Missing issues in ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY vol. 2

[west3man]

I guess this is worthy of a thread. It's not exactly on the same subtopic as the "profanity" thread.

The Nativity: #13-16

Earth Inferno: #17-20

Brave New World:
#22
#27-29


That's all that's included in the hardcover.

As much as I disliked the art and direction of the missing issues, I still am bothered by their absence from the hardcover.

21, 23,24,25,26... all missing, despite the fact that, I think, they show just how horrible the "replacements" are.

Anyone else notice this? Anyone else care?

[Expletive Deleted]

#21 was mostly unrelated and was really a trailer for a different series. #23-26 . . . well, they sucked.

It doesn't bug me that those issues were skipped. Why include things that had no bearing on the story being told and are generally conceded to be sub-par, just because of when they happened to be published? Absolute Editions are high quality showcases of high quality material, not comprehensive records. If you want that, get the trades.

And besides, adding in those issues would've jacked up the price.

[west3man]

#21 was mostly unrelated and was really a trailer for a different series. #23-26 . . . well, they sucked. No argument there.

It doesn't bug me that those issues were skipped. Why include things that had no bearing on the story being told I kinda felt like they did. These guys' characters were BUILT upon the horrible things they did within and outside of those issues.

and are generally conceded to be sub-par, I didn't know that. I know *I* didn't dig'em, but I didn't know there was a concensus.

just because of when they happened to be published? Absolute Editions are high quality showcases of high quality material, not comprehensive records. If you want that, get the trades. Trades skip issues, sometimes, too. Or they'll add issues.

I doubt Absolutes are as you described by definition so much as by practice. Not that this is *such* a bad way of doing things. However, if one is walking through a store considering hardcovers, one has to assume which issues are contained in a volume or hope that there's an available resource to check. Considering the fact that there are other Absolutes which don't skip issues, I think it's fair to assume (though one shouldn't have to) that this one wouldn't, either.

And besides, adding in those issues would've jacked up the price. I suppose so.

One shouldn't have to purchase the hardcovers AND the tpb's, to get the full story, though. In my opinion, anyway.

[Expletive Deleted]

I don't think it was really the full story, though. Millar pretty much ignored Peyer's story and characterizations, especially for the Apollo stand-in. Peyer's story reinforces some of the things we see in the Millar issues, but it doesn't really add anything new and Millar makes the characters pretty detestable all on his own in his issues. I suppose we can disagree on this, but I think Millar's story stands alone perfectly well.

Which makes sense, as it was originally intended to be only the four issues. If it hadn't been for the artist situation with Quitely and Adams, Peyer's fill-in arc would've never happened. That's the very definition of filler.

[west3man]

I don't think it was really the full story, though. Millar pretty much ignored Peyer's story and characterizations, especially for the Apollo stand-in. Peyer's story reinforces some of the things we see in the Millar issues, but it doesn't really add anything new and Millar makes the characters pretty detestable all on his own in his issues. I suppose we can disagree on this, but I think Millar's story stands alone perfectly well. It may. I haven't re-read the story without the "filler." You may be right on the money about that. Maybe I've got more of the completist in me than I thought.

It'd be nice if research or detective work were unnecessary when wandering through a comic shop considering hardcovers.

Which makes sense, as it was originally intended to be only the four issues. If it hadn't been for the artist situation with Quitely and Adams, Peyer's fill-in arc would've never happened. That's the very definition of filler.Fair enough. Maybe this beef is actually just a by-product of a previous one with the schedule and quality of The Authority, particularly some of the issues we've discussed.

I guess I'd like consistency in more ways than one. While flipping through vol. 1, just now, I noticed that The Midnighter's word balloon in one issue read as, "****," as opposed to whatever he "really said." Then in vol. 2, the profanity flows free.

Oh well. I don't plan on writing any letters to the publisher(s)/creators. I just like to be able to discuss these things.

Thanks for that.

[dancj]

I thought the Tom Peyer + Dustin Nyugen issues were really good. That said, the Absolute Authority books are supposed to be a real prestige 'as it was originally intended' version of the story. I can understand them being left out

[west3man]

I thought the Tom Peyer + Dustin Nyugen issues were really good. That said, the Absolute Authority books are supposed to be a real prestige 'as it was originally intended' version of the story. How do you know that?

[dancj]

It's just the impression I was under. I could be talking out of my arse

[west3man]

I was already having a hard enough time trying to convince myself to sell my individual issues of The Authority. This is going to make it even harder - particularly since I don't want THOSE to be the only issues I still have.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

This is funny cause I was pissed with Ultimate X-men, but for the other reason.

The harcover didn't collect the absolutely crap Austen Gambit issues (did I need to add the crap part - maybe just saying who wrote them would have sufficed), and the trade for the World Tour arc did.

