S p o i l e r s


Jump To: Shiftships

The Circle
Part One of Four
The story opens with an army of identical superhumans ripping the heart out of Moscow. Like an atomic blast, the devastation is near complete. The man responsible? Kaizen Gamorra. His plan is to literally cut the three knots of the clan Gamorra symbol into the earth. First Moscow, then London, then Los Angeles. The scene shifts to New York City where former Stormwatch operatives Christine Trelane (Synergy) and Jackson King (Battalion) fulfill their new duties running an advisory office for the UN. A lifetime away from their days on the United Nations orbital platform, Skywatch. Enter Jenny Sparks, reluctant leader of The Authority, now based on a trans dimensional craft known as the Carrier. Asking for help she doesn't need, Jenny ensures that, "when all bloody hell breaks loose -- and it's going to -- we will need them to convince the powers that be to stay out of our way." The chapter closes with Gamorra's army descending on London. This time, The Authority is waiting.

Part Two of Four
An almighty battle rages. The stakes? The lives of the London populace. We get a peak at Jenny's innate leadership abilities and the combat capabilities of her intrepid band. Needless to say, The Authority whips a substantial amount of ass and the attack is repelled with minimal civilian casualties. Apollo chases a fleeing super-terrorist back to Gamorra island and watches as he smears himself across the islands forcefield. A curtain similar to the Stormdoor on Skywatch. The story closes with a hint to a possible relationship between Jack Hawksmoor and the Engineer.

Part Three of Four
This chapter serves to enlighten us on some of the more complicated issues regarding the Carrier. Basically, the Carrier exists everywhere on earth at the same time. Both outside and within. The result being that the Carrier junction room can open a door to any point on earth. It is this technology that allows the insertion of the Midnighter on Gamorra island. It is revealed that Kaizen Gamorra has no politics or ideology to force through his terror. He kills because terror, in his own words, is its own reward. How do you stop a man like that? The Authority moves to LA to wait for the imminent assault.

Part Four of Four
As the Midnighter approaches Gamorra Tower, the super-terrorists descend on Los Angeles. We see the insecurities of the less experienced members of the team but their actions are both suitable and effective. The superhuman threat is neutralized in creative ways that really need to seen to be believed. I reckon this first four part arc has a bigger body count than all the X-Men issues of all time combined. The Midnighter infiltrates Gamorra tower and finds the source of the cloning operation. Too large to break by conventional means, he takes command of the Carrier and drives it through the tower. Kaizen Gamorra dies. Or does he? Regardless, the Gamorran threat is no longer an issue. "This is Jennifer Sparks speaking for The Authority. You are not alone."


Jump To: The Circle

Shiftships
Part One of Four
We are introduced to an alternate earth named Albion. An earth far more advanced in technology and, apparently, much removed from ours in terms of social convention. After a power struggle on Albion, their forces descend on Los Angeles in the coolest ships you ever saw, wrecking everything in their path. Who you gonna' call? The Authority show up in timely fashion and the story closes with Apollo breaking out all kinds of whip ass. Not much in the way of story in this issue but the sweeping cinematic spectacle needs to be seen to be believed.

Part One of Four
Along with a ton of ass whipping in LA, Warren takes us back to Jenny's past and gives us a glimpse of Sliding Albion's first contact with our earth. We get a glimpse of an uneasy relationship between a civilization far more advanced than ours and it's ultimate destruction. Apparent destruction, it must be said, because those ships beating seven colors of crap out of LA are most certainly very real. Real or not, The Authority prove more than a match and drive the remainder of the Albion forces back home through the bleed. The story closes with Jenny & company visiting a British installation where an Albion prisoner has been kept since, I would guess, first contact. The prisoner, a man, turns out to be Jenny's hubbie.

Part One of Four
Jenny has a chat with her hubby, a blue, who tells her that the man responsible for the invasions is Regis. Regis is a mad old bastard that wants to preserve the blue bloodline by turning earth into a rape planet. Now, the people of Albion seem to be smart and dumb all at once. On one hand they trace The Authority back to the carrier. Smart. On the other, they send cavalry troops to take the the ship. Dumb. The attack is repelled with relative ease but the exertion leaves Apollo drained. With Albion sending more troops to earth, The Authority disperse to meet the threat. Ellis makes a point of explaining why a half dead Apollo needs to protect an entire continent on his own. I just hope he lives through the next issue.