For those who have kept up to date with Halo Escalation it was revealed that issue 17 would focus on the origins of a Spartan IV, after issue 16 it was revealed that the name of this Spartan is Tanaka. to my knowledge this name has not appeared before in any type of Halo media which means we are dealing with a new character. It is because of this that I think Tanaka is the Spartan seen on the cover of Spartan Strike.
> 2533274904245048;1:
> For those who have kept up to date with Halo Escalation it was revealed that issue 17 would focus on the origins of a Spartan IV, after issue 16 it was revealed that the name of this Spartan is Tanaka. to my knowledge this name has not appeared before in any type of Halo media which means we are dealing with a new character. It is because of this that I think Tanaka is the Spartan seen on the cover of Spartan Strike.
I’m thinking the same about her being on the cover of SS. Also, Spartan Tanaka was briefly listed in the Halo 5 imdb page as being voiced by Cynthia McWilliams so she’s actually important. The entry is gone now though. Fun line of thought: since SS takes place in an ONI simulation, could Tanaka be an ONI Spartan like Locke? Would fit with my personal theory that ONI will be getting increasingly suspicious of the Infinity command crew, perhaps thinking that Lasky and Palmer are allied with Halsey after two failures to kill her and their obvious covering of eachothers backs, sending their own people in train with them but in reality watch over them since they have no real evidence against either or the authority to dismiss them without it. Its going to be long month waiting for the new issue >.<
I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
> 2533274811493831;3:
> I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
I know right 
> 2533274811493831;3:
> I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
My guess would be that Ray is going to be joining Majestic Team, while Tanaka is going to be joining #TeamLocke with Buck and Romeo.
> 2533274811493831;3:
> I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
because she is a mole recruited by scruggs for the admiral drake.
seriously though Im personally not sure what fans see in rays character, she can ultimately be any one of any named/nameless spartan. speaking of no name Spartans. Spartan strike had a premature release(
). im surprised no one has released this info but the spartan in strike is just called spartan and has no character to speak of. i hope this is not Tanaka.
i also hope Tanaka is a spartan 3 (Lucy or Tom) but its unlikely as 343 wants us to like dem spartan 4s.
> 2533274830366691;6:
> > 2533274811493831;3:
> > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
>
>
> because she is a mole recruited by scruggs for the admiral drake.
>
> seriously though Im personally not sure what fans see in rays character, she can ultimately be any one of any named/nameless spartan. speaking of no name Spartans. Spartan strike had a premature release(). im surprised no one has released this info but the spartan in strike is just called spartan and has no character to speak of. i hope this is not Tanaka.
>
> i also hope Tanaka is a spartan 3 (Lucy or Tom) but its unlikely as 343 wants us to like dem spartan 4s.
Hey we members of the I love Ray club take offense to your accusation!!! Take it back
> 2533274834210712;5:
> > 2533274811493831;3:
> > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
>
>
> My guess would be that Ray is going to be joining Majestic Team, while Tanaka is going to be joining #TeamLocke with Buck and Romeo.
From my understanding she already part of Majestic.
> 2533274793162835;8:
> > 2533274834210712;5:
> > > 2533274811493831;3:
> > > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
> >
> >
> >
> > My guess would be that Ray is going to be joining Majestic Team, while Tanaka is going to be joining #TeamLocke with Buck and Romeo.
>
>
> From my understanding she already part of Majestic.
yeah I’m pretty sure she was transferred after Scruggs killed the rest of Jack-knife
> 2533274863266427;7:
> > 2533274830366691;6:
> > > 2533274811493831;3:
> > > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
> >
> >
> >
> > because she is a mole recruited by scruggs for the admiral drake.
> >
> > seriously though Im personally not sure what fans see in rays character, she can ultimately be any one of any named/nameless spartan. speaking of no name Spartans. Spartan strike had a premature release(). im surprised no one has released this info but the spartan in strike is just called spartan and has no character to speak of. i hope this is not Tanaka.
> >
> > i also hope Tanaka is a spartan 3 (Lucy or Tom) but its unlikely as 343 wants us to like dem spartan 4s.
>
>
> Hey we members of the I love Ray club take offense to your accusation!!! Take it back
i shall redact my accusation when my question is answered to my satisfaction😈.
beside she became a part of the narrative when Scruggs got messed up royal. just saying character goes this long without a back story that means there disposable or a plot device. watched enough Walking Dead, BSG and GoT. #OPERATION: OFFSCREEN
> 2533274811493831;3:
> I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
That’s what it thought the two issues were going to be about. But as long as Tanaka isn’t a throw away character, I am not going to be to bothered.
> 2533274830366691;10:
> > 2533274863266427;7:
> > > 2533274830366691;6:
> > > > 2533274811493831;3:
> > > > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > because she is a mole recruited by scruggs for the admiral drake.
