It’s getting close to the end, people…

I’ve read messages of shock, anger, resignation, understanding and sadness.

Wildstorm is ending.  It is a sad day.  There’s no doubt about it.

The Authority #29 - The last Authority... for now.

Spending more than a year with these characters, characters that I was a massive fan of long before I got to play with them, has been a dream.  Finding out quite late on that my last issue of The Authority would be THE last issue of The Authority (at least for the foreseeable future) was a real blow. Yes, I’ve known about some of this for a while, and it’s killed me not being able to talk about it.

Friend and Wildcats writer, Adam Beechen has talked about his experience over here and it’s one very close to my own.  Like him, I’ve tried very hard to tie up a lot in the last issue and I hope fans will understand and appreciate what Adam and I have tried to do.

Adam has been great to chat to in the lead up to this and I want to thank him along with our editor, Jim Chadwick.

Jim’s been a dream to work with.  Dedicated to the story, dedicated to the characters, encouraging, and always going the extra mile to make the best book possible (even when it means more work for him).  I sincerely hope we get to work together again in the future.

I want to thank a few more people too.  Thanks to the guys that came before me, Adam Freeman, Marc Bernardin and Shannon Eric Denton – all of you contributed more to my issues than the fans realize and set up a fantastic story for me to follow, cheers guys.

Thanks to Mike S Miller, who was the perfect guy to imagine Mondregon and illustrated the most breathtaking image of The Carrier I’ve ever seen (when it turned transparent) and nailed all of the action and humour in the early issues.

Thanks to Al Barrionuevo, who has had one of the hardest gigs in comics in the last few months, as he’s had to bring to life my ridiculously-detailed descriptions for an entire alien race and world for them to live in.  What he’s done so far is incredible, what’s coming from him in the future will blow people away. You belong on a book like this, Al.  You are epic.

Thanks also to Warren Ellis for creating The Authority.  It has been one of my favourite books since before it was The Authority, back in the Stormwatch days, and it was a real honour to write the characters you created.

Thanks to Hank Kanalz and Jim Lee and, again, a huge thanks to Ben Abernathy for bringing me in… and for the free books and flowers.

Last, one great big thank you to all of the fans.  Having so much support from the podcasters, forum posters (yes, I troll), reviewers, people I’ve signed for and chatted to at conventions and the great guys that Adam, Jim and I met and had beers with in San Diego, has been amazing.

I know some of the fans will be feeling pretty flat today (I know because I am a fan), but heroes never die.

Did Superman stay dead?  Did Green Lantern?  Did Batman stay broken?

Heroes never die.

And Wildstorm is full of heroes… not all of them fictional.

It’s so nice when we can give these up-and-comers a break like this.

Seriously?  I wrote a book with a Dave Gibbons cover?  Another thing to add to the ever-expanding list of insane things I never thought could possibly happen.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to putting words in the mouth of Luke Skywalker…

THE AUTHORITY #27
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by AL BARRIONUEVO
Cover by DAVE GIBBONS & KEVIN NOWLAN
1:10 Variant cover by ANDY PARK
One hundred thousand refugees scream inside the Carrier and are gone. Hawksmoor, Flint and Grifter disappear with them – taken by a species of brutal, nightmarish creatures. River’s growing powers as the Spirit of Information hid only a handful of Authority members. As they set out on an impossible rescue, a terrible history is uncovered and the mystery of Swift deepens.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers.
On sale OCTOBER 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

This con is looking a lot busier than the last one.  I will be signing for The Authority at the DC booth every day.  I will also be signing with Colin at the Dark Horse Booth on ‘Star Wars Day’ (Friday) and, on the Saturday, I will be part of the Wildstorm: Stormfront Panel with some great talent. I will also be signing at booth 4500 for Gestalt Publishing and generally hanging around that area as Colin Wilson has his own table at this year’s SDCC with Dave Dorman (which I’m apparently sitting at too).  If you’re around, come say hi.

THURSDAY, JULY 22

12-1pm: SIGNING @ DC booth (#1915)

FRIDAY, JULY 23

12:00-1:00: SIGNING @ Dark Horse booth

2-3pm: SIGNING @ DC booth

SATURDAY, JULY 24

1-2pm: SIGNING @ DC booth

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. WildStorm: Storm Front Panel

What’s new in the WildStorm Universe? VP/general manager Hank Kanalz  and senior editor Ben Abernathy bring you up to speed with this inside look into DC’s wildest imprint. Joining Hank and Ben will be Adam Beechen (WildCats), Kurt Busiek  (Astro City), Darick Robertson (Fringe: Tales From the Fringe), Tom Taylor (The Authority), Tim Seeley  (WildCats), Adam Archer (Ratchet and Clank), Cruddie Torian (Gen13) and others. Room 4

SUNDAY, JULY 25

2:30-3:30pm: SIGNING @ DC booth

MONDAY, JULY 26

Sleeping… hard.

Here are your Authority #24 and Star Wars: Invasion — Rescues #2  reviews.  Authority #24 also made the ‘Read Pile’ over at CBR.

