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Title: Authority,the: Relentless by Warren Ellis ISBN: 1-56389-661-3 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 May, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.96 (28 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Good but has more potential rhan results
Comment: The Authority is a secret global-protection group ('superheroes') who protects the earth from things 'normal' human agencies can't handle. Things that aren't known to the general public. With a wide variety of superpowered 'humans' they are pretty well equiped in every situation.
Although this series spawned off the earlier 'Stormwatch' title, you needn't be too familiair with it. Knowledge about what happened in Stormwatch is a pre, not a must. It's not like you'll miss out on anytthing vital in here if you haven't read it, only you'll know some more on the back-ground of SOME characters if you have (not all).
This first collection collects #1-8 of the series, which are basically divided in two four-part sub-plots (the complete Warren Ellis run/storyline goes on for another four issues in the second volume, along with the first four Mark Millar-written issues).
Storywise intro:
The first sub-arc is called "The Circle". A dictator/tyrant ruler of the island called 'Gamorra' is trying to put his mark on the rest of the world in a rather brutal, unconventional way. It's up to the top-secret global defensive group "Authority" to put him to a stop. In this arc the group is forming and deciding who it's members are gonna be. It's mostly used as an explanation to the reader who the characters, led by Jenny Sparks, are and what they are about (powers, a little background and such).
The second story-arc is called "Shiftships". Earth is under attack by creatures from an alternative earth. Jenny Sparks knows these creatures (half humans) from her past, but she was convinced they were long dead. The question is how to stop them, but luckily Jenny has an ace up her sleeve which should give her group a fair chance. The intentions of the invaders get revealed to be even worse than first pressumed though.
In here you learn more about the ways of the Authority. It's wise to pay good attention here on subjects as 'the bleed' (in which they travel) because it is pretty vague at first but important in the long haul.
Overall my conclussion is that this is a pretty nice title. It's not ALL that but it's certainly above average and won't be a waste of your money (which is a good thing in this day and age of comicdom). Compared to the other Warren Ellis Wildstorm title (Planetary) this one is artwise a little better. Having said that I'll be quick to add that storywise Planetary is better by far. The biggest problem with Authority is lack of debt character-wise. These people do the things they do but miss an explained motivation. Were Planetary is very slow in revealing it's characters fully, it has a certain thing that makes you curious about them, making every revelation anticipated and welcome. It keeps you wanting to read on. That doesn't happen at all here and curiousness isn't sparked. That's a shame because otherwise it could have been great I think. But still, worthy of 4 outta 5 stars.
Rating: 3
Summary: Great, but...
Comment: Let me start by saying that as a diehard fan of superhero comics, I found the Authority to be a wonderful read. The characters, especially Jenny Sparks, are interesting and the variety of powers in the group is good.
However, that said, let me turn to what I didn't like. As intriguing as the characters are, they suffer from a lack of depth. Apart from a few tantalizing scenes, we get almost nothing of their personal lives. The Doctor in particular is a total enigma. Each of the two story arcs in this collection present the team with a massive threat to defeat, which they of course do. But what else if there? Warren Ellis is a fine writer, but here I think he allows the concept to take precedence over the characters.
I would suggest to anyone who buys this volume that they continue with the ongoing series. Even though Ellis left four issues after the stories presented here, it continues to develop and even improve on what you get in Relentless.
In conclusion, if you can only buy one collection, pick up Ellis' Planetary: Around the World instead and then start getting the ongoing monthly Authority series.
Rating: 5
Summary: This Is the New Age of Heroes
Comment: Before The Ultimates, there was The Authority. This is the comic book series in which Warren Ellis and Mark Millar took the notion of the super powered being to it's ultimate conclusion. They are arrogant, independent and vicious. Yet, they all have one goal in mind- to make this a better world. And anyone in their way, be it Asian despots, monsters from space or military super being technology run wild, will suffer their wrath. Okay, so you're wondering about the two gay characters on the team. There are two of them, named Midnighter and Apollo. And besides being gay, they are also the most dangerous super heroes in the business. A curious reader might go back to the last Stormwatch TPB in order to come to grips with the beginings of the team, and the reason why The Authority was formed. There are lots of great moments in this series, but the reader should also be warned. The latest version of The Authority, currently being published, is only a pale imitation of the original series contained in these TPBs. Another book you might be interested in is The Absolute Authority hardcovers, they are over sized and the quality is absolutely stunning. The Authority- read it or else!
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Title: The Authority: Earth Inferno And Other Stories by Mark Millar ISBN: 1563898543 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Authority, The: Transfer of Power by Mark Millar, Tom Peyer ISBN: 1401200206 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of the Authority by Mark Millar ISBN: 1563897695 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Stormwatch: A Finer World by Warren Ellis ISBN: 1563895358 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 July, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Planetary: All Over the World and Other Stories by Warren Ellis ISBN: 1563896486 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 March, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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