> > >
> > > seriously though Im personally not sure what fans see in rays character, she can ultimately be any one of any named/nameless spartan. speaking of no name Spartans. Spartan strike had a premature release(). im surprised no one has released this info but the spartan in strike is just called spartan and has no character to speak of. i hope this is not Tanaka.
> > >
> > > i also hope Tanaka is a spartan 3 (Lucy or Tom) but its unlikely as 343 wants us to like dem spartan 4s.
> >
> >
> >
> > Hey we members of the I love Ray club take offense to your accusation!!! Take it back
>
>
> i shall redact my accusation when my question is answered to my satisfaction😈.
>
> beside she became a part of the narrative when Scruggs got messed up royal. just saying character goes this long without a back story that means there disposable or a plot device. watched enough Walking Dead, BSG and GoT. #OPERATION: OFFSCREEN
Personally I liked Ray as soon as I saw all that Hair (Can’t be regulation length :p) but I also liked that she wasn’t portrayed as your typical stereotypical GI Jane and plus she has some badass armor. But to be honest I do suspect that Ray is up to something she was introduced on a whim with little to no backstory or character development she’s obviously being set up to turn. I hope I’m not right though because she makes me fan girl at the sight of her.
> 2533274863266427;12:
> > 2533274830366691;10:
> > > 2533274863266427;7:
> > > > 2533274830366691;6:
> > > > > 2533274811493831;3:
> > > > > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > because she is a mole recruited by scruggs for the admiral drake.
> > > >
> > > > seriously though Im personally not sure what fans see in rays character, she can ultimately be any one of any named/nameless spartan. speaking of no name Spartans. Spartan strike had a premature release(). im surprised no one has released this info but the spartan in strike is just called spartan and has no character to speak of. i hope this is not Tanaka.
> > > >
> > > > i also hope Tanaka is a spartan 3 (Lucy or Tom) but its unlikely as 343 wants us to like dem spartan 4s.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hey we members of the I love Ray club take offense to your accusation!!! Take it back
> >
> >
> >
> > i shall redact my accusation when my question is answered to my satisfaction😈.
> >
> > beside she became a part of the narrative when Scruggs got messed up royal. just saying character goes this long without a back story that means there disposable or a plot device. watched enough Walking Dead, BSG and GoT. #OPERATION: OFFSCREEN
>
>
> Personally I liked Ray as soon as I saw all that Hair (Can’t be regulation length :p) but I also liked that she wasn’t portrayed as your typical stereotypical GI Jane and plus she has some badass armor. But to be honest I do suspect that Ray is up to something she was introduced on a whim with little to no backstory or character development she’s obviously being set up to turn. I hope I’m not right though because she makes me fan girl at the sight of her.
Ray is certainly an interesting one. The biggest tidbit we know about her is that she spent 4 years working SIGINT. This makes her induction in the Spartans quite intriguing as SIGINT/EWAR is a highly specialised job that requires quite a bit of training and the posts for those specialists are kept a good distance away from any fighting (except when that post is in a warship CIC, obviously). Its all special forces stuff but not quite the same as the door-kicking/Boom stuff Spartans do and wouldn’t allow much time for cross-training. There’s a story there that aches to be told. Note that while SIGINT/EWAR would point to ONI on the surface, most military branches even in our time maintain their own SIGINT capabilities so she could be a squid (navy ) for all we know.
Is it racist to suggest that Tanaka will be Japanese and being one who see’s his/herself as a japanse warrior.
> 2533274863266427;12:
> > 2533274830366691;10:
> > > 2533274863266427;7:
> > > > 2533274830366691;6:
> > > > > 2533274811493831;3:
> > > > > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > because she is a mole recruited by scruggs for the admiral drake.
> > > >
> > > > seriously though Im personally not sure what fans see in rays character, she can ultimately be any one of any named/nameless spartan. speaking of no name Spartans. Spartan strike had a premature release(). im surprised no one has released this info but the spartan in strike is just called spartan and has no character to speak of. i hope this is not Tanaka.
> > > >
> > > > i also hope Tanaka is a spartan 3 (Lucy or Tom) but its unlikely as 343 wants us to like dem spartan 4s.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hey we members of the I love Ray club take offense to your accusation!!! Take it back
> >
> >
> >
> > i shall redact my accusation when my question is answered to my satisfaction😈.
> >
> > beside she became a part of the narrative when Scruggs got messed up royal. just saying character goes this long without a back story that means there disposable or a plot device. watched enough Walking Dead, BSG and GoT. #OPERATION: OFFSCREEN
>
>
> Personally I liked Ray as soon as I saw all that Hair (Can’t be regulation length :p) but I also liked that she wasn’t portrayed as your typical stereotypical GI Jane and plus she has some badass armor. But to be honest I do suspect that Ray is up to something she was introduced on a whim with little to no backstory or character development she’s obviously being set up to turn. I hope I’m not right though because she makes me fan girl at the sight of her.
this must be the reason i haven’t taken to her… Dat Hair so used to Kats regulation Crew cut… Accusation redacted😉.
