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The Authority: Book One
Named by James Gunn as an influence for Gods and Monsters, the first chapter of the new DC Universe film and television slate! This New York Times bestselling story inspires the upcoming film THE AUTHORITY.
The Authority are heroes in only the strictest sense of the word.
Ruthless and unforgiving, this group of insanely powerful superhumans face down countless menaces to Earth, protecting mankind with their cold version of justice. An invasion from an alternate Earth, an international terrorist who is laying waste to major cities and a hostile alien intelligence who calls himself God all fall under their rule.
This is THE AUTHORITY. Pay allegiance. Or get your head kicked in.
Created by legendary writer Warren Ellis ( THE WILD STORM , TRANSMETROPOLITAN ) and artists Bryan Hitch ( JUSTICE LEAGUE ), Paul Neary ( The Ultimates ) and Laura Martin ( WONDER WOMAN ), THE AUTHORITY is considered one of the most groundbreaking titles in modern comics history. Collects issues #1-12, PLANETARY/THE RULING THE WORLD and a new story from A CELEBRATION OF 25 YEARS .
The Authority are heroes in only the strictest sense of the word.
Ruthless and unforgiving, this group of insanely powerful superhumans face down countless menaces to Earth, protecting mankind with their cold version of justice. An invasion from an alternate Earth, an international terrorist who is laying waste to major cities and a hostile alien intelligence who calls himself God all fall under their rule.
This is THE AUTHORITY. Pay allegiance. Or get your head kicked in.
Created by legendary writer Warren Ellis ( THE WILD STORM , TRANSMETROPOLITAN ) and artists Bryan Hitch ( JUSTICE LEAGUE ), Paul Neary ( The Ultimates ) and Laura Martin ( WONDER WOMAN ), THE AUTHORITY is considered one of the most groundbreaking titles in modern comics history. Collects issues #1-12, PLANETARY/THE RULING THE WORLD and a new story from A CELEBRATION OF 25 YEARS .
400 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2023
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Warren Ellis
1,971 books5,765 followersWarren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 5, 2024
The Authority was a really fun read. Written by Warren Ellis and drawn by Bryan Hitch, this is a very good product.
In a world where superhuman villains and threats are a serious problem-we have The Authority. Superhumans who aren't very nice. They are rather brutal and harsh to the bad guys. This reminds me of the Justice League if they were far harsher in their treatment of villains.
This superteam, peopled by some rather interesting characters, will pull out all the stops to protect Earth.This volume collects issues 1-12 of the Authority and some other extras. The stories range from dealing with a madman trying to take over the world, to an invasion from a parallel universe, and even a fight against an entity that could be God.
All the stories are well written. The humor tends to be dark but that works well for this volume. While nothing original, this is a pleasure to read. A good story, good writing, and interesting characters make for a really good comic. The artwork is also really good.
In a world where superhuman villains and threats are a serious problem-we have The Authority. Superhumans who aren't very nice. They are rather brutal and harsh to the bad guys. This reminds me of the Justice League if they were far harsher in their treatment of villains.
This superteam, peopled by some rather interesting characters, will pull out all the stops to protect Earth.This volume collects issues 1-12 of the Authority and some other extras. The stories range from dealing with a madman trying to take over the world, to an invasion from a parallel universe, and even a fight against an entity that could be God.
All the stories are well written. The humor tends to be dark but that works well for this volume. While nothing original, this is a pleasure to read. A good story, good writing, and interesting characters make for a really good comic. The artwork is also really good.
October 4, 2025
Working backwards as a new comics fan is… difficult honestly. Searching “LGBTQ heroes” led me to Midnighter and Apollo, which led me to The Authority, which actually started with StormWatch…
Thankfully, I didn’t let my eyes glaze over and found that my library had this volume. I’m so glad I picked it up.
The writers luckily seemed to figure that clueless readers would need some context and just gave enough without bogging the start of the first arc. From the get-go, I figured from how Jenny Sparks talked and carried herself that she was the leader and has been a leader for a long time.
I was so engaged with the team’s dynamics and their confidence in their abilities—everyone had a role to play and followed with Jenny’s orders because Jenny knew what they were capable of and how to handle the situation before them.
Gamorra Island as a smorgasbord of Asian stereotypes left a lot to be desired and a lot to criticize. (Yeah, I get it, it was 1999, but did Jim Lee really give the go on this?) Other than that, I enjoyed the other stories, which were self-contained and escalated the threat in a believable way.
Unfortunately, my library doesn’t have the next volume, haha, but with where this volume left off, I felt satisfied. Fingers crossed for James Gunn to adapt this! (At the time of writing this, bringing The Authority to the screen seems to be in a flux, so I’m crossing my fingers and my toes.)
Thankfully, I didn’t let my eyes glaze over and found that my library had this volume. I’m so glad I picked it up.
The writers luckily seemed to figure that clueless readers would need some context and just gave enough without bogging the start of the first arc. From the get-go, I figured from how Jenny Sparks talked and carried herself that she was the leader and has been a leader for a long time.
I was so engaged with the team’s dynamics and their confidence in their abilities—everyone had a role to play and followed with Jenny’s orders because Jenny knew what they were capable of and how to handle the situation before them.
Gamorra Island as a smorgasbord of Asian stereotypes left a lot to be desired and a lot to criticize. (Yeah, I get it, it was 1999, but did Jim Lee really give the go on this?) Other than that, I enjoyed the other stories, which were self-contained and escalated the threat in a believable way.
Unfortunately, my library doesn’t have the next volume, haha, but with where this volume left off, I felt satisfied. Fingers crossed for James Gunn to adapt this! (At the time of writing this, bringing The Authority to the screen seems to be in a flux, so I’m crossing my fingers and my toes.)
February 8, 2025
The Authority is without a doubt one of the most ambitious and creatively infused Sci-fi comic I’ve ever read. It’s grand scale and world ending stories make for some of the most entertaining and enjoyable reads you can get.
The writing is fantastic - so witty and dramatic when needed. The characters are so interesting and YES Midnighter and Apollo are basically Batman and Superman, BUT - they’re really good! The twist each character has makes for some fascinating stories. Every character fizzes with individuality and personality, it’s great to just get to know them.
Easily my new favourite thing.
God damn, where has this been all my life?!
The writing is fantastic - so witty and dramatic when needed. The characters are so interesting and YES Midnighter and Apollo are basically Batman and Superman, BUT - they’re really good! The twist each character has makes for some fascinating stories. Every character fizzes with individuality and personality, it’s great to just get to know them.
Easily my new favourite thing.
God damn, where has this been all my life?!
January 3, 2024
A primeira e a terceira histórias são perfeitas! Já queria ler, mas depois do James Gunn anunciar que vai fazer um filme sobre eles teria que o quanto antes, demorou um ano mas veio aí.
November 17, 2024
Very interesting. Not as edgy as maybe I thought. Looking forward to more.
January 5, 2025
Jenny Sparks is a severely under rated character.
September 24, 2025
Was okay, would read more
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews