Authority #1: 99 Red Balloons of Danger

[Chris Striker]

Preview (http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/9854_x.pdf)

With a very sad moment between Apollo and Midnighter...almost brought a tear to me eye

[grifter78]

Before I give my review, I feel it necessary to give you some history about me and The Authority. It will help you understand my review better I think.

When The Authority first came out I had no knowledge of them until they got their first book. I had given up on Stormwatch back then and was not reading when they were introduced in the book. But still, by the time The Authority started getting a lot of attention from the comic community I had to back track through trades, all the way back into Stormwatch, to find out what everyone was talking about.

I enjoyed the stories and the parallel with DC's Justice League and appreciated what was being done story wise. But soon, I found myself not waiting for each new issue as much. Then, either right when The Monarchy was introduced or perhaps shortly before, I grew tired of The Authority and gave up on them. I think I just felt that they were getting too powerful and I was losing interest in them.

BUT

When Coup D’état happened, for the first time I thought, "Finally!" because when I left The Authority I thought at the time, "There's nothing from stopping these guys from taking over the world to run it the way THEY see fit." And low and behold, that's what they did. Mind you, it was just America that they took over, but still.

And Coup D’état lasted longer than the 4 issue mini-series so that was cool. But in the time that The Authority: Revolution was coming out, I just found I wasn't interested. Maybe it’s because I knew the story would somehow remove The Authority from power and we'd be back to the same thing that drove me away before- an extremely powerful team that was too powerful for it's own good.

Worldstorm came and went and I didn't bother with Grant Morrison's The Authority, I only had to contend with the Wildcats fiasco (so my condolences go out to those of you who had to suffer BOTH because you were following both titles).

Then the road to World's End began. And I was exposed to The Authority again through the various series that came out where they made an appearance. I found that I did not miss them in the slightest BUT I started to appreciate that they were a big part of the WSU.

Now on to the new issue...
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(SPOILERS)
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I can't believe I'm reading The Authority again. I have to say, and I'm being honest here, if it wasn’t for the Lynch back-story continuing here I doubt I would have given the issue a fair shot.

But I'm glad I did.

I hate to say it, but these characters in their current state has me more interested in them than the first time around. Swift's inner monologue carrying us through the issue was perfect. If I was a new reader, I think she divulges enough information to help me understand what's going on while at the same time not giving too much away so I go away wanting to know more. The fight between Midnighter and the Incubites was awesome! He definitely still knows how to kick ass. And the dynamic they've set up between him and Apollo where they can't be together long because Apollo runs out of solar energy too fast on the surface now set up a scene that (I agree with chris) was tear-worthy.
Angie has no powers. No longer will we see her in her sleek metallic form thanks to what happened. But she's still using her knowledge to keep themselves and the refugees they’re rounding up fed and taken care. But the end with Jack Hawksmoor was the saddest thing. I'm going to have to re-read NOTB to see if it shows what happened but man Jack got F'd up!

I think the difference between this issue and the Wildcats is that it doesn't seem like so much doom and gloom over at the Halo building like it does at the remains of the Carrier. Yes, the Wildcats have Majestic to deal with but for the most part, they're (individually) all at full-strength to do it. Not the case with The Authority. They've gotten knocked down and they've gotten knocked down BAD!

I can't believe that I'm reading The Authority again, but so far I'm definitely not regretting it.

P.S.- The back-up story with Lynch is so sweet! It's great to see this character back in action (even thought there's not any 'action' per say in this issue).

[Flâneur]

I'm actually not as keen on this as I thought I'd be. Swift's inner dialogue is awesome but I feel the rest is a little bit lacking. Dystopia is cool but at this point it just feels like they're trotting out stuff just to show they can make things really bad but without much substance, that said it's the set up issue so I have to wait and see what they're doing with this before I dismiss it. I'd really like more background on what happened to Jenny and the Doctor, as well.

[MartinRedmond]

I enjoyed the first Authority series because it was light hearted fun nonsense.

[The Cool Thatguy]

How did the Engineer lose her tech powers?

[Chris Striker]

How did the Engineer lose her tech powers?

EM Storms, but how she sirvived without the nanotech still a mystery

[The Cool Thatguy]

EM Storms, but how she sirvived without the nanotech still a mystery

Why wouldn't she? The nano-tech never performed any constant life saving function, beyond preventing the damage of having all that metal in your body would naturally cause.

EM tech storms seems kinda weak, though, given that we have real world tech that can shield itself from EM energy.

[Chris Striker]

Why wouldn't she? The nano-tech never performed any constant life saving function, beyond preventing the damage of having all that metal in your body would naturally cause.

