Halo: Uprising by Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev (Artist), Alex Maleev (Artist)

From the Publisher

Picking up from the conclusion of blockbuster video game Halo 2, this must-read reveals how the Master Chief, while onboard a hostile ship headed towards Earth, is battling against Covenant forces! Interwined with Master Chief's interstellar one-man-war is the saga of a great American city's rebellion and downfall, two disparate lives' collision and shared fate, and the Covenant's hunt for an ancient relic of untold power and value. With hope dwindling and the fate of humanity hanging by a thread, is there any chance for a future? Read this debut issue to start the journey into the Halo universe!
Collects Halo: Uprising #1-4, and Marvel Spotlight: Halo.

Publishers Weekly

Based on the famous video-game series Halo and created by the Eisner-winning team of writer Brian Michael Bendis (Powers) and artist Alex Maleev (Daredevil), this book shows the Covenant invasion of Earth from the perspective of civilians on the ground. Ruwan, a hotel concierge in the beautiful resort city of Cleveland, Ohio—my, how the future changes things—flees the conquering aliens and teams up with Myras Tyla, a musician determined not to be a sitting duck. Instead of simply killing everyone, the Covenant aliens are ransacking the city for the mysterious Key of Osanalan, which they heard about from their captive, Colonel Akerson. Of course, it doesn't exist, but only his brother, Ruwan, knows that. What follows is a genuinely heroic and touching tale. What it isn't is a story about Master Chief John 117, the protagonist of the Halo series and the star of the book's cover. The unbeatable armored super-soldier does appear, but his beautifully drawn and choreographed space-battles have very little to do with the plot. Still, much like its hit predecessor, Halo Graphic Novel, this should appeal to Halo lovers everywhere. Maleev's planetscapes are memorably luminous, and Bendis's dialogue is wry and effective. (June)

Library Journal

The first graphic adaptation of the wildly popular Halo video-game series—a collection of short stories misleadingly titled The Halo Graphic Novel (2006)—topped best-sellers charts. Uprising brings us into the Halo narrative between the second and third games of the series, when the alien coalition called the Covenant is attacking Earth. While cyborg super-soldier Master Chief is fighting his way through Covenant troops off-world, Cleveland concierge Ruwan is just hiding under his desk. Then gutsy singer Myras comes in asking for guns—concierges know how to find everything, right? The pair teams up to escape the attacks and eventually connects with UN Space Command troops. The Covenant leader has been demanding a mysterious object, and it turns out that Ruwan actually knows what it is. VERDICT Master Chief's minimal role may disappoint hard-core Halo gamers, but casual fans and especially nongamers will be pulled into experiencing an alien invasion vicariously through "ordinary people" Ruwan and Myras, who share heroics and love. A compelling read with dark, grimy art that renders the aliens impressive but always ugly. Older teens and up.—M.C.

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