Genre: Military Science Fiction | Writer: Peter David | Artist: Eric Nguyen
Publisher: Marvel Comics | Release Date: 2010
Halo: Helljumper is a 5-issue comic miniseries following ODSTs Taylor “Dutch” Miles and Kojo “Romeo” Agu before the events of Halo 3: ODST. After responding to a distress signal from the colony world Ariel, the two uncover Covenant occupation and must survive against overwhelming alien forces.
Plot
Halo: Helljumper is a five-issue miniseries that pulls the spotlight away from the Spartans to focus on the UNSC’s Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. The story follows Dutch (Taylor Miles) and Romeo (Kojo Agu), two fan-favorite characters later seen in Halo 3: ODST, as they investigate a distress call from the human colony world of Ariel. What begins as a standard mission quickly escalates into a desperate fight for survival when they discover the Covenant has already taken control of the planet.
The heart of the story lies not in massive space battles, but in the dynamic between Dutch and Romeo. Dutch, the level-headed and pragmatic soldier, balances Romeo’s cocky, sharp-tongued personality. Their banter and disagreements feel natural and highlight the camaraderie and friction that make the ODSTs feel like real, flawed, and human soldiers. The narrative threads action, tension, and humor together while reminding readers that, unlike Spartans, ODSTs are vulnerable—they bleed, break, and die in the fight. The Covenant presence adds danger and high stakes, but it’s the bond between these two Helljumpers that makes the story memorable.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Production
Written by Peter David, the miniseries benefits from his knack for snappy dialogue and strong character interplay. David writes Dutch and Romeo with distinct voices that bounce off one another, creating humor and tension without undercutting the seriousness of their situation. His style emphasizes character insight just as much as the action, fleshing out the ODSTs as personalities, not just soldiers. This adds depth to a part of the Halo universe that often gets overshadowed by the Spartans’ mythology.
The art by Eric Nguyen gives the book a gritty, kinetic edge. His use of sharp lines and heavy shadows brings a sense of chaos to combat, while his looser, almost sketch-like style captures the raw, unpolished grit of ODST life. The Covenant are depicted with menace, their alienness emphasized by Nguyen’s jagged strokes and moody backgrounds. The panel layouts lean into cinematic pacing, alternating between chaotic firefights and quiet moments that let the dialogue breathe. Nguyen’s style may feel less polished than other Halo comics, but it suits the down-in-the-dirt perspective of the Helljumpers.
Rating: 3 out of 5
The Verdict
In the end, Halo: Helljumper succeeds as a grounded, character-driven addition to the Halo expanded universe. Peter David’s witty, insightful writing pairs well with Eric Nguyen’s gritty, expressive art, creating a story that feels raw and human. While not as expansive as other Halo comics, it delivers sharp action, engaging character work, and a much-needed spotlight on the ODSTs. Halo: Helljumper gets 3 out of 5.
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