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The Authority #2
The Authority, Vol. 2: Under New Management
Are we ready for yet another take on superhero morality?Let's hope so, because The Relentless retools old ideas for a new century. Warren Ellis has his heroes think globally as they kick butt locally, stopping or slowing down to consider how they can use their powers to "make the world a better place."How he can pull this off in our oh-so-ironic age is an artistic mystery, but the results are superheroes with believable personalities and community spirit. Two story arcs, each encompassing terror and evil on a global scale, pit the group of seven against armies of superhumans dispatched in scenes reminiscent of the best action movies. Many of the characters from the older Stormwatch series reappear here, and fans will be pleased to learn that Ellis has, if anything, improved his depth and storytelling prowess.Bryan Hitch's penciling, Paul Neary's inking, and Laura Depuy's coloring are all equally responsible for the gloriously lovely artwork--from interdimensional spaceships to dismembered spinal cords, they make saving the world beautiful. --Rob Lightner
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2000
3 people are currently reading
585 people want to read
About the author
Warren Ellis
1,972 books5,771 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
December 30, 2019
A fresh look at superhero teams or a clever satire on the genre?
Maybe a little of both.
Warren Ellis, Mark Millar, Bryan Hitch, and Frank Quitely collaborate on The Authority, a group of “post humans” (evoking both Arthur C. Clarke and Theodore Sturgeon) who inhabit an orbiting station and who safeguard the Earth from extraterrestrial menace as well as the pain and suffering we can inflict on each other. Broken up into two stories, the artwork was sharp and crisp, the characters and dialogue pretty good and the storylines provocative.
The second story was the more remarkable as The Authority fights rogue groups of American superhero teams that are none too subtle parodies of Marvel groups, the knockoff faux Avenger team was hilarious.
Fans of the genre will notice many of the Authority characters from the StormWatch comics and publisher WildStorm / DC Comics did a good job of putting together a set of characters that can work together but also provides a fun group dynamic. More than that, Ellis and crew use this as a forum to explore superhuman morality in terms of earthly political and economic problems. Most notable is the relationship between Apollo and Midnighter; a kind of alternate take on the Superman / Batman combo.
Good graphic novel.
Maybe a little of both.
Warren Ellis, Mark Millar, Bryan Hitch, and Frank Quitely collaborate on The Authority, a group of “post humans” (evoking both Arthur C. Clarke and Theodore Sturgeon) who inhabit an orbiting station and who safeguard the Earth from extraterrestrial menace as well as the pain and suffering we can inflict on each other. Broken up into two stories, the artwork was sharp and crisp, the characters and dialogue pretty good and the storylines provocative.
The second story was the more remarkable as The Authority fights rogue groups of American superhero teams that are none too subtle parodies of Marvel groups, the knockoff faux Avenger team was hilarious.
Fans of the genre will notice many of the Authority characters from the StormWatch comics and publisher WildStorm / DC Comics did a good job of putting together a set of characters that can work together but also provides a fun group dynamic. More than that, Ellis and crew use this as a forum to explore superhuman morality in terms of earthly political and economic problems. Most notable is the relationship between Apollo and Midnighter; a kind of alternate take on the Superman / Batman combo.
Good graphic novel.
September 26, 2015
Spoiler warning:
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In my opinion, the relationship between Midnighter and Apollo is enough to justify the existence of this entire series.
So yeah, if you've ever wondered what Superman and Batman would be like if they were in a long-term relationship, this is probably the best example you're going to find without hitting the fanfiction sites.
It's not campy or tongue-in-cheek, either. It's not the focus of the series either. In fact, one of my favorite parts of the story is that it's not until near the end of this second trade paperback that I became aware that they were in a gay relationship. I'd thought they were just a crime-fighting duo.
Only after I realized that, certain comments suddenly make better sense. In the later books, you see more of them together. You see them fight. See their frustration and affection for each other. It's marvelous.
I ship it.
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In my opinion, the relationship between Midnighter and Apollo is enough to justify the existence of this entire series.
So yeah, if you've ever wondered what Superman and Batman would be like if they were in a long-term relationship, this is probably the best example you're going to find without hitting the fanfiction sites.
It's not campy or tongue-in-cheek, either. It's not the focus of the series either. In fact, one of my favorite parts of the story is that it's not until near the end of this second trade paperback that I became aware that they were in a gay relationship. I'd thought they were just a crime-fighting duo.
Only after I realized that, certain comments suddenly make better sense. In the later books, you see more of them together. You see them fight. See their frustration and affection for each other. It's marvelous.
