FromThe Avengersto theJustice Leagueto theGuardians of the Globe, there’s no shortage of comic book superhero teams. With Marvel’s success, more and more of these teams are making the jump from comic pages to the silver screen. James Gunn and Peter Safran, the newest co-CEOs of DC Studios, announced DC’s slate of interconnected superhero movies and TV shows that are meant to lead up to a newJustice Leaguefilm. Amongst the upcoming properties was an obscure title from 1999:The Authority.
Created by prolific comic book writer Warren Ellis and artist Bryan Hitch,The Authoritywas designed to subvert the superhero genre much likeAlan Moore’sWatchmen. They weren’t bound by the traditional moral codes limiting other heroes, and they weren’t afraid to use their vast power and influence to achieve their goals. They didn’t inspire hope, were more than willing to take extreme measures, and each member was flawed. No boy scouts amongst the lot of them.
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This motley crew of authoritarian (no pun intended) superheroes originated in DC’s imprint Wildstorm Comics, until they were brought over to theDC Universe via DC’s Flashpoint event. Now they take up the same space as the likes of Superman and Batman and interact occasionally.
Meet The Team
The Authorityoperated outside the bounds of government oversight in its commitment to maintaining order. They took orders from Jenny Sparks, a unique individual born at the turn of the 20th century with a lifespan of 100 years, earning her the nickname “The Spirit of the 20th Century.” She was a charismatic leader with the ability to wield electricity as a weapon. Nobody on the team questioned her bold yet decisive actions.
The team’s brutes are a pair of bioengineered test subjects who have been in a relationship since they ended up on a team together. Midnighter, a bioengineered Batman proxy, runs every possible combat scenario through his mind in the midst of battle, giving him a guaranteed win. He’s well-versed in hand-to-hand combat but often uses a bow staff. Couple that with his accelerated healing factor and heightened reflexes, and he’s never engaged in a fight he couldn’t win.
Then there’sthe Superman to Midnighter’s Batman. The sun to his moon. Apollo, “The Sun King,” is nearly identical to Superman in powers. He is a solar battery that converts sunlight into energy to gain flight, heat vision, superhuman strength and speed, and invulnerability. Take away the sun and Apollo begins to wither away.
Jack Hawksmoor was the team’s field leader and strategist due to his ability to communicate with entire cities, giving him the unique advantage of knowing enemy locations. John Cooper “Jack” Hawksmoor was abducted by aliens multiple times at a young age and each time he was altered in some way until he was enhanced to the point that he could communicate with any city he stepped into. This ability allowed him to ask or force the city to do his bidding, including opening up a sinkhole to swallow up his enemies. However, his enhancements required him to remain within an urban setting or perish.
Shen Li-Men, also known as Swift, acquired her unique physiology and abilities from a comet passing by Earth. Swift flew with the use of avian wings sprouting from her arms and could communicate with other birds to gather information on battlefields or locations of interest. She acted as the team’s navigator and pilot for the giant dog nose-looking interdimensional ship they used as their base of operations. This “slipship” was aptly named The Carrier.
Angie Spica, eventually known as The Engineer, replaced her blood with nine pints of nano-technology. This blood transfusion coated her entire body in a liquid metal that she could manipulate at will and interface with machines directly. Furthermore, she could shapeshift into any form she pleased and even stretch much in the same manner as Mister Fantastic. Think of her asa highly advanced T-1000 terminator.
New members joined and departed throughout the team’s tenure, making it difficult to determine which composition DC will focus on with the team’s first cinematic outing. However, the original roster makes for a diverse and unique team unlike anything audiences have seen.
Incorporated Into The DC Universe
DC’s Flashpoint marked a cataclysmic chain of eventsthat fundamentally altered the fabric of reality. At the center of this upheaval was Barry Allen, the Flash, who embarked on a quest to save his mother from the events that led to her death. However, the actions he took in the past led to a world vastly different from the one he knew.
The world plunged into chaos in this alternate reality where heroes and villains emerged from different backgrounds and fought for control in a world no longer familiar to Barry Allen. Characters were brought over from the Wildstorm Universe, including every member ofThe Authority. Midnighter frequently appeared inNightwingand interacted with the Bat Family. This could be potential crossover material for the studio sinceGunn announcedThe Brave and the Bold, a Bat Family movie starring Batman and his son Damian Wayne. The characters underwent minor changes from their original incarnation, but remain mostly intact.
The Flashpoint event was a turning point, signaling the beginning of a new era in DC Comics. The event brought about new characters, new conflicts, and new alliances, creating a rich tapestry of stories that continue to captivate audiences today.
Why Zack Snyder Should Direct
Snyderverse fans begged Warner Bros.to follow through with Zack Snyder’s outline for DC’s cinematic universe after they fell in love with the grounded, grim, and dark aesthetic of his movies. It was a stark contrast to Marvel’s more colorful palette that diversified the superhero genre. However, there was constant debate between Snyder fans and detractors, the latter claiming that his vision didn’t fit DC’s characters.
The Authority, on the other hand,are right up the director’s alley. They are every bit as ruthless as thecharacters in Snyder’sJustice Leagueand are no strangers to apocalyptic events. He already tackledWatchmen’scinematic debut, gaining critical acclaim for his interpretation of Alan Moore’s story despite the liberties he took. AdaptingThe Authoritywould be a refreshing blend betweenWatchmenandThe Justice League.
Midnighter could be as merciless as Snyder made Batman while Apollo would be the unapologetic supreme being that he envisioned in Superman. Apollo doesn’t pull his punches and collateral damage isn’t in his vernacular. Jenny Sparks would need to be reworked into Jenny Quarx, the Spirit of the 21st Century, since the film will more than likely take place in modern times.
However, after Snyder’s success with hisJustice Leaguedirector’s cut, James Gunn could safely let him off the proverbial leash. This would allow Snyder to have his cake and eat it too.The Authoritycould change the superhero landscape on the big screen the same wayThe Boysdid for the small screen.
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