As you may have read earlier, issue #9 is available to purchase.

In this article I’m going to talk about what happened in it. So…if you don’t want to be spoiled, then do not read any further. Continue reading →

 Issue #9 of Darkhorse’s Halo series, Escalation is out today.

You should be able to find it at your local comic book store. If not, then you can easily purchase it straight from Darkhorse in either the digital or hard copy format.

If you do have a comic shop nearby, I’d suggest buying it there first. Local stores need your business and most comic shops are small businesses.

Here’s the cover of issue #9:

Continue reading →

 Darkhorse has revealed issue #12 of Escalation. In the foreground we see an Elite Minor (Halo 4 armor) piloting a Ghost. In the background it appears that there is a Spartan piloting another Ghost, given chase to the one in front.

All around them, there is what looks like a collapsing ground element. Is a planet being ripped apart?

Well, if you read the clue given in the description of the issue, that might be the case.

Continue reading →

Escalation #11 cover has been revealed! We see Spartan Thorne of Fireteam Majestic back in action! Continue reading →

Halo Escalation #9 will be released on August 27.  This issue looks to be an exciting one, if the cover has anything to do with the story.

Give yourself a gift and by this series of Halo comics by Darkhorse. even if you’ve missed previous issue, you can buy them digitally from Darkhorse themselves.

Take a look for yourself at the cover of issue #9… Continue reading →

Okay folks, this issue is a GAME CHANGER!!!!!

There are THREE big reveals in this issue. Continue reading →

The next issue of Darkhorse’s Halo comic book, Escalation comes out tomorrow.

To find out more about the issue and how to get the digital copy… Continue reading →

Hmm, how can I say this in one word? Disappointing. Up until now, Escalation has had action and/or intrigue to it that I’ve enjoyed the other six issues. This one though… Continue reading →

The next issue of Halo Escalation is out today!

Where will the issue take us? Continue reading →

Halo Escalation is an ongoing series from Darkhorse comics that details stories after the events of Halo 4. After securing a source link for this, I’m happy to show the cover of issue #10.

Halo: Escalation #10

Brian Reed (W), Ricardo Sánchez (P), Rob Lean (I), Michael Atiyeh (C), and Anthony Palumbo (Cover)
On sale Sept 24
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Ongoing
The Master Chief returns in “The Next 72 Hours” part 3! What happened to the Master Chief immediately following the events of Halo 4, and what do those events mean for the future of the crew on the UNSC Infinity? Halo lead writer Brian Reed (Amazing Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel) and Ricardo Sánchez reveal all in the thrilling conclusion to this Halo event!
• From Halo lead writer and comics veteran Brian Reed!
• An essential addition to the Halo canon!

Now what makes this cover interesting is the inclusion of Blue team. Let’s take a look at this by breaking down some of the components of the cover.

Here each of the Spartans are identified. Master Chief is of course easy to pick out. Knowing that Kelly has rocked the EVA helmet before (see Halo Legends), we know that’s her. That leaves Fred and Linda. Fred’s helmet is similar to Master Chief’s so we know the Spartan top left is Fred. Linda, as you can see by the helmet ‘callout’ has a very different helmet. With the extra scopes it’s safe to assume she’s using them for an added advantage for sniping. Without those scopes the helmet reminds me of the Halo 4 C.I.O. helmet. Not the same of course, just similar. (See below)

So it appears we will indeed see the return of Blue team! Hmm, now this makes me curious. Will they be the four playable co-op campaign characters in Halo 5 Guardians?

OMG, that would be freakin’ AWESOME!!!

What is very interesting is that they seem to be wearing the upgraded armor that just Chief had in Halo 4.

Source Link

So what do you folks think of the cover, the news and the potential for them in Halo 5 Guardians???

-Sal

Okay, after having read Halo Escalation #6, I have to say I’m a bit underwhelmed.
SPOILERS AHEAD. If you plan on reading the comics, do not read further as this article will spoil the story for you…

So the cover really has nothing to do with the story inside. It is however part of a two-part cover, in which issue 7 will complete the picture.

In this issue (#6), Admiral Hood is lamenting on his career and hoping he can make things right. At first it looks like he’s going to die, but ultimately is just wounded. Honestly, I think it would have made for a better story if a character dies. Hood, while important to the overall Halo story line is NOT that important that he can’t be killed off.

The Infinity has been hit by THREE shots from a glassing cannon. It’s dead in space at the moment. Commander Bradley of the Infinity is dead. Enter the Spartans.

Sarah Palmer leads Fireteam Majestic into battle with Booster Frames to board the Rebel station. The glassing cannon has overheated so the rebel station and more importantly it’s leader Daniel Clayton , son of Captain James Cutter of the UNSC Spirit of Fire, have to wait until it’s cooled down enough to fire upon Infinity again.

