Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Amazing, June 27, 2004
This 1999 collection consists of issues #1-#12 of the Authority made up of the three initial storylines, The Circle, Shiftships, Outer Dark that introduces this unique and innovative superhero concept to readers."The Circle" is the introduction to the team of superheroes up against an old foe in the Wildstorm universe who sets his country of Gamorra against the rest of the world. "Shiftships" bring the team up against an invading alternate dimension. And "Outer Dark" is the climax of the first three stories that changes the team and sets up the next half in Volume 2. The Authority is made up of characters that are an homage to your traditional comic superheroes. There's Apollo, "The Sun God" with Superman-like powers. The Midnighter, "Night's Bringer of War", a fighter who has had enhancement made on his body to make him like the ultimate Batman warrior. The Engineer, "The Maker" whose liquid metal technology lets her make her body into anything. The Doctor, "The Shaman" in touch with the world who can bend reality to his liking. Jack Hawksmoor, "The God of Cities" controls and communicates with cities. Swift, "The Winged Huntress" an angel-like bird of prey. And enigmatic Jenny Sparks, "The Spirit of the 20th Century". The stories are written by Warren Ellis of Transmetropolitan, Planetary, Global Frequency, and currently Ultimate Fantastic Four fame. His stories are amazing from their grand opening to issues and eye-popping cliffhangers and the unique spin he takes on superheroes as those who do not fight a weekly badguy, but those that try to make a difference and change the world. Penciller Bryan Hitch first caught my eye in the Ultimates and through his run on the Justice League. What he brings to the work is beautifully portrayed art that makes his pencilling almost paintlike. The movements and expressions of his characters are near life-like and his action scenes seem like something plucked out of a blockbuster movie. The "special features" that come at the end of this edition is a set of script pages from the first storyarc. This is definitely a comic that is a must have on any collector's bookshelf. It's hard to find a copy, but if you do get your hands on one, don't hesitate to take it home.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Agents of Change, December 16, 2007
I was pretty disappointed when Wildstorm cancelled the Stormwatch series, having stuck by the title from day 1 and absolutely loving what Warren Ellis had done for the book. Had I known what Ellis was planning, I never would have worried.
From the literal ashes of Stormwatch (seriously, he killed roughly 90% of the team) comes the Authority, a new breed of superheroes. The Authority was the antidote to an eternity of superhero titles that either tried to preserve the time-honored status quo or out "extreme" each other. Extreme in this case meant bigger guns, smaller IQs, and copious amounts of T&A. The Authority was about a group of heroes who weren't interested in battling the same old villains for the same old reasons. They set out to change the world, operating outside any government's jurisdiction according to their own precepts and morals. I know that sounds potentially fascist, but the book really comes closest to what you'd get if you had real people - complete with emotional issues, baggage, etc. - with the will and the means to actually act on their beliefs and change things for the better.
The Authority's introduction marked a turning point in the industry. This book slammed the brakes on a decade's worth of dumber and meaner and turned the industry towards smarter stories, sharper dialogue, realistic characters, and a higher overall quality standard. That may seem hard to believe given the abundance of great titles released in recent years (All Star Superman, Squadron Supreme/Supreme Power, Daredevil, New X-Men, and the entire Ultimate Marvel line come to mind), but the Authority really seemed to kickstart the whole process. And yes I'm aware that the Vertigo titles had been doing that kind of thing for years, but let's face it, those books were too damned weird for most comics fans in the first place.
I think some of this book's significance is overshadowed by the breakneck pace of the first dozen issues. With the team fighting state-sponsored super-terrorism, invaders from a parallel earth, and what can only be described as God, you don't quite see just how subversive the book was. Mark Millar gets a lot of credit for that on his Authority run, but Warren Ellis was the one who carefully laid that foundation. Re-read his Stormwatch run and the Authority issues collected here and you can see that he was definitely a man with a plan. It's like he was softening all of us up so Millar could come in and kick our collective teeth in. Of course, I think anyone would be receptive to Ellis's message after being so thoroughly dazzled by Bryan Hitch's artwork on this title. Hitch, along with inker Paul Neary and colorist Laura DePuy unleashed powerful cinematic illustrations worthy of the latest blockbuster movie.
It should be obvious by now that I absolutely love this book. I think it's one of the high water marks in the comics industry, and one every serious reader of superhero comics (yes, I know how that sounds) should own.
If you can manage to track down a copy, the Absolute Authority hardcover, which collects the Authority #1-12, is the very best way to experience this groundbreaking series. Not only is the sturdier hardcover format better for preserving the book for the inevitable repeat readings, but the larger page size (roughly 33% larger than the standard comic page) is the perfect format for appreciating Hitch's gorgeous cinematic artwork. It's almost like you could fall right into the pages.
PS - Given the success of these Absolute editions, shouldn't we be seeing an Absolute Stormwatch or two at some point? The Authority is really just the second half of the story.
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by Brian Azzarello
by Mark Millar
by Warren Ellis
by Alan Moore
