Hornsby & Halo, Vol. 1: Nature vs Nurture

Hornsby & Halo #1-6

by Peter J. Tomasi (Writer), Peter Snejbjerg (Illustrator), John Kalisz (Colorist)

It's Good vs. Evil from the minds of PETER J. TOMASI (Batman and Robin, Super Sons) and PETER SNEJBJERG (Starman, BPRD)! Keeping the cosmic peace isn’t easy. But the opposing leaders of Heaven and Hell broker a deal that trades Zachary Halo, an angel child, to a corrupt family, and Rose Hornsby, a demon child, to a loving family, and hope this truce will halt the winds of war. It’s Nature versus Nurture, as the turbulence of adolescence comes crashing down on two teenagers who have no idea just who and what they truly are...yet. Collects HORNSBY & HALO #1-6

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2025

About the author

Peter J. Tomasi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, such as Batman And Robin; Superman; Super Sons; Batman: Detective Comics; Green Lantern Corps; and Superman/Wonder Woman; as well as Batman: Arkham Knight; Brightest Day; Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors; Nightwing; Black Adam, and many more.

In the course of his staff career at DC Comics, Tomasi served as a group editor and ushered in new eras for Batman, Green Lantern, and the JSA, along with a host of special projects like Kingdom Come.

He is also the author of the creator-owned titles House Of Penance with artist Ian Bertram; Light Brigade with artist Peter Snejbjerg; The Mighty with Keith Champagne and Chris Samnee; and the critically acclaimed epic graphic novel The Bridge: How The Roeblings Connected Brooklyn To New York, illustrated by Sara DuVall and published by Abrams ComicArts.

In 2018 New York Times best-selling author Tomasi received the Inkpot Award for achievement in comics.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory
Notes: Strangeness-facing, shock and chasing, fairly story-weak, while up to snuff, all polished stuff, not special nor unique.

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issue #1 ◦ Issues #2-3 ◦ Issues #4-5 ◦ Issue #6

[Tom Zilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A baby angel and a baby demon are adopted by families on Earth to prevent a war between Heaven & Hell but their supernatural properties start to manifest and all hell & heaven starts to break loose.
This is a fun breezy read so far with some funny moments.

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hornsby & Halo: Nature vs Nurture" is a paranormal teen angst melodrama about a demon and an angel that were purposefully swapped at birth and placed with mortal families in an attempt to avert all out war between the forces of good and evil. There is not a lot to this first volume, but the character development of the teen protagonists and the hijinks they get caught up in are well enough done for most readers to justify sticking around for future developments.

Expect, above average and playful artwork, tweens befuddled by emerging powers and feelings, a lot of PG13 villainy, biker demons, slow speed zombie action and a paranormal blue mentor that seems to be a cross between a sphinx and th genie from Disney's Aladdin.

Please Note: I read this first volume in single issue format. I will revise this review once the trade comes out if needed.

[Odo · Rating 3 out of 5]

