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The Authority (1999-2002): Book One
This is the Authority. Pay allegiance, or get your head kicked in. Whether they’re up against an invasion from an alternate Earth, an international terrorist who is laying waste to major cities, or a hostile alien intelligence who calls himself God, the Authority are ready for action. Collects The Authority #1-12, Planetary/The Ruling the World, and a story from A Celebration of 25 Years.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 22, 2020
About the author
Warren Ellis
1,926 books5,776 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 37 reviews
August 7, 2025
had some really compelling characters but only about half of them got the time they deserved. this team would certainly thrive on the big screen with multiple films and in a TV series with 1-hour episodes to flesh everyone out. the story attempts to explore some more thought-provoking philosophical ideas but i just don't think they really hit.
August 22, 2024
Not exactly the deepest thing in terms of character arcs and themes, but this 12 issue maxiseries is essentially the biggest and baddest summer blockbuster never made (at least not yet 😉). I was continually blown away by this team's ability to structure, pace, and artistically display comicbooks to emulate the feeling that I thought I could only get a my local multiplex.
June 25, 2024
Not enough Midnighter
March 13, 2024
I mainly bought this because I James Gunn plans to use The Engineer character in his Superman film and because we will be getting an Authority film in the future.
I did really like the characters a lot! They were cool, edgy, end justifies the means characters that attempt to help the world.
This comic apparently made The Boys and Invincible easier to get published as this comic featured brutal violence and heavy themes. Themes that are darker than most justice league and avengers comics at the time. The difference: these characters aren't apathetic, they're trying to help the world in any way they can, however they can.
I swear when you read this, you're going to be wishing Zack Snyder adapted this for the screen. The story lends itself to being R-Rated rather than Justice League. I genuinely feel he would have a field day with this.
My big problem is how plot heavy and science heavy it is. So much so that the plot becomes near impossible to understand. I also felt this way about Ellis' Planetary. Idk, maybe his plotting isn't for me. But he did create engaging characters that I'm excited to see what Mark Millar does with them.
I did really like the characters a lot! They were cool, edgy, end justifies the means characters that attempt to help the world.
This comic apparently made The Boys and Invincible easier to get published as this comic featured brutal violence and heavy themes. Themes that are darker than most justice league and avengers comics at the time. The difference: these characters aren't apathetic, they're trying to help the world in any way they can, however they can.
I swear when you read this, you're going to be wishing Zack Snyder adapted this for the screen. The story lends itself to being R-Rated rather than Justice League. I genuinely feel he would have a field day with this.
My big problem is how plot heavy and science heavy it is. So much so that the plot becomes near impossible to understand. I also felt this way about Ellis' Planetary. Idk, maybe his plotting isn't for me. But he did create engaging characters that I'm excited to see what Mark Millar does with them.
June 7, 2023
The apotheosis of late-90's, early-00's comic book storytelling... in all of the worst ways. Widely touted in its day as the first "widescreen comic", it definitely shares the disaster-movie aesthetic of 90's cinema... It's full of big, spectacular (if not necessarily coherent) sci-fi ideas, pornographic levels of urban destruction and violent death, and a central cast of characters with little to no actual personality aside from snarky, self-satisfied cynicism.
There's a lot of telling as opposed to showing-- characters bragging about the scope of their powers and all the crazy sh*t they can do with 'em. There's also a glut of poetic hyperbole and substituting of abstraction for substance; team leader Jenny Sparks is described as "the Spirit of the 20th Century", whatever the f@$* THAT means, and another character, the Doctor, has powers that only work when he conceptualizes his goals as poetic similies. No wonder Grant Morrison wrote a glowing introduction to this thing.
But good God, is it hard to deal with the edgelord sensibilities at play here. The first storyline is a symphony of racism in which a knock-off Fu Manchu starts attacking world capitals with an army of identical Asian supersoldiers in utilitarian, identical jumpsuits, for no other reason than because he loves committing acts of terrorism. The second arc is filled with a HORRIFYING number of references to sexual violence, and ends with the team committing an act of genocide. And the third... well, the third's just kind of dumb, but you can tell that Warren Ellis was really proud of the idea of his team fighting """God""", even if it's quite a stretch to call the giant alien creature they're battling a god of any kind.
