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unladylike's review against another edition
4.0
I'd been waiting so long for Volume 2 to arrive at the public library for me that I've had to read several volumes out of sequential order. They all had information holes that I knew would be filled by the events in this volume, but I was worried about what Mark Millar would do the second he picked up the series. The other Millar-written Authority issues have not impressed me, to say the least, but his story arc "The Nativity" was actually pretty good and in keeping with Ellis' main points in The Authority concept.
Actually, in some ways, Millar assertively addresses ideas Ellis had previously just alluded to. Ellis' story arc was a disappointment for me because I knew it was going to be about him "killing God" and it ended up really just being an alien invasion story like so many thousands of others in comics and sci-fi, only he decided to call the aliens "God." Go figure. The way some intelligent writers - Warren Ellis and Garth Ennis in particular - decide to try simplifying the notion of God, even if that representation looks nothing like any ancient theology, and then kick the crap out of it, really boggles me.
Actually, in some ways, Millar assertively addresses ideas Ellis had previously just alluded to. Ellis' story arc was a disappointment for me because I knew it was going to be about him "killing God" and it ended up really just being an alien invasion story like so many thousands of others in comics and sci-fi, only he decided to call the aliens "God." Go figure. The way some intelligent writers - Warren Ellis and Garth Ennis in particular - decide to try simplifying the notion of God, even if that representation looks nothing like any ancient theology, and then kick the crap out of it, really boggles me.
unladylike's review against another edition
5.0
I never expected this to be so good! I had already read the first three story arcs contained in this Absolute volume, and wish I had waited, for the huge, "wide-screen" pages are easy to get lost in, in a good way. "Brave New World," the story arc in which Millar kills off The Authority because of their threat to the seven wealthiest nations' way of doing business, ended up being filled with thoughtful dialogue and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
Now I'm just confused about whether or not I like Mark Millar.
Now I'm just confused about whether or not I like Mark Millar.
unladylike's review against another edition
4.0
The Authority has just officially become the first comic series I have read more than once. After having developed attachments to the characters and been made aware of future evolutions, struggles, and deaths they would face, going back to the beginning was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The huge, "wide-screen" pages in the Absolute version are the perfect up-size for such a grand team.
The subtleties to Apollo and Midnighter's relationship, the emotional and mental burdens of having to regularly save the world, and the graphic sequences that show just how badass each member is are all brilliant products of Warren Ellis' best take yet on the superhero team.
The subtleties to Apollo and Midnighter's relationship, the emotional and mental burdens of having to regularly save the world, and the graphic sequences that show just how badass each member is are all brilliant products of Warren Ellis' best take yet on the superhero team.
dozmuttz's review against another edition
4.0
So, I've decided to read 'The Authority' again, only this time I had to upgrade and read it in absolute format. And to anyone who hasn't read this story before but is interested in checking it out, GET IT IN THIS FORMAT! You can get it for a really good deal and it's the only format that truly captures Bryan Hitch's out of this world artwork. It's also just really pretty on your shelf.
In this first Vol. you get the first 12 issues (and a 'Planetary' tie-in issue) that kinda serves as the first half arc of 'The Authority.' The Authority is a team formed by our main protagonist, Jenny Sparks. An almost century old superhuman that brings back these individuals in order to watch over Earth and keep it safe (that's laymen's terms). Together the team stops a psycho terrorist leader who has an army of super soldiers, redcoat space demons from an alternate world, and a giant alien creature that might actually be God? Yea its a pretty crazy series but its super fun and full of great concepts.
Warren Ellis is the writer for this first half and he does a pretty solid job of getting you enthralled in the story and makes the whole "save the world from the actual apocalypse" trope feel fresh and non-repetitive. Most of the big events are broken down into 4 parts. It helps set the premise of each catastrophe and sets the consequences high. Along with that Ellis gives us a really fun and interesting cast. Everybody is already established characters from pervious series (mainly 'Stormwatch') but coming into this not knowing anyone or reading any previous series, you don't feel lost or need to go back and read anything else. It all feels self-contained, and the read is all the better for it.
And the person on art duties is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite artists, BRYAN HITCH! This was Hitch's PRIME and along with his work on 'Ultimates' probably his Magna opus. His artwork is a perfect fit for the insane events and story telling that Ellis writes. Hitch's wide-screen artwork that feels MASSIVE and cinematic always leaves me in awe. The action scenes, spacecraft design, chaotic destruction, and heroic shots are all done PERFECTLY! It's all GRAND in design. Helping him on inks is Paul Neary and I love his inks with Hitch's artwork. Especially in the scenes where something big is occurring (so most of the book). Hitch is the main reason I wanted to read this story again and will always be the reason I come back to it. That's also why I had to upgrade to this awesome absolute edition. If you even slightly think that some of these pages look cool I highly encourage to fully check it out as not only is it FULL of S-Tier artwork but it's a pretty solid read too, which only makes the artwork better!
If you're in the mood for a cool sci-fi movie full of action and creative concepts, maybe hold off on popping in a Nolan film, cause Hitch and Ellis can deliver something just as good, but you can hold it in your hands.
In this first Vol. you get the first 12 issues (and a 'Planetary' tie-in issue) that kinda serves as the first half arc of 'The Authority.' The Authority is a team formed by our main protagonist, Jenny Sparks. An almost century old superhuman that brings back these individuals in order to watch over Earth and keep it safe (that's laymen's terms). Together the team stops a psycho terrorist leader who has an army of super soldiers, redcoat space demons from an alternate world, and a giant alien creature that might actually be God? Yea its a pretty crazy series but its super fun and full of great concepts.
Warren Ellis is the writer for this first half and he does a pretty solid job of getting you enthralled in the story and makes the whole "save the world from the actual apocalypse" trope feel fresh and non-repetitive. Most of the big events are broken down into 4 parts. It helps set the premise of each catastrophe and sets the consequences high. Along with that Ellis gives us a really fun and interesting cast. Everybody is already established characters from pervious series (mainly 'Stormwatch') but coming into this not knowing anyone or reading any previous series, you don't feel lost or need to go back and read anything else. It all feels self-contained, and the read is all the better for it.
And the person on art duties is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite artists, BRYAN HITCH! This was Hitch's PRIME and along with his work on 'Ultimates' probably his Magna opus. His artwork is a perfect fit for the insane events and story telling that Ellis writes. Hitch's wide-screen artwork that feels MASSIVE and cinematic always leaves me in awe. The action scenes, spacecraft design, chaotic destruction, and heroic shots are all done PERFECTLY! It's all GRAND in design. Helping him on inks is Paul Neary and I love his inks with Hitch's artwork. Especially in the scenes where something big is occurring (so most of the book). Hitch is the main reason I wanted to read this story again and will always be the reason I come back to it. That's also why I had to upgrade to this awesome absolute edition. If you even slightly think that some of these pages look cool I highly encourage to fully check it out as not only is it FULL of S-Tier artwork but it's a pretty solid read too, which only makes the artwork better!
If you're in the mood for a cool sci-fi movie full of action and creative concepts, maybe hold off on popping in a Nolan film, cause Hitch and Ellis can deliver something just as good, but you can hold it in your hands.
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