I ship it.
November 27, 2009
This volume actually deserves two ratings. Warren's story is four star and a grand send off to his run on this 'Justice League' big screen movie of a comic that he created.
Mark Millar's stuff would be lucky to get half a star with his too many weak attempts at clever dialogue, his lame rip off of marvel characters (which he's made a career out of, come to think about it) his idea that that a mature title must involve lots of cussing, sex and all the characters should be jerks.
In fact, I think Millar set some kind of land speed record for driving a comic book into the ground.
Plus, this was back in the day, when Frank Quitely drew everyone too thin and with that same constipated expression.
I think the only thing I did like about Millar's story was him turning Jack Kirby into a mad scientist. That was kind of cute.
Mark Millar's stuff would be lucky to get half a star with his too many weak attempts at clever dialogue, his lame rip off of marvel characters (which he's made a career out of, come to think about it) his idea that that a mature title must involve lots of cussing, sex and all the characters should be jerks.
In fact, I think Millar set some kind of land speed record for driving a comic book into the ground.
Plus, this was back in the day, when Frank Quitely drew everyone too thin and with that same constipated expression.
I think the only thing I did like about Millar's story was him turning Jack Kirby into a mad scientist. That was kind of cute.
February 3, 2008
Per my review of the Volume 1 trade paperback, this volume had to make up for a couple glaring sins. As in, I wanted real characters with moderately nuanced plotlines. Volume 2 delivers. Not in spades, and not even graciously, but delivers nonetheless. Mostly because Warren Ellis didn't write the second storyline collected here. That didactic bastard was replaced with another didactic bastard who delights in writing commentary on Marvel Comics characters. Which feels like the autoerotic navel-gazing of literary theorists discussing other literary theorists, but it works for a time.
Unfortunately, the second storyline also replaces the original penciler with Frank Quitely, who can draw no other face but Richard Nixon's.
Since the stories in the first volume destroyed all sense of scale (what can you do next when you've already saved China from being turned into an alien rape camp?), Ellis was left with no choice in his next story but to kill God. And not even in an interesting Nietzschean way. He just needed a sentient geometrical shape to blow the shit out of. I cannot fully express my disdain for Warren Ellis. He never grew out of D&D. (No way, man! My chicken-headed demon has the Seven Rings of Ventuzla! The only way you could top that is to summon a Krambonian army of lava-god lizard-spitters. Which you can't do. Bitch.)
I hope he chokes on his own faux profundity.
With Millar writing "The Nativity," the prospects look a bit brighter. There are a few moments of heartbreaking tenderness here which, though they enter clumsily and exit like a colon blow, are quite lovely for the three panels they last. And Millar at least has a sense of what's actually evocative to readers older than thirteen. I'm sorry, the potential alien rape of an entire country's worth of cartoon characters doesn't make me turn pages like a drooling maniac. (I also never owned Magick: The Gathering cards.) But the rape of Apollo, my homo hero, by a Captain Amerika look-alike? And three tender panels of his lover's reaction? Thank you for the real writing.
It's worth the purchase for "The Nativity." I apologize beforehand that you'll have to slog through Ellis' vomitus.
Unfortunately, the second storyline also replaces the original penciler with Frank Quitely, who can draw no other face but Richard Nixon's.
Since the stories in the first volume destroyed all sense of scale (what can you do next when you've already saved China from being turned into an alien rape camp?), Ellis was left with no choice in his next story but to kill God. And not even in an interesting Nietzschean way. He just needed a sentient geometrical shape to blow the shit out of. I cannot fully express my disdain for Warren Ellis. He never grew out of D&D. (No way, man! My chicken-headed demon has the Seven Rings of Ventuzla! The only way you could top that is to summon a Krambonian army of lava-god lizard-spitters. Which you can't do. Bitch.)
I hope he chokes on his own faux profundity.
With Millar writing "The Nativity," the prospects look a bit brighter. There are a few moments of heartbreaking tenderness here which, though they enter clumsily and exit like a colon blow, are quite lovely for the three panels they last. And Millar at least has a sense of what's actually evocative to readers older than thirteen. I'm sorry, the potential alien rape of an entire country's worth of cartoon characters doesn't make me turn pages like a drooling maniac. (I also never owned Magick: The Gathering cards.) But the rape of Apollo, my homo hero, by a Captain Amerika look-alike? And three tender panels of his lover's reaction? Thank you for the real writing.
