Nick Costanzo
Mar 6, 2004, 01:46 am
<img src="http://filebox.vt.edu/users/ncostanz/TheAuthorityCVR10small.JPG" align=left alt="Authority # 10"> (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0304/TheAuthorityCVR10.jpg)Reviewer: Nick Costanzo
Quick Rating: Great!
Story Title: Fractured World
Who the hell would want to take over the world?
Written by: Robbie Morrison
Pencils by: Dwayne Turner
Inks by: Sal Regla
Colors by: David Baron
Letters by: Phil Balsman
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editor: Ben Abernathy
Published by: Paul Levitz
Up until now, it seemed that Morrison's best work on the Authority had always existed outside of the series itself. Authority: Scorched Earth as well as the final chapter of Coup D'Etat were both excellent showings on Robbie's part, but something always seemed to be lacking when it came to the regular issues. Well, I'm happy to report that this issue marks the same level of quality we saw in those mini-series. Dare we say that this series may finally be back to the hard-hitting greatness of the Ellis and Millar years? If all the issues are this good then I'd give an enthusiastic “yes” to that query.
We start with some very... weird scenes in China that went on the day of the American Coup. Someone is being made to watch images of the Authority, seemingly focusing on Jenny Quantum in the arms of her adopted parents. And from there... bang. Everything seems to blow up (looking very reminiscent of the destruction of Singapore in the original Authority #14). I have no idea what the hell just happened, though I assume it has something to do with the events later on in the book.
From there we move on to what most of us were dying to see: America under the leadership of the Authority. I half expected the country to be in a police state given Jack's very angry and questionable actions during the Coup. Interestingly enough, I was totally wrong. At least for the moment, the Authority is doing exactly what they said they were going to do, changing the world for the good of humanity. I'm amazed at the ideas they've come up with to solve a number of the problems facing the world today. Who would've thought that you could end the war on drugs by selling cocaine to a universe where coke is an antibiotic? Or that the oil companies would be so responsive to the threat of turning every ounce of their supply into... um... excrement? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's the cleanest way to make reference to that little number.
Its very refreshing to see that despite the huge global events going down in this book that the characterization of the members of the Authority doesn't suffer as a consequence. Jack Hawksmoor is without a doubt the coolest president ever. I suppose that if there's one good thing about having a country where democratic elections have been dissolved, its that the guy in charge is finally free to say whatever the hell he wants. I laughed out loud at Jack's response to the suggestion that he “adopt a more presidential tone”. Anyone who didn't who didn't anticipate more swearing on public television hasn't been reading long enough. Its also quite funny to watch Jack as he tries to end the press conference, managing to make several interns walk right into a wall as he phases through it. The Doctor also has a few great scenes, including one slightly unsettling comment that they're rewriting the books on what is ethical. Very scary to imagine people with that much power.
But certainly the most powerful characterization belongs to Apollo and Midnighter. In the three months since the Coup, its been learned that Jenny Quantum's biological mother has surfaced in China, and is demanding custody with the full support of the Chinese government. And its somewhat sad to see two of the most powerful men in the world looking so utterly helpless as a result. On the surface, it doesn't seem like much. Midnighter makes his characteristic hard-ass remarks, and Apollo stays mostly silent, but its painted all over their faces... they're both terrified at the prospect of losing their little girl. Hell... Midnighter looks like he's about to cry. And at least at this point, its not like we can blame the mother who's come forward. She's suffered just as much as anyone, if not more, and has every right to want her back. Its very difficult to determine who's right and who's wrong here, especially when the loser would be so obviously crushed.
Of course, this is assuming that the events at the beginning of this book are unrelated to the custody issue. On the one hand, that would be an interesting way for a hostile force to wedge their way into the Authority if this assumption is true, but the simple premise of two parents fighting to keep their daughter is so very powerful on its own. Either way you could have a really good story, but I love the blend of realism and superheroics in the Wildstorm universe, so I'm pushing for the latter.
All and all, it was a very full and stimulating issue, filled with wonderful character development and insight into a brand new America being formed. Oh, and at the end of the book the threads of reality rip open and start destroying several major cities including Washington. We can't forget the small stuff now can we ;)
Dwayne Turner's art this issue leaves me a little cold. Its as passable as ever, but even in the hardcore action scenes it comes off as generic and even boring. Regla's inks do little to help the situation, as the images lose an intense amount of detail as the viewpoint is skewed back. This art team's skill remains in in their closeups, as well as the quieter scenes. Unfortunately, even there its nothing special, and I find it to be far too unremarkable to really enjoy it.
All and all this is one of the best setup issues I've read in recent memory, managing to entertain me throughout the issue and leave me salivating for the next one all at once. Its great to see that Morrison has finally gotten his feel for writing this title, and the Authority is once again redefining what it means to be a superhero.
