Character Highlight: Sergeant Major Avery Johnson

CAUTION: This article contains multiple SPOILERS.

Sorry about the formatting. The post editor was glitching when I moved my cursor.

This is Sgt. Johnson. He is a fan favorite and an effective soldier through the trilogy and in the books. He is known for his serious, but sarcastic behavior, long speeches, some funny dialogue, and kicking the crud out of any Covenant that stood in his way. Here is a collage of Johnson's best moments:

Courage:





















Drama:

Humor:

     Sgt. Johnson survived the vicious slaughter of Contact Harvest, one of the first planets to fall to the Covenant alien forces. Covenant raid planets, search for artifacts, then bombard the planet with plasma until the whole surface is glass, making life on the planet impossible. They travel in fleets, ripping the fabric of space to travel quickly from one place to another; this is called slipspace travel, somewhat similar to Einstein's wormhole theory. SPOILER. After Halo: Combat Evolved,  Master Chief, Johnson, and others took control of a flagship in Halo: First Strike, written by Eric Nylund.
     SPOILER. Sgt. Johnson survived the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and the events following its crash. He links up with the chief later on and eventually has a run-in with the flood. He somehow survives the flood attack that claimed Jacob Keyes, claiming that he must not have tasted good enough. He becomes an important keystone in the next two installments of the original trilogy. He has had some unforgettable parts of the story and some of the funniest lines, such as:


- About a message from the Prophet of Regret before the level Outskirts.
  "...keeps repeating 'regret, regret, regret.'" (Miranda Keyes)
  "Dear Humanity. We regret being alien b******s, we regret coming to Earth, and we most certainly regret that the corps just blew up our raggedy-a*s fleet!" (Johnson)
  "Oorah!" (2 Marine pilots)

- When the Arbiter stands in front of the Scarab ray.
  "...Move!...I'm gonna count to three. One...two...OK, have it your way" (Johnson telling Arbiter to move, then proceeds to shoot the door, whether Arbiter moves or not.

- Beginning of Halo 2 [All of the previous were also Halo 2]
"You told me there wouldn't be any cameras." (Master Chief)
"And you told me you were gonna wear something nice. Folks need heroes, Chief..." (Johnson commenting on John's MJOLNIR armor.

- Near the end of Halo 2
"Listen Tinker Bell, don't make me-" to 343 Guilty Spark

-Before the level Metropolis of Halo 2
"I know what the ladies like" after delivering a tank for the Master Chief

Sgt. Johnson is a very memorable character, and arguably the only person in Halo who is of African descent. Johnson is the face of comedy in Halo, but also the face of a very serious and effective soldier and leader; don't mess with Sergeant Johnson.

Comedy - Dancing Spartans Video

Hey, people,

     This is a video I discovered long ago that I always enjoy watching. It was released a while back as a trailer for Halo 4. Enjoy this fake video trailer. I will update this blog with my thoughts when I have time.

Evolution of Weaponry - UNSC - Part 1 - Halo: Combat Evolved

Over the course of the Halo franchise, the weaponry has adapted to fit the needs of every player to the best of its ability. Do you remember the days when the UNSC Pillar of Autumn first hurdled through the atmosphere of the first ring? Though the weapons were quite reliable, very powerful, and overall effective, the marines that survived the crash of the vessel itself or the lifeboats only had access to a limited arsenal of five weapons and some frags. Even though people had just escaped Reach, they somehow left behind the large ordinance of seemingly more advanced weaponry, equipment, and technology and only acquired the newer versions of basic weapons.
     The MA5B Assault Rifle is a 60-round, fully automatic firearm designed for close-range combat and some mid-range engagements. This weapon may contain nearly twice the ammunition capacity as its predecessor, the MA37, but it sprays rounds out at a rate similar to that of the yet unmanufactured SMG. It also takes about an entire magazine to drop an elite. It is good at suppressing enemies, but the MA5B left a lot to be desired.

     The M6D Personal Defense System is a fan favorite of the whole franchise. This sidearm is accurate, reliable, and packs a punch. This magnum/pistol can drop an enemy combatant from across the map with three, well-placed headshots. In addition to this weapon's perks, it is automatic. I find it faster and more efficient to fire semi-automatically, but it gives the player options. The automatic fire-rate is slow, but it is effective against grunt packs. The M6D was and still is a great weapon.

     The M90 CAWS (Close Assault Weapon System) is a powerful weapon. The shotgun blasts a huge cluster of buckshot into its target, most effective at CQB. This, though, is the drawback: you have to get close to cause damage. This may be easy on tightly-packed maps, and skilled players will have less trouble, but the range difference can be a big hassle for the user. There is a lot of open ground in Halo, so crossing larger, more open maps with a shotgun is not the best battle strategy. Picture being the marine who brings his shotgun to the lifeboat and arrives at one of the energy stations in the open fields of a mountainous terrain.

     The M41 SSR MAV/AW dual-tube rocket launcher system is highly dangerous and fun to use against hordes of grunts. It even shakes the user's screen in the Anniversary edition. It is a good weapon, but ammo refills are limited in campaign. Unfortunately, this version of the SPNKr doesn't have an integrated vehicle-lock system.

     The SRS-99C-S2 AM sniper rifle is extremely accurate and drops almost any Covenant trooper with a single headshot. The weapon also has an integrated night vision optics scope which can be toggled to be active or inactive. This weapon is extremely efficient and fun to use. It features a variable-zoom function and can be used effectively at mid-range and far-range encounters.

     The M9 HE-DP fragmentation grenade is highly effective at injuring enemy personel and sending unggoy soaring through the air like ragdolls. It has a short fuse that activates after physical contact with a solid object. This grenade has served the UNSC through several conflicts.

     Even with these highly effective weapons, the UNSC still had a hard time escaping the first Halo ring, and many did not escape the ring anyway. They did kill a massive number of Covenant aliens and Flood parasites, though. The UNSC always find a way to work with what they've got. Lucky for them, a newer arsenal of weapons is under development.

Hey people. My friend, who shall remain unnamed, gave me the idea of adding images of the weapons from the previous post. He is devoted to his blog, so if you like reading and/or martial arts, check out the Bruce Lee blog. Here is the URL.

 http://thetkdkid1.blogspot.com/

Useful Sites for Halo Information

These are some great sites that give a lot of information about the Halo world.

Halo Nation:      http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
Halo 4 Nation:   http://halo4nation.com/