robin_dh's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
srreid's review against another edition
3.0
Well that was a bit of a slog.
First third was pretty uninteresting. Far too much sci-fi speak of makey up words makes it hard to follow. Plus the main part of the first book is just a shopping trip, exciting stuff!
Second picked up a bit, but still not a lot going on. Still pretty average after part 2, averageness explained in the prologue to book 2 - she is an average character who's most famous quote is 'anyone could've done it'
Final third got some decent action, which redeemed this review to 3 stars. Overall very disjointed - it shows these were written at different times.
First third was pretty uninteresting. Far too much sci-fi speak of makey up words makes it hard to follow. Plus the main part of the first book is just a shopping trip, exciting stuff!
Second picked up a bit, but still not a lot going on. Still pretty average after part 2, averageness explained in the prologue to book 2 - she is an average character who's most famous quote is 'anyone could've done it'
Final third got some decent action, which redeemed this review to 3 stars. Overall very disjointed - it shows these were written at different times.
nobodyatall's review against another edition
5.0
That was ace, really fun and interesting.
The art was a bit difficult to start with, dark and dense, but it either improved or I got used to it and then it was brill all the way through.
The art was a bit difficult to start with, dark and dense, but it either improved or I got used to it and then it was brill all the way through.
neven's review against another edition
4.0
I had always assumed Halo Jones was a bit cheesy, but I ended up liking it quite a bit. Lots of fun experiments by Moore, and a crazy variety of stories. The art is so very 80s, but once you adjust to that, it's nice.
theartolater's review against another edition
5.0
I'm super glad I read this.
Halo Jones is a science fiction hero from a time where comics weren't really the greatest, and yet somehow the character and the story shines through anyway. It's Alan Moore, so you know you're getting some good quality stuff here, but there's just a lot of interesting layers to Jones as a character, and a lot of interesting personalities in her orbit.
I want a Halo Jones movie.
If you can get past the old-looking, dated artwork, you're in for a treat if you like comics. If you're not into what's going on, it's still an important slice of comics to be aware of. Definitely a must read.
Halo Jones is a science fiction hero from a time where comics weren't really the greatest, and yet somehow the character and the story shines through anyway. It's Alan Moore, so you know you're getting some good quality stuff here, but there's just a lot of interesting layers to Jones as a character, and a lot of interesting personalities in her orbit.
I want a Halo Jones movie.
If you can get past the old-looking, dated artwork, you're in for a treat if you like comics. If you're not into what's going on, it's still an important slice of comics to be aware of. Definitely a must read.
inkspitblog's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely excellent!
I’d like to take a moment to thank the publishers - penguin and 2000 ad for this wondering audio arc!
Okay, so bare with me: this is a comic but as an audio play. So everyone is voiced by different people (okay not all different people but you know). These are comics that only had a limited run - 3 books and first appeared in 1984. For context this is when gremlins, the terminator, dune, the neverending story and footloose came out.
It was a good year for movies and for science fiction (I just included footloose because I love Kevin Bacon).
Anyway, what I’m saying is this comic is 37 years old and still feels relevant!
The audiobook follows the entire three book journey (about 3 and a half hours) and spans from Halo being from 18 to 32. Although you’ll understand why that’s not technically true later haha.
She’s not a superhero, she’s just a girl from the poorest area of Earth in the 4949 who wants a better life. Who wants to see a world where she can be free and safe. Halo is brave but she’s normal and just a girl really, which is why she’s so relatable. The story is told through the lens of a history professor explaining the myth of a character called Halo Jones.
Her story is different but familiar with a girl trying to escape the life she was born to and wanting more. Loving and losing and generally just trying to make a life for herself among the stars.
The voice acting is wonderful!
My only gripe is that some stuff is clearly lifted from the panels and could have done with some extra exposition so we knew what was happening immediately. But it was still a great and engaging way to tell a comic story that came out almost 4 decades ago.
I’d like to take a moment to thank the publishers - penguin and 2000 ad for this wondering audio arc!
Okay, so bare with me: this is a comic but as an audio play. So everyone is voiced by different people (okay not all different people but you know). These are comics that only had a limited run - 3 books and first appeared in 1984. For context this is when gremlins, the terminator, dune, the neverending story and footloose came out.
It was a good year for movies and for science fiction (I just included footloose because I love Kevin Bacon).
Anyway, what I’m saying is this comic is 37 years old and still feels relevant!
The audiobook follows the entire three book journey (about 3 and a half hours) and spans from Halo being from 18 to 32. Although you’ll understand why that’s not technically true later haha.
She’s not a superhero, she’s just a girl from the poorest area of Earth in the 4949 who wants a better life. Who wants to see a world where she can be free and safe. Halo is brave but she’s normal and just a girl really, which is why she’s so relatable. The story is told through the lens of a history professor explaining the myth of a character called Halo Jones.
Her story is different but familiar with a girl trying to escape the life she was born to and wanting more. Loving and losing and generally just trying to make a life for herself among the stars.
The voice acting is wonderful!
My only gripe is that some stuff is clearly lifted from the panels and could have done with some extra exposition so we knew what was happening immediately. But it was still a great and engaging way to tell a comic story that came out almost 4 decades ago.
ladydewinter's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a bit to get into this comic, but I'm glad I kept reading. Set in the future, it's the story of Halo Jones, who grows up in what's basically a slum, then leaves it all behind to go into space, but her life doesn't necessarily improve. The slang Alan Moore uses here can be a bit.. much, but I loved Halo Jones and the other female characters.
damianwayne's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dr_matthew_lloyd's review against another edition
4.0
My review of The Ballad of Halo Jones can be found on my blog, here.
marciatch's review
i need to star this "review" by saying that i am not really a big fan of Alan Moore. mostly because of the way he treats all his female characters. however, i was pleasantly surprised by how this turned out. Halo Jones is a very interesting character and it was nice to see how she grew (and even visibly aged) as you read on. the social and political discussion was nice and so was to see a cast composed mainly of women.