It's worth the purchase for "The Nativity." I apologize beforehand that you'll have to slog through Ellis' vomitus.
November 2, 2015
I enjoyed this volume a little more than the first.
This one has two storylines. In the first, we find out that that supremely powerful alien that created the Earth years ago has returned, and wants the Earth back. But first, it wants to get rid of all the pesky humans crowding up the planet. So the Authority has to face it's biggest test yet: a giant alien with the power of a god.
Next was my personal favorite. The Authority has to battle an evil version of the Avengers. Obviously they aren't referred to in that way, but it's obvious who they are supposed to be. You have an evil Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Giant Man, Vision, and Wasp. Jenny Sparks, the "leader" of the Authority, is reincarnated every 100 years. She's just been reborn at the turn of the century, and the "evil Avengers" are sent to either murder or retrieve her as an infant, and of course the Authority will stand in their way.
The art is great, as we have both Bryan Hitch, and Frank Quitely. This is some of the best work I've seen from Quitely, as I really think his earlier work was better than his later work, but that's all a matter of opinion.
Overall, a very strong volume showing comics still have plenty of original stories to be told.
This one has two storylines. In the first, we find out that that supremely powerful alien that created the Earth years ago has returned, and wants the Earth back. But first, it wants to get rid of all the pesky humans crowding up the planet. So the Authority has to face it's biggest test yet: a giant alien with the power of a god.
Next was my personal favorite. The Authority has to battle an evil version of the Avengers. Obviously they aren't referred to in that way, but it's obvious who they are supposed to be. You have an evil Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Giant Man, Vision, and Wasp. Jenny Sparks, the "leader" of the Authority, is reincarnated every 100 years. She's just been reborn at the turn of the century, and the "evil Avengers" are sent to either murder or retrieve her as an infant, and of course the Authority will stand in their way.
The art is great, as we have both Bryan Hitch, and Frank Quitely. This is some of the best work I've seen from Quitely, as I really think his earlier work was better than his later work, but that's all a matter of opinion.
Overall, a very strong volume showing comics still have plenty of original stories to be told.
July 11, 2013
Jenny's last Hurrah by Ellis is good [7/10], but then Millar shows he just doesn't get it, equating the Authority with brutality and misunderstanding what the Spirit of the Century is [3/10]. I hate that this volume is marred by Millar's tripe.
April 26, 2023
It's clear Mark Miller knew from the beginning of his comics career where the line was and he immediately crossed it.
September 11, 2013
Received from fellow Goodreads member, Martin - Thanks Martin.
Even though I hadn't read volume 1, I liked this. The setting is a believable world where the heroes have decided to make the Earth a better place by directly involving themselves in world events. While all the while having classic world menacing super-hero events.
I now have a problem... I liked this and I'll want to read the other stories... but dammit! my comic-book stories budget is already stretched over its limit!
Even though I hadn't read volume 1, I liked this. The setting is a believable world where the heroes have decided to make the Earth a better place by directly involving themselves in world events. While all the while having classic world menacing super-hero events.
I now have a problem... I liked this and I'll want to read the other stories... but dammit! my comic-book stories budget is already stretched over its limit!
August 2, 2013
5 stars for Warren Ellis' story arc, Mark Millar's gets downgraded to 2. Millar really is pretty awful, isn't he? Great ideas, but unable to focus on any of them long enough to develop them properly. Not remotely interested in building his characters, either. Shame.
December 7, 2023
A great ending to Warren's story, a solid opening for Miller. Miller basically brings the Avengers, but screwed up shitty versions of them to the universe of Authority where they try to take care of them. The Authority don't bow to anyone though and strike back hard. Good stuff all around.
September 2, 2018
I had never read these stories before. They're a mixed bag. The first story line has the team killing God, or at least the Earth's creator. Might have been more shocking if Preacher hadn't already done this in a more satisfying and up front way.
Then the next story sees the team go up against rogue superhero killers with no conscience. This was the riff that Garth Ennis turned into a 60-episode series in The Boys, but it's nicely thrown away here with some casual nastiness.
There's no urgent need to pick up more of these collections, but if I come across them cheaply enough, I could stand to read some more.
Then the next story sees the team go up against rogue superhero killers with no conscience. This was the riff that Garth Ennis turned into a 60-episode series in The Boys, but it's nicely thrown away here with some casual nastiness.
There's no urgent need to pick up more of these collections, but if I come across them cheaply enough, I could stand to read some more.
November 23, 2019
Buzzword readathon #11
Fuck Mark Millar.
