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[Slightly Live]

So, I'm reading Halo Escalation...

Why is this considered "bad" again? Now, granted, I'm going to be the last person who'll defend it saying it's a masterpiece of Science fiction, but I mentally prepared myself for the worst with some of the comments and its...okay?

The only thing I don't really like is the art style but that's eh, whatever I'll deal.

Why do people hate this comic so much again?

Nobody hates it per se, it;s just the art quality has some serious swings from fantastic to absolutely insulting. Additionally, for the first run of the comic they released information about the next comic coming out that contained no relation at all to the actual comic. It's like they published blurbs about early drafts that got re-written. It was confusing and insulting to try to follow along.

The stories in the comic have been rather poor too. The Chief/Didact Part 2 story felt rushed and anti-climatic. I can't even remember the stories before that, which demonstrates their memorability, and current story should remind anyone that played Halo 4 of the mind-numbing hubris of calling the Spartan Ops stuff "Season One". We're getting Season Two in the comic and it's pretty disappointing so far.

They should rename the comic, Halo: No Consequences.

 

[Poodlestrike]

So, I'm reading Halo Escalation...

Why is this considered "bad" again? Now, granted, I'm going to be the last person who'll defend it saying it's a masterpiece of Science fiction, but I mentally prepared myself for the worst with some of the comments and its...okay?

The only thing I don't really like is the art style but that's eh, whatever I'll deal.

Why do people hate this comic so much again?

It's mostly the art, for my part. The writing ranges between decent and good, but the art is abominable.

 

[wesleyshark]

So, I'm reading Halo Escalation...

Why is this considered "bad" again? Now, granted, I'm going to be the last person who'll defend it saying it's a masterpiece of Science fiction, but I mentally prepared myself for the worst with some of the comments and its...okay?

The only thing I don't really like is the art style but that's eh, whatever I'll deal.

Why do people hate this comic so much again?

There's a few camps:

1. It all sucks and everything is ruined.
2. The art sucks but the story beats are good.
3. Don't care about the art but the story sucks.
4. Don't care about the art but the story is good.
5. Enjoying the experience for what it is.

I don't mind the art, really. I buy a lot of comic books as it happens, and while I've definitely seen many comics with far more superior artwork, I've seen almost as many with even worse artwork, so all in all it's really not that bad. Honestly, I'd rather be looking at what is in Escalation as opposed to not getting any monthly Halo media at all.

The comics have touched on some major things, too. So it's definitely useful and serving a purpose; if anything, it's setting up quite a lot of pieces, places and characters for where we'll drop into the action with Halo 5.

 

[NobleGundam]

So, I'm reading Halo Escalation...

Why is this considered "bad" again? Now, granted, I'm going to be the last person who'll defend it saying it's a masterpiece of Science fiction, but I mentally prepared myself for the worst with some of the comments and its...okay?

The only thing I don't really like is the art style but that's eh, whatever I'll deal.

Why do people hate this comic so much again?

B'cuz it's cheap. Point and simple. They could've invested on better talented artists yet it looks amateur-ish work in comparison to other artists and previous halo comics.

Now some of the characters done like Laskey, Spartan Ray, Glassman, Master Chief for example in escalation are decently drawn. Almost everything else (character design speaking) is poorly drawn. Imho. No hate. Good comic series, btw.

 

[Toa TAK]

Escalation is just disappointing because Halo, I think, deserves more than poor art and lacking story beats. The comeback of the Didact vs the Master Chief felt cheap, and right now the second part of Spartan Ops isn't that great either. And the rest of the stories are inconsequential at most. It feels like a cheap way to feed the Halo machine. Books are still the best way to digest the lore, I think. Even earlier comic series before Escalation were better (Uprising, the Graphic Novel stories, etc).

 

[GringoSuave89]

I think on a month to month basis, the comics are incredibly disappoining, especially since they deserve the best art in comics. That said, I think they'll be a bit easier to accept if you stick to the trades.

