View source for The Authority (comics)

{{Short description|DC Comics comic book series}}{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox comics team and title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
<!-- Group section -->
| name                = ''The Authority''
| image               = The Authority Team by Quitely.jpg
| caption             = The Authority, as featured on the cover for the ''Under New Management'' trade paperback (Nov. 2000). From left to right, the Doctor, Swift, Apollo, Jenny Sparks, Midnighter, the Engineer, and Jack Hawksmoor, with the infant Jenny Quantum at the back. Art by [[Frank Quitely]].
| publisher           = [[Wildstorm]]
| group               = y
| debuthead           =
| debut               = ''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #1
| debutmo             = May
| debutyr             = 1999
| creators            = [[Warren Ellis]]<br />[[Bryan Hitch]]
| type                =
| business            =
| organisation        =
| organization        = y
| team                =
| base                = The Carrier
| owners              =
| employees           =
| members             = Christine Trelane<br />[[Deathblow (comics)|Deathblow]]<br />[[List of Stormwatch members#The New 52 DC relaunch (issues #1–18, issue #30)|Engineer]]<br />Flint<br />Freefall<br />[[Grifter (character)|Grifter]]<br />The High<br />Jack Hawksmoor<br />Rainmaker<br />[[Swift (character)|Swift]]<br />[[Manchester Black]]<br />'''Former members:'''<br />[[Apollo (DC Comics)|Apollo]]<br />Doctor (Jeroen Thornedike)<br />Doctor (Habib ben Hassan)<br />Jenny Quantum<br />[[Jenny Sparks]]<br />[[Midnighter]]<br />Rose Tattoo
| fullroster          =
<!-- Series section -->
<!-- |title               = -->
| cvr_image           = <!-- filename format only -->
| cvr_caption         =
| schedule            =
| limited             = 
| ongoing             = Y
| 1shot               = 
| Superhero           = Y
| pub_series          =
| date                =
| 1stishhead          = Vol. 1
| 1stishyr            = 1999
| 1stishmo            = May
| endishyr            = 2002
| endishmo            = July
| 1stishhead1         = Vol. 2
| 1stishyr1           = 2003
| 1stishmo1           = July
| endishyr1           = 2004
| endishmo1           = November
| 1stishhead2         = ''Revolution''
| 1stishyr2           = 2004
| 1stishmo2           = December
| endishyr2           = 2005
| endishmo2           = December
| 1stishhead3         = Vol. 3: ''The Lost Year''
| 1stishyr3           = 2006
| 1stishmo3           = December
| endishyr3           = 2010
| endishmo3           = October
| 1stishhead4         = Vol. 4
| 1stishyr4           = 2008
| 1stishmo4           = October
| endishyr4           = 2010
| endishmo4           = December
| issues              = '''(Vol. 1)''': 29<br />'''(Vol. 2)''': 15<br />'''(''Revolution'')''': 12<br />'''(Vol. 3)'''/'''''The Lost Year''''': 12<br />'''(Vol. 4)''': 29
| main_char_team      =
| writers             =
| artists             =
| pencillers          =
| inkers              =
| letterers           =
| colorists           =
| editors             =
| creative_team_month =
| creative_team_year  =
| creators_series     = [[Warren Ellis]]<br />[[Bryan Hitch]]
| cat                 = teams
| subcat              =
| altcat              =
| hero                = y
| villain             =
| sortkey             = Authority, The
| addgrpcat#          =
| addpubcat#          =
}}
'''''The Authority''''' is a [[superhero comic book]] series published by [[DC Comics]] under the [[Wildstorm]] imprint. It was created in 1999 by [[Warren Ellis]] and [[Bryan Hitch]], and follows the adventures of the Authority, a superhero team mainly composed of Ellis-created characters from ''[[Stormwatch (comics)|Stormwatch]]''.

The team will appear in various media set in the [[DC Universe (franchise)|DC Universe]] (DCU) media franchise. Angela Spica / Engineer will appear in the upcoming film ''[[Superman (2025 film)|Superman]]'' (2025) portrayed by [[María Gabriela de Faría]], while the team will additionally headline a [[The Authority (film)|self-titled film]] in development.

