hears news from her friend, Margo, that an insider from the N.O. has information to help them in their fight against The One. If they follow Henry, the informant, they will be led to a book that has spells that can take away The One’s powers. Wisty thinks this intel could lead them to a trap, but the group, Byron, Whit, Katia, Wisty, and Henry, go anyway to the N.O.’s underground compound called The Lab.
Wisty and the group are deceived. Is Henry to blame? Will Wisty and Whit capture the book of spells that can oust The One of his magical powers?
The theme for this graphic novel would be courage and cooperation. Wisty and her group of friends show enormous strength to accept the risk to stop the N.O, and they work together as a team to do it.
James Patterson’s Witch & Wizard Operation Zero graphic novels series are a fantastic opportunity for readers who are less interested in reading his lengthier novels. The pictures add a visual perspective that draws teens attention toward this series.
I enjoyed reading this graphic novel, however, it’s best to read his series in order. This is the second graphic novel in the series, and I don’t have any clue as to what they are talking about with some of their conversations. In addition, I thought the graphics were fantastic, but it takes away from my own imagination.
This graphic novel would be a fantastic opportunity to utilize as a segue way into having students make their own graphic novel, to study art, or to engage those readers who are disinterested in full-length novels.
It also opens the opportunity for an interdisciplinary learning segment between ELA and Social Studies as this book relates to a WWII theme.

[Magila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, this graphic novel was lame like the first. 2.5 at best, but entirely worthy of a stand-alone 2.

The art is bleh. At times I almost enjoy it, but I'm bombarded with yet another "teenage" girl in a belly shirt and I say to myself, "humph, wonder why the artist insists no girls where normal outfits." Then there is the bleh writing, and the bad bubble placement. It gets in the way of the cells.

There are dozens of YA graphic novels I would recommend in front of this. A blessedly short read, but I'd pass on it. Spend your time elsewhere unless you are in love with the novel series and just want to see pictures to go along with it.

[quinnster · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yep, still bad. Almost worse. The book follows the same pattern as the first. Even down to the trying to fry The One Who is the One. The whole thing just irritates me. Patterson so badly wants a Harry Potter world, but he just sucks at YA fantasy. Whit and Wisty (two of the dumbest book names by the way) are beyond irritating and cliched. I really just can't stand them. I was hoping the graphics would stand up better than the first book, but they just don't. Now at least I can say I gave the effort and I won't pick up another piece of garbage from this series again.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like Operation Zero.

This graphic novel only reminded me of how irritated I was with what happened in this series during The Fire.

What kind of depiction was this of Wisty? Full of curves, impossible. Because as opinionated and loud-mouthed she is, Wisty was awkward with her body, looks, and power.

And Whit was a such a jerk here. Is this the boy who's constantly pining over Celia? Ridiculous.

[Mouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read the novels...so much better! These graphic novels fall flat and just sort of leave you wanting more. The graphic novels can't do the dystopian world justice and the art in these are very childlike, it looks sort of like Archie Comics.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say that this Graphic novel was much better than the actual novels in this series. I liked that there was another character that had magic. I liked the plot line involving an old book with the power to bind magical abilities. I also loved that they traveled through new dimensions other than the shadowland.

All told a well done comic.

[Mdavies3]

Whit and Wisty are on quest to kill the evil and thats what they want. But its not that easy to just kill him. They go though journey of hope and despair, so they decide to work together as a team and form an arm full of kids. Their army is strong an deadly. Can they survive when the evil mastermind comes for them?

[Roseann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll have to say I was surprised when this graphic novel turn up on my 'hold' shelf as I was expecting the next novel. I decided to read it anyway and enjoyed it, but I still will be looking for the next novel installment of the series.

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 2nd in the series by James Patterson, we have witches, wizards, fighting, and book burning. Though the story was a quick read for me while waiting to work for a customer I enjoyed it and thought it a good selection for middle school or older readers.

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

i didn't really like the comic book

[Danya Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't read this but since they didn't have the kiss I'm counting this

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I raced through it. Artwork was too cartoonish. The storyline could not keep my attention. Won't read any of the others in the series.

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an okay book, but you have to be a REALLY hardcore Whit and Wisty fan to like it.

[Benjamin Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice . . .

[Pam]

second in the witch and wizard graphic by james patterson 7/8