What if the Justice League ruled the world? A concept that’s been thoroughly explored in the world of DC’s alternate universes. Those who have grown up watching Bruce Timm’s phenomenal animated series “Justice League” and “Justice League Unlimited” would have remembered the Justice Lords. A ruthless version of the team that seized control of the world’s governments to play protector and ruler. Then, of course, there’s the beloved “Injustice: Gods Among Us” universe that explored the civil war between Superman’s tyrannical regime and Batman’s freedom fighters. The “Injustice” video games and comic book series continued to push the intriguing possibility of what if the Justice League went too far. Well long before 2013’s “Injustice”, there was already a team like this within DC’s Wildstorm Universe. A team that had zero tolerance for crime and corruption, and would go to any lengths to eradicate it. Meet the Authority.
In his debut of the DCU’s first phase entitled “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters”, DC Studios CEO James Gunn announced to fans, with much excitement, that the team will be getting its own film, “The Authority”. So who are the members of the Authority? How will the team fit within Gunn’s new DC Universe (DCU)? More importantly, are they replacing the Justice League? Let’s find out!
Worlds Collide
Now before we get into the actual team itself, here’s a quick history lesson for DC Comics. In the past, DC Comics had two other existing imprints separate from the main DC universe. You had the Vertigo imprint in which darker stories like “The Sandman”, “Hellblazer” and “V for Vendetta” were told. Then you had the Wildstorm imprint with the WildStorm universe with its own unique characters and teams. Instead of the Justice League and Suicide Squad, you got StormWatch and WildCats. Sometimes, the characters from both imprints would show up in the main DC universe but it was never anything official.
Then in 2011’s “Flashpoint” event, Barry Allen merged both the WildStorm universe and the Vertigo universe to form a singular timeline. Now characters like John Constantine, Swamp Thing and Dream of the Endless from Vertigo are officially part of DC Comics along with the characters from WildStorm universe, which includes members of the Authority. With the addition of characters like the Authority and Swamp Thing into Gunn’s DCU franchise, it seems like this year’s “The Flash” will only not function as a reboot to the DCU timeline. Rather, like Flashpoint, it’ll provide a way for Gunn and Peter Safran to incorporate Vertigo and WildStorm properties into their DC cinematic universe. With that out the way, let’s meet the team.
The Members of the Authority
After the destruction of the more law-abiding and peaceful StormWatch organisation, basically WildStorm’s Justice League, the world fell into chaos. Criminal organisations were running rampant and supervillains like Kaizen Gamorra were committing mass genocide using superpowered clones. The world needed heroes who would step up and save the day. So some members of StormWatch along with other vigilantes banded together to form the Authority and they soon became the most powerful force in their world.
The team is led by Jenny Sparks, a seemingly immortal electrokinetic who can draw power from any source of electricity and can even become electricity. She’s also joined by the Doctor, Jeroen Thornedike who is essentially the Sorcerer Supreme of the WildStorm universe, and the Engineer, Angela Spica, who possesses the ability to control technology and form any conceivable weapon from her metallic armour similar to Iron Man’s Mark 50 suit. By far the strangest member has got to be Jack Hawksmoor, a superhuman who draws his power from cities, as the state of what urban area he is in will affect his strength and abilities.
The most iconic duo within the team are Apollo and Midnighter. Apollo has all the powers of Superman with the added ability to project solar energy from his body. Midnighter is a deranged version of Batman with enhanced strength and the ability to predict his opponent’s moves ahead of time. Oh, and both of them are in a committed relationship as well. Rounding off the team is Swift, Shen Li-Men who possesses large wings, superhuman strength and speed, and is a skilled hunter.
Now while the characters of the Authority may seem like edgier versions of other more popular comic book characters, what sets them apart is their approach to justice. They aren’t villains to be overthrown like Superman’s regime, nor are they yet another black ops team of anti-heroes like the Suicide Squad. If a nation’s government is corrupt, the Authority will step in to overthrow it without any hesitation. Unlike the squeaky-clean Justice League, creators Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch wanted to craft characters who felt more grounded and real. They also wanted to explore the complex implication of how the world would react to a team of god-like beings holding a knife to the world’s throat while also defending it. The question is: how will heroes like Superman feel about them?
A New Authority in the DCU
In case any of you were wondering if the Authority would be set in some other universe within DC’s multiverse, apparently, that’s not the case. In James Gunn’s announcement, he mentions that the film will be a “passion project” of his and that members of the team will “interact with all of our primary DCU characters”. Based on his statements, we can assume that Gunn will be highly involved in the film the same way he’ll be with 2025’s “Superman: Legacy”. Furthermore, we can expect characters like Superman and Batman to know of their existence.
Admittedly, it’s a little odd to have such a powerful team like the Authority come before the age of the Justice League. Especially seeing that they might overshadow DC’s most iconic ensemble in popularity, which could damage their brand. That being said, we may have an idea as to how Gunn and Safran could avoid this issue by having the original Man of Steel himself join the Authority! In a comic book series by Grant Morrison, “Superman and the Authority”, Clark Kent becomes the leader of a new, reformed version of the Authority. Morrison’s Superman, however, is a much older and weaker Superman who needs the help of the team to save the world.
The hero we’re getting in “Superman: Legacy” is a younger, more naive Superman who has yet to truly establish himself on the world’s stage. Perhaps Gunn could incorporate Superman into becoming a temporary member of the team before eventually discovering that his beliefs are incompatible with the Authority’s more violent ways. This would then inspire him to recruit Batman from “The Brave and the Bold” and other heroes to form his Justice League. Now that would be epic! Until that happens though, it seems like the DCU will have to deal with the Authority.