5.5/10

[Will Robinson Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry from the creators at the Ghost Machine imprint. The one thing I will give GHOST MACHINE they are certainly bringing some fresh new ideas to the comic book medium or at the least those of us that still enjoy our super powers/capes books. This is actually the second entry I have read from writer Peter Tomasi. I have actually been collecting his other series "The Rocketfellers". There some really great concepts he is utilizing on that book. It feels like a Meet the Robinsons slash The Incredibles style read. If I were to describe Hornsby & Halo it feels like a more kid friendly version of Constatine. Which is a surprising concept to pull for a family friendly style superhero book. I mean we are diving in religion, philosophy of fate vs choice, and what is good? These are some heavy topics for Tomasi to cover in what ultimately is teen superhero fair. The book ius well illustrated and the colors are used effectively. Some the coloring effects look really good and give some of the supernatural beings a dream like quality. The story is simple enough and Tomasi does a great job establishing Halo's & Hornsby's voices. There opposite experiences with friends & family really makes for good story moments. An eventhough clearly Tomasi has made our young heroes stakes high, he has grounded the story to being a quest for Halo & Hornsby to find acceptance and deciding to either run away from or towards their fate. My only gripe is that we do not get a since of who the main antagonist is going to be in this series. Tomasi leaves the main villain as kind of vaughe. I would like to at least been introduced to the main threat. Also the book kind of just stops with out a natural conclusion. It felt like Tomasi had more to cover but for the sake of this volume he just had to stop where he did. I definitely want to read the next entry but I was waiting for a twist or a smoking gun that would have really made me say,"I got to pick up the next volume." But all in all, Tomasi is an incredible comic storyteller especially when it comes to writing young characters. His "Super Sons" run at DC comics will always be legendary to me. But if you are looking for a teenage superhero book a bit different from the usual fair you can't go wrong with this series. Well done, Ghost Machine, I have not picked up a stinker yet. The Indie comic book scene is really firing on all cylinders. Here are a few Tomasi books I'd recommend readers checkout if you want to read more of his work: Super Sons Omnibus, Superman by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus, Green Lantern Corps by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus Vol. 1, Batman and Robin by Peter Tomasi & Patrick Gleason Omnibus, & The Rocketfellers, Vol. 1. And don't miss these great books from GHOST MACHINE: Rook: Exodus, Volume 1: Fight or Flight, Redcoat Volume 1: Einstein & The Immortal, Geiger, Vol. 1, & Junkyard Joe.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stop me if you've heard this one - an angel & a demon have to live on earth. The demon lives with nice parents. The angel lives with awful ones. Chaos ensues.

This story picks up when the kids are 13, and Heaven and Hell come calling to try and bring them back to take their rightful places as rulers of their respective domains. Unfortunately, the kids have no idea what they're talking about, and end up having to deal with zombies, a biker gang, and a trip through their realms while trying to cope with all these new revelations.

This is very much a story about the two kids, Zach and Rose - their parents are touched on a little, just enough to know that the good ones are good and the bad ones are terrible, but the two kids are front and centre, even if they shouldn't be. You never forget that they're kids either - be it their reactions to certain things or the fact that they can't reach the pedals in their stolen vehicle.

Peter Snejberg's art is clean, concise, and consistent across all six issues. He's got a timeless style that works perfectly here, and there are certain things, especially when the kids visit Heaven and Hell, that look really beautiful.

It's been a long time since I read a Tomasi book, but I'm glad to have him back on my shelves thanks to Ghost Machine.

[Mhorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what I like better about this irreverent comic. The story by Tomasi, or the brilliant, clean art by Snejberg. Maybe it's a tie. Part of The Ghost Machine imprint under Image comics, this is a totally fun book and I don't understand why the low rating. The story flies along and the two main characters, Rose and Zachary, one a child of light, the other of dark, each raised by parents from the opposite side (Kind of like Darkseid and Allfather trading children to have peace, and we know how that worked out), it's a really fun comic. Being an Atheist, I find the religion parts laughable, as I don't really understand how anyone can believe the bible or any other religious tomes left over from basically the bronze and early middle ages, without laughing, I still enjoy the comic. Not nearly as disrespectful to religion as Ennis brilliant Preacher comic (avoid the lame TV series), but a lot of fun.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a simple premise but I thought it was done well. An angel and a demon are switched as babies in order to avert a war between heaven and hell. The angel is adopted by terrible parents while the demon is adopted by an altruistic couple. When they hit 13, they both begin to discover who they are. Tomasi and Snejberg have worked together several times and every time I've enjoyed their collaborations.

[Trike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A truce between Heaven and Hell has them send a baby angel to grow up with evil parents and a baby demon to grow up with good parents. It’s an odd set-up (angels and demons have babies?) but intriguing enough. What happens next is pretty much by the numbers and a little too decompressed but it’s an easy 30-minute read. I’m not sure I’ll remember to read the next installment because I’m not completely hooked, but if that premise sounds cool to you then have at it. It’s not the least bit scary.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a perfectly fine comic aimed towards early teens

Good, clear storytelling in the art, all well enough written - but like Rocketfellers, also written by Thomasi, it feels a bit directionless. Taking a bit too long to get where it’s going and I don’t enjoy the world or the cast quite enough to read in any further.

[Matthew DeLeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Took a chance... was pleasantly surprised.

[Brandon’s Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5