Honestly, the biggest shock I got in reading this is realizing that Joe Kelly's satirical take on these characters, the Elite, weren't nearly as heightened or ridiculous an exaggeration of the Authority as I always thought they were. This team really is a bunch of absurd, braggadocious fascists, who keep hinting at some broader plan to improve the world itself, but only actually end up responding to stupidly cartoonish threats with extreme violence. It's not any smarter than your average J.L.A. comic; in fact, it's a whole helluva lot dumber, because it genuinely seems to think an authoritarian band of super-murderers using hyper-violence to keep the world in order would be a GOOD thing.
... But at least Bryan Hitch's artwork is pretty great.
There's a lot of telling as opposed to showing-- characters bragging about the scope of their powers and all the crazy sh*t they can do with 'em. There's also a glut of poetic hyperbole and substituting of abstraction for substance; team leader Jenny Sparks is described as "the Spirit of the 20th Century", whatever the f@$* THAT means, and another character, the Doctor, has powers that only work when he conceptualizes his goals as poetic similies. No wonder Grant Morrison wrote a glowing introduction to this thing.
But good God, is it hard to deal with the edgelord sensibilities at play here. The first storyline is a symphony of racism in which a knock-off Fu Manchu starts attacking world capitals with an army of identical Asian supersoldiers in utilitarian, identical jumpsuits, for no other reason than because he loves committing acts of terrorism. The second arc is filled with a HORRIFYING number of references to sexual violence, and ends with the team committing an act of genocide. And the third... well, the third's just kind of dumb, but you can tell that Warren Ellis was really proud of the idea of his team fighting """God""", even if it's quite a stretch to call the giant alien creature they're battling a god of any kind.
Honestly, the biggest shock I got in reading this is realizing that Joe Kelly's satirical take on these characters, the Elite, weren't nearly as heightened or ridiculous an exaggeration of the Authority as I always thought they were. This team really is a bunch of absurd, braggadocious fascists, who keep hinting at some broader plan to improve the world itself, but only actually end up responding to stupidly cartoonish threats with extreme violence. It's not any smarter than your average J.L.A. comic; in fact, it's a whole helluva lot dumber, because it genuinely seems to think an authoritarian band of super-murderers using hyper-violence to keep the world in order would be a GOOD thing.
... But at least Bryan Hitch's artwork is pretty great.
September 4, 2024
The Authority
Sorry I caught this twenty two years after it first came out but better late than never, I guess. Absolutely loved this book maybe there'll be a reunion? Hope so but going to Book Two and hoping it will be just as good, this was a must read.
Sorry I caught this twenty two years after it first came out but better late than never, I guess. Absolutely loved this book maybe there'll be a reunion? Hope so but going to Book Two and hoping it will be just as good, this was a must read.
June 2, 2023
Holy fuck that was wild
July 1, 2023
I didn't read any of that Stormwatch stuff, from which this spun out in 1999. But since they're going to do a new TV series or movie or whatever, this was on Prime Reading. I had heard of Midnighter and Apollo since they were brought into the main DC universe a few years ago and recently showed up in "Superman and the Authority" and the Superman Future State stories. The rest of the characters I didn't really know about.
Jenny Sparks and Angie, aka "The Engineer" get the most characterization. Jenny is not immortal, but like Rushdie's Midnight's Children, her birth at the exact turn of the century gives her power. She doesn't age once she's an adult and she has electrical powers. And she's been to a parallel universe where aliens took over Earth in the 1500s and turned much of it into a breeding farm. That universe comes to Jenny's universe and she has to lead the Authority to fight them.
Angie is a young woman who gave up all her blood for nanobots that let her create a robotic shell and lots of neat guns, engines, and devices. I'm not sure how much more is done with her in future volumes, but there was a lot of room to grow.
There's also "the Doctor" (not of the Who variety) who can do environmental magic, like if Captain Planet were a sorcerer or something. And Jack gets power from cities--but only cities. Midnighter is like Batman crossed with Taskmaster of Marvel. Apollo gets power from the sun and most closely is like Superman with the flying and shooting energy and maybe some super strength? There's also Shan who has wings. Maybe because Jack, Shan, Midnighter, and Apollo were in Stormwatch they aren't given a lot of extra characterization.