 

[blamite]

Helljumpers and Blood Line are the GOAT Halo comics. If you want to read some comics and you haven't done so already, definitely check those out. Way better than Escalation.

Actual Escalation and Blood Line Spoilers:

Spoiler

It's just a shame that Escalation semi-reconnect/ruined Blood Line's ending by revealing that Black Team survived, only for them to just end up dead anyway. Why?!

 

[Toa TAK]

Helljumpers and Blood Line are the GOAT Halo comics. If you want to read some comics and you haven't done so already, definitely check those out. Way better than Escalation.

Actual Escalation and Blood Line Spoilers:

Spoiler

It's just a shame that Escalation semi-reconnect/ruined Blood Line's ending by revealing that Black Team survived, only for them to just end up dead anyway. Why?!

Lol yeah, that was a bit of a bummer considering how well they developed those people. You actually ended up giving a damn for them.

 

[Fuchsdh]

Lol yeah, that was a bit of a bummer considering how well they developed those people. You actually ended up giving a damn for them.

Ehhhhh....

I think their whole backstory and "super special awesome rogue status" stuff made them feel more like fan fiction to me than a realized element. People talk about the Spartan-IVs not being "real Spartans" but Team Black was far worse in some respects.

 

[Toa TAK]

Ehhhhh....

I think their whole backstory and "super special awesome rogue status" stuff made them feel more like fan fiction to me than a realized element. People talk about the Spartan-IVs not being "real Spartans" but Team Black was far worse in some respects.

I'm going to give them some credit for trying, damn it. It's hard for Halo to get some really well developed and realized characters that go through some kind of character arc.

Speaking of which, I'm still waiting for the ULTIMATE fan-fiction, Fist Full of Arrows, to be canon. ;_;

 

[Poodlestrike]

Helljumpers and Blood Line are the GOAT Halo comics. If you want to read some comics and you haven't done so already, definitely check those out. Way better than Escalation.

Actual Escalation and Blood Line Spoilers:

Spoiler

It's just a shame that Escalation semi-reconnect/ruined Blood Line's ending by revealing that Black Team survived, only for them to just end up dead anyway. Why?!

Yeah, bit of a Back for the Dead moment. Would've worked better if they'd given them some panel time before killing them off.

 

[wesleyshark]

Yeah, bit of a Back for the Dead moment. Would've worked better if they'd given them some panel time before killing them off.

I honestly had completely forgotten about their existence until they were unceremoniously killed off in Escalation. :-x

 

[TacticalFox88]

I'm going to give them some credit for trying, damn it. It's hard for Halo to get some really well developed and realized characters that go through some kind of character arc.

Speaking of which, I'm still waiting for the ULTIMATE fan-fiction, Fist Full of Arrows, to be canon. ;_;

Halo is military Sci-Fi. Outside of very special circumstances, it's really difficult to have character arcs/development like in other genres.

 

[wesleyshark]

One hour to go until the new trailer drops, ladies and gentlemen. Can't wait to watch it a hundred times and analyze every detail.

*detective hat intensifies*

 

[Fuchsdh]

Trailer's on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/tHQiYPiNVEE

Also the huntthetruth.tumbler.com site has the first episode of the The American Life story.

 

[wesleyshark]

From the new trailer:

From previous concept art:

Definitely the same city/planet. But where?

 

[Fuchsdh]

From the new trailer:

From previous concept art:

Definitely the same city/planet. But where?

You'd assume it's an inner colony, given the statue of Chief—can't imagine that statue being on a fringe world.

 

[GringoSuave89]

Starry Night is canon, folks!

 

[wesleyshark]

Starry Night is canon, folks!

#blessed

 

[Fuchsdh]

Starry Night is canon, folks!

From what?

 

[wesleyshark]

Locke's HUD:

The Infinity took a hell of a beating:

 

[Toa TAK]

Halo is military Sci-Fi. Outside of very special circumstances, it's really difficult to have character arcs/development like in other genres.

