'The Authority' tells the stories of a super human team of heros. It incorporstes some of the characters and situations (presumably the same universe too) as seen in an earlier book called 'Stormwatch'. Seeing as I don't have with me here in Africa access to this older book and I've only just picked up 'The Authority' I don't really feel qualified to comment on 'Stormwatch'. I've never read it, I do not know it.
I do know though that 'The Authority' takes place in a superhuman filled universe and a US government sponsored counter superhuman task force code named Stormwatch has been disbanded sometime before this book begins. 'The Authority' springs from some of the former members of Stormwatch and some new people; all are dedicated to making the world a better place. They will accomplish this goal however not by conforming to the designs of any one nation or some nefarious powerbroker, but be doing what they believe is actually right. Of course, they are ready to defend the Earth from any plobal threats but they are also out to force the world to account for its actions. 'The Authority' are exactly that; a superhuman team dealing out moral lessons to the corrupt of the world. Their brand of justice may be bloody, but it is true.
Jenny Sparks
Jenny Sparks is quite literally "the spirit of the twentieth century". She is also a badass Brit who throws electricity around like rolling dice. She was a former member of 'Stormwatch' and is the leader of 'The Authority'. She is holding the new team together with her fierce determination and strong military presence. Jenny is 100 years old; being born at the very start of this century, and has the destiny to help guide and safeguard all life on Earth... at least until the next century. She has many secrets and a very sordid torrid past. No matter what's happening though Jenny manages to keep her head about her as she guides 'The Authority' with will and intelligence.
Jack Hawksmoor
Jack Hawksmoor is called the king of cities. This is due to his special bond to the energy and rythem of the cities of the world. He literally communicates with the spirit of the city. Jack is also a former member of 'Stormwatch' and is second in command of 'The Authority'. His talents also allow him to phase through walls. Jack sort of seeps in and out of the stones of his cities. It also allows him to be fantastically violent when he's fighting. For example, when Jack throws a punch he has the predeliction to phase through the skull and quite literally, punch someone's brains out. After you get over the disgusting gore involved in Jack's manner he really seems like a nice guy and a definite asset to the team.
The Engineer
The Engineer's real name is Angie. From what's been revealed about Angie it seems she inherited the job of Engineer from someone who died in 'Stormwatch'.She was aparantly a normal young woman until as the former Engineer was dying he dowmloaded to her all of his notes on nanotechnology. Now, having exchanged her blood for nine pints of liquid metal she has an unlimited army of microscopic nanobots living symbiotically within her. Angie is still getting used to her new powers but is learning daily how to manipulate her blood born robots to do her will. They coat and protect her body like quicksilver and can be used for a multitude of tasks. So far she's used them for everything from breathing underwater, to space flight, to morphing her arms into large gatling guns. Angie is also the teams link to The Carrier. She not so much as piolts, but rather she interprets The Carrier's desires as it travels along the higher dimensions.
Swift
Swift's real name is Shen Li Min. and not too much has been revealed about her. Shen was a former member of 'Stormwatch' and seems to have continued onto 'The Authority' out of a genuine desire to make the world a better place. She has wings like an eagle on her back and superhuman strength. Other than the basics though we don't know too much about her. She does deeply regret feeling the need to take lives in their line of work; possibly something she wasn't required to do in 'Stormwatch'. She also strikes me as the more sensitive member of the team.
The Shaman
Another new member of the team is the Shaman. He is in effect the world's doctor. He is indued with all the knowledge and powers of previous Shaman and continues an empowered legacy. A former junkie, he was discovered and picked up off the street by Jenny Sparks. He can communicate with the dead, travel the astral plain, and seemingly transmute anything into any other thing of similar mass. As of yet he's not overly confident in his role asa semi-reputable citizen and his doubts often lead to hesitation. But he's learning, and with the guidenceof the spirits of past Shaman, he is performing a job countless others have done before him; he is protecting his villiage from harm.
Apollo
Apollo bears a striking resemblenceto a certain Man of Steel. He flies, has superhuman strength, heat vision; pretty much the works. It's also been mentioned that he looks an awful lot like Richard Geere. Anyhow, although Apollo is a bit of a rip off of 'ol Supes, there are some distinct differences that become more and more pronounced as the character is developed. Not much is known about his past. He spent the last two years fighting crime on the streets across America with his life partner Midnighter. Apollo gets his strength from the Earths sun. He is the real powerhouse of 'The Authority', although he often comes across as a little naive the experiences he's getting with this team are shaping him into a really cool character.
Midnighter
Midnighter also bears a bit of a resembelence to one of DC comics mainstays. But like Apollo, Midnighter is quickly distinguishing himself as far more than a rip of of Batman. Midnighter has the power to see at least breifly into the future; and not just that, but all possible futures. The advantage to this? Well, when he's fighting someone he literally knows every single move his opponent will, or might make before he does it. Midnighter has a fairly interesting and playful relationship with Apollo and seems to be the comedian of the couple. Although it's pretty obvious that someone originally thought 'wouldn't it be funny if we could get away with a blatent Superman/Batman love story'; but honestly Midnighter and Apollo have gone beyond that simple beginning. Midnighter is a well crafted character: interesting, resourceful, and tough as hell.
The Carrier
50 miles long and 35 miles high, the derelict shiftship simply called The Carrier by it's crew is a pan dimensional entity that acts as home and strategic base of operations for 'The Authority'. It is powered by a caged baby universe, its creators unknown or lost, the ship is in fact alive. Sailing through the higher dimensions while still always being tied to Earth and our reality The Carrier is at once both a singular and a plural. It travels through consciousness, exploring wickedly bizzare and interesting planes of existence.
Assisted by the Engineer, The Carrier can instantly teleport any of it's crew to any point on Earth through it's nexus of doorways. Part of the bueaty of being everywhere at once.
The ship is both the perfect launch pad for 'The Authority' and a mesmerizing wizerdry of science fiction. The nature of it seems to demand beautiful surreal 2 page splash artwork. It also gives the writer a chance to comment non too subtly on the current themes of the story. The Carrier looks and feels graceful in extreme. The artwork shines, and the setting couldn't be better.
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