The first story arc involves superhuman clones. The newly-formed Authority takes them out. And then the parallel world beings. And then some monsters, ending with "God." For all purposes the Authority seems to be doing good. Grant Morrison's introduction makes it sound like they have a hidden agenda, but there's little evidence of that in this volume. Maybe that comes to play later.
Anyway, it was a pretty decent overall. Most of it is action, so it's not going to really make you think too much, but it's not just constant slugfests. There's some weirdness that calls to mind Morrison's Doom Patrol or Gaiman's Sandman, but if that's not your thing there's not too much of that. So basically it's not plain vanilla superhero stuff but it's not so out there that superhero comic fans wouldn't get it.
While there's violence and some gore, there's not nearly as much gore or sexuality as The Boys. By today's standards it's probably a hard PG-13 instead of R-rated. Though Jenny is a lot like a female Billy Butcher--if Butcher had electrical powers.
Hitch's art is good, on par with the DC standard of the late 90s and 2000s. Maybe since this came out in 1999 it's not too 90s in its depiction of people. I mean it's not all guys with huge muscles and women with huge breasts and big hair like a lot of that early-to-mid-90s stuff.
I'd be interested in reading more.
Jenny Sparks and Angie, aka "The Engineer" get the most characterization. Jenny is not immortal, but like Rushdie's Midnight's Children, her birth at the exact turn of the century gives her power. She doesn't age once she's an adult and she has electrical powers. And she's been to a parallel universe where aliens took over Earth in the 1500s and turned much of it into a breeding farm. That universe comes to Jenny's universe and she has to lead the Authority to fight them.
Angie is a young woman who gave up all her blood for nanobots that let her create a robotic shell and lots of neat guns, engines, and devices. I'm not sure how much more is done with her in future volumes, but there was a lot of room to grow.
There's also "the Doctor" (not of the Who variety) who can do environmental magic, like if Captain Planet were a sorcerer or something. And Jack gets power from cities--but only cities. Midnighter is like Batman crossed with Taskmaster of Marvel. Apollo gets power from the sun and most closely is like Superman with the flying and shooting energy and maybe some super strength? There's also Shan who has wings. Maybe because Jack, Shan, Midnighter, and Apollo were in Stormwatch they aren't given a lot of extra characterization.
The first story arc involves superhuman clones. The newly-formed Authority takes them out. And then the parallel world beings. And then some monsters, ending with "God." For all purposes the Authority seems to be doing good. Grant Morrison's introduction makes it sound like they have a hidden agenda, but there's little evidence of that in this volume. Maybe that comes to play later.
Anyway, it was a pretty decent overall. Most of it is action, so it's not going to really make you think too much, but it's not just constant slugfests. There's some weirdness that calls to mind Morrison's Doom Patrol or Gaiman's Sandman, but if that's not your thing there's not too much of that. So basically it's not plain vanilla superhero stuff but it's not so out there that superhero comic fans wouldn't get it.
While there's violence and some gore, there's not nearly as much gore or sexuality as The Boys. By today's standards it's probably a hard PG-13 instead of R-rated. Though Jenny is a lot like a female Billy Butcher--if Butcher had electrical powers.
Hitch's art is good, on par with the DC standard of the late 90s and 2000s. Maybe since this came out in 1999 it's not too 90s in its depiction of people. I mean it's not all guys with huge muscles and women with huge breasts and big hair like a lot of that early-to-mid-90s stuff.
I'd be interested in reading more.
June 4, 2023
I liked but I felt a lack of story proceeding
I kind of liked it. The art style was on poimt and the stories were good, but maybe forgettable in the overall scheme of things. I think it’s because there was no backstory of the characters and no overall plot ongoing, just separated stories and these group of superheroes.
From half the book we see more about Sparks’s back story, which I appreciated. And the last 4 parts story is the only I liked the most and made me more interested in reading more. But as I said, the the other parts in the beginning felt like “filler” stories, didn’t really make much for an overall story or growing of the characters… Which is weird because they were the first stories.