No that's bullshit, I'm just supposed to accept that? To accept that there aren't talented writers that can do that? No way, that's nonsense and no one should just give up like that. Stories are about characters that we can relate to and learn about life through. Like, what good was Mass Effect if we didn't learn to love the characters in that series and how we impacted them? The ending blowout wouldn't be as big if people didn't give a shit for those affected.

Characters matter in all stories, dude, and for Halo being my favorite series, I just keep hoping for a little more.

 

[Onikaan]

The Infinity took a hell of a beating:

My money's on this guy.

 

[GringoSuave89]

From what?

Episode One of the Benjamin Giraud podcast. One of the people interviewed was the girl with him.

 

[MrGreencastle]

So "JohnB" learns boxing, get's abducted by insurrectionists when he's 12. ONI/UNSC lost track of him apparently? Could be a loose end they wouldn't like very much. That is, unless Halsey had him abducted? Seems like something she would do, too.

I mean... having 2 Johns would sort of parallel the whole UrDidact/IsoDidact thing.

Still not convinced that clone John would be kicking around, though... I dunno, it smells weird.

 

[Fuchsdh]

I don't see how you'd get another clone kicking on the same planet where the original was abducted and the first one died... no one would question the kick seemingly getting magically better? And if you could create a clone that wasn't going to die... why wasn't John Clone 2 just inducted into the Spartan Program?

To me it makes more sense that the original clone maybe didn't die—it seems possible the Insurrectionists could have picked up that something was going on with the kid.

 

[Trey]

How was Broken Circle?

 

[MrGreencastle]

I don't see how you'd get another clone kicking on the same planet where the original was abducted and the first one died... no one would question the kick seemingly getting magically better? And if you could create a clone that wasn't going to die... why wasn't John Clone 2 just inducted into the Spartan Program?

To me it makes more sense that the original clone maybe didn't die—it seems possible the Insurrectionists could have picked up that something was going on with the kid.

It all smells a little Halsey to me. Plan B?

I mean... the hell is going on.

 

[Fuchsdh]

How was Broken Circle?

IMO good. Did a podcast reviewing it if you're find with general comments (there's spoilers later on):

http://www.forwarduntodawn.com/fudcast15/

It all smells a little Halsey to me. Plan B?

I mean... the hell is going on.

Definitely twisty. Not really sure how this is gonna' pan out. At least we're probably going to get some of those answers with the next episode so it's not like we're waiting for the actual game.

Having Mirror Universe Chief would definitely be a really weird way to take things.

 

[Bornstellar]

Starry Night is canon, folks!

Yep, thought that was cool.

 

[wesleyshark]

How was Broken Circle?

Fantatic.

Also...

Infinity is wrecked in both trailers:

 

[GringoSuave89]

Idk about the whole clone John thing. Did we ever have a definitive time table on how long flash clones live? Either way, it's far too big a bombshell to drop in the first podcast episode (technically second if you include the Episode 0). I feel like it will resolve itself out by the end of the series.

 

[Bsigg12]

Idk about the whole clone John thing. Did we ever have a definitive time table on how long flash clones live? Either way, it's far too big a bombshell to drop in the first podcast episode (technically second if you include the Episode 0). I feel like it will resolve itself out by the end of the series.

Hey, it got us talking about it so it seems effective.

 

[GringoSuave89]

Hey, it got us talking about it so it seems effective.

tr00

but....

"we got the interviews already lined up for you". force fed bogus facts?

 

[MrGreencastle]

Idk about the whole clone John thing. Did we ever have a definitive time table on how long flash clones live? Either way, it's far too big a bombshell to drop in the first podcast episode (technically second if you include the Episode 0). I feel like it will resolve itself out by the end of the series.

But why would the "government" declare John dead at 6 when he clearly had a Primary/High School teacher and wanted to learn how to box when he was 12? By that time, John would have already been a pretty effective soldier way over on Reach I think.

Or the teacher is full of it?

 

[GringoSuave89]

But why would the "government" declare John dead at 6 when he clearly had a Primary/High School teacher and wanted to learn how to box when he was 12? By that time, John would have already been a pretty effective soldier way over on Reach I think.