==Publication history==
===Volume 1===

====Ellis/Hitch run====
[[Image:Authority Widescreen by Hitch.jpg|right|thumb|The cover of the cancelled ''Authority: Widescreen'' by [[Bryan Hitch]].]]In 1999, Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch created the Authority, a team of superheroes who got the job done by any means necessary. The original line-up consisted of Jenny Sparks, a British woman who could generate and turn into electricity; Jack Hawksmoor, who was psychically bonded to cities in order to communicate with them and receive powers from them; Swift, a Tibetan woman who possessed wings and sharp talons; Apollo, a bio-engineered [[Superman]] [[pastiche]]; Midnighter, a bio-engineered [[Batman]] pastiche who possessed the ability to foresee his opponents' moves in combat; The Engineer, a scientist who had replaced her blood with nine pints of nanotechnology and could create solid objects with it; and The Doctor, a Dutch drug addict and shaman who possessed the combined powers of the hundreds of shamans who came before him. On the creation of the series, Ellis noted:

{{blockquote|"One of the reasons I turned their '' Stormwatch''  into '' The Authority''  is that I found out that, despite the fact that no-one was buying '' Stormwatch'', they kept it going because they liked reading it in the [Wildstorm] office and wanted to keep me employed. And I felt so bloody awful about that, and at the same time had been so struck by Bryan Hitch’s '' Stormwatch''  issues, that the train of thought that led to '' The Authority''  began."<ref name="BeatWE">{{cite web|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/09/22/the-wildstorm-legacy/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924053047/http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/09/22/the-wildstorm-legacy/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-09-24 |title=The WildStorm Legacy &#124; The Beat |date=2010-09-24 |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref>}}

The Ellis/Hitch run of ''The Authority'' lasted 12 issues, divided into three four-issue story arcs: ''The Circle'', ''Shiftships'', and ''Outer Dark''. ''Outer Dark'' ended with team leader Jenny Sparks, thought to be the Spirit of the 20th Century,<ref>''Stormwatch'' #38 (August 1996)</ref><ref>''The Authority'' #1 (May 1999)</ref> dying in the final minutes of December 31, 1999, as the 20th Century ended and the 21st began.<ref>''The Authority'' #12 (April 2000)</ref>

====Millar/Quitely run====
[[Image:Authority Issue 19.jpg|left|thumb|Cover to ''The Authority'' #19 (Nov. 2000), featuring Swift, by [[Frank Quitely]].]]
Replacing Ellis and Hitch after issue #12 were writer [[Mark Millar]] and artist [[Frank Quitely]]. [[Tom Peyer]] and [[Dustin Nguyen (comics)|Dustin Nguyen]] worked on a four-issue fill-in arc, and [[Arthur Adams (comics)|Arthur Adams]] drew two of the final three issues of Millar's run and [[Gary Erskine]] drew the final issue, #29.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike's Amazing World of Comics |url=http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/comic.php?comicid=3089 |access-date=November 2, 2024 |website=www.mikesamazingworld.com}}</ref>

During the Millar/Quitely run, the Authority was now under Jack Hawksmoor's leadership following Jenny Sparks' death at the end of the 20th century. They faced multiple foes such as a mad scientist and his army of superhumans who wanted to influence the 21st Century through Jenny Sparks' successor Jenny Quantum, a previous Doctor who manipulated the Earth itself, and a duplicate team of superheroes modeled on the Authority that was created and backed by the [[G7]] group of nations. Also during the run, Jenny Quantum was adopted by Apollo and Midnighter after they were married and the Doctor worked through his heroin addiction after faltering in battle.

A number of panels and covers during the Millar/Quitely run, which was published in the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks]], were censored by DC Comics.<ref name="Darius">{{cite web|last=Darius|first=Julian|title=Censorship of The Authority &#124; Sequart Research & Literacy Organization|url=http://www.sequart.org/?p=2461|access-date=2013-11-01|website=Sequart|publisher=[[Sequart Organization]]}}</ref> During Millar and Quitely's first arc, red filters were used to obscure particularly violent panels. DC also ordered a scene in which Apollo and Midnighter kiss be completely removed, and a character based on [[Marvel Comics]]' [[Captain America]] be redesigned, subsequently re-drawn and recolored on the cover to issue #14 to differentiate between the two.<ref name="Darius" /> DC would order Adams' work on the final issues of the volume be substantially re-drawn, the more significant examples being a scene depicting leader of the G7 Authority, The Colonel, about to [[Necrophilia|perform a sexual act on Jenny Sparks' severely-decomposed corpse]] that was re-drawn and Millar's dialogue was re-written to remove any depiction or mention of necrophilia; a panel in which G7 Authority member Teuton kills multiple people by flying through them, that was re-drawn as two separate and less graphic panels; multiple panels in which Teuton gropes Apollo against his will and is then killed in a particularly gory fashion, which were re-drawn so as not to show the groping and to make Teuton's death scene less explicit; a series of panels depicting Swift being humiliated, which had sexual overtones, and was re-drawn so as to soften the scene; and a panel in which [[George W. Bush]] was depicted that was re-drawn so the character who appears as the [[President of the United States]] would not resemble Bush.<ref name="Darius" />