I'm tempted to just leave that as my review but I need to rant so... let's go. Starting with the positives, the first half of this (the Ellis/Hitch half) is just as wonderful as the volume that came before. With the end of the century and Jenny's impending death there are some really great character moments, and they kill god which is just pretty cool. I forgot to mention this in my review of the first volume so even though it's less relevant I'll do it here: Bryan Hitch is very good at drawing action, which not a lot of comic book artists can say.
The second half... sigh. So, the second arc of this was written by Mark Millar and drawn by Frank Quitely. Lets deal with the art first because I have less to say about it. It's bad. Everyone's face looks (in the words of a comment I saw) like a wrinkly testicle, Apollo and Jack faring the worst, and judging by the way he draws Jenny I'm going to guess that Quitely has never seen a baby in his entire life.
Moving onto the Millar of it all. It's no secret that I think Mark Millar is a bad writer who confuses edginess with depth, and this may be one of his worst offences. Putting aside the just boring plot where the villains are faux Avengers and that whole mess because we need to talk about an even bigger mess. I unfortunately forgot that part of Millar's edginess concerned his rampant sexism, ableism, homophobia, etc. Honestly, this page can probably sum up the sexism in this pretty well. It's not "women are awful" levels of misogyny, it's slightly more subtle than that and Midnighter's first line of dialogue written by Millar just made my skin crawl. And no, Quitely doesn't get a pass on this front because what the actual hell is that position Angie's in.
There's also just an underlying meanness and cynicism to Millar's writing, and not to say that the Authority wasn't cynical and mean, it was just those things in a different way. Millar's writing of the team doesn't make them seem close; at times, it makes them seem like they hate each other. Ellis' banter would be biting and playful whereas Millar's is all bite, no play.
He also has one of the two gay characters raped by faux Captain America for no reason. And we all know Millar's issue with rape in comics.
The Ellis/Hitch half is a five-star and the Millar/Quitely half is minus a million, so I figured a three was fair. I'm just really disappointed. So, I'm going to end this review the way I started it.
Fuck Mark Millar.
Fuck Mark Millar.
I'm tempted to just leave that as my review but I need to rant so... let's go. Starting with the positives, the first half of this (the Ellis/Hitch half) is just as wonderful as the volume that came before. With the end of the century and Jenny's impending death there are some really great character moments, and they kill god which is just pretty cool. I forgot to mention this in my review of the first volume so even though it's less relevant I'll do it here: Bryan Hitch is very good at drawing action, which not a lot of comic book artists can say.
The second half... sigh. So, the second arc of this was written by Mark Millar and drawn by Frank Quitely. Lets deal with the art first because I have less to say about it. It's bad. Everyone's face looks (in the words of a comment I saw) like a wrinkly testicle, Apollo and Jack faring the worst, and judging by the way he draws Jenny I'm going to guess that Quitely has never seen a baby in his entire life.
Moving onto the Millar of it all. It's no secret that I think Mark Millar is a bad writer who confuses edginess with depth, and this may be one of his worst offences. Putting aside the just boring plot where the villains are faux Avengers and that whole mess because we need to talk about an even bigger mess. I unfortunately forgot that part of Millar's edginess concerned his rampant sexism, ableism, homophobia, etc. Honestly, this page can probably sum up the sexism in this pretty well. It's not "women are awful" levels of misogyny, it's slightly more subtle than that and Midnighter's first line of dialogue written by Millar just made my skin crawl. And no, Quitely doesn't get a pass on this front because what the actual hell is that position Angie's in.
There's also just an underlying meanness and cynicism to Millar's writing, and not to say that the Authority wasn't cynical and mean, it was just those things in a different way. Millar's writing of the team doesn't make them seem close; at times, it makes them seem like they hate each other. Ellis' banter would be biting and playful whereas Millar's is all bite, no play.
He also has one of the two gay characters raped by faux Captain America for no reason. And we all know Millar's issue with rape in comics.
The Ellis/Hitch half is a five-star and the Millar/Quitely half is minus a million, so I figured a three was fair. I'm just really disappointed. So, I'm going to end this review the way I started it.
Fuck Mark Millar.
August 10, 2007
I read comics instead of watching television, alot of comics. Anyways, if you dont, you should look into trade paperback collections of comics - call 'em graphic novels if it makes you feel better. There is alot of great stuff out there if you know where to start.
