The Authority: Revolution, Vol. 2

The Authority #8

by Ed Brubaker, Richard Friend (Illustrator), Dustin Nguyen (Illustrator)

Former StormWatch Weatherman Henry Bendix has returned from the dead and is busy remolding the Earth to his unique vision. But what ever happened to "Earth’s Last of Defense," the Authority? After the debacle in the nation’s capital that led to the destruction of Washington, DC, they relinquished control of the United States and all but vanished. How long can tyranny stand before heroes will rise up? Can a teenage Jenny Quantum reunite the fractured team and make them heroes again – or has Bendix finally won the battle?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Fiction, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Ed Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.

In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's like anybody who became a superstar writer was involved at some point with The Authority, kicked off by Warren Ellis, then drawn by Bryan Hitch, then dream teamed by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, then two issues drawn by Arthur Adams! And now Ed Brubaker continues his story that features the disappearance of the Authority; will they ever comeback? Who is Johnny Quantum and what are his plans to bring back The Authority? 6 out of 12.

2017 read, 2011 read

[Centauri · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT

was really disappointed with this one, especially considering how great volume 1 was.

it started out decent (which was okay since these stories tend to truly follow the rising and falling arcs of story making) but it never got better. though it answered one of the greatest questions in the authority universe regarding the carrier, the plot, climax, and resolution seemed over-rushed and far too simple. they defeated their enemy way too easy, especially considering how drastic the world altered because of said enemy.

i was just disappointed because it seemed like they never really cared for the ending. it could have remained finished with volume 1 and would have been far better, in my opinion

[***Dave Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second volume turns out to be better than the first, if only because it pays off the 12-issue series with plenty of "How many awesome things can the good/bad guys do?" fun, and plenty of Brubaker conspiracy and grittiness. In the end, this one *feels* like the Authority. Which is a good thing.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making Jenny the protagonist and heart of the book did wonders. My favorite Authority story since those first twelve issues, I think.

[Desmond Killian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! So glad I stuck around to see The Authority become this book. They're kind of like this crazy post-human family: Baby Jenny, her two dads, and all these weird aunts and uncles. They might have these huge blow-out fights, but then they make up and save the world from Poop God or Evil Britain or whatever. Brubaker and Nguyen leave the book after this, but, before I catch up with The Lost Year, I've got to go back and read Human on the Inside and Coup d'Etat. See you then!

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel that this series ended better than it started. Still too juvenile for me, but maybe that's mant to be a criticism of the villains and that we aren't meant to hold these people up. Most characters I found are very similar to Rorschach in that people really like them when they are portrayed as awful, sociopaths.

Nguyen's art still isn't for me here.

A digital read. Not sure if I'll order Authority omnibus 2.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot against the Authority becomes apparent and Jenny Quantum grows up. It's revealed the Bendix was plotting against them.

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the Authority disbanded, occult groups are carrying out an insidious plan in the US. Midnighter has gone rogue. Apollo is worried about Jenny who discovers that the Doctor is missing - his body is dead, but his soul hasn't joined the previous Doctors and his power hasn't transferred to the next Doctor.

Jenny visits some alternate dimension where the souls of the previous Jennys reside. She returns with knowledge about Bendix and she also ages a bit which gives her more control over her awesome powers. She reunites the old team members and assumes control. She is sounding more and more like Jenny Sparks - as in gratuitously vulgar.

Bendix is ready for them. He has been preparing for a confrontation for a long time. He had the Doctor killed and has captured his successor. His believes that capitalism and corporations are the way of the future.

Jenny finds and frees the new Doctor. The Authority is ready to fight, though there are still animosities between its members. Before they can catch a breath, Bendix and several henchmen, including Rose Tattoo, teleport onto their carrier, splits them up using the carrier's doors and turns Midnighter against them, using his enhancements. Jenny develops a plan not even Midnighter's nanites foresee. Bendix is defeated (and gruesomly killed) and his carrier is commandeered by the Authority, since their old carrier got destroyed.

[Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

A thoroughly lackluster attempt at being a halfway between the Ellis-era intelligence and characterization and the Millar-era(cringe) super-grunge.
I used to be a fan of Brubakers' stuff in high school but stopped reading him because he seemed to only be able to write either gritty crime books or contrived espionage thrillers.
He seemed to only have a superficial understanding of what made Ellis' Stormwatch/Authority runs as good as they were.
Long story short this was almost not worth reading aside from Nguyens' art.
Side note: Jenny Quantum is an pathetically irritating attempt at a second Jenny Sparks.

[Korynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lacking leadership in the wake of events with teammates scattered as time has passed they discover nearly too late that they must reassemble if they want to stop a madman from destroying them all. And maybe the earth.
With a great deal more swearing all secrets are revealed, more superhero posturing occurs, a supervillain gives his final (?) bow and an annoying teenager is inflicted on the Authority for the rest of continuity to come (poor things).

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying conclusion to an epic storyline! Not much that can be said about this without spoiling things. I mean, it says right on the back cover that Henry Bendix is back from the dead and The Authority have to fight him. And, since it's their book, they're probably ultimately successful. Obviously the pleasure and unexpected bits are in the details of how this all happens. Suffice to say, the details are satisfyingly detail-y. I don't think that spoils anything. Happy reading!

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this was more like it. This volume was more like the early volumes of Authority with suspense and action. The big battle between Henry Bendix and The Authority takes place in this issue, and unlike some final battles, this one lived up to expectations.

There was as lot going on in this battle, and after the dust settles, things aren't just back to status quo. There have been some changes to the team and some new members. Overall a good volume with plenty of action.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't wait to see how the Authority gang took down the arch-enemy. Very suspenseful, fast-paced writing and good honouring of our beloved characters and their universe. Brubaker pulls off a great run on this book. Wish I could say the same for the art - sometimes wondrous, like the Infinite City, but often just rushed-looking with no nuance, complexity or interesting backgrounds.

[F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy clever plot twists, you shouldn't miss out on that epic tale by Ed Brubaker. Within 2 paperbacks (a 12 part maxi series) the writer destroyed and reassembled this team of do-gooders. The Authority works best, when things change. And they do in this story arc - big time.
I should also mention the dynamic art by Dustin Nguyen, which gets proper treatment by Wildstorm FX colors.

[Jase · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book keeps getting better and better. With a little sexy super-villain amongs The Authority, it's about to get good!

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

In itself, a good story, but the many callbacks to the Ellis era of the book really raise it up to the next level.

[Francisco Becerra · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing plot twist and I expected no less for a Bendix return. It was a very clever way to nail each one of the members of the group, and the development of Jenny Quantum was very well done.

[Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review for Volume One.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy shit this series went out on a high note. This was definitely my favorite volume of The Authority I read. The plot kept me very engaged, even if it was surprisingly predictable. the primary reason I loved this volume was the character of Jenny Quantum. She's the "spirit of the 21st Century", the reincarnation of Warren Ellis' first volume's Jenny Sparks, Spirit of the 20th Century. when last we saw her in the previous Brubaker volume, she was a precocious 4 year old who saved the day. She had been officially adopted and raised by the gay superhero couple Apollo and Midnighter. Now years have past and she's 8 years old. Her parents and their team had split up and Apollo is raising her alone. She receives a visit from her 14 year old self, meets several of her past incarnations (Jenny Steam, Jenny Crusade, Jenny Fire, etc) and learns info to save the day again. When she comes back she has instantly aged into her 14 year old self. She starts to become just like the Jenny we remember from the first, taking command of the team, acting ultra confident, even smoking. To which her fathers and team all have to adjust. This dynamic, family based story plays out in the middle of the ridiculous dimension hopping comic book violence plot. It is so great, and really rewards having read the whole series up to this point. I loved it.