Sergeant Major Avery Johnson

Lore & Background

Avery Johnson is a Marine sergeant major who leads human forces throughout the Halo series. He and a few other Marines survive the destruction of Installation 04 and are rescued by Cortana and the Master Chief during the novel Halo: First Strike. Johnson plays a larger role in Halo 2, joining forces with the Arbiter to stop Tartarus from activating Installation 05. In Halo 3, the Covenant attempt to use him to activate the Halo Array, but are foiled; when the Master Chief decides to activate the local Halo to stop the Flood infestation, the Forerunner construct 343 Guilty Spark kills Johnson to prevent it. Johnson is featured in The Halo Graphic Novel story, "Breaking Quarantine," and a main character in the 2007 novel Halo: Contact Harvest. Johnson is also featured in the real time strategy game Halo Wars 2, as a playable leader for the UNSC. In many ways similar to the stereotype of charismatic black Marines found in other science fiction (such as Sergeant Apone in Aliens whom Johnson was partially based on), some critics found Johnson a flat character. Joseph Staten admitted that Johnson was static in Halo: Combat Evolved, and that despite the character's potential, "he sort of inherited those caricature aspects [from Halo]." Contact Harvest was a chance "to do right" by the character. Luke Cuddy identified Johnson's character arc as closely tied to the series' themes of struggle and sacrifice. He has been included in critic lists of the best black video game characters.

In Their Own Story

Avery Johnson is a Marine sergeant major who leads human forces throughout the Halo series. He and a few other Marines survive the destruction of Installation 04 and are rescued by Cortana and the Master Chief during the novel Halo: First Strike. Johnson plays a larger role in Halo 2, joining forces with the Arbiter to stop Tartarus from activating Installation 05. In Halo 3, the Covenant attempt to use him to activate the Halo Array, but are foiled; when the Master Chief decides to activate the local Halo to stop the Flood infestation, the Forerunner construct 343 Guilty Spark kills Johnson to prevent it. Johnson is featured in The Halo Graphic Novel story, "Breaking Quarantine," and a main character in the 2007 novel Halo: Contact Harvest. Johnson is also featured in the real time strategy game Halo Wars 2, as a playable leader for the UNSC.

Reader's Guide

Avery Johnson is a Marine sergeant major who leads human forces throughout the Halo series. He and a few other Marines survive the destruction of Installation 04 and are rescued by Cortana and the Master Chief during the novel Halo: First Strike. Johnson plays a larger role in Halo 2, joining forces with the Arbiter to stop Tartarus from activating Installation 05. In Halo 3, the Covenant attempt to use him to activate the Halo Array, but are foiled; when the Master Chief decides to activate the local Halo to stop the Flood infestation, the Forerunner construct 343 Guilty Spark kills Johnson to prevent it. Johnson is featured in The Halo Graphic Novel story, "Breaking Quarantine," and a main character in the 2007 novel Halo: Contact Harvest. Johnson is also featured in the real time strategy game Halo Wars 2, as a playable leader for the UNSC. In many ways similar to the stereotype of charismatic black Marines found in other science fiction (such as Sergeant Apone in Aliens whom Johnson was partially based on), some critics found Johnson a flat character. Joseph Staten admitted that Johnson was static in Halo: Combat Evolved, and that despite the character's potential, "he sort of inherited those caricature aspects [from Halo]." Contact Harvest was a chance "to do right" by the character. Luke Cuddy identified Johnson's character arc as closely tied to the series' themes of struggle and sacrifice. He has been included in critic lists of the best black video game characters.

Did You Know?

• Johnson was voiced by David Scully in all Halo media until 2013, after which Keston John took over for Halo: Campaign Evolved.
• Johnson is partially based on Sergeant Apone from the film Aliens.
• Joseph Staten admitted Johnson was static in Halo: Combat Evolved, and that Contact Harvest was a chance 'to do right' by the character.
• Johnson has been included in critic lists of the best black video game characters.
• Luke Cuddy identified Johnson's character arc as closely tied to the series' themes of struggle and sacrifice.