I like superhero stories, I think its great mythology. But if you grow tired of politically naive mainstream comics throwing out stories where Superman puts the Stars and Stripes back on its pole after saving the world from [fill in the blank], consider looking at The Authority. The Authority is a superhero story with all the safeties off: these heroes kill, swear, show up to a brawl drunk, hold political beliefs, wind up in bed with each other after the victory party, and set out not just to preserve the status quo but, in the words of leader Jenny Sparks: "Bugger all, I want a better world." Apollo and Midnighter are my favorite gay couple. I like this volume because it offers four of the comic industry's best: Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch, Mark Millar, and Frank Quietly.
I like superhero stories, I think its great mythology. But if you grow tired of politically naive mainstream comics throwing out stories where Superman puts the Stars and Stripes back on its pole after saving the world from [fill in the blank], consider looking at The Authority. The Authority is a superhero story with all the safeties off: these heroes kill, swear, show up to a brawl drunk, hold political beliefs, wind up in bed with each other after the victory party, and set out not just to preserve the status quo but, in the words of leader Jenny Sparks: "Bugger all, I want a better world." Apollo and Midnighter are my favorite gay couple. I like this volume because it offers four of the comic industry's best: Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch, Mark Millar, and Frank Quietly.
November 21, 2012
This trade paperback contains two stories:
In "Outer Dark", Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch say goodbye to their creation by ending their run on The Authority and kill "God" (or Warren Ellis' version of it). They also kill off Jenny Sparks, the leader of the team. Hitch keeps delivering his usual high-quality art and Ellis is his usual brilliant self. 4 stars for this story.
In "The Nativity", Mark Millar and Frank Quitely begin their run on the title, and right out of the gate you notice a change in the tone (it's darker - but also funnier) & the pace (it's faster). Fortunately for us fans of The Authority there's still plenty of violence to be found. In this story the team must rescue a baby (who is the reincarnation of Jenny Sparks, their former leader) from rip-offs of Marvel's Avengers and their creator, an evil Jack Kirby, who wants control of the baby so he can shape the events of the 21st century. 5 HUGE stars for this incredible story, one of my all-time favourites.
In "Outer Dark", Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch say goodbye to their creation by ending their run on The Authority and kill "God" (or Warren Ellis' version of it). They also kill off Jenny Sparks, the leader of the team. Hitch keeps delivering his usual high-quality art and Ellis is his usual brilliant self. 4 stars for this story.
In "The Nativity", Mark Millar and Frank Quitely begin their run on the title, and right out of the gate you notice a change in the tone (it's darker - but also funnier) & the pace (it's faster). Fortunately for us fans of The Authority there's still plenty of violence to be found. In this story the team must rescue a baby (who is the reincarnation of Jenny Sparks, their former leader) from rip-offs of Marvel's Avengers and their creator, an evil Jack Kirby, who wants control of the baby so he can shape the events of the 21st century. 5 HUGE stars for this incredible story, one of my all-time favourites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2010
Ellis' final storyline is suitably thought-provoking, funny and dare I say epic. The invasion from outer space starts weird and mysterious, kicks into high gear early and doesn't let up.
Millar (or apparently Grant Morrison, if the rumors are true) then turns the arrogance, take-no-prisoners & funny up to maximum in the takeover of the book. Hit the ground running, emerge with a flashbang, call it whatever you like, this is *The Authority* as I remember it from the first time I devoured these stories. And even though Quitely has a tendency to draw heads like they've been through a pile driver, it's art that totally suits the balls-out writing.
Millar (or apparently Grant Morrison, if the rumors are true) then turns the arrogance, take-no-prisoners & funny up to maximum in the takeover of the book. Hit the ground running, emerge with a flashbang, call it whatever you like, this is *The Authority* as I remember it from the first time I devoured these stories. And even though Quitely has a tendency to draw heads like they've been through a pile driver, it's art that totally suits the balls-out writing.
August 9, 2011
Impresionante, como evidencia mi reseña del primer Absolute español, pero lo amarreteo para abajo porque cada saguita no está tan buena en sí como el gran resultado final. De todos modos, cuando lo relea seguro le haga una reseña específica a cada una y ahí probablemente termine redondeando pa'rriba de nuevo.
January 4, 2010
I’ve read Transmetropolitan, and you, sir, are no Transmetropolitan! Oh well.
April 26, 2022
Very fun read: a highly violent superhero comic where the league of heroes are real, flawed people and actually try to stop war and fight late stage capitalism. It made an interesting but somewhat forgettable Vol 1 into a 4 star overall arc for me. Some great concepts (the bleed, Carrier, the Doctor and Jack Hawksmoor) and better fleshed our characters (at least for me coming into these stories fresh w/o any wider DC comics context.)