> 2533274830366691;15:
> > 2533274863266427;12:
> > > 2533274830366691;10:
> > > > 2533274863266427;7:
> > > > > 2533274830366691;6:
> > > > > > 2533274811493831;3:
> > > > > > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > because she is a mole recruited by scruggs for the admiral drake.
> > > > >
> > > > > seriously though Im personally not sure what fans see in rays character, she can ultimately be any one of any named/nameless spartan. speaking of no name Spartans. Spartan strike had a premature release(). im surprised no one has released this info but the spartan in strike is just called spartan and has no character to speak of. i hope this is not Tanaka.
> > > > >
> > > > > i also hope Tanaka is a spartan 3 (Lucy or Tom) but its unlikely as 343 wants us to like dem spartan 4s.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hey we members of the I love Ray club take offense to your accusation!!! Take it back
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > i shall redact my accusation when my question is answered to my satisfaction😈.
> > >
> > > beside she became a part of the narrative when Scruggs got messed up royal. just saying character goes this long without a back story that means there disposable or a plot device. watched enough Walking Dead, BSG and GoT. #OPERATION: OFFSCREEN
> >
> >
> >
> > Personally I liked Ray as soon as I saw all that Hair (Can’t be regulation length :p) but I also liked that she wasn’t portrayed as your typical stereotypical GI Jane and plus she has some badass armor. But to be honest I do suspect that Ray is up to something she was introduced on a whim with little to no backstory or character development she’s obviously being set up to turn. I hope I’m not right though because she makes me fan girl at the sight of her.
>
>
> this must be the reason i haven’t taken to her… Dat Hair so used to Kats regulation Crew cut… Accusation redacted😉.
And here I thought I was the only one who took issue with Ray’s ludicrous hair. Seriously, one of these days it’s going to get her killed when it gets on her face during combat.
> 2533274848433317;16:
> > 2533274830366691;15:
> > > 2533274863266427;12:
> > > > 2533274830366691;10:
> > > > > 2533274863266427;7:
> > > > > > 2533274830366691;6:
> > > > > > > 2533274811493831;3:
> > > > > > > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > because she is a mole recruited by scruggs for the admiral drake.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > seriously though Im personally not sure what fans see in rays character, she can ultimately be any one of any named/nameless spartan. speaking of no name Spartans. Spartan strike had a premature release(). im surprised no one has released this info but the spartan in strike is just called spartan and has no character to speak of. i hope this is not Tanaka.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > i also hope Tanaka is a spartan 3 (Lucy or Tom) but its unlikely as 343 wants us to like dem spartan 4s.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Hey we members of the I love Ray club take offense to your accusation!!! Take it back
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > i shall redact my accusation when my question is answered to my satisfaction😈.
> > > >
> > > > beside she became a part of the narrative when Scruggs got messed up royal. just saying character goes this long without a back story that means there disposable or a plot device. watched enough Walking Dead, BSG and GoT. #OPERATION: OFFSCREEN
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Personally I liked Ray as soon as I saw all that Hair (Can’t be regulation length :p) but I also liked that she wasn’t portrayed as your typical stereotypical GI Jane and plus she has some badass armor. But to be honest I do suspect that Ray is up to something she was introduced on a whim with little to no backstory or character development she’s obviously being set up to turn. I hope I’m not right though because she makes me fan girl at the sight of her.
> >
> >
> >
> > this must be the reason i haven’t taken to her… Dat Hair so used to Kats regulation Crew cut… Accusation redacted😉.
>
>
> And here I thought I was the only one who took issue with Ray’s ludicrous hair. Seriously, one of these days it’s going to get her killed when it gets on her face during combat.
cough Cal-141 cough
Also helmets, and hats in general, are quite good in keeping hair from moving. Mind you, she should still keep that in a bun for appearances sake <.<
> 2533274865717713;17:
> > 2533274848433317;16:
> > > 2533274830366691;15:
> > > > 2533274863266427;12:
> > > > > 2533274830366691;10:
> > > > > > 2533274863266427;7:
> > > > > > > 2533274830366691;6:
> > > > > > > > 2533274811493831;3:
> > > > > > > > I’m a bit surprised that they are introducing a new character. Why couldn’t they make an origin for Spartan Ray?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > because she is a mole recruited by scruggs for the admiral drake.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > seriously though Im personally not sure what fans see in rays character, she can ultimately be any one of any named/nameless spartan. speaking of no name Spartans. Spartan strike had a premature release(). im surprised no one has released this info but the spartan in strike is just called spartan and has no character to speak of. i hope this is not Tanaka.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > i also hope Tanaka is a spartan 3 (Lucy or Tom) but its unlikely as 343 wants us to like dem spartan 4s.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hey we members of the I love Ray club take offense to your accusation!!! Take it back
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > i shall redact my accusation when my question is answered to my satisfaction😈.