EM tech storms seems kinda weak, though, given that we have real world tech that can shield itself from EM energy.

Because her blood was replaces with 9 pints of liquid nanotech, so it that failed what's left pumping through her body. I guess it all depends on how powerful the EMP Storm was

[The Cool Thatguy]

Because her blood was replaces with 9 pints of liquid nanotech, so it that failed what's left pumping through her body. I guess it all depends on how powerful the EMP Storm was

The nano-tech could just be inert, or she built in some kind of fail-safe. Probably one of those things we're not supposed to think about ;)

[Chris Striker]

The nano-tech could just be inert, or she built in some kind of fail-safe. Probably one of those things we're not supposed to think about ;)

Touché :tongue:

[grifter78]

The nano-tech could just be inert, or she built in some kind of fail-safe. Probably one of those things we're not supposed to think about ;)

Because comic book science is more fun than real world science. What with all its rules that we have to follow. Stupid physics! :biggrin:

[The Cool Thatguy]

Because comic book science is more fun than real world science. What with all its rules that we have to follow. Stupid physics! :biggrin:

Physics, like an annoying parent always telling you what not to do!

[JessieMidnight]

DNA definitely seem like great writers for the Authority. I'm really looking forward to see what else they come up with.

[camera23]

I thought this was a terrific first issue - the writing and artwork were just outstanding, and the grimness of the worldview was something completely new for this title. 14 more issues like this would be wonderful (DnA are slated to write 15).

[camera23]

There are lots of good reviews of this online this week. Very promising!

[Xero]

Excellent first issue, now lets see if they can keep up the quality.

[grifter78]

Excellent first issue, now lets see if they can keep up the quality.

Our sentiments exactly. :smile:

[Chris Striker]

I have faith in DnA and Coleby

[JessieMidnight]

I was wondering what everyone thinks about on how the Midnighter Armageddon issue changed what happened in Authority: World's End. I know it won't be identical, but I wonder how close the two events will come. Will Angie find a way to fix Hawksmoor somehow, etc. Aren't their a ton of bones around the Carrier in Armageddon, and issue 3 shows Midnighter surrouned by bones. Maybe the Eidolon is the cause of that, and having to take refugees to upper levels.

Also I remeber reading on another board something about new members joining soon. What is that about, should we be expecting new additions to the team? I think DNA could give us some new interesting members. Maybe a new version of Jenny to reflect World's End?

Anyway I just wanted to know everyone's thoughts about all this.

[grifter78]

I was wondering what everyone thinks about on how the Midnighter Armageddon issue changed what happened in Authority: World's End. I know it won't be identical, but I wonder how close the two events will come. Will Angie find a way to fix Hawksmoor somehow, etc. Aren't their a ton of bones around the Carrier in Armageddon, and issue 3 shows Midnighter surrouned by bones. Maybe the Eidolon is the cause of that, and having to take refugees to upper levels.

Also I remeber reading on another board something about new members joining soon. What is that about, should we be expecting new additions to the team? I think DNA could give us some new interesting members. Maybe a new version of Jenny to reflect World's End?

Anyway I just wanted to know everyone's thoughts about all this.

Things definetly changed because of each of the hereos who got to see the future. Over in Gen 13, in the future Fairchild saw Burnout wasn't blind but now after being exposed to one of The High clones going nuclear, he is blind.

As far as new members, they never clarified that for us so we're all just waiting and seeing.

[Tazirai]

Because comic book science is more fun than real world science. What with all its rules that we have to follow. Stupid physics! :biggrin:

Gravity is a tool used by the Man to keep us down..

[QuietRiver]

I was wondering what everyone thinks about on how the Midnighter Armageddon issue changed what happened in Authority: World's End. I know it won't be identical, but I wonder how close the two events will come. Will Angie find a way to fix Hawksmoor somehow, etc. Aren't their a ton of bones around the Carrier in Armageddon, and issue 3 shows Midnighter surrouned by bones. Maybe the Eidolon is the cause of that, and having to take refugees to upper levels.

Also I remeber reading on another board something about new members joining soon. What is that about, should we be expecting new additions to the team? I think DNA could give us some new interesting members. Maybe a new version of Jenny to reflect World's End?

Anyway I just wanted to know everyone's thoughts about all this.

Thats something I've been thinking about as well after seeing Apollo in the new Authority issue. He was able to stay under the clouds and was fine, just weaker, in the future Midnighter went to. Hell, he was even more buff than before. But in Authority #1, he gets really frail looking under the clouds and can't stay for more than a few moments.

Although... maybe the futures don't change at all. The future Authority had known that their Midnighter had come to meet them in the future, but they had obviously failed in preventing the disaster. Ditto for all the other people who took a trip in the future.