The Authority #21 is an issue of the series The Authority (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 2001.
Synopsis for "All Tomorrow's Parties"
It's early 2000, The Authority has just toppled a southeast Asian dictatorship and are having a party on the Carrier and everyone's invited, Including Jackson King and Christine Trelane. However, Jackson is none too pleased about attending, going more for the fact that the head of the UN bureau for Metahuman affairs, Shinya Hoshino, has asked them to go and liaise with the Superhero community.
Meanwhile, down in the Engine room, The Engineer and The Doctor are having a talk about how if Stormwatch hadn't killed their predecessors, they would never have become heroes, and the refugees the Authority had saved might not have been rescued. Union kills himself, with nobody noticing. Back at the dance floor, Christine dances sensually to the Chemical Brothers while Apollo has a conversation with a barman who knows him very well. Jackson decides it's time to go, but Christine reminds him they haven't talked to everyone yet. Jackson uses his telekinesis to clear a path off the dance floor, and stalks off in a rage.
While Jackson stares out at the Earth, Christine runs into Flint, who hasn't been enjoying herself either. They head off to the Carrier's baths, where they hop into a hot tub. Jack Hawksmoor goes to have a chat with Jackson, at the insistence of the rest of the Authority. They end up arguing and fighting, and Christine reveals to Flint that she hasn't had a period in 18 months, her powers are gone, and she feels like something is "rearranging her Feng Shui". As Jackson goes back to staring at the Earth, energy starts emanating from Christine. The Bartender looks up, the same energy coming out of his eyes.
While Jackson is staring out the window, images of Henry Bendix and his father, Despot, appear, and advise him to stop sitting back and popping anti-depressants and start actually doing something. They remind him that he has the key to the Nevada Garden, and that Christine will back him to the hilt. She appears, naked, sitting atop the earth, telling him they've got work to do.
Jackson picks up Union's Justice stone, and goes down to the baths and gets Christine, telling Flint that they're going to make a brand new band. They head for home, planning to marry, gather the faithful, and do great things.....
Appearing in "All Tomorrow's Parties"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
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Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue acts as a prologue to The Monarchy (Volume 1).
- There are a couple of continuity errors between this issue and The Authority #13/14. From The Authority #14, it looks like the first time Jack and co. note that the Doctor's in trouble is when the middle of Singapore gets blown to pieces, but here, they're trying to reestablish contact with him only a page or two after he detects Jenny Quantum. Also, Jackson and Christine aren't in formal wear in The Authority #13.
- The Bartender has a strange reaction to Jackson and Christine's epiphanies. He begins to stream rainbow energy from his eyes (which are hidden behind glasses) and seems confused by what happens. Also, he seemed to know Apollo very well.
- Flint's face seemed to have healed from the injuries she suffered in WildC.A.T.s/Aliens #1. She hasn't fared well since Stormwatch disbanded though.
Trivia
- There are a lot of musical references in this issue. Christine says that Jackson is depressed because somebody else (The Authority) gets to be The Beatles while he and Christine are stuck playing the Flower Pot Men. When they're on the dancefloor, Jackson complains about the quality of the music (The Chemical Brothers), and after he and Christine have their epiphanies, he tells Flint they're putting together a brand new band.
- This issue is collected in The Monarchy Vol. 1: Bullets Over Babylon.
See Also