> > > > >
> > > > > beside she became a part of the narrative when Scruggs got messed up royal. just saying character goes this long without a back story that means there disposable or a plot device. watched enough Walking Dead, BSG and GoT. #OPERATION: OFFSCREEN
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Personally I liked Ray as soon as I saw all that Hair (Can’t be regulation length :p) but I also liked that she wasn’t portrayed as your typical stereotypical GI Jane and plus she has some badass armor. But to be honest I do suspect that Ray is up to something she was introduced on a whim with little to no backstory or character development she’s obviously being set up to turn. I hope I’m not right though because she makes me fan girl at the sight of her.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > this must be the reason i haven’t taken to her… Dat Hair so used to Kats regulation Crew cut… Accusation redacted😉.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > And here I thought I was the only one who took issue with Ray’s ludicrous hair. Seriously, one of these days it’s going to get her killed when it gets on her face during combat.
>
>
>
>
> cough Cal-141 cough
>
> Also helmets, and hats in general, are quite good in keeping hair from moving. Mind you, she should still keep that in a bun for appearances sake <.<
I never liked Cal’s hair either, though I always chalked that one up to artistic license/anime being anime like the rest of Legends.
That, and hair length regulations should still be a thing.
> 2533274816487930;14:
> Is it racist to suggest that Tanaka will be Japanese and being one who see’s his/herself as a japanse warrior.
Family names over the past few centuries have become less and less stringent upon a person’s racial, religious, or ancestral background. Colonization, slavery, and other forms of cultural assimilation have seen surnames adopted or forced upon people. People are now free to legally change their names to whatever they’d like, for a multitude of reasons, and with significantly more freedom with marriage, people can drop and adopt names.
One of the more prevalent reasons nowadays is a makeup of bi- and multi-racial families. Globalization, also due in part to the very first examples I gave, have saw people easily come together from all walks of life everywhere to commingle and start a family. As that family ages across the generation that name will stick but the genetic fabric will be diluted considerably. For example, I’m the second generation of a mixed race family. My paternal grandparents were totally white and black, my father was half black and my mother is almost entirely white, and my siblings and I have varying light skin tones to the point that we’re visibly white.
Tanaka is visibly black (Escalation) and so is her voice actress, Cynthia McWilliams (IMDB, website). Finding yourself right in the middle of two cultures is really hard. It’s made even harder when the racial makeup of that cultural is considerably homogenous, and while you share that race as an ancestral trait, your appearance doesn’t suggest it. There is nothing to suggest that Spartan Tanaka has any connection to Japanese culture beyond her name. One of her parents might have divorced at one point and thus she took the name of her adopted step-parent.
So, yeah. It kind of is racist to suggest that everyone with Japanese ancestry sees themselves as the caricature that you’re thinking of, clad in Hayabusa armor and eschewing an assault rifle for a katana.
> 2533274791742477;19:
> > 2533274816487930;14:
> > Is it racist to suggest that Tanaka will be Japanese and being one who see’s his/herself as a japanse warrior.
>
>
> Family names over the past few centuries have become less and less stringent upon a person’s racial, religious, or ancestral background. Colonization, slavery, and other forms of cultural assimilation have seen surnames adopted or forced upon people. People are now free to legally change their names to whatever they’d like, for a multitude of reasons, and with significantly more freedom with marriage, people can drop and adopt names.
>
> One of the more prevalent reasons nowadays is a makeup of bi- and multi-racial families. Globalization, also due in part to the very first examples I gave, have saw people easily come together from all walks of life everywhere to commingle and start a family. As that family ages across the generation that name will stick but the genetic fabric will be diluted considerably. For example, I’m the second generation of a mixed race family. My paternal grandparents were totally white and black, my father was half black and my mother is almost entirely white, and my siblings and I have varying light skin tones to the point that we’re visibly white.
>
> Tanaka is visibly black (Escalation) and so is her voice actress, Cynthia McWilliams (IMDB, website). Finding yourself right in the middle of two cultures is really hard. It’s made even harder when the racial makeup of that cultural is considerably homogenous, and while you share that race as an ancestral trait, your appearance doesn’t suggest it. There is nothing to suggest that Spartan Tanaka has any connection to Japanese culture beyond her name. One of her parents might have divorced at one point and thus she took the name of her adopted step-parent.
>
> So, yeah. It kind of is racist to suggest that everyone with Japanese ancestry sees themselves as the caricature that you’re thinking of, clad in Hayabusa armor and eschewing an assault rifle for a katana.
In that case i aplogise for a racial assumption.
also i didn’t know she was black.