ART:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg
STORY:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wshalf.jpg
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg
By this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=10464)
Quick Rating: Great!
Story Title: Fractured World
Who the hell would want to take over the world?
Written by: Robbie Morrison
Pencils by: Dwayne Turner
Inks by: Sal Regla
Colors by: David Baron
Letters by: Phil Balsman
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editor: Ben Abernathy
Published by: Paul Levitz
Up until now, it seemed that Morrison's best work on the Authority had always existed outside of the series itself. Authority: Scorched Earth as well as the final chapter of Coup D'Etat were both excellent showings on Robbie's part, but something always seemed to be lacking when it came to the regular issues. Well, I'm happy to report that this issue marks the same level of quality we saw in those mini-series. Dare we say that this series may finally be back to the hard-hitting greatness of the Ellis and Millar years? If all the issues are this good then I'd give an enthusiastic “yes” to that query.
We start with some very... weird scenes in China that went on the day of the American Coup. Someone is being made to watch images of the Authority, seemingly focusing on Jenny Quantum in the arms of her adopted parents. And from there... bang. Everything seems to blow up (looking very reminiscent of the destruction of Singapore in the original Authority #14). I have no idea what the hell just happened, though I assume it has something to do with the events later on in the book.
From there we move on to what most of us were dying to see: America under the leadership of the Authority. I half expected the country to be in a police state given Jack's very angry and questionable actions during the Coup. Interestingly enough, I was totally wrong. At least for the moment, the Authority is doing exactly what they said they were going to do, changing the world for the good of humanity. I'm amazed at the ideas they've come up with to solve a number of the problems facing the world today. Who would've thought that you could end the war on drugs by selling cocaine to a universe where coke is an antibiotic? Or that the oil companies would be so responsive to the threat of turning every ounce of their supply into... um... excrement? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's the cleanest way to make reference to that little number.
Its very refreshing to see that despite the huge global events going down in this book that the characterization of the members of the Authority doesn't suffer as a consequence. Jack Hawksmoor is without a doubt the coolest president ever. I suppose that if there's one good thing about having a country where democratic elections have been dissolved, its that the guy in charge is finally free to say whatever the hell he wants. I laughed out loud at Jack's response to the suggestion that he “adopt a more presidential tone”. Anyone who didn't who didn't anticipate more swearing on public television hasn't been reading long enough. Its also quite funny to watch Jack as he tries to end the press conference, managing to make several interns walk right into a wall as he phases through it. The Doctor also has a few great scenes, including one slightly unsettling comment that they're rewriting the books on what is ethical. Very scary to imagine people with that much power.
But certainly the most powerful characterization belongs to Apollo and Midnighter. In the three months since the Coup, its been learned that Jenny Quantum's biological mother has surfaced in China, and is demanding custody with the full support of the Chinese government. And its somewhat sad to see two of the most powerful men in the world looking so utterly helpless as a result. On the surface, it doesn't seem like much. Midnighter makes his characteristic hard-ass remarks, and Apollo stays mostly silent, but its painted all over their faces... they're both terrified at the prospect of losing their little girl. Hell... Midnighter looks like he's about to cry. And at least at this point, its not like we can blame the mother who's come forward. She's suffered just as much as anyone, if not more, and has every right to want her back. Its very difficult to determine who's right and who's wrong here, especially when the loser would be so obviously crushed.
Of course, this is assuming that the events at the beginning of this book are unrelated to the custody issue. On the one hand, that would be an interesting way for a hostile force to wedge their way into the Authority if this assumption is true, but the simple premise of two parents fighting to keep their daughter is so very powerful on its own. Either way you could have a really good story, but I love the blend of realism and superheroics in the Wildstorm universe, so I'm pushing for the latter.
All and all, it was a very full and stimulating issue, filled with wonderful character development and insight into a brand new America being formed. Oh, and at the end of the book the threads of reality rip open and start destroying several major cities including Washington. We can't forget the small stuff now can we ;)
Dwayne Turner's art this issue leaves me a little cold. Its as passable as ever, but even in the hardcore action scenes it comes off as generic and even boring. Regla's inks do little to help the situation, as the images lose an intense amount of detail as the viewpoint is skewed back. This art team's skill remains in in their closeups, as well as the quieter scenes. Unfortunately, even there its nothing special, and I find it to be far too unremarkable to really enjoy it.
All and all this is one of the best setup issues I've read in recent memory, managing to entertain me throughout the issue and leave me salivating for the next one all at once. Its great to see that Morrison has finally gotten his feel for writing this title, and the Authority is once again redefining what it means to be a superhero.
ART:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg
STORY:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wshalf.jpg
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg
By this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=10464)