November 14, 2023
Revisiting this book exactly 23 years after publication I can safely say neither author’s take on the characters has aged well and you can safely avoid in favor of other pastimes like whittling and macrame.
August 1, 2024
The first story written by the original set of authors is alright kinda weird but ends on a cool idea. The second story is pretty good and the switch of authors make it seem like the team is heading in a new direction.
April 22, 2023
I ALMOST gave this a 3 but the ending and the satire of America is just TOO good. I’m so pumped for the film!!!
December 23, 2020
Well, this is where I gave up. Just as Ellis seems to really find his mojo in "Outer Dark", with a very Lovecraftian approach (and as always, Bryan Hitch's mind-blowing art; hence, the reasons for the second star), they are replaced by Mark Millar and Frank Quietly in the next storyline.
Don't get me wrong, I generally love Quietly's art, but he was a bad fit for Authority, especially when compared to Hitch. Then, there's Millar, who was completely off the mark in writing this title. This was supposed to be larger-than-life mega-superhero storytelling and he just turns it into yet another of his edgy, street-level bloodbaths.
I skimmed though the other two volumes, where even the art gets worse and that is when I decided this was an overrated comic, possibly from a time when nothing better was on offer.
Too bad...
Don't get me wrong, I generally love Quietly's art, but he was a bad fit for Authority, especially when compared to Hitch. Then, there's Millar, who was completely off the mark in writing this title. This was supposed to be larger-than-life mega-superhero storytelling and he just turns it into yet another of his edgy, street-level bloodbaths.
I skimmed though the other two volumes, where even the art gets worse and that is when I decided this was an overrated comic, possibly from a time when nothing better was on offer.
Too bad...
March 7, 2015
The title of this volume carries a double meaning as the creative team changes midway through the book. Warren Ellis finishes his run in style, and then Mark Millar and Frank Quitely take over. There's a shift in tone that's somewhat jarring. We go from cosmic adventure to ultraviolent superhero parody, as the Authority battle a team of superpowered individuals who are not really the Avengers. I love Mark Millar as a writer, but this probably isn't his best work, though it could be considered as a dry run for The Ultimates. Once you get used to the shift in tone, the series continues in fine style.
April 10, 2012
Entertaining. Interesting concepts. Somewhat extreme violence and sex references here & there.
The illustrators Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates) and Frank Quitely are awesome.
The illustrators Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates) and Frank Quitely are awesome.
March 30, 2022
Reprints The Authority (1) #9-16 (January 2000-August 2000). New Year’s Eve 1999 is rapidly approaching, and a threat has come to Earth. What could essentially be described as “God” has come to reclaim the planet and humanity is not something it wants to deal with. The only thing standing in its way is the Authority…and Jenny Sparks as the Spirit of the 20th Century must live up to her title…leading to a drastic change in the Authority and a new lease on life for the world (and not everyone will be happy about it).
Written by Warren Ellis and Mark Millar, The Authority Volume 2: Under New Management is a DC Comics-Wildstorm superhero comic book collection. Following The Authority Volume 1: Relentless, the series features art by Bryan Hitch and Frank Quitely. The issues in the collection were also featured in The Authority—Book 1, The Authority—Book 2, and The Authority Omnibus.
I loved The Authority when it was released. It was new and exciting and it made perfect sense. If you have the power to help the world…help the world. You might have to be proactive, but it is something possible. Rereading The Authority, you can see where modern comics have evolved from The Authority for better or worse.
This collection features a change in power (both in writing and story). Ellis hands off his writing to Millar the first part of the storyline. It involves the bigger “Spirit of the 20th Century” story that Ellis was also exploring within Planetary. The year 1999 comes and Jenny Sparks goes…it is the end of Ellis’s run. It is too bad that time ran out, but it was nice that Ellis got to realize his storyline.
Millar’s run sets out to find the new “spark” with the essence of Jenny and the Spirit of the 21st Century, but it also feels like what Ellis was building to. The Authority becomes proactive…really proactive. They make the first strike and their actions get them in conflict with the world powers including the United States. This is pre-9-11 and kind of feels like it. While I think it holds, 9-11 gave a different look at the Authority which kind of acts as their own terrorist cell even if they are acting in the best interest of the world.
