Rating: 
Summary: proves that comic can still be 'fun'.
Review: This is it, this is, in my opinion the best comic ever made. It seems nowadays that all comics wanna be 'heartfelt' and 'deep meaning'. Now don't get me wrong, those 'deep meaning' stories are often times very good...but c'mon, it gets old. But The Authority proves that no matter how many comics out there wanna be moving and different; there's always room for a good ol' fashioned slugfest. The Authority has, in my opinion, the greatest action scenes to ever be produced in a comic. I'm talkin' hard hitting, high impact, in-your-face action. And the characters are great too. These are some of the most original, realistic characters in comics. You really start to like the characters and relate to them. I love this comic, end of story. So if you're looking for some comic that will move you and change your perspective on life, go read sandman, or preacher, or maus or somethin'. But if you wanna read a really fun book that'll change the way you look at superheroes, you have to pick this up.
Rating:
Summary: Dramatic Endings, New Directions,...
Review: This volume is made up of two stories, "the Outer Dark" representing the end of the Warren Ellis/Bryan Hitch first year run of the book, and "the Nativity" the start of the controversial Mark Millar/Frank Quitely run on the title. While it isn't quite the breathless trip that the first two Authority story arcs were (collected in the see "the Authority: Relentless" trade paperback), it represents a fine ending to the Ellis/Hitch run and features the last bow of a memorable character, one after my own ex-leftie heart. (By the way, they take on God, but not the diety you're thinking of,...) "The Nativity" starts off with the Authority lashing out against the government of Indonesia, which had hired "irregulars" to brutalize East Timorese into sanctioning their abusive regime in an upcoming election, and sending a message to the governments of the world: "we will not tolerate the human rights abuses by anyone, be they invaders from other worlds, "supervillains" or even, soveriegn states",... and this triggers the first of a series of counter strikes, this one launched by the ultimate cold warrior, a creative genius with his own plans for humanity. Both a satire of the conventions of the comic book superhero genre; the culture of celebrity in the this country; and an indirect indictment of abusive governments everywhere; "The Nativity" made both Mark Millar and Frank Quitely's careers in the US, and both rapidly moved onward and upward to far more lucrative assignments; but to date this remains some of thier finest work for American publishers, and its well worth a read.
Rating:
Summary: Dramatic Endings, New Directions,...
Review: This volume is made up of two stories, "the Outer Dark" representing the end of the Warren Ellis/Bryan Hitch first year run of the book, and "the Nativity" the start of the controversial Mark Millar/Frank Quitely run on the title. While it isn't quite the breathless trip that the first two Authority story arcs were (collected in the see "the Authority: Relentless" trade paperback), it represents a fine ending to the Ellis/Hitch run and features the last bow of a memorable character, one after my own ex-leftie heart. (By the way, they take on God, but not the diety you're thinking of,...) "The Nativity" starts off with the Authority lashing out against the government of Indonesia, which had hired "irregulars" to brutalize East Timorese into sanctioning their abusive regime in an upcoming election, and sending a message to the governments of the world: "we will not tolerate the human rights abuses by anyone, be they invaders from other worlds, "supervillains" or even, soveriegn states",... and this triggers the first of a series of counter strikes, this one launched by the ultimate cold warrior, a creative genius with his own plans for humanity. Both a satire of the conventions of the comic book superhero genre; the culture of celebrity in the this country; and an indirect indictment of abusive governments everywhere; "The Nativity" made both Mark Millar and Frank Quitely's careers in the US, and both rapidly moved onward and upward to far more lucrative assignments; but to date this remains some of thier finest work for American publishers, and its well worth a read.
Rating:
Summary: If You're Tired of the Norm
Review: Tired of always seeing super-heros fighting the same old menaces, put them in jail, only for them to escape again later? Can't stand how no one ever stays dead anymore? Sick of seeing all these stupid codenames? Well, then the Authority is your answer. I remember when I bought my first issue of Authority. It's in this TPB, #13. I originally bought it just because I really like Frank Quitely's art, but after reading it, I found something more than that. The reason why the Authority is so popular is because they're not your average super hero. Some of them don't wear spandex, some of them don't have super hero names, but they're all relatable. When you read these characters, you say to yourself, "yeah that's what I would've done," or "right on!" I know what you're probably thinking, super heros shouldn't kill. But you know what? The villains they fight are so evil, you feel it's justified in the end. Like one of the lines in this book, they're just doing what any person in their right mind would do. If you had the power to stop a dictator from sanctioning rape and torture on their country, would you do it? If you had the technology to cure cancer, would you try and find it? That is what these people do. Do yourself a favor, don't just buy this book, but also get The Authority: Relentless, the first TPB. Trust me, you won't be disappointed
Rating:
Summary: If You're Tired of the Norm
Review: Tired of always seeing super-heros fighting the same old menaces, put them in jail, only for them to escape again later? Can't stand how no one ever stays dead anymore? Sick of seeing all these stupid codenames? Well, then the Authority is your answer. I remember when I bought my first issue of Authority. It's in this TPB, #13. I originally bought it just because I really like Frank Quitely's art, but after reading it, I found something more than that. The reason why the Authority is so popular is because they're not your average super hero. Some of them don't wear spandex, some of them don't have super hero names, but they're all relatable. When you read these characters, you say to yourself, "yeah that's what I would've done," or "right on!" I know what you're probably thinking, super heros shouldn't kill. But you know what? The villains they fight are so evil, you feel it's justified in the end. Like one of the lines in this book, they're just doing what any person in their right mind would do. If you had the power to stop a dictator from sanctioning rape and torture on their country, would you do it? If you had the technology to cure cancer, would you try and find it? That is what these people do. Do yourself a favor, don't just buy this book, but also get The Authority: Relentless, the first TPB. Trust me, you won't be disappointed
Rating: 
Summary: Good stuff, but pretty thin
Review: When I first read AUTHORITY, I was blown away but just......how darn cool everything in it seemed. Its a masterpiece of style and force. And Frank Quietly is a suberp artist. I dunno, its not for everybody. It really could be, this book is so close to be a masterpiece it hurts. But it really doesn't seem to want to dig beneath the surface. Its just about action and truly incredible violence. But thats really about it. We dont get much of an idea of the characters, or really that the Authority does much else than wreack havoc on anyone that steps out of line. But jeez, if the story would just slow down, add some more details, really let us into its world, you'd be hard pressed to do better. Seriously, this book is ready to explode, there is so much there. It just feels like its content to burn out quickly.
Rating: 
Summary: Transfer of creative power.....successful
Review: When the creator and writer of a comic leaves the book, the product is usually not as good. This book is an exception to the rule. There is enough difference between Warren Ellis and Mark Millar's style to know right off after a few pages of reading, but both are superb in their wit and ambition of storytelling. Combined with crisp and concise art from Hitch and Quitely, this commentary/parody of the classic superhero team is entertaining and funny. Oh, and it is full of dirty jokes, inuendos, blood and decapitation....BONUS!
Rating:
Summary: Transfer of creative power.....successful
Review: When the creator and writer of a comic leaves the book, the product is usually not as good. This book is an exception to the rule. There is enough difference between Warren Ellis and Mark Millar's style to know right off after a few pages of reading, but both are superb in their wit and ambition of storytelling. Combined with crisp and concise art from Hitch and Quitely, this commentary/parody of the classic superhero team is entertaining and funny. Oh, and it is full of dirty jokes, inuendos, blood and decapitation....BONUS!
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