The Authority: Revolution, Vol. 1

The Authority, a powerful coalition of post-humans, has overthrown the United States government and taken over the country. A rival group of patriotic heroes called Paul Revere and the Sons of Liberty responds by sparking destructive riots against the Authority’s regime. This sober examination of the limits of superhero goodwill and judgment is most appropriate for older teens, not only because of its abundance of curse words and blood-spattered bodies, but also because of its sophistication and subtlety. Dark, shadowy tones give a brooding, noirish feel to the story and set this ambiguous, complex tale apart from the color-saturated pages and clear-cut morals of conventional superhero comics.