On the surface, this new incarnation of The Authority has everything that made the Warren Ellis and Mark Millar takes on the concept so popular and intense. But there's something missing from the script and/or characters, and I just can't put my finger on what it is. I don't have the same problem with the art. It's entirely clear what's lacking there. There's aren't meant as criticisms of the creators here, though. It feels as though Morrison is being held back, and Turner's exaggerated, gritty style just doesn't suit the property all that well.
Terrorists have come to Earth from another dimension, and thanks to explosives that are linked to their livesigns, they're laying waste to the cities in which they make their final stands. The Authority responds quickly to the invasion, preventing the bombers' deaths. But that doesn't mean an end to their pain. The team soon discovers, though, that they may be on the wrong side of this fight. Meanwhile, the Engineer tries to work through the odd nature of her relationship with Jack Hawksmoor by chatting with a teammate.
Turner's style captures the mature nature of the Authority and some of the weird, but the larger-than-life look -- the "widescreen" comics feel -- isn't to be found here. Some panels are sketchy, and the artwork lacks in the gruesome level of detail that made the Bryan Hitch and Frank Quitely stints on the book so shocking. For example, on page two, panel two, we see that the Midnighter is badly injured, but we don't get a sense of how or how badly.
One has to give Morrison credit for opening the door for new readers, though. I missed the first issue of this series last month, but I had no problem delving into the story here. The script still boast the same kind of other-dimensional, political/sci-fi elements that we came to expect during the first series, but they're still easy to follow. That level of accessibility was a welcome element.
The characters came off as a bit too touchy feely here as well. The first Authority series had some strong characterization as well, but it was as intense as the action. Here, the Engineer and Apollo come off as... a little too normal, a little too down to earth. I know that's an odd criticism coming from someone who normally enjoys grounded characters and plotlines, but the Authority has always been a study in extremes.
After typing a few paragraphs, I think I know what's missing: passion. Is that entirely fair to Morrison? God, no. I'm making an assumption, and I can't point to anything specific to back my point up. It's just a feeling I have... maybe bordering on a bias. I don't know, honestly, but I do know that this episode in an of itself is a pale shadow of the original series.
