Book: The Authority
Story: Earth Inferno

Issue: #17-20

Mark Miller - writer
Chris Weston - artist - issue 17, 18
Frank Quitely - artist - issue 19, 20
Gary Leach - inker - issue 17, 18
Trevor Scott - inker - issue 19, 20
David Baron - colorist
Bill O'Neil - letterer
John Layman - editor

Overview:

Earth Inferno is another story tackling a grand plot, and in some ways it succeeds, but mostly I was just bored reading this story. 'The Authority' seems to be slipping into a bit of a slump. They understand that they were successful with big explosive cataclysms. But it's getting a bit old. The destruction is rehashed, and insipid; and the body count is literally overkill. The story revolves around the Earth deciding that 'The Authority' and really just humans in general are bad news. The 'spirit' of the Earth has turned on us and is doing it's damnedest to kill us off. This might also have a little something to do with 'The Authority' killing God a few issues back. Anyhow, we're in trouble and the only person who might be able to help is 'The Shaman', of course he's just OD and is in a hospital in Sydney. Rome is barraged with tornadoes, Manhatten flattened by a tidal wave, and San Fransisco is buried as the San Andres fault is ripped open. The destruction continues as 'The Authority' attempt to alleviate the disaster by evacuating the Earth's population to alternate realities, and calling upon the former Shaman (you know, the insane one, who once as a member of Stormwatch murdered three countries!). Craziness ensues, as a battle for the planet erupts.

- Seeing Midnighter without his mask.
- The two firemen in the cab of their truck after it's been submerged underwater in Manhatten profess their love thinking it's the end; only to be saved by Swift. Very amusing.
- Learning that Midnighter's blood is super health serum.
- The Engineer cures cancer. Mostly.
- A super criminal prison placed in 20 million BC

- Chris Weston's artwork.
- Manhattan buried underwater. Waaay to much death (granted this was written pre-9/11.)
- Swarming locusts, get real.
- The Shaman back to his junkie ways.
- Alternate reality Authority. Could have been funny.
- 'The Authority' living like rock stars.
- The Engineer and The Shaman together. Why???

Overall:

This has got to be the worst storyline so far. It doesn't even make any sense. Why the hell does the new Shaman give his powers over to the old Shaman at all. Does he plan to trick him . And if the power has passed back to the old Shaman, how come he doesn't know about the trick? There are too many plot holes here. The body count is ridiculous. And come on, honestly evacuating the entire Earth's population to alternate realities!?? What kind of bullshit is this? I'm more than a little peeved off here. The artwork is shoddy, even after Quitely returns, and the characters have become farcical. I didn't enjoy any of the larger elements of this story, the only redeeming factor was some of the smaller moments.

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