I had switched from the monthlies to the trades (cause I missed all but the first issue of world tour arc) and have never been able to bring myself to get the trade because it includs those two issues - not really on moral grounds, more cause that trade costs more than all the others for, two issues that nobody likes (and goddamn me I brought in single issue form*).

On the Peyer issues though, they weren't great, but not as bad as an Austen fill in.
They did make for an akward read in the trade though as Peyer and Millar had different ideas for the characterisation of the team.
(of course this is a perfect moment for me to point out that all through Millar's run he was carrying on about (in story and in interviews) how he was changing everything and it was all new - yet having the main team replaced by imposters has been done by every other book ever (mostly) - hell, it was what the 90's were based upon).





*I brought the issues at the same time and had only heard of Austen as the guy who did the art on elektra - unfortunatly I brought 2 of his WAR MACHINE issues on the same day and had me a pretty carppy afternoon of comic reading.

[dancj]

I thought those Chuck Austin issues of Ultimate X-Men were quite good. IIRC the Slings and Arrows Comic Guide liked them too (for what it's worth)

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I thought those Chuck Austin issues of Ultimate X-Men were quite good. IIRC the Slings and Arrows Comic Guide liked them too (for what it's worth)

It seemed a little Fan-Fic to me, but it also suffered from the change in marvels comic font at the time.

I've never even heard of Slings and Arrows.

Funky and Green's said the issues were just fillers, and as the Ultimate line was supposed to bi new and exciting and getting rid of all the od trash and be accesible to all, then the story was just a throw back to MU ways for MU fans.

[Keith_Martineau]

How the hell did an Authority thread turn into an Austen bashing thread?

If continuity is important to you, then the missing issues are a mar on the Absolute Authority.

If not, then it's probably not that big an issue.

However, if consistency is your thing, then yer out of luck anyway, since the art is as inconsistent as anything in New X-Men, and they forced Millar to edit so much in the last arc that it effects the tone, not to mention one of the issues was ghost written by Grant Morrison.

[Kid Seven]

For me it was more important to have Millar's run in one collected volume than it was to have the complete Authority run. Just my opinion, and I can definitely see how others would think diferently.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

How the hell did an Authority thread turn into an Austen bashing thread?

Read my post.

There are parrallels.
(that said I think enough has been said about the man in this thread. plenty of others around for that).



However, if consistency is your thing, then yer out of luck anyway, since the art is as inconsistent as anything in New X-Men, and they forced Millar to edit so much in the last arc that it effects the tone, not to mention one of the issues was ghost written by Grant Morrison.

The art changes and script changes that were revealed on LITG seemed pretty minor to me, and for the best.
(that said I can understand Millar not being happy about them at all).

At least when Authority got a fill in artist it was Art Adams, can't complain there.
It took a while for the New X-men editors to wrok out that if you do need a fill in artist it really should be someone of the same caliber, if not better.
(I like Frank Quitley's art, but I do wish Chris Weston had finished Earth Inferno).

(and if anyone isn't aware which issue Morrison wrote, it's the one with Religimon).

[dancj]

I've never even heard of Slings and Arrows.

It's great. It's like Halliwell's Movie Guide only it's for comics.

http://www.slingsandarrowspublishing.com/index.html

[west3man]

For me it was more important to have Millar's run in one collected volume than it was to have the complete Authority run. Just my opinion, and I can definitely see how others would think diferently.
Actually, I agree. I just wanted both, but barring that, I'd choose the same option you did.

[Matches Malone]

This is funny cause I was pissed with Ultimate X-men, but for the other reason.

The harcover didn't collect the absolutely crap Austen Gambit issues (did I need to add the crap part - maybe just saying who wrote them would have sufficed), and the trade for the World Tour arc did.



The Austen issues are included in the 2nd Ultimate X-Men HC. IMO they were totally out of place, but they're in there.

[west3man]

The Austen issues are included in the 2nd Ultimate X-Men HC. IMO they were totally out of place, but they're in there.
Since you guys keep mentioning it, I'm gonna ago ahead and ask: Is that the introduction of Gambit?

Regardless of who did'em, I didn't care for them.

[Matches Malone]

Yes and agreed.

I thought Peyer's Authority story was okay, though. Nothing special, but readable.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

The Austen issues are included in the 2nd Ultimate X-Men HC. IMO they were totally out of place, but they're in there.

Could have sworn they left it out originally.

Were they put back in during a second printing?

(or did the origianl plans not include them - but then he became the Uncanny writer?)

[Kid Seven]

One thing I actually would've liked to have seen would have been a full issue's script from one of Millar's books. There's scripts in both Authority vol.1 and in Planetary. That would've been a nice bonus.

[west3man]

One thing I actually would've liked to have seen would have been a full issue's script from one of Millar's books. There's scripts in both Authority vol.1 and in Planetary. That would've been a nice bonus.
I've never been terribly interested in the scripts. I don't remember gaining any new knowledge or much new insight from reading them.

Maybe I'll take another look when I get home - see what I might've missed.