Invasion

“What I liked:  Tom Taylor knows how to write a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and Colin Wilson has made this era of Star Wars his own.  What we only got to read about in the novels is brought to life on the pages.  His characters are easily recognizable and his Yuuzhan Vong are beautifully freakish in looks.  Tom has done in excellent job in handling characters like the Solo twins and keeping them true to how they were in the novels.  Jaina really is a good pilot and Jacen, well Jacen is Jacen

What I didn’t like:  Having to wait until the next issue to find out what happens.” – ACOMICBOOKBLOG.COM

“Star Wars: Invasion/Rescues stays strong with this second issue. At times approaching a meaningful theme, other times providing more visceral pleasures, it never fails to entertain.

Even the relatively slow parts are kept alive by Colin Wilson’s brilliant penciling. The images of the New Republic soldiers in spacesuits being showered with toxic rain are simultaneously classic and modern, drawing, it seems, from the best aspects of sci-fi aesthetics. The design of the Yuuzhan Vong Tsalok is also awesome, approaching the ferociousness of sci-fi creatures like the Predator. Even the purely functional panels offer something to gaze at at least momentarily. The art alone is almost enough to recommend buying the comic. The comic ends with “Freaking Continued!” which may be presumptuous but is a sign that writer Tom Taylor is excited about his story. It shows all the way through.” – The Sci-Fi Block

The Authority – Mondregon Part 2

“The end of the issue was pretty awesome and really unexpected. It closes an arc for one of the characters who we’ve followed for a while now. This run is more than halfway done and with certain storylines wrapped up and others opened, I’m anxious to see what else we’ve got coming before year’s end. 8 out of 10 (On its way to greatness)” - Wildstorm Addiction

“The Authority #24 has a very abrupt ending as John Cumberland has one very inspirational performance.”- CBR

Grab your copy of #24 to see Al’s return, the two-pronged, multi-scaled battle against Mondregon and The Aegean, The High being The High and, finally, an answer to… what’s in the box?

I know I wrote it and all, but I really like this issue.  You will too… maybe.

THE AUTHORITY #23

Written by TOM TAYLOR • Art by MIKE S. MILLER • Cover by PHILIP TAN

With the onboard rebellions subdued and attacks from the stowaways repelled, The Authority can once again focus on the nature of their voyage. Is the Carrier leading them to its home – or does it have some other, more sinister agenda? While passing through a vast graveyard of discarded spacecraft, the latest Century Baby detects a faint sign of life. The High goes off on a rescue mission, but what he brings back on board eclipses any danger they’ve faced so far.

THE AUTHORITY #25
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by AL BARRIONUEVO
Cover by HOWARD PORTER, ALLEN MARTINEZ & WES HARTMAN
In the aftermath of the twin battles with the Aegean and Mondregon, the team assesses the damage and Hawksmoor is forced to explain the origin of his strange, secret weapon. Deathblow is down for the count, and Swift is unconscious with no one able to figure out why she can’t be revived. But there’s not much time to lick their wounds or ease over internal tensions as The Carrier appears to finally be approaching its ultimate destination. Who or what they are about to meet could alter the course of the Wildstorm Universe forever.
On sale AUGUST 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

August will be a huge month.  The Authority, Blood Ties and Will of Darth Vader are all coming out and it’s possible more may still be announced for the month… no wonder I’m falling asleep on the couch as I write this.

Acclaimed writer Tom Taylor (Star Wars: Invasion) takes the helm for a 4-issue arc. The Authority’s journey through space on The Carrier’s unknown mission continues. Their mysterious voyage takes an even more terrifying twist than anything they’ve experienced so far when they discover stowaways of the worst possible kind. Facing a hideous mutiny by overwhelming odds, only one person can possibly save them. But will this reluctant hero break his own vow and return to action?

Note: It isn’t just a four issue arc… and, apparently, I’m ‘acclaimed’.

Here is a preview of the first page by Mike S Miller, featuring Flint, Deathblow and Grifter… and vampires… in space.

I’ve read it.  It’s good, seriously.  Buy it.  you won’t be disappointed.

I’ve clearly been doing something right and the good people over at Wildstorm have asked me to stick around and finish the whole story arc.  I couldn’t be happier about this.  I’m still staggered and honored to be working on this title and I’m enjoying the hell out of it.  This should be pretty clear when my run begins on May 5 with issue #22 and The Authority tackle Vampires… in space!

Written by TOM TAYLOR • Art by MIKE S. MILLER • Cover by PHILIP TAN

With the on-board rebellions subdued and attacks from the stowaways repelled, The Authority can once again focus on the nature of their voyage. Is the Carrier leading them to its home – or does it have some other, more sinister agenda? While passing through a vast graveyard of discarded spacecraft, the latest Century Baby detects a faint sign of life. The High goes off on a rescue mission, but what he brings back on board eclipses any danger they’ve faced so far.

• Wildstorm Universe
• 32pg.
• Color
• $2.99 US

On Sale June 2, 2010

I also wanted to say a huge thank you to the wonderful Wolfgang Bylsma, Skye Ogden and Jake Gonzales who have worked tirelessly to create this new look to the website.  Smell your screen, it still has that new website scent… SMELL IT!

Speaking of new, I’ve begun work on another new comics project which will be announced next month.

And, staying on the ‘new’, my wife is currently four days overdue with our second child… so this may be my last update for a while.