The Authority: Human on the Inside

In the not so distant future, seven superheroes have eradicated war and injustice from the world—by kicking the ass of anyone who stands in their way. They are the Authority, a group dedicated to saving the world from itself. In this installment, the American president, who resents the Authority for reducing him to a figurehead with no real power, sets a traitor in their midst to turn the team members against each other. Meanwhile, the team has problems of its own: Jack Hawksmoor, the team leader, is crippled; another member loses his battle with addiction; and a third may be dead. But while these heroes fight the demons inside themselves, an opportunist is taking advantage of their distraction to bring about the end of Time. This installment spends no time acclimating the new reader to the universe; those who aren't followers of the series will be at a complete loss. The Authority has all the hallmarks of a modern edgy comic, but lacks any real substance under its flashy exterior. Oliver's art has a simple grace that manages to be graphic without being gruesome. The plot relies on the reader to not examine it too closely, and the characters do not stand out from their superhero comic predecessors. (Aug.)