The team's unilateral interventionism would go on to be compared to the [[Iraq War|U.S.-led coalition's intervention in Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Julian Darius |url=http://www.sequart.org/magazine/899/mark-millars-the-authority-and-the-polemic-over-iraq/ |title=Mark Millar's The Authority and the Polemic over Iraq &#124; Sequart Research & Literacy Organization |publisher=[[Sequart Organization]] |date=2003-07-19 |access-date=2013-11-01}}</ref>

[[Image:Authority Issue 29.jpg|right|thumb|Cover to ''The Authority'' #29 (July 2002) by [[Art Adams]].]]

===Volume 2===
The series was subsequently restarted,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicon.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=293770#Post293770 |title=THE RETURN OF THE AUTHORITY: SPEAKING WITH EDITOR BEN ABERNATHY – COMICON.com Panels &#124; Comic Book, Graphic Novel and Cartooning Discussions |publisher=Comicon.com |access-date=2013-11-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103074049/http://www.comicon.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=293770#Post293770 |archive-date=2013-11-03 }}</ref> (with a planned "Mature Readers" relaunch by [[Brian Azzarello]] and [[Glenn Fabry]] being scrapped in the wake of 9/11),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbr.com/san-diego-day-1-wildstorm-previews-mature-line/ |title=SAN DIEGO, DAY 1: WildStorm previews mature line |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=2001-07-19 |access-date=2010-12-31}}</ref> and was written by [[Robbie Morrison]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicon.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=297819#Post297819 |title=TALKING WITH AUTHORITY: ROBBIE MORRISON – COMICON.com Panels &#124; Comic Book, Graphic Novel and Cartooning Discussions |publisher=Comicon.com |access-date=2013-11-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103074627/http://www.comicon.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=297819#Post297819 |archive-date=2013-11-03 }}</ref> with art by [[Dwayne Turner]] (except for the single issue "Behemoth", which featured art by Tan Eng Huat, and "Street Life", which was penciled by [[Whilce Portacio]]). This incarnation of the series lasted for 15 issues, including issues 1-14 and the series of back-ups that ran through Stormwatch: Team Achilles #9, Sleeper #3 and Wildcats 3.0 #8 which were eventually published as issue 0.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Darius|first=Julian|title=Authority, the: Robbie Morrison and Micah Ian Wright Era (2002-2004)|url=http://sequart.org/continuity-pages/dc-universe/the-authority/robbie-morrison-and-micah-ian-wright/|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Sequart}}</ref> Prior to issue 10, the series was part of the "[[Coup d'Etat (comics)|Coup d'état]]" crossover that included ''The Authority'', ''[[Stormwatch: Team Achilles]]'', ''[[Sleeper (comic book)|Sleeper]]'', and [[Wildcats (comics)#Wildcats v3.0 - Corporate culture for a better world|''Wildcats'' v3.0]]. The crossover revolved around the Authority taking over the [[United States|United States of America]].

===''Revolution''===
The series was again restarted in October 2004 as ''The Authority: Revolution'', a twelve issue mini-series written by [[Ed Brubaker]] and drawn by [[Dustin Nguyen (artist)|Dustin Nguyen]] and Richard Friend that focused on the troubles the Authority faced as the rulers of America.

===Volume 3===

====Morrison/Ha run====
[[Image:Authority Promotional Image by Ha.jpg|left|thumb|Promotional image of ''The Authority'' volume 3 by [[Gene Ha]].]] In February 2006, it was announced that [[Grant Morrison]] would write ''The Authority Volume 3'', with art by [[Gene Ha]]. The series was intended to be published bimonthly, beginning in October 2006. Morrison "cited Warren Ellis’s original run as an approach they wanted to return to, saying their new approach will allow the team to be effectual again".<ref>{{cite web|author=Matt Brady |url=http://www.newsarama.com/WonderCon2006/wildstorm/building.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525001605/http://www.newsarama.com/WonderCon2006/wildstorm/building.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-05-25 |title=NEWSARAMA.COM: WONDERCON '06: WILDSTORM: UNIVERSE BUILDING PANEL |date=2006-05-25 |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref>

Morrison and Ha's first issue was released in December 2006. It followed a family man named Ken in his search for a downed submarine that encountered something massive and unexpected in the depths of the ocean that caused it to be destroyed. When Ken finds the ship, many of the crew are missing. The issue ends as Ken and his search party encounters the Authority's Carrier, 50 miles long, lying on the ocean floor.

The second issue came out five months after the first and dealt with the Authority's reaction to crash-landing on a less developed Earth than theirs. Ken meets The Authority but begins to question their methodology.

In September 2007, Gene Ha was quoted at ''[[Newsarama]]'' as saying that he did not believe his run with Morrison would continue.  "...I don't think ''The Authority'' #3 by Grant Morrison and Gene Ha is ever coming out. Grant is busy redesigning the DC Universe and I've moved onto new projects. Most importantly, it seems that editor Scott Dunbier has been forced out of Wildstorm. There is no #3 script, there may never be a #3 script."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=130528|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011103200/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=130528|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-10-11|title=HA: AUTHORITY #3 NOT COMING? - NEWSARAMA |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref>

Scott Peterson announced at [[Wondercon]] 2008 that he had talked to Morrison two weeks earlier about ''The Authority'', and there was "very serious progress" and it would start shipping again toward the end of the year.<ref>Comics Continuum, February 24, 2008</ref> When asked to comment upon their inability to complete further issues of ''The Authority'', Morrison has said '"Authority was just a disaster." They said that they were doing it and running late when ''[[52 (comics)|52]]'' started, but when they saw the reviews to the first issue, "I said fuck it."'<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154312|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201111220/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154312|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-12-01|title=NYCC '08: THE GRANT MORRISON PANEL - NEWSARAMA |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref>

====''The Lost Year''====
On 19 April 2008, Wildstorm announced [[Keith Giffen]] would complete Grant Morrison's scripts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=157434|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208100747/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=157434|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-12-08|title=Wild At Heart: Ben Abernathy - Newsarama |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref> Giffen ran into an immediate problem: "I stepped into a book that was in the midst of a type of storyline that is probably my least favorite in comics. And that is, heroes come to our earth".<ref name=ggiffauth>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/030924-Giffen-Authority.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327030357/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/030924-Giffen-Authority.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-03-27 |title=Newsarama.com : Picking up the Baton: Keith Giffen on Finishing Morrison's 'Authority' |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref> However, according to Giffen, this was only the first short arc of the longer story:

{{blockquote|The story that Grant started wraps up in two more issues, then it moves into another adventure. This book is about the Authority having trouble with the Carrier and they're trying to find their way home. It's almost like the Odyssey, in a way, as trying to find your way home and going through various adventures. And this is what Grant had planned. This is in keeping with the basic structure that he told me over the phone. But then, I'll put in my point of view.<ref name=ggiffauth />}}

The remaining issues of volume 3 were published by Wildstorm under the title ''The Authority: The Lost Year''. Giffen was credited alongside Morrison as the writer, with several artists contributing. Eventually, [[J. M. DeMatteis]] joined the creative team for a few issues as co-writer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Adler|first=Matt|date=April 14, 2010|title=Interview: J.M. DeMatteis on Kraven and Booster Gold|url=https://ifanboy.com/articles/interview-j-m-dematteis-on-kraven-and-booster-gold/|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=iFanboy}}</ref> The series ran a total of twelve issues, including the original two by Morrison.

===Prime===
In July 2007, it was announced that [[Christos Gage]] and [[Darick Robertson]] would do an intended storyarc as a miniseries due to the scheduling problems with the Morrison/Ha run on the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=107684 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509190102/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=107684 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-09 |title=Getting Some Authority: Christos Gage On His Upcoming Authority Arc - Newsarama |date=2007-05-09 |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbr.com/authority-complex-gage-robertson-talk-prime/ |title=AUTHORITY COMPLEX: Gage & Robertson Talk "Prime" |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=2007-07-12 |access-date=2013-11-01}}</ref> The resulting six-issue miniseries entitled ''The Authority: Prime'' was planned to have spanned issues #6 to #11 of ''The Authority'' (vol. 3).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=121034 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929122020/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=121034 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-09-29 |title=Gage Takes Wildstorm: Talking Midnighter: Armageddon & Authority: Prime - Newsarama |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref> It featured the renewed Stormwatch Prime who, along with the Authority, investigate a recently discovered secret bunker that once belonged to Henry Bendix.

===Volume 4===

====Abnett/Lanning/Coleby era====
{{Main|World's End (comics)}}
[[Dan Abnett]] and [[Andy Lanning]] relaunched the book in May 2008 in the wake of the ''[[World's End (comics)|World's End]]'' event and took over the writing duties, accompanied by artist [[Simon Coleby]],<ref>[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=156955 Wild at Heart: Andy Lanning], [[Newsarama]], May 14, 2008{{Dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=157129 Wild at Heart: Simon Coleby], [[Newsarama]], May 15, 2008{{Dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref> writing the first seventeen issues of the series. Senior Wildstorm editor Ben Abernathy also said of four issues that had already been completed by the new team, "I can say honestly, based on the four issues of script and art that are already in the can, people will NOT be disappointed!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154293 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207030710/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154293 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-12-07 |title=NYCC '08: LIVING IN THE RUINS: WS Editor Ben Abernathy on 'Worlds End' - NEWSARAMA |access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref>

Abnett and Lanning's contract with Marvel Comics included a clause which allowed them to finish their existing projects, including their run on ''The Authority''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbr.com/ww-chicago-dna-sign-exclusive-deal-with-marvel/ |title=WW Chicago: DnA Sign Exclusive Deal with Marvel |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=2008-06-29 |access-date=2013-11-01}}</ref>

====Bernardin/Freeman/Barrionuevo era====
Writers Marc Bernardin & Adam Freeman and artist Al Barrionuevo worked on the book for a four-issue run from #18 to #21, including the epilogue in issue 17.<ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Striker |url=http://theauthority.ws/interviews/bernardin-freeman.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720035931/http://theauthority.ws/interviews/bernardin-freeman.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 20, 2012 |title=Bernardin & Freeman Take Over the Reins of Authority |publisher=The Higher Authority |date=January 4, 2010 |access-date=January 11, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Chris |last=Arrant |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/091124-Authority-Bernardin-Freeman.html |title=WildStorm's New AUTHORITY Figures |publisher=[[Newsarama]] |date=November 24, 2008 |access-date=November 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127054026/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/091124-Authority-Bernardin-Freeman.html |archive-date=November 27, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Marc Bernardin |url=http://io9.com/5440552/writing-the-authority-or-getting-the-comic+book-t |title=Writing 'The Authority,' or Getting the Comic-Book $#!t$ |publisher=Io9.com |date=2010-01-05 |access-date=2013-11-01}}</ref>

====Taylor/Barrionuevo era====
Writer [[Tom Taylor (writer)|Tom Taylor]] (writer of several ''[[Star Wars]]'' titles including the ''[[Star Wars: Invasion]]'' series) took over ''The Authority'' with issue #22,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-solicitations-for-may-2010/ |title=DC Comics Solicitations for May, 2010 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=2010-02-16 |access-date=2013-11-01}}</ref> (with artist [[Mike S. Miller]] filling in for two issues for Al Barrinuevo), until the series concluded with #29.

===Superman and the Authority===
After Wildstorm was eventually merged with DC's mainline universe, the Authority would be reintroduced during the [[Infinite Frontier]] era, in a short miniseries known as ''Superman and the Authority'', by [[Grant Morrison]] and Mikel Janen. In this miniseries, [[Superman]] and [[Manchester Black]] (whose previous team [[The Elite (DC Comics)|the Elite]] was a reference to the Authority) assemble a new incarnation of the Authority to liberate Warworld from [[Mongul]].

==Storylines==
{{Main|List of The Authority story arcs}}

==Members==
The founding members of the Authority were:
*[[Jenny Sparks]], "The Spirit of the Twentieth Century"; the group's founder and original leader.
*[[Apollo (DC Comics)|Apollo]], "The Sun God".
*[[Midnighter]] a.k.a. Lucas Trent, "Night's Bringer of War".
*The Doctor a.k.a. Jeroen Thornedike, "The Shaman".
*The second {{visible anchor|Engineer}} a.k.a. Angela Spica, "The Maker".
*{{visible anchor|Jack Hawksmoor}}, "The God of Cities"; leader of the Authority from 2000 to 2005, and again from 2008 to 2010.
*[[Swift (character)|Swift]] a.k.a. Shen Li-Min, "The Winged Huntress".

Following the ''Outer Dark'' story arc, Jenny Sparks was replaced with:
*{{visible anchor|Jenny Quantum}}, "The Spirit of the 21st Century"; leader of the Authority from 2005 to 2008.

At the end of the ''Revolution'' maxi-series, the Authority gained two new members:
*The Doctor a.k.a. Habib ben Hassan, "The Shaman"; Thornedike's successor and
*Rose Tattoo, "The Spirit of Life"; formerly "The Spirit of Murder", the personification of the act of murder, and seemingly capable of killing anyone;<ref name="Stormwatch vol">''Stormwatch'' vol. 1 #50 (August 1997)</ref> member of Stormwatch.

Beginning with #18 of volume four the team roster underwent a major change. Jack Hawksmoor, Swift and Engineer remained on the team, where they were joined by new members:
*Synergy a.k.a. Christine Trelane; formerly Stormwatch's activator, capable of activating or temporarily removing Seedlings' powers;<ref>''Stormwatch'' vol. 1 #1 (March 1993)</ref> their second Weatherman until Henry Bendix's return;<ref>''Stormwatch'' vol. 1 #12 (August 1994)</ref> and second-in-command under Jackson King.<ref>''WildC.A.T.s/Aliens'' (August 1998)</ref>
*[[Deathblow (comics)|Deathblow]] a.k.a. Michael Cray; former member of Team 7.
*Flint a.k.a. Victoria Ngengi; former member of Stormwatch.
*Freefall a.k.a. Roxanne Spaulding; former member of [[Gen¹³]].
*[[Grifter (character)|Grifter]] a.k.a. Cole Cash; former member of the [[Wildcats (comics)|Wildcats]] and Team 7.
*The High a.k.a. John Cumberland; one of the first super-heroes active in America during the 1930s and '40s, long thought to be an urban legend,<ref name="Stormwatch vol-2">''Stormwatch'' vol. 1 #48 (May 1997)</ref> and former member of the radical super-human group The Changers.<ref name="Stormwatch vol-2" /><ref>''Stormwatch'' vol. 1 #49 (June 1997)</ref><ref name="Stormwatch vol" />
*Rainmaker a.k.a. Sarah Rainmaker; former member of Gen 13.

The Authority's base of operations is the Carrier, a sentient, gigantic, interdimensional "shiftship" existing everywhere on Earth at the same time and capable of moving through every imaginable plane of existence.

When the Authority was assembled in the ''Superman and the Authority'' series, the group would operate out of the [[Fortress of Solitude]], where the artificial intelligence [[Kelex]] could aid them. In addition to Apollo and Midnighter, several characters created for DC comics would become members of this version of the team. These members were:
*[[Superman]], one of Earth's leading heroes, the owner of the Fortress of Solitude, one of the survivors of the destruction of [[Krypton (comics)|Krypton]], and the team's new founder.
*[[Manchester Black]], a former enemy of Superman and leader of the Elite who possesses telepathic powers.
*[[Natasha Irons|Steel]], an ally of Superman who wields a chrome suit of armor and a hammer, filling a similar role to the Engineer.
*[[Enchantress (DC Comics)|Enchantress]], a sorceress who was a former member of [[Justice League Dark]] and the [[Suicide Squad]], filling a similar role to the Doctor.
*[[Flash (DC Comics character)|Lightray]], a being from [[Tangent Comics|Earth 9]] who derives fast speeds from the ability to control light, filling similar roles to Jenny Sparks and Swift.
*The second [[OMAC (comics)|OMAC]] from Earth 9, Lightray's crime-fighting partner who derives super strength from powered armor.

==Awards==
The series was nominated for "Outstanding Comic Book" in the [[14th GLAAD Media Awards#Print|14th]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/14th-annual-glaad-media-award-winners-include-the-goat-and-zanna-dont-com-112515|title=14th Annual GLAAD Media Award Winners Include The Goat and Zanna, Don't! &#124; Playbill}}</ref> and [[15th GLAAD Media Awards#Print|15th GLAAD Media Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-06-21 |title=GLAAD: Nominees for the 15th Annual GLAAD Media Awards |url=http://www.glaad.org/publications/resource_doc_detail.php?id=3549&#%20comic_book |access-date=2023-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040621162704/http://www.glaad.org/publications/resource_doc_detail.php?id=3549&#%20comic_book |archive-date=2004-06-21 }}</ref>

==Collected editions==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Title
!Material collected
!Published date
!ISBN
|-
! colspan="4" |Volume 1
|-
|''The Authority: Relentless''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #1-8
|June 2000
|{{ISBNT|978-1840231946}}
|-
|''The Authority: Under New Management''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #9-16
|March 2001
|{{ISBNT|978-1840232769}}
|-
|''The Authority: Earth Inferno and Other Stories''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #17–20, ''The Authority Annual 2000'' #1 and material from ''Wildstorm Summer Special'' #1
|September 2002
|{{ISBNT|978-1840233711}}
|-
|''The Monarchy: Bullets Over Babylon''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #21 and ''The Monarchy'' #1-4
|December 2001
|{{ISBNT|978-1563898594}}
|-
|''The Authority: Transfer of Power''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #22-29
|October 2002
|{{ISBNT|978-1401200206}}
|-
|''The Authority Vol. 1''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #1-12
|May 2013
|{{ISBNT|978-1401240301}}
|-
|''The Authority Vol. 2''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #13-29, ''The Authority Annual 2000'' #1, and material from ''WildStorm Summer Special'' #1
|December 2013
|{{ISBNT|978-1401250805}}
|-
|''[[DC Comics Absolute Edition|Absolute]] The Authority Vol. 1'' (first edition)
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #1-12
|August 2002
|{{ISBNT|978-1563898822}}
|-
|''Absolute The Authority Vol. 2'' (first edition)
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #13–20, 22, 27–29
|February 2004
|{{ISBNT|978-1401200978}}
|-
|''Absolute Authority Vol. 1'' (second edition)
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #1-12, ''Planetary/The Authority: Rule the World'' #1 and material from ''Wildstorm: A Celebration of 25 Years''
|October 2017
|{{ISBNT|978-1401276478}}
|-
|''Absolute Authority Vol. 2'' (second edition)
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #13-29, The ''Authority Annual 2000'' and material from ''Wildstorm Summer Special'' #1
|July 2018
|{{ISBNT|978-1401281151}}
|-
|''The Authority Omnibus''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 1) #1-29, ''Planetary/The Authority: Rule the World'' #1, ''Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of the Authority'' #1-5, ''Authority Annual 2000'' #1 and material from ''Wildstorm Summer Special''
|August 2019
|{{ISBNT|978-1401292317}}
|-
! colspan="4" |Volume 2
|-
|''The Authority: Harsh Realities''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 2) #0-5
|April 2004
|{{ISBNT|978-1401202781}}
|-
|''The Authority: Fractured Worlds''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 2) #6-14
|January 2005
|{{ISBNT|978-1401203009}}
|-
! colspan="4" |Revolution
|-
|''The Authority: Revolution Book One''
|''The Authority: Revolution'' #1-6
|August 2005
|{{ISBNT|978-1845761776}}
|-
|''The Authority: Revolution Book Two''
|''The Authority: Revolution'' #7-12
|April 2006
|{{ISBNT|978-1845762513}}
|-
|''The Authority by Ed Brubaker & Dustin Nguyen''
|''The Authority: Revolution'' #1-12
|March 2019
|{{ISBNT|978-1401288426}}
|-
! colspan="4" |Volume 3
|-
|''The Authority: The Lost Year Vol. 1''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 3) #1-6
|June 2010
|{{ISBNT|978-1401227494}}
|-
|''The Authority: The Lost Year Vol. 2''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 3) #7-12
|January 2011
|{{ISBNT|978-1401229856}}
|-
! colspan="4" |Volume 4
|-
|''The Authority: World's End''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 4) #1-7
|September 2009
|{{ISBNT|978-1401223625}}
|-
|''The Authority: Rule Britannia''
|''The Authority'' (vol. 4) #8-17
|March 2010
|{{ISBNT|978-1401226671}}
|-
! colspan="4" |Miniseries
|-
|''Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of the Authority''
|''Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of the Authority'' #1-5
|May 2001
|{{ISBNT|978-1563897696}}
|-
|''Coup d'État''
|''Coup d'État: The Authority'' #1, ''Coup d'État: Sleeper'' #1, ''Coup d'État: Stormwatch: Team Achilles'' #1, ''Coup d'État: WildCATS'' #1, ''Coup d'État: Afterword'' #1
|October 2004
|{{ISBNT|978-1401205706}}
|-
|''The Authority: Human on the Inside''
|Original graphic novel
|October 2004
|{{ISBNT|978-1401200701}}
|-
|''The Authority: Kev''
|''The Authority: Kev'' #1, ''The Authority: More Kev'' #1-4
|May 2005
|{{ISBNT|978-1401206147}}
|-
|''The Authority: The Magnificent Kevin''
|''The Authority: The Magnificent Kevin'' #1-5
|May 2006
|{{ISBNT|978-1401209902}}
|-
|''The Authority / Lobo: Holiday Hell''
|''The Authority/Lobo: Jingle Hell'' #1, ''The Authority/Lobo: Spring Break Massacre'' #1, ''The Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special'' #1 and material from ''Wildstorm Winter Special'' #1
|August 2006
|{{ISBNT|978-1401209926}}
|-
|''The Authority: A Man Called Kev''
|''A Man Called Kev'' #1-5
|June 2007
|{{ISBNT|978-1401213244}}
|-
|''The Authority: Prime''
|''The Authority: Prime'' #1-6
|August 2008
|{{ISBNT|978-1401218348}}
|-
|''The Secret History of the Authority: Hawksmoor''
|''The Secret History of the Authority: Hawksmoor'' #1-6
|April 2009
|{{ISBNT|978-1848561861}}
|-
|''Superman and The Authority''
|''Superman and The Authority'' #1-4
|November 2021
|{{ISBNT|978-1779513618}}
|}