Clayton orders his Sangheili mercenary force to take out the Spartans. That force’s leader, ‘Gajat, complies temporarily, but not before questioning why Clayton doesn’t just finish off the Infinity. ‘Gajat goes to his crew and instead of ordering them to attack the Spartans, he orders them to bring their ship to arms against the Infinity.

Now at this point, I already know what’s going to happen. I’m a little disappointed that I was right too. It’s a logical outcome, but I wouldn’t mind a little flare here. More on this in a moment.

After Palmer and Majestic avoid incoming missiles from the station, they board it and take it over. Just in time as the glassing cannon was just about to come online again. Clayton is knocked out by Madsen and taken prisoner.

In the meantime, ‘Gajat does as many villains do in classic stories, he is about to tell the station what his real plans are…When will villains learn, just go with your plan, then talk later. James Bond films are abounding in this respect. Anyway, as he has his ship radio the station, Palmer cuts in on the transmission, knowing what ‘Gajat has planned and tells him they are going to burn. Upon which, the station blasts the Covenant ship with the glassing cannon, destroying it.

Now here is where I’m crying foul. The Infinity is LOADED with guns. Even if they can’t fire their main laser, it has dozens of turrets mounted on it’s hull on all sides. You’d think those would be blasting away at the station, in defense. The only thing I can see why not is that Hood may have ordered them not too, in order to try to take the station and it’s people, instead of blasting it to smithereens. Hoping to get some valuable information instead.

Captain Lasky returns from his fact finding mission, empty handed. He and Palmer briefly talk then break for some alcohol. Meantime, a wounded Admiral Hood in a wheelchair (where are the hovering chairs? Thought we’d have that 500 years in the future…) pays a visit to the now prisoner Clayton. He tries to press Clayton for information on Admiral Drake, of the New Colonial Alliance. Clayton does not submit, rather stating that his (Hood’s) empire will fall.

We’re now at page 21. We see a nebula in the background with a ship moving left to right. Move to page 22 a two page spread. It’s the Spirit of Fire! But it’s still a derelict ship…then…

On the last page we see a frightening detail. It seems the crew had to abandon ship. Why? Well there are a couple of Flood carrier forms within the panels. UH-OH!

Now THAT is a very interesting plot twist at the end. Where is the Spirit of Fire headed, as clearly we see a planet in the distance. Where is it’s crew now? How did the Flood come to board the Spirit of Fire? All very interesting questions. With the title of the next issue being “New Phoenix” I think those questions may not yet be answered.

Okay, so the story all the way up to page 21 is predictable. It does continue to establish that Spartans, even Spartan IV’s, are badasses, and get the job done. Beyond that though, nothing really much is answered from previous issues. I find that bothersome. I’m going to keep coming back and reading it of course, but I’d like at least a couple of questions answered. I don’t like to be strung along. That is precisely the feeling I’m getting now with the story. They do not need to wrap up each thing in each subsequent issue, just give us a tease of an answer.

The final few pages do help somewhat in that. We know a scant bit more than we did before about the fate of the Spirit of Fire. Those details, especially the presence of the Flood on her raise yet more questions.

The art itself within very well done. I’d have to say, I think it’s the best so far of all six released issues in the series. It looks like the artists are becoming better acquainted with Spartan armor, which is a very good thing. The lighting and shading on the faces, especially that of the glow from computer screens is handled nicely.

I do recommend getting this issue. If not so much for the story, then for the art, especially that of the Spirit of Fire!

-Sal

Looking at the first 6 pages released by 343, on the fourth page, there is something rather peculiar.

I’ve cropped the page to show exactly what I’m talking about:

Anyone notice what’s wrong here?

Why is Palmer’s Booster Frame numbered ’69’? That’s very sexist and something that should not be in Halo. Now either 343 missed this when proofing it, or they saw it and approved it anyway, or the artist changed it after 343 having looked at the final proof.

Perhaps someone needs to say something to Darkhorse. I’ve enjoyed the series and as an adult, this isn’t as jarring to me. However, there ARE kids who read these comics. No doubt given the culture these days, they know what that means. So is that something either/both 343/Darkhorse want to have in the comic book?

Look, I’m not trying to take the high road here. I cuss all the time when I’m gaming. But in the context of this being in a comic book, which have throngs of kids who read them… Well, I just hope it doesn’t happen in the future.

-Sal

Waypoint was kind enough to post these on the official site.

Here are the first 6 pages from Escalation #6:

Hmm, interesting. Will there be mutiny? And where is the Spirit of Fire?

-Sal