Reviews

The Ballad Of Halo Jones Volume 1 by Alan Moore, Ian Gibson

mschlat's review against another edition

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4.0

A perfectly serviceable Alan Moore science fiction read. We follow our eponymous heroine through three chapters of her life: living on the Hoop (an off-shore dumping habitat for the poor), serving as a hostess on a space cruiser, and fighting in a war. There are interesting concepts aplenty (including some allusions to [b:The Forever War|21611|The Forever War (The Forever War, #1)|Joe Haldeman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386852511s/21611.jpg|423]), but because of the episodic nature (reprints from 2000 AD), it doesn't quite all gel.

However, big thumbs up for Ian Gibson's artwork --- his pencils are light and airy when they need to be, yet great at depicting the outer space settings. The female characters look real and varied, and the war sequences are frenetic and horrifying.

jammasterjamie's review against another edition

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4.0

My only complaint is that this volume is too short - I want more!!!

stevequinn's review against another edition

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2.0

I mean...it was ok. Barely. I found the characters flat. I don't do well with satire and my satire detector was going off. So. Maybe it was me. But not one of my favorite Alan Moores.

samanthamurk's review against another edition

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4.25

 good story and art!

dryden's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

paulcowdell's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5. Back in the days when Alan Moore's satire and seriousness were still light in the air and nimble on their feet came this feminist space opera. It's clever, it's humane, and it's terrific. Its influence is probably worth pursuing, too, but I don't want to think about Martha Washington as an anti-Halo Jones right now. I'd rather just savour this story about a woman who went out, and did everything.

tomas_lw's review

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adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

art_cart_ron's review against another edition

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4.0

I only recently discovered Halo Jones, and was really happy to find new Moore to read during these difficult times.
This 2000AD series (the magazine, not the year - most famous for Judge Dredd), is described as the story that happens around and in between the sci fi epic adventures that bookend Halo in 2000AD, and really in most science fiction of the time.
The hero's journey here is frequently things so harrowing as getting some groceries, and keeping yourself occupied on a colony for the poor and unemployed. Book Two branches out a bit - but still refuses to be Star Wars, Judge Dredd, Star Jammers or whatever other space adventure comics were popular at the time.
It's smart, the characters are central, and the speculative fiction elements (from language, to food, to culture and interstellar interactions) are quality and worthwhile long after initial publication.

rebus's review

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3.25

Mediocre beginning to a tale that is clearly the single most inferior work by the great Moore. It's not remotely feminist, even if there is only world building going on in the first volume (it IS a bleak and interesting future, as we expect from the crew at 2000 A.D.).
Hard to believe people think that the inferior Tank Girl was inspired by this rubbish, as the characters don't resemble one another at all, nor do the post-apocalyptic themes seem to be saying the same things. 
A disappointment. 

redheadreading's review

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4.0

Absolutely cracking! Each storyline found new ways to break my heart into little pieces. Gutted there won't be any more as it would have been awesome to see a 70 year old Halo running round the universe (but at the same time, maybe my fragile little heart couldn't have handled the inevitable revelations...)