The Authority # 14 - At the Door

(SPOILERS) 
 
When it's done this well, there's nothing more fun than the 'third reel' of a story arc kicking into gear.   Last issue saw the grounded Carrier at the mercy of Kaizen Gamorra, with Swift and Angie outgunned by Gamorran clones, Jack blindsided by Cybernary, and Midnighter nowhere to be seen after a dream visitation from the Doctors sends him 'north' to find a cure for Apollo.   Here in #14 the one-sided battle continues, in a classic sequence that mixes old-fashioned duelling and wisecracking (Jack vs. Cybernary) with explosions and an unexpected 'rescue' that goes very quickly sour.   The lightning switches from hope to disaster (Jack's brief recovery, the Establishment's arrival) and the folding in of the Rendlesham plot thread give a real sense of escalation and menace and again show that DnA never create side-plots without a reason.   The writers are certainly having fun with their Ellis nostalgia.   Re-matching the crippled Authority of World's End against not one but two of their old enemies has a satisfying dramatic symmetry; like the smashed world they live in now, they're being sent back to their roots before (hopefully) rebuilding.

Drew Johnson drew most of this issue, with an unfussy kinetic style that's very different from regular artist Simon Coleby, less atmospheric and more traditionally 'superhero.'   I feel that Coleby's dark painterly style works far better for the gloomy material, and has been a crucial factor in distinguishing this title from the majority; but Johnson does provide some fantastic character designs here.   His Cybernary has a wonderful mechanoid glamour, and his version of Lorenzo in vintage air-ace flying gear is a perfect hark-back to the imperial kitsch of Bryan Hitch's  Sliding Albion, a smirking Euro-villain straight out of a Bond movie, complete with cigarette-holder.   Classy!

All this backstory is nicely counteracted by Midnighter's journey to Scotland (drawn by Coleby on top form).   It's a short sequence, mainly setup and intrigue, that starts with traditional Midnighter snark and violence and ends with a jaw-droppingly 'WTF' splash page.   Based on this, next issue should be interesting.

(No Spoilers)

Overall, I thought the issue was ok.   I think one thing I couldn’t get into was Drew Johnson’s art in this issue.   I’ve gotten used to Simon Colbey’s dark and moody art that it’s hard for me to accept someone else on this title right now.   Especially since Colbey does get a few pages when we switch over to the Midnighter side-story.   It’s good to see certain Wildstorm characters (can’t say who without spoiling, but you know if you read last issue’s cliffhanger) getting some screen time who haven’t been around in a while.   I will say this issue was definitely action-packed.   It did have some good fights and some interesting surprises which stemmed from things Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning have been planting since they started their run.   Midnighter’s side-story was the most intriguing part of this issue because we got teased big-time in it.   It’s what I’d call another “Doctor Who” moment which DnA did a lot of during the “Meantime” story in issue 8 & 9.   I also appreciate that things truly do get worse for The Authority in this issue.   As if they haven’t been kicked around enough by DnA during this run.   At point, I think it’s safe to say that it is DnA’s personal mission to destroy The Authority once and for all before they’re through.   The next creative team won’t have an Authority team left to write about at this rate.   Bu that’s ok because it’s made for some pretty interesting story-telling thus far.