I liked the fact that this group of superheroes kills, is not on a high-horse and helped humanity even after the threat, it is not a common thing to see. You usually see the superheroes destory whole cities during a battle and goodbye.
I’ll maybe read more in the future and I’m excited to watch the uocoming movie!
I kind of liked it. The art style was on poimt and the stories were good, but maybe forgettable in the overall scheme of things. I think it’s because there was no backstory of the characters and no overall plot ongoing, just separated stories and these group of superheroes.
From half the book we see more about Sparks’s back story, which I appreciated. And the last 4 parts story is the only I liked the most and made me more interested in reading more. But as I said, the the other parts in the beginning felt like “filler” stories, didn’t really make much for an overall story or growing of the characters… Which is weird because they were the first stories.
I liked the fact that this group of superheroes kills, is not on a high-horse and helped humanity even after the threat, it is not a common thing to see. You usually see the superheroes destory whole cities during a battle and goodbye.
I’ll maybe read more in the future and I’m excited to watch the uocoming movie!
July 4, 2026
I regret not coming to this story sooner; it was a title I’d long been aware of, but had never actually read. Ultimately, this graphic novel represents a fantastic marriage of story and art—it is a prime example of exactly what the medium can achieve.
As a fan of Bryan Hitch’s work since his Marvel UK days, I can see that this was the turning point that elevated him from an artist to a true storyteller. While Warren Ellis is a fantastic writer, it’s Hitch who gives this title its massive impact. A special shout-out must also go to the brilliant inks by the late Paul Neary (another deeply familiar name from the Marvel UK era).
Did anyone else spot the Dez Skinn reference? A lovely little nod to those classic roots.
Give this a try—especially if you're a fan of The Ultimates. Now, it's time for me to do a bit of exploration into Stormwatch.
As a fan of Bryan Hitch’s work since his Marvel UK days, I can see that this was the turning point that elevated him from an artist to a true storyteller. While Warren Ellis is a fantastic writer, it’s Hitch who gives this title its massive impact. A special shout-out must also go to the brilliant inks by the late Paul Neary (another deeply familiar name from the Marvel UK era).
Did anyone else spot the Dez Skinn reference? A lovely little nod to those classic roots.
Give this a try—especially if you're a fan of The Ultimates. Now, it's time for me to do a bit of exploration into Stormwatch.
May 25, 2026
6.5/10
The Authority is an interesting concept, but it doesn't fully work for me. They are described as far more controlling than the typical superhero team, yet there is only one big instance of this happening. Dialogue is highly expository, and we are told things far more than we are shown them. More frustrating is how little Ellis ends up accomplishing in each issue. Despite each arc being just four issues, it seems they could have all been even shorter. None of the characters get enough screentime, especially Swift and Midnighter. Even so, the book is quite fun, just a little superficial. Bryan Hitch's art is pretty good, and quite cinematic. He does a great job of giving the Authority its tone.
The Authority is an interesting concept, but it doesn't fully work for me. They are described as far more controlling than the typical superhero team, yet there is only one big instance of this happening. Dialogue is highly expository, and we are told things far more than we are shown them. More frustrating is how little Ellis ends up accomplishing in each issue. Despite each arc being just four issues, it seems they could have all been even shorter. None of the characters get enough screentime, especially Swift and Midnighter. Even so, the book is quite fun, just a little superficial. Bryan Hitch's art is pretty good, and quite cinematic. He does a great job of giving the Authority its tone.
June 3, 2026
Entertaining, don’t get me wrong, but it was just frustrating to see the book almost make a point multiple times, just to drop the commentary in the end. You can definitely see the first two storylines as Warren Ellis reckoning with England’s imperialism, but that doesn’t excuse the racist caricature they made the first villain to be. The worst part is that his motivation is really interesting, as well as the reveal at the end where he’s using the blood of the people that died when his country was invaded, but they don’t do anything with it except mention it. I was surprised to see Jenny die so soon, but I didn’t feel anything, so I hope that they develop the characters more in the future, because Angie is the only one that gets to show off her personality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2025
A parte il crossover con Planetary, in cui certi personaggi sono decisamente caratterizzati male, siamo ad un BEL livello: tanta roba, da una resa artistica fluida e dettagliata ad una narrativa che riesce a venderti benissimo l'idea di un gruppo di semidei e di minacce globali, di situazioni al limite dell'impossibile e di una trama orizzontale che riesce a concludersi con un momento di commozione. Mi toccherà recuperare pure stormwatch a questo punto!
October 15, 2025
The Authority operates on grand stakes with intriguing characters conceptually but seem a bit underdeveloped in a way that is not too uncommon with Warren Ellis’s work. That this continuity has been wrapped into the larger DC continuity evokes some deeper question as this feels like a work intended to stand on its own but read alongside its subsequent volume. By itself, aspects of the book feel a bit lacking.
December 27, 2023
Surprisingly enjoyed it
I didn't think I'd like this, due to hating other DC tie-ins, but I did even if it was one crisis after another and had multiverses. But I guess if you have a Justice League with no relationship or emotional drama dysfunction (the absences for the better), you have to throw armies, dimensions, and elder gods at them to have a story.
I didn't think I'd like this, due to hating other DC tie-ins, but I did even if it was one crisis after another and had multiverses. But I guess if you have a Justice League with no relationship or emotional drama dysfunction (the absences for the better), you have to throw armies, dimensions, and elder gods at them to have a story.
September 3, 2023
Respect my authority.
Excellent color artwork. Double tap and read land scape mode. A good team of heros, with a female leader. A little bit of modern sexualized thoughts, not too excessive. Several story arcs even better than the Avengers or jsa. Quite good.
Excellent color artwork. Double tap and read land scape mode. A good team of heros, with a female leader. A little bit of modern sexualized thoughts, not too excessive. Several story arcs even better than the Avengers or jsa. Quite good.
May 20, 2024
Very different kind of book.
I found it quite charming. Can't wait to see the movie once it comes out. I kind of fell in love with these characters very fast. I am a newbie to them but I loved every minute of this book.
I found it quite charming. Can't wait to see the movie once it comes out. I kind of fell in love with these characters very fast. I am a newbie to them but I loved every minute of this book.
October 9, 2024
The Authority
Amazing artwork, superb composition, exciting storylines. The Authority has all this and more. Helmed by Warren Ellis this is collaborative work that is simply excellent.
Amazing artwork, superb composition, exciting storylines. The Authority has all this and more. Helmed by Warren Ellis this is collaborative work that is simply excellent.
October 10, 2025
I mean, it was a really good story! I loved Jenny Sparks, but it feels like they sacrificed everyone else's character development and screen time to have Jenny continuously be British and smoke and shit. Just for The Engineer and Apollo and Midnighter, I don't care for anyone else 😔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2021
It’s weird and I love it.
April 11, 2023
Toss me a ride like.this.more often
From the get go this was an over fused adventure ride to save the world. That ratcheted up with each story arc and it never failed to deliver.
From the get go this was an over fused adventure ride to save the world. That ratcheted up with each story arc and it never failed to deliver.
April 27, 2023
Riveting read!
A thought provoking and highly entertaining book! You will be enthralled by this novel work, and find it difficult to stop reading until you are finished!
A thought provoking and highly entertaining book! You will be enthralled by this novel work, and find it difficult to stop reading until you are finished!
July 22, 2023
There wasn't much story here. Several four book arcs are collected together, but it was save-the-world-from-monsters each time. No character development.
May 15, 2024
Nostalgia reread after reading Midnighter/Apollo. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 8, 2024
3.5*
January 23, 2025
One of the most important comics of the 21st century. And it’s fun as hell, AND it’s got some pretty good queer representation for 1999. It gets better every time I read it.
August 3, 2025
The Authority Book one
A new favorite. Great book. Great series. Can't wait to get started on the next one. Like the storyline. Artworks are popping.
A new favorite. Great book. Great series. Can't wait to get started on the next one. Like the storyline. Artworks are popping.
October 6, 2025
One of the best superhero series of all time. Willing to swing big and take risks.
December 8, 2025
*2.5/5 stars.
April 15, 2026
A seminal and fantastic presentation of the superhero team that reinvented the genre.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews