Even though I thoroughly enjoyed Sleeper and this issue not only incorporated the character but was penned by Sleeper scribe Ed Brubaker, I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this. I don't mind super-hero crossovers, but those set in the Wildstorm university just never seem to hold my interest. Well, Brubaker has grabbed my interest with this opening salvo, as has artist Jim Lee. Forget about Batman... this is a much stronger comeback effort for Lee. Once people hear of his involvement in this issue, I expect it'll be rather difficult to track down a copy, given that this book won't boast nearly the same print-run numbers as Lee's other recent work.
Holden Carver's boss, Tao, tasks him and Miss Misery with a key mission: to steal a top-secret piece of technology from a long forgotten army storage facility. But there's much more to the assignment that meets the eye, as the attempted heist sets into motion dark events of an even greater magnitude. The eventual consequences attracts the attention of the members of the Authority, who scramble to save millions of lives as only they can.
Jim Lee inks his own work here, and the result is impressive. There's a sketchier, edgier and darker quality to his art here, and it suits the extreme and more mature tone of the story. This is a far cry from polished but somewhat ordinary work he did on Batman. This effort puts me in mind of such artists' styles as Frank Miller and Chris Bachalo. Sinclair's colors add to the mature atmosphere and really bring out the energy and power that's typical of an Authority story.
The subversive, criminal elements of Sleeper may be set in the same continuity as the widescreen cataclysms of The Authority, but the two properties are radically different. I had my doubts that they'd fit together in the same story, but Brubaker makes it work without sacrificing the strengths of either property. Holden's role in the story is that of the first domino to fall, and the Authority comes in later when that initial move snowballs into millions of other pieces crashing down to earth.
It seems to me that the purpose of this story isn't to just offer up a money-making crossover. I'm struck by how accessible the story is. Those unfamiliar with either Sleeper or The Authority would have little trouble delving into this plot. On top of that, Brubaker offers some not-so subtle commentary on the state of global affairs in the real world. It's not hard to hear anti-Bush administration sentiment in his words.
