Warning: contains spoilers for Outsiders #11!

The DC is teasing the team’s new lineup ahead of their DCU debut. The Authority was a super team unlike any other: violent and over-the-top, it was also one of the most acclaimed books of its day. The concept has floundered since its heyday, but now in Outsiders #11, DC begins teasing a new incarnation of the venerable team.

DC's Outsiders is an updated version of the Wildstorm title Planetary.

Outsiders #11 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Robert Carey. Jakita Wagner, who was ready to destroy the universe, was convinced of the error of her ways. Several months afterward, Jakita’s former teammates Batwoman and Luke Fox are reflecting on their time as Outsiders. Luke tells her he wants to organize the “Century Babies” into a team. Batwoman, slightly exasperated, asks Luke what he plans to call the team.

He replies that Jenny Crisis is still calling the team the “Outsiders,” but he wants something with a little more…Authority.

The Authority's Comic Book Origins, Explained

The Authority Was the First Super Hero Team For the 21st Century

Created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch, and growing out of Wildstorm’s Stormwatch book, The Authority shook up the comics' scene when it debuted in 1999. Led by Century Baby Jenny Sparks, the Authority dispensed brutal justice to everyone who gets in their way, be it supervillains or aliens calling themselves “god.” After Ellis and Hitch’s departure, The Authority ed into the hands of creators such as Mark Millar, Frank Quietly, Tom Peyer, Ed Brubaker and Grant Morrison. Late last year, DC Studios head James Gunn announced a live action Authority film as part of his DCU slate of films.

However, from an in-universe perspective, the Authority’s existence seems incongruent with the current state of the DC Universe.

Although Batwoman shakes her head at the team’s name, the word “Authority” is repeated at least once more in the issue, and Luke Fox makes a point to mention team the Doctor and the Engineer. Outsiders #11 makes it clear DC is positioning to bring the team back, in some form or another. From a business standpoint, having a new Authority title in stores to capitalize on the film, makes perfect sense. However, from an in-universe perspective, the Authority’s existence seems incongruent with the current state of the DC Universe.

The Authority, As It Originally Was Presented, Would Not Work in the DC Universe

Luke Fox's New Version of the Authority Can Fix This Mistake

When the Authority debuted, there was no other team like them. The 1990s saw a proliferation of “extreme” and violent superheroes, and The Authority pushed these trends into new territory. Team , including Jack Hawksmoor and Midnighter, will not hesitate to use lethal force against their foes: in The Authority #1, Jack punches a man so hard his head explodes. While this may have worked when the team was independent of the DC Universe, such an approach would earn the Authority the ire of Superman, Batman and other heroes.

This new incarnation of the Authority can fix these problems, and simultaneously become one of DC’s most powerful teams. For their DCU debut, DC may opt to go with a “ground zero” approach, rebuilding the team from scratch in the comics. If the Authority wishes to exist in the DC Universe of today, then they must change their mode of operations, and this new version has the potential to do just that. The Century Babies are some of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe, and a team of them working together could tip the balance of power.

Outsiders #11 is on sale now from DC Comics!