Product Description

Marvel and Bungie team up to create The Halo Graphic Novel HC based on the best-selling video game. The graphic novel brings the Halo universe to life for the first time in the sequential art medium in a 128-page, full color, high quality, jacketed, hardcover graphic novel. Stories include: "Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor" by Simon Bisley and Lee Hammock. When communications from a Covenant agricultural support ship are mysteriously terminated, an Elite Commander and his squad of Special Forces are sent to investigate. In "Armor Testing" by Ed Lee and Jay Faerber, the only way to test Spartan armor, is to send a Spartan. The question is what's really being tested? In Tsutomo Nihei's "Breaking Quarantine," the untold tale of Sergeant Johnson's escape from the clutches of the Flood menace is revealed! Finally, Moebius and Brett Lewis' "Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa" tells of the subtler, more dangerous fights taking place on the streets of New Mombasa and in the hearts and minds of men. Cover by Phil Hale. Gallery art created a number of elite artists including Rick Berry, Geof Darrow, Scott Fischer, Sterling Hundley, Craig Mullins, George Pratt, Juan Ramirez, George Staples, Justin Sweet, John Van Fleet and Kent Williams.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15495 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 128 pages

Customer Reviews

Plugging the Blanks
This has been on my preorder list on Amazon for simply ages, and this weekend I finally had my copy plop onto my doormat.

In brief:
Its a gorgeously illustrated bit of graphic art, with the four plots filling in some holes in the storyline between the games, whilst also in a couple of instances hinting at the Covenant motivations in Halo 3. It also helps that each story is wildly different in terms of it's art and presentation. Each one is wonderful to look at, but there are some minor hang ups that I have...

In more detail, with some caveats and criticism:
The first story 'The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor', is the longest in the book. It quite densely illustrated, often making it hard to follow the action panel to panel. This in turn makes it quite hard to care about the fates of the characters after the inital set up - all of these Elites look pretty much the same, so who am I meant to care about? I can't tell them apart! That said, the presentation of The Flood in this is hugely interesting, with some nice twists, making them more than just mindless zombies. Plus, the parasite bonds with animals! Heres hoping for Halo 3!

The second story, 'Armor Testing', is perhaps the most standard comic narrative in the book. The title tells you all you need to know really, apart from the identity of the Spartan underneath.

Midway through the book, 'Breaking Quarantine' finally tells us how Sgt. Johnson escaped the first Halo alive and in one piece. To be honest, its a bit disappointing (its not a big spoiler to simply say 'he legs it') but the wordless script and brilliant art more than make up for it. Although I have no clue about the significance of the final frame of the story. Guess I need to play the game again...

Finally, and my personal favourite, is 'Second Sunrise over New Mombassa'. A densely plotted tale, but economically and brilliantly illustrated by comic god Moebius, it tells the story of the Earth homefront and the initial stages of the Covenant invasion from Halo 2 from the point of view of a reporter who along the way makes a shocking discovery of the invaders intentions....

Each of these stories is topped and tailed with commentary from the guys at Bungie and the story writer/artist themselves. Which is interesting, and something that should appear in comics more often.
Finishing the book is a large art gallery from both comic and Bungie artists. The whole thing is wrapped up in a gorgeous hardcover, which even when you open the cover to be met by a sheet of slate gray linen effect paper just smacks of quality.

So even though I've had some small criticisms, I'll still say that this is a wonderful book. Its a great idea for a graphic novel, something that you'll definately read cover to cover and then maybe again (as I have), and then when you're done be wanting a sequel.

Bit like the game really.... hmmm, more please Bungie!

Diverse stories of a large galaxy
At first when I picked this up it was in a sealed packet and the cover has the Master Chief on the front, I was expecting stories of him and his adventures. But when I started it I realised it wasn't.

The book is essentially four different comics, of different stories by different artists and writers. I enjoyed it, both from the stories and the art.

Each tale is of someone in the setting of Halo. The stories fill in some background that we never knew from the games, this was a positive thing for me. The art styles all are very different, I had a big happiness at the Slaine-esque art that reminded me of being 10.

After the comics is a short discussion from the art team member incharge of making the graphic novel. She describes her passions and the processes in making the graphic novel. It goes into some depth and gives the making of problems and solutions.

If you are into finding out about how others have designed and developed ideas, I reccomend the graphic novel purely for this. If you have an interest in the Halo story it is also a big plus.

looks great
i have seen the digital comic via marvel and found it really great. for all fans of halo this story will help us understand more what has happened with the flood.

imagers are great see for yourself at www.marvel.com