==In other media==
=== Film ===
* The Authority was mentioned in the [[DC Extended Universe]] (DCEU) film ''[[Shazam! Fury of the Gods]]'' when [[Billy Batson (DC Extended Universe)|Billy Batson]] suggested various names for the [[Justice Society]] so people wouldn't be confused with the [[Justice League]]. 
*The Authority is set to appear in various media set within the [[DC Universe (franchise)|DC Universe]] (DCU) media franchise:
** Midnighter makes a non-speaking [[cameo appearance]] in the [[Max (streaming service)|Max]] animated series [[Creature Commandos (TV series)|''Creature Commandos'']] (2024–present). In the episode "Chasing Squirrels", he is depicted alongside several other active heroes and metahumans as having been killed in a potential dark future where Princess Illana Rostovic of [[Pokolistan]] took over Earth with the Amethyst Knights and [[Gorilla Grodd]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mysogland |first=Gregory |date=2024-12-20 |title=Here Are the Biggest Easter Eggs in 'Creature Commandos' Episode 4 |url=https://collider.com/creature-commandos-episode-4-easter-eggs/ |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Oddo |first=Marco Vito |date=2024-12-19 |title=Every DCU Character and Franchise That’s Referenced in Creature Commandos’ Episode 4 |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/creature-commandos-episode-4-recap-dcu-easter-eggs-characters-references/ |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
** Angela Spica / Engineer will appear as an antagonist in the upcoming film ''[[Superman (2025 film)|Superman]]'' (2025), portrayed by [[María Gabriela de Faría]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2023-11-15 |title='Superman: Legacy' Sets María Gabriela De Faría To Play Villain The Engineer |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/superman-legacy-maria-gabriela-de-faria-villain-role-1235612761/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
** ''[[The Authority (film)|The Authority]]'', a film featuring the team, was announced to be in development at [[DC Studios]] in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=January 31, 2023 |title=DC Slate Unveiled: New Batman, Supergirl Movies, a Green Lantern TV Show, and More from James Gunn, Peter Safran |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/james-gunn-unveils-dc-slate-batman-superman-1235314176/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131171111/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/james-gunn-unveils-dc-slate-batman-superman-1235314176/ |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |access-date=January 31, 2023 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> 

==See also==
* ''[[Nextwave]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
*{{gcdb series|id=8099|title=The Authority (1999)}}
*{{gcdb series|id=12141|title=The Authority (2003)}}
*{{gcdb series|id=12144|title=The Authority: Revolution}}
*{{gcdb series|id=20228|title=The Authority (2006)}}
*{{gcdb series|id=31874|title=The Authority (2008)}}
*{{Comicbookdb|type=team|id=175|title=The Authority}}
*{{Comicbookdb|type=team|id=1336|title=The Authority (Transfer of Power)}}
*[http://sequart.org/continuity-pages/dc-universe/the-authority/ The Authority: The Continuity Pages]
*[http://www.sequart.com/articles/index.php?article=601 Censorship of The Authority | Sequart Research & Literacy Organization&nbsp;— article on Millar's run being censored]

{{The Authority (comics)}}
{{Stormwatch (comics)|Stormwatch}}
{{Grifter (character)}}
{{Midnighter}}
{{Warren Ellis}}
{{Mark Millar}}
{{Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Authority}}
[[Category:Characters created by Bryan Hitch]]
[[Category:Comics by Mark Millar]]
[[Category:Comics by Warren Ellis]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related comics]]
[[Category:Widescreen comics]]
[[Category:WildStorm superhero teams]]
[[Category:WildStorm titles]]
[[Category:Stormwatch and the Authority characters| ]]