Or the teacher is full of it?

how do we know he was John's teacher? I really doubt ONI wants anyone to know John is the MC. I'm saying maybe all the interviewees are plants for ONI, giving Giraud false information so their smear campaign came from a second party, and not the government.

 

[Poodlestrike]

how do we know he was John's teacher? I really doubt ONI wants anyone to know John is the MC. I'm saying maybe all the interviewees are plants for ONI, giving Giraud false information so their smear campaign came from a second party, and not the government.

But Giraud already works for ONI. Why feed him false information?

 

[MrGreencastle]

But Giraud already works for ONI. Why feed him false information?

Only thing I can think of is they're trying to spin it so that Chief was never in the Spartan II program for some reason.

 

[GringoSuave89]

But Giraud already works for ONI. Why feed him false information?

he technically doesn't. he's a contractor. Civilian contractors were very common for Section 2, and I think the graphic novel story confirms that's all he was. He'd have pretty high clearance, sure, but not that high.

 

[Trey]

But why would the "government" declare John dead at 6 when he clearly had a Primary/High School teacher and wanted to learn how to box when he was 12? By that time, John would have already been a pretty effective soldier way over on Reach I think.

Or the teacher is full of it?

I think ONI is purposefully letting this dirty laundry get out by having an investigative journalist "dig" for the truth. They will probably try to smear Halsey as working unilaterally or covertly by cloning young prospects against ONI's knowledge. You air out the Spartan-II project and also brand Halsey as a war criminal, with minimal backlash against ONI itself.

Seems like something Osman would do.

 

[Welfare]

Fantatic.

Also...

Infinity is wrecked in both trailers:

Infinity is less wrecked in Chief's trailer.

 

[GringoSuave89]

I think ONI is purposefully letting this dirty laundry get out by having an investigative journalist "dig" for the truth. They will probably try to smear Halsey as working unilaterally or covertly by cloning young prospects against ONI's knowledge. You air out the Spartan-II project and also brand Halsey as a war criminal, with minimal backlash against ONI itself.

Seems like something Osman would do.

What's weird is in the Kilo-Five books, she seems to want to take ONI in a different direction than her predecessor, but in Spartan Ops she's the shadowy, almost villain like person.

idk man, it's weird.

 

[Poodlestrike]

What's weird is in the Kilo-Five books, she seems to want to take ONI in a different direction than her predecessor, but in Spartan Ops she's the shadowy, almost villain like person.

idk man, it's weird.

That's what happens. Organizations like ONI (or the mob, Godfather, anyone?) are self-perpetuating in a lot of ways. You can start with the best of intentions, but every day it gets a little harder, and the next thing you know you're the same as your predecessor.

 

[GringoSuave89]

That's what happens. Organizations like ONI (or the mob, Godfather, anyone?) are self-perpetuating in a lot of ways. You can start with the best of intentions, but every day it gets a little harder, and the next thing you know you're the same as your predecessor.

I also think ONI is so compartmentalized that there's probably a few high ranking ONI members that are furthering their own gains without CINCONI even being aware of it. But who knows.

That's why Section Zero has a lot to do

Spoiler

gimme my Section Zero game Frankie.

 

[Fuchsdh]

What's weird is in the Kilo-Five books, she seems to want to take ONI in a different direction than her predecessor, but in Spartan Ops she's the shadowy, almost villain like person.

idk man, it's weird.

I don't think she wants to take ONI in a different direction, really. She might have different tools, but she is ultimately Parangosky's hand-picked successor... and whatever scruples she has over the old admiral, Halsey is a definite blind spot. She was probably looking for a chance to give the order.

Escalation has ONI duping the Infinity crew into essentially a false-flag operation. ONI really hasn't changed.

 

[GringoSuave89]

I don't think she wants to take ONI in a different direction, really. She might have different tools, but she is ultimately Parangosky's hand-picked successor... and whatever scruples she has over the old admiral, Halsey is a definite blind spot. She was probably looking for a chance to give the order.

