Enter a world where old methods of truth and justice are not enough to get the job done. 
For the Man of Steel, it is a difficult task to maintain truth and justice in a world that proceeds to become more challenging and bleak. To combat the coming threats that plague the world, Superman will have to assemble a team that can tackle the kinds of battles that the Justice League can not. Can Superman prove that heroes can still be heroes within a dark world? And will the heroes assembled cooperate with Superman and his mission, or will the heroes end up just as horrible as the
Morrison’s latest project featuring Superman in the same space as the Authority is fascinating. Morrison has written various interpretations of the Man of Steel, within Justice League, in standalone continuity such as All-Star Superman, so what else can Morrison do with Superman that will be different? Where else can Morrison take him that shows Superman in a different light? Just when readers think they’ve seen it all, Morrison does something that he hasn’t done in any of his previous efforts, which is writing an aging Superman that has lived in real-time with the rest of the world. To some degree, this iteration of Superman feels like a combination of Waid’s Kingdom Come Superman, combined with All-Star. In a decade full of constant evil Superman stories, it’s a joy to have a Superman book that deviates from that sort of expectation and examine Superman under different conditions that displays why he is great as a character beyond his powers. This is a Superman that is experienced and has remained in the game since the 1960s, so he is seasoned, and still an idealist, but understands that his methods may not always apply to the difficulties of modern times. Which isn’t often seen in a book such as this, making this a refreshing read.
Aside from this different take on Superman, Morrison also returns to get another shot at writing The Authority, which he never had the chance to finish during his tenure at Wildstorm. To see this iteration of The Authority is fun and feels more in line with the original Authority rather than the Wildstorm (2017) series. Morrison’s take on Manchester Black is much in line with the character’s personality in previous appearances, and made me realize that it would be great to see Black and John Constantine in a book together because he is very similar to Constantine but very much different in his own right, making him a great foil character to the Man of Steel.
Black reflects the modern cynicism of the current generation that perfectly rivals the idealism of Superman, making them a more compelling duo than Batman and Superman. Despite their different methods and philosophies, one thing is certain, Black and Superman both desire to make the world a better place, and with a story such as this, it most certainly delivers in providing a story that feels evergreen, and fun while also providing food for thought all at once. Aside from the heroes, the antagonists for this book are interesting since they’re characters from the DC universe, but with a flair that is surprisingly fitting for a book such as this. Without giving much away, the villains selected are
Mike Janin is the illustrator of this 4 issue mini-series, and his style fits the tone of this story perfectly. Janin has established himself in previous projects such as Grayson, and the Tom King Batman run, so to see him illustrate a project such as this is a treat. His ability to compose action sequences and set pieces is nothing short of great, but his ability to draw mundane scenery and interactions is what makes this book shine. In addition to the thoughtful color work of Jordie Bellaire, and lettering by Steve Wands, it not only compliments Janin’s layouts, which delivers all the fun and insanity that a limited series such as this should have. This is a solid creative team that has been put together, and the concept is one that has the potential to be the kind that will be talked about as an evergreen story to come.
I definitely enjoyed this first issue and can’t recommend this book enough. For anyone that’s interested in reading a Superman book where he isn’t turning evil and is trying to find new ways to help an ever-changing world, this standalone story is for you. For anyone looking for a successor to the classic iteration of The authority, this book is for you. For anyone that is looking for a book that is standalone and offers a thought-provoking take on superheroes trying to find their place despite the clash of ideology and methods, or an observation of modern society and the possible direction that they could head as a whole, this book is for you. For a 4 issue mini-series that’s 38 pages deep, I definitely recommend picking this book up for new comic book day. I look forward to checking out the following issue.
Newsdesk