The Authority changed the direction of comics. It was big and bold and was a radical idea. I loved it…but kind of hate what it did. It Is like a genie that couldn’t be put back in the bottle. Why would superheroes spend their time dealing with dorky villains when they can actually change the world? It is logical but not fun. The Authority 2: Under New Management was followed by The Authority 3: Earth Inferno and Other Stories.
Written by Warren Ellis and Mark Millar, The Authority Volume 2: Under New Management is a DC Comics-Wildstorm superhero comic book collection. Following The Authority Volume 1: Relentless, the series features art by Bryan Hitch and Frank Quitely. The issues in the collection were also featured in The Authority—Book 1, The Authority—Book 2, and The Authority Omnibus.
I loved The Authority when it was released. It was new and exciting and it made perfect sense. If you have the power to help the world…help the world. You might have to be proactive, but it is something possible. Rereading The Authority, you can see where modern comics have evolved from The Authority for better or worse.
This collection features a change in power (both in writing and story). Ellis hands off his writing to Millar the first part of the storyline. It involves the bigger “Spirit of the 20th Century” story that Ellis was also exploring within Planetary. The year 1999 comes and Jenny Sparks goes…it is the end of Ellis’s run. It is too bad that time ran out, but it was nice that Ellis got to realize his storyline.
Millar’s run sets out to find the new “spark” with the essence of Jenny and the Spirit of the 21st Century, but it also feels like what Ellis was building to. The Authority becomes proactive…really proactive. They make the first strike and their actions get them in conflict with the world powers including the United States. This is pre-9-11 and kind of feels like it. While I think it holds, 9-11 gave a different look at the Authority which kind of acts as their own terrorist cell even if they are acting in the best interest of the world.
The Authority changed the direction of comics. It was big and bold and was a radical idea. I loved it…but kind of hate what it did. It Is like a genie that couldn’t be put back in the bottle. Why would superheroes spend their time dealing with dorky villains when they can actually change the world? It is logical but not fun. The Authority 2: Under New Management was followed by The Authority 3: Earth Inferno and Other Stories.
May 13, 2017
People. Do not. Talk like this in real life. Also, Midnighter and Apollo in a gay relationship and being the Batman and Superman clones that they are is about 85% of the reason most people like this series. I will be judging it on other things.
So Stormwatch was a bust for me, and so is the first part of this Authority series. I just don't think Warren Ellis knows how to write proper dialogue. Mark Millar for all his flaws, makes this comic a little more bearable but still not enough to keep me reading.
Every conflict the Authority has faced in the first two volumes was mindless evil. Every resolution was a Dues Ex Machina that makes you roll your eyes. A lot of the appeal is that you can read this series without '75 years of Marvel/DC' baggage behind it but if you want that done well, read Astro City. This comic is like the anti Astro City. It's everything that was stylistically terrible about 90's comics mixed with cheesy dialogue.
Some of the ideas are cool, like Midnighter and Apollo. That's still not enough to call this a good series. Especially when every time Midnighter is about to fight he whips out the old "I've fought this fight a million times already. You lost when you got out of bed this morning/You lost before you even showed up/You lost before you were even born". Every. Damn. Time.
The art was nothing special. Even Quitely's art which I usually love seemed awfully muted.
Overall, a series with good ideas but awful execution.
So Stormwatch was a bust for me, and so is the first part of this Authority series. I just don't think Warren Ellis knows how to write proper dialogue. Mark Millar for all his flaws, makes this comic a little more bearable but still not enough to keep me reading.
Every conflict the Authority has faced in the first two volumes was mindless evil. Every resolution was a Dues Ex Machina that makes you roll your eyes. A lot of the appeal is that you can read this series without '75 years of Marvel/DC' baggage behind it but if you want that done well, read Astro City. This comic is like the anti Astro City. It's everything that was stylistically terrible about 90's comics mixed with cheesy dialogue.
Some of the ideas are cool, like Midnighter and Apollo. That's still not enough to call this a good series. Especially when every time Midnighter is about to fight he whips out the old "I've fought this fight a million times already. You lost when you got out of bed this morning/You lost before you even showed up/You lost before you were even born". Every. Damn. Time.
The art was nothing special. Even Quitely's art which I usually love seemed awfully muted.
Overall, a series with good ideas but awful execution.
January 16, 2020
De verdad intento que me guste esta wea.
Nos presentan una colección de personajes muy interesantes, que a simple vista, pintan ser memorables, pero no hay nada de eso.
