Rating: 
Summary: Amazing
Review: Relentless is unique. In the world created by Warren Ellis, things are not as bright and shiney as they are in ours. The world was once protected by a spacestation built by the U.N. called SkyWatch, it was destroyed in one last desperate act to save the world. From the ashes of SkyWatch, a small hope crawls back into the world. These few watched their friends sacrifice themselves to save the world, and all it got them was an early grave. The globe is still going mad, wars are still being fought, people are still suffering. It was all for nothing. It's time that changed. The Authority is a new vision of what heros are all about. They aren't out there to save the world over and over again, and they aren't nice. They are there to Change the World for the better, so it will never have to be saved again. The characters do develope through the book, though there isn't a whole volume dedicated to their personal lives. This book is about what they want to accomplish in the here and now, if you want to delve deep into the inner workings of someone's mind until you understand them better than you understand yourself, watch Real World. Other than the new take on the role of the heros, there are science fiction elements written into this book that can impress even the most hardcore Sci-Fi fans. Overall I have to say that it is the best comic series of the year, and Relentless is the first thing I'd buy if I was looking for a new series to explore.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but has more potential rhan results
Review: 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:
Summary: An Awesome title that Only gets better
Review: The Authority is absolutely amazing, while many people have raved about Ellis' run on the series i think the series has done nothing but gotten better after he left. This TPB collects his run on the series and it is brilliant. Despite a previous review, this story line is nothing but original and nothing like what the review says. I had no previous knowledge of Stormwatch and completely enjoyed the Authority storyline. The members of the team are REAL, two of the members are a gay couple, one is a drug addict, ones a buddhist! Hell there is even the embodiment of the 20th century.....if you're looking for an original read this book is a MUST!
Rating:
Summary: A Different Kind of Hero
Review: The Authority is exactly what the title says - a new, more modern super-team. (not to say that I don't like JLA or the Avengers) It's almost unpleasent how violent and remorsefull they can be at times, but this is a different world. Not to say that killing is good, but it almost seems right in this book. Our heroes face two very evil villains - Kaizen Gomorra and the people from Sliding Albion, and their fates are certainly deserved. (besides, how would you imprison a thousand clone terrorists with Superman powers?) But I think the most interesting thing about The Authority is that actions are balanced out by the fact that they only what to make the world a better place. example: "because somebody has to protect the world"
Rating:
Summary: How Real People would act if they had Superpowers
Review: The fact of the Matter is that You dont need to Read Stormwatch before reading this trade. I had not read a single issue of Ellis's Stormwatch before reading this trade, and I was not lost at all. Secondly, Grant Morrison is right and you are wrong. This IS a revolutionary Superhero comic. Where else are you really going to see Superheroes act like Normal people? Not in the pages of any Marvel or DC Universe mag that's for sure. Honestly, how many time is Batman going to let the Joker go away with his life? After Joker killed the second Robin you'd think that Bats would have broken Joker's neck by now. Heck, I would have. And don't lie, you would have, too. And if you were a responsible person with Amazing powers I think that you'd try and make the world a better place. I certainly would. The only real way to make sure that the Menace doesn't plague innocents is to Kill the thing. This is by far the best superhero action story that has come out in the last 5 years. Maybe 10. And if you cant enjoy this then there is obviously something wrong with you.
Rating: 
Summary: Okay - but nothing more.
Review: The hero's are interesting, (though underdeveloped) yes, but the villains aren't. That is a problem. There are two villains in this comic, the first being a kind of terrorist, and the other some big demon-esque creature out to rape the world. The biggest let down her is the use of cliche's, and i'm not talking about the classic unavoidable, down-right enojyable cliche's of having a cape and flying or being a bad guy with a sinister laugh and snidley wiplash mustashe. But rather modern cliche's which aren't old enough to be considered classic and so just end up seeming repetitive. Example: when asked why he is doing what he does, the first villain responds with "Because I can." Granted this was an intriguing, even chilling answer back in the early 90's, and even in films like 8mm - but its gotten to the point where it simply comes across as unimaginitive. The second villain is, plainly put, too funny to be taken seriously and thus the comic flounders. Good art, good hero's (for the most part) but nothing special. Move on.
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best straight superhero book out there
Review: The other reviews seem to indicate that this is a fluff book, that it only has pretty pictures of nice things blowing up. While there are a hefty amount of explosions, they aren't what this book is about. This is about showing what comics can do, about doing superhero action in the most insane, hight-octane manner possible. While it is true that this book isn't exactly crammed for words, everything that is said has a very specific purpose, whether it is the Midnighter's "I'm what soldiers dream of growing into. I'm what children see when they first imagine what death is like." to Jenny Sparks'"There has to be someone left to save the world. And to change it." to Jack Hawksmoor's "I've been waiting to punch someone in the brains all goddamn day," This book is about something most comic superheroes never really get around to: making a better world. The Authority just has to punch through a few hundred people per story to do it. And what's wrong with that?
Rating:
Summary: Thank god - Finally a Comic for the new Millenium
Review: This book is an amazing update to a tired genre. The superheros are real - have relationships that are modern - and come across as both secure and insecure. The plot of the book is fast and interesting - keeping many of the elements after completion driving you to think about all of them in concert and see what you would have done. Overall - WOW!
Rating:
Summary: "Widescreen" Superhero Action
Review: This is the equivalent of a big, budget summer action movie. The heros are all huge, powereful beings and the villians are evil and dastardly. Warren Ellis's run on this title focused on huge, earth shattering ideas and setups and this book gives the reader the best of the three story arcs. For anyone who wishes to discover superheroes that do not live in a world of black and white morals.
Rating:
Summary: This is what got me back into comic books.
Review: This is what got me back into comic books since I stopped collecting in the mid 80s when I was a teenager. Now as an adult I was presently suprised to find comics books have grown up too. A mature story line, explosive cinematic style panels. Wow! All of a sudden I was excited about comic books again! Unfortunately, in my opinion, midway throught the second trade "THE AUTHORITY: UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT" ISBN 1563897563, things start degrading. First the art and then the story. I can't blam the new team though. Warren Elis and Bryan Hitch set such a high standard that everything else looks bad beside.
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