Customer Reviews

Authority, The: Kev

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I think this book will polarize many people. It probably wont appeal to the hardcore superhero marvel and DC comic book readers but it may well appeal to some of the old school 2000AD, Starlord types. Up front I have to say I fall into the latter category and I have never really been into Batman, Superman, Spider man etc. I grew up on a diet of Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Robohunter, ABC warriors etc. This book feels like an adult progression of those days so perhaps this is a comic book that appeals to a limited demographic?
The book is a strange mix of gritty British sarcastic humor and over the top alien superhero stuff. I think the SAS stuff works well and the Alien stuff less so. I found it to be an enjoyable read with art that is both clean and appropriate. It is horribly politically incorrect and contains scenes of gore and nudity in profusion but that didnt bother me.
I dont think it works quite as well as the follow on book "A Man Called KEV" but I still found it an enjoyable read. It hasnt made me want to try out any of the authority books.

If you're a fan of over the top superheroics or of the other 'The Authority' collections, this book is probably not for you. Seriously. It has none of the wonder, wit and widescreen formula of those stories written by Warren Ellis or Mark Millar.

What this does have is Garth Ennis...and that's enough for legions of comic fans. Ennis is the creator behind The Pro, Preacher, Dicks, Hitman, and the writer of some of the best stories involving The Punisher. His comics tend to involve characters that overly enjoy drinking, aren't afraid of sex and always dazzle me with their use of violence and profanity. And, most importantly, they always test the boundaries of political correctness, if not those of good taste.

I hate to use the word parody, since it really is The Authority characters, but it's kind of like that. Maybe I should use the term 'social commentary'? How about 'adolescent fanboy fantasy'? What if I just call it 'good fun'?

If this sounds like a good thing to you...and be real, how could it not, these stories won't disappoint.

This volume collects the Authority: Kev story and the More Kev mini-series. I am just unclear as to why these were ever written. Kev seems to exist mostly to annoy the Authority.

Kev is a BAMF working for the British government. He is in an unenviable position because a previous case went very badly (a minister was eaten by a tiger). In the first story Kev is hired to take out the Authority. Kev manages this almost without trying and then his troubles really begin.

In the second story we find out the history of "the thing with the tiger" and some of the current repercussions of it. With most of the Authority Kev must work with Apollo and the Midnighter on a retrieval mission in order to ward of an alien invasion. Of course with Kev involved things get pretty dicey for a while.

I am a big fan of The Authority and many of its related titles but this one just did not do it for me. There always seems to be a point to Authority stories but none can be found here. The distasteful Kev (first seen sitting on the loo) and the bizarre aliens seem to be an attempt and bad twisted humor. Add some less than stellar artwork and a major plot thread that doesn't make sense and you get a book that many will prefer to forget.