The Authority #1

Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch, and Paul Neary's landmark superhero work gets the collected treatment in this 2013 DC edition, opening with "The Circle, One of Four." The cover — penciled by Hitch and inked by Neary — plunges you straight into the chaos, depicting a massive armored figure looming over a sprawling battle scene where multiple heroes, including a golden-haired warrior crackling with energy, clash in a storm of force and fury. If you've ever wanted to experience the Authority's reputation for wide-screen, cinematic superhero action in a single volume, this is a compelling place to start.