DC Allen's Reviews > The Ballad of Halo Jones

An old-fashioned space opera told from the point of view of a space waif clinging to the bottom rung of space society. The tone ranges from Oliver Twist to Full Metal Jacket. Alan Moore's gift for clever narration is evident but the ending is a big let down. By the last page, Halo Jones the character has barely accomplished anything, making me wonder why there is a ballad about her, and why her life is being studied and celebrated two hundred years in her future, according to one framing chapter. It's obvious that there was supposed to be more to her story, and without that arc, what there is is unsatisfying.
The artwork is kind of a mixed bag. On one hand the artist is the master of drawing the contrapposto figure, but on the other he seems to have skipped all head-drawing classes. Every character has the same unappealing face and the same stiff expression: hooded eyes, catfish frown, and oddly-rendered cheeks. The alien designs are pretty cheesy too.
I love Alan Moore but I wouldn't consider this essential reading.