Halo Jones - How did Alan Moore do that?

Proteus4 · 12 October, 2013, 05:39:19 AM

I'd never read Halo Jones (I know!!) in the prog - it was a bout a girl, for goodness' sake. However, i just got the trade and am completely confused how Alan Moore made book 1 so completely gripping and entertaining and compelling - all they did was go shopping. Once.

Really looking forward to reading books 2 and 3 now. Glad i finally caught up with this.

Dave.

Bubba Zebill · 12 October, 2013, 06:27:29 AM

I read it when it was first published in 2000AD. Brilliant story and it gets better, enjoy.

TordelBack · 12 October, 2013, 08:53:18 AM

Well there are murders and muggings and spaceships and aliens and brain-surgery and punny futuroweapons, but I take the point. It's a masterclass in well-defined characters, immersive setting and engaging storytelling.

Proteus4 · 12 October, 2013, 05:22:37 PM

Indeed - that's exactly what it is.

pictsy · 13 October, 2013, 10:12:48 AM

I got my trade copy way back when I was 18 and it was an instafave. Best female comic book character ever and a contender for best comic book character full stop. Love the story, love the artwork and love all the ideas.

The biggest heartbreak is we never got to see more of her adventures.

Alan Moore could easily be my favourite comic book writer and some of his best work was with 2000AD.

Mardroid · 13 October, 2013, 09:51:22 PM

I would have liked more as well....

... yet I didn't think the series ended in a bad place.

pictsy · 13 October, 2013, 09:53:50 PM

Quote from: Mardroid on 13 October, 2013, 09:51:22 PM
I would have liked more as well....

... yet I didn't think the series ended in a bad place.

Yeah, we can be thankful of that much

credo · 17 October, 2013, 11:58:11 AM

On first reading Book 3 in an old 2000ad monthly, I was never aware that there were meant to be more. I had always taken it as a suitable ending, since it was really the first time that Halo had been proactive and determined the course of her own life. A nice, literary, ending.

What baffles me is that, outside of 2000ad fandom, it is often given as an example of poor-Moore, especially book 1. Crazy!

TordelBack · 17 October, 2013, 12:26:55 PM

Quote from: credo on 17 October, 2013, 11:58:11 AMI had always taken it as a suitable ending, since it was really the first time that Halo had been proactive and determined the course of her own life. A nice, literary, ending.

It helps that almost all the foreshadowing and threads are tied up or at least addressed by the end - ratwar, Lux Roth Chop, Luiz Cannibal, the Steersman's Guild, Tarantula, the Hoop itself. There are tantalising hints of other things in the 'history' sections, but since much of that is shown to be fiction or misinterpretation it doesn't really matter. The answer's in the question: where did she go?

Dodsy · 17 October, 2013, 12:58:00 PM

On of the top 5 (possibly even higher) strip from 2000AD of all time. Found it in my local library when I was just getting into comics and it's stuck with me ever since.

pictsy · 17 October, 2013, 01:29:45 PM

Quote from: credo on 17 October, 2013, 11:58:11 AM
..it is often given as an example of poor-Moore, especially book 1. Crazy!

Blasphemy!!!
*foams-at-mouth*

Skullmo · 17 October, 2013, 06:08:18 PM

Was Moore influenced by Love and Rockets?

wedgeski · 18 October, 2013, 01:24:44 PM

Halo is without a doubt my favourite 2000AD series, and a contender for my favourite comic strip of all time. I spend an unhealthy portion of my day imagining what a HBO-like TV series set on the Hoop would be like (it would be awesome, of course).

Dragonfly · 18 October, 2013, 02:17:01 PM

Quote from: Skullmo on 17 October, 2013, 06:08:18 PM
Was Moore influenced by Love and Rockets?

As Moore was quoted as saying (and I can no longer recall the exact wording) 'The crackle of comics at their best runs through the pages' about Love And Rockets then that is a distinct possibility!

shaolin_monkey · 18 October, 2013, 02:39:26 PM

Quote from: wedgeski on 18 October, 2013, 01:24:44 PM
Halo is without a doubt my favourite 2000AD series, and a contender for my favourite comic strip of all time. I spend an unhealthy portion of my day imagining what a HBO-like TV series set on the Hoop would be like (it would be awesome, of course).

I'm pretty sure there was a stage play, though sadly I never saw it.

I read Halo in the progs way back when, and I have to admit to being non-plussed by the first two series. However, Titan collected them together, and when I read them as a whole in one sitting it just clicked.

I always wanted by own personal Toby. The closest I've been able to get to that is the last gen Aibo, but hey, it's an autonomous robot dog that sings, dances, and chats to me, so close enough. I doubt it would survive a furnace though.