Escalation has ONI duping the Infinity crew into essentially a false-flag operation. ONI really hasn't changed.

true true. kinda bummed... really liked her in the Kilo-Five books.

 

[wesleyshark]

But Giraud already works for ONI. Why feed him false information?

Only thing I can think of is they're trying to spin it so that Chief was never in the Spartan II program for some reason.

he technically doesn't. he's a contractor. Civilian contractors were very common for Section 2, and I think the graphic novel story confirms that's all he was. He'd have pretty high clearance, sure, but not that high.

Honest guy. Contractor. Brought in by ONI to spearhead a report-via-investigation that is, on the surface, standard fare Dateline NBC type stuff. However, it's ONI. ONI cannot be trusted, and it looks like this is all an elaborate setup. It's to lead Benjamin to certain conclusions that will present certain "revelations" and "dead ends", which are all pre-designed by ONI themselves. Paid actors. False witnesses. The whole nine.

 

[GringoSuave89]

Honest guy. Contractor. Brought in by ONI to spearhead a report-via-investigation that is, on the surface, standard fare Dateline NBC type stuff. However, it's ONI. ONI cannot be trusted, and it looks like this is all an elaborate setup. It's to lead Benjamin to certain conclusions that will present certain "revelations" and "dead ends", which are all pre-designed by ONI themselves. Paid actors. False witnesses. The whole nine.

That's my theory as well. But who knows, this is only episode #1 (technically 2). We got a lot of ground to cover.

 

[Poodlestrike]

Honest guy. Contractor. Brought in by ONI to spearhead a report-via-investigation that is, on the surface, standard fare Dateline NBC type stuff. However, it's ONI. ONI cannot be trusted, and it looks like this is all an elaborate setup. It's to lead Benjamin to certain conclusions that will present certain "revelations" and "dead ends", which are all pre-designed by ONI themselves. Paid actors. False witnesses. The whole nine.

That would explain the... I guess "tone" when the Insurrectionists come up.

 

[wesleyshark]

That's my theory as well. But who knows, this is only episode #1 (technically 2). We got a lot of ground to cover.

So many mild bananas left in the Stinkles tree.

That would explain the... I guess "tone" when the Insurrectionists come up.

Yeah, it just might, indeed.

There's a lot of information we aren't privy to yet. I think a lot of all this will click together once we find out what exactly the catalyst is that will cause ONI to deem Chief a traitor and send their brand new numero uno Spartan after him. Something major. Extremely major.

What is interesting to me is that Chief's visor is not cracked in these new trailers. Granted, the live action trailers are not verbatim canon- they are mostly for marketing hype. But it brings me to a couple thoughts:

1) Locke and MC monologue against one another amidst what appears to be some sort of massive event of cataclysmic scale. Infinity is shredded. The city is flattened. There's some other mysterious things that cannot be define happening in the sky as well. Could this be in some relation to what causes the rift between Chief and ONI? While we may never see one of these actual scenes in-game, it's possible that it's a creative summary of the internal conflict juxtaposed on the actual event that originates said conflict.

2) The cracked visor... Perhaps it was just an artistic piece of that E3 trailer. Perhaps they decided to change things between then and now. Perhaps both trailers shouldn't be taken so literally, as far as armor permutations and damage go.

3. If it's not cracked below the statue, but it's cracked when he's facing the massive construct, and if the order is to be taken literally and he doesn't get a replacement helmet at some point, then Thought #1 seems kinda likely. If not, then well, who the hell knows lol.

4. Let's look at the Infinity again from both trailers:

What could have caused such gaping scars in its massive hull? What type of enemy might we be dealing with here, if the Infinity has shown the ability to simply ram its way through Covenant ships? They almost look like projectile bores, from penitration at high velocity. Perhaps, some sort of suicidal trajectory? Ships not meant for battle, but instead used for sheer and brutal forced entry?

What biological enemy is known for such tactics? I bet you might easily guess which one...