El equipo es muy completo e innovador, y supongo que funcionan por separado, es decir, tenemos a una de las parejas gay pioneras en los cómics, una líder súper experimentada y ruda, una heroína con poderes poco usados y convencionales, como lo es la tecnología, una nave con mente propia... Y así podría seguir con los 7 miembros, pero no creo que valga la pena.
Este Volumen se enfocó en Jenny Sparks, la "lider" del equipo, y dude, esa mujer ha vivido como 100 años, y ha pasado por todas las décadas revolucionarias, Like 80's, 50's, etc.
Aún y con todo eso, es un personaje aburridísimo, que no sale de su torpe circulo de decir una frase matona y fumarse un cigarrillo.
Simplemente no supieron aprovecharla.
La historia es muy aburrida y monótona, y en medida que avanzo, pienso que se queda cada vez más estancada.
Le bajaré una estrella completa solo por el comentario homofóbico de Swift a mitad del volumen, no normalicen las palabras ofensivas.
Nos presentan una colección de personajes muy interesantes, que a simple vista, pintan ser memorables, pero no hay nada de eso.
El equipo es muy completo e innovador, y supongo que funcionan por separado, es decir, tenemos a una de las parejas gay pioneras en los cómics, una líder súper experimentada y ruda, una heroína con poderes poco usados y convencionales, como lo es la tecnología, una nave con mente propia... Y así podría seguir con los 7 miembros, pero no creo que valga la pena.
Este Volumen se enfocó en Jenny Sparks, la "lider" del equipo, y dude, esa mujer ha vivido como 100 años, y ha pasado por todas las décadas revolucionarias, Like 80's, 50's, etc.
Aún y con todo eso, es un personaje aburridísimo, que no sale de su torpe circulo de decir una frase matona y fumarse un cigarrillo.
Simplemente no supieron aprovecharla.
La historia es muy aburrida y monótona, y en medida que avanzo, pienso que se queda cada vez más estancada.
Le bajaré una estrella completa solo por el comentario homofóbico de Swift a mitad del volumen, no normalicen las palabras ofensivas.
July 21, 2024
TL;DR big invasions keep happening and making everyone worried while the team flies around picking off individual swarms but failing to stop the army from overwhelming Earth until finally Jenny Sparks realizes she can do a big electrical storm and neutralize the threat.
That is what happens in each arc across the Ellis/Hitch run of this series. It gets so much credit for wild, out there ideas and big inventive stories but it is shocking how there is literally only one Warren Ellis Authority story and he recycles it every time.
I also feel like people are always talking about how The Authority, like, solves world political problems and holds all the warring countries and world leaders accountable, but that just never actually happens in this series. They pay a little lip service to it anytime Jenny gets all big and does her little broadcast, but it’s never something that’s actually shown happening.
I wanted to like this series a hell of a lot more than I actually do.
That is what happens in each arc across the Ellis/Hitch run of this series. It gets so much credit for wild, out there ideas and big inventive stories but it is shocking how there is literally only one Warren Ellis Authority story and he recycles it every time.
I also feel like people are always talking about how The Authority, like, solves world political problems and holds all the warring countries and world leaders accountable, but that just never actually happens in this series. They pay a little lip service to it anytime Jenny gets all big and does her little broadcast, but it’s never something that’s actually shown happening.
I wanted to like this series a hell of a lot more than I actually do.
August 22, 2023
I like the snark, I like the fact that the heroes are allowed to be assholes and swear, y'know, like adults. Is this the forerunner of 'The Boys'?
The knock-off Marvel/DC characters I could do without, but it's all that with the leash more or less off. Suitable for kids (They blanked out the %^£*!"& swear words and it's not THAT violent), but it's less polite. Might look into this more. Met The Authority meeting Superman - meh. This is just a little different.
Both stories here have plenty of merit.
The knock-off Marvel/DC characters I could do without, but it's all that with the leash more or less off. Suitable for kids (They blanked out the %^£*!"& swear words and it's not THAT violent), but it's less polite. Might look into this more. Met The Authority meeting Superman - meh. This is just a little different.
Both stories here have plenty of merit.
March 28, 2024
Second foray into the world of the Authority. The end of the first arc in this book is actually surprising and a touching sendoff of the original Ellis / Hitch run. Mark Millar and Frank Quitely's next arc is pure early 2000s boundary pushing comic. The pastiche of other companies' heroes is amplified but enhances rather than reading like a shortcut. The weirdness is increasing and I am still liking it. Interested to see Millar continue pushing boundaries, but still waiting for more character development.
Read via DC Universe Infinite.
Read via DC Universe Infinite.
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