26 Years Ago, Comics’ Most Controversial Writer Became a Superstar with the Superhero Team the DCU Can’t Handle

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The new DC Universe (DCU) is revitalizing DC Comics, and initial releases have been successful. Creature Commandos proved popular, Superman was a box office success, and Peacemaker Season Two received positive reviews from both fans and critics. Since James Gunn became co-head of DC Studios, the upcoming film slate has generated excitement, especially for a project long in development: The Authority. While not widely known by general audiences, this team is very popular among comic book fans.

I first discovered The Authority as a spin-off from Stormwatch – it was created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch, and honestly, it felt like a really cool, updated take on the Justice League. Those first 12 issues were incredible! But then, in 2000, Ellis and Hitch moved on, and Mark Millar took over. His run on the book was a total game-changer – it’s what really launched his career and made him one of the most talked-about – and sometimes controversial – writers of the decade. Seriously, everything that made Millar famous really started with his work on The Authority.

Millar’s Time on The Authority Changed Comics Forever

A team composed of Apollo and Midnighter (a couple inspired by Superman and Batman), the Doctor (a reality-bending mystic), the Engineer (who can transform her nanotech skin into anything), Jack Hawksmoor (with the power to control cities), Swift (a more aggressive version of Hawkgirl), and Jenny Sparks, the embodiment of the 20th century, patrolled the universe aboard their ship, the Carrier. They swiftly and forcefully corrected any injustices they found. Jenny Sparks died battling a world-ending creature on January 1st, 2000, an event that led to a change in the comic book’s writer.

When Mark Millar joined the team, it felt instantly right. Warren Ellis had already been doing something groundbreaking with The Authority, pushing boundaries with a fresh take on superheroes, and Millar just got it. He didn’t just understand it, he amplified it. You could really see the influence of Grant Morrison – Millar was a student of his back in the late ’90s, and clearly, he paid attention! He nailed the tone, creating these characters who were flawed, often shocking – they drank, they partied, they were human – but ultimately, they were trying to do good. Seriously, these guys were the kind of people who’d usually be the bad guys in a comic, but Millar made you root for them.

Mark Millar’s initial story, illustrated by Frank Quitely, was incredibly original, focusing on a team targeted by the military’s powerful, secretive operations. They faced a superpowered team sent to stop them, resulting in a brutal conflict. The story then followed the team’s pursuit of Jacob Krigstein, a character inspired by Jack Kirby, who had been creating superhumans for the government. Released in 2000, it delivered everything fans wanted: a bold, funny, and creative take on the superhero genre. Millar continued the series for two more arcs, pitting the team against a seasoned Doctor and the government once again in an explosive superhero saga that notably featured the first same-sex marriage in mainstream comics.

Mark Millar has created many popular books, and they all build upon the foundation he laid with The Authority. While his work on that title was innovative, those familiar with his writing will find his core style hasn’t evolved. Millar’s characters have always been deliberately shocking, disrespectful, and prone to excessive violence. His collaboration with Bryan Hitch on The Ultimates revisited many of the same concepts he originally pioneered in The Authority. Though his work contains interesting ideas, they often feel like rehashes of older themes presented as more “adult.” What was once groundbreaking, particularly around the year 2000, became a repetitive pattern, ultimately causing many longtime fans to lose interest.

Much Like Millar, the Authority Is a Relic of Another Time

As a critic, I remember when The Authority exploded onto the scene in 1999. Writers Ellis and Hitch really delivered something fresh – they took the grand scale of Morrison’s JLA and updated the superhero vibe, creating a truly unique book. When Millar took over, he clearly knew what readers wanted, and his run became incredibly popular and influential. But honestly, since he left, the book has struggled to find its footing, and DC Studios seems to be realizing that now. It’s just hasn’t been the same since.

Although it’s not his most well-known work, many consider The Authority to be Mark Millar’s creative high point. His later comics often felt like variations on themes he’d already explored in that series – featuring powerful, outspoken heroes who weren’t afraid to bend the rules to achieve their goals. It will be fascinating to see if DC Studios can successfully update the team for today’s superhero audience, just as Millar did 25 years ago.

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2026-01-06 03:11