This is really the third part in the "Coup D'Etat" storyline where the Authority overthrows the US government because of some program that killed some interdimensional aliens who will destroy the Earth unless the Authority does something about it. It's both an obvious and unnecessarily compliated story. The Authority overthrowing the US government was expected almost from the time Mark Millar took over the book--and his final arc combined with Tom Peyer's fill-in arc made that seem even more an eventuality. But, that doesn't matter that much since this issue is really just another issue of Wildcats Version 3.0 with that Authority stuff used as a means for Casey to continue exploring his pet themes.There are two reactions to the Authority's actions: those of Cole Cash and those of Jack Marlowe. Cash visits an ex-supervillain, kills him and steals one of his weapons--one that could destroy the Carrier, the Authority's homebase. He brings it to Marlowe, needing his teleportation powers and Marlowe says, "NO... / ...I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE DOING THAT."
Cash: "OH, JEEZUS CHRIST--! / YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS! GODDAMMIT... THIS IS WHAT WE DO! THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR! / WE'RE SUPERHEROES, FOR FUCK'S SAKE! / I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO A MOTHERFUCKING THING TO--"
Marlowe: "MAKE NO MISTAKE, GRIFTER. WE ARE INDEED SUPERHEROES. / BUT YOU'RE SUGGESTING WE PLAY BY THEIR RULES. WHO CAN DESTROY WHOM THROUGH NOTHING MORE THAN MINDLESS, BRUTE FORCE... / MIGHT MAKES RIGHT. / THESE ANTIQUATED CONFLICTS ARE A DRAIN ON OUR CULTURE. THESE STARING CONTESTS ONLY IMPEDE EVOLUTION. IT'S A SHAME THE AUTHORITY CAN'T SEE THAT. / WHAT'S OCCURING NOW CANNOT POSSIBLY LAST. THESE THINGS NEVER DO. / AND SO OUR INVOLVEMENT COULD ONLY... COMPLICATE MATTERS. / UNNECESSARILY, IN MY OPINION."
The idea of what a superhero is, particularly the progression of the idea is a big one for Casey. He recognises conventions, but wants to move beyond them. Here, Cash continues to act traditionally, while Marlowe wants to progress, to not simply beat the Authority into submission. Additionally, Casey is commenting on the story itself. The Authority ruling the US didn't last, and the rest of Wildcats Version 3.0 ignores these events. The book stays out of it, because it would complicate the story Casey wants to tell, which is more nuanced and progressive than this one. Marlowe is also fighting the US government, but on different terms, within the system... and he's winning. His victory will help the world in ways the Authority's won't--because his will change minds and very few people will even realise a fight happened.
Also, there's the subtle acknowledgement by Casey that the Authority are supervillains, not superheroes. Lovely.
There is also a nice bit where Cash asks Marlowe, "JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK A SUPERHERO IS ANYWAY?! YOU THINK A SUPERHERO MAKES BATTERIES?!" and Marlowe responds, "I ASKED MYSELF THAT QUESTION LONG AGO... AND I ANSWERED IT TO MY SATISFACTION." Again, this is about the nature of Wildcats Version 3.0 where Casey has taken the concept of the superhero into another realm only partly explored before. What determines a superhero? That's the question posed. Marlowe is trying to save the world by attacking the root problems of crime, corruption, and every other ailment afflicting humanity by recognising that economics is a means to that solution. The Authority is a continuation of Warren Ellis's Stormwatch run where the best story, "Change or Die" had a group of superheroes try to affect real change by attacking the buried causes of crime, poverty, etc.--except they still wore the colours of the superhero, they acted the same way... Marlowe (and Casey) learned from that and acts accordingly.
However, he doesn't leave the Authority alone here, either, because Casey's commentary isn't quite done. Marlowe teleports aboard the Carrier to talk to the Authority and they respond with open hostility, ready to fight, which Marlowe mocks, "PREDICTABLE. / IS THIS WHAT IT'S COME TO? PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION BETWEEN TWO PARTIES THAT ARE--CONCEPTUALLY SPEAKING--IN TOTAL AGREEMENT?" A little dig at the typical "heroes fighting one another" convention of superhero comics. When the hostility continues, Marlowe further mocks the group by altering his appearance so he's wearing his old Spartan costume--if that's the only way to interact, he'll stoop to their level. But, he still doesn't fight them. He talks. He asks them to question their motives, to ask why he's (someone who shares their ultimate goals) trying to talk them out of this, to do more than just hit things! It's a call for superhero comics to be more than just two guys in pervert suits wailing on one another...
Of course, it's a futile effort. There is a built in irony here consider Wildcats Version 3.0 #18 where Marlowe demonstrated that his methods against the US government would certainly prove more effective.
I'm actually surprised that this issue was published since it mocks the story it's part of. It flat out calls it stupid and pointless. And it was. Nothing interesting was done with the Authority in charge of the US government. Ed Bruabaker played around with it for a little bit before discarding that plot in favour of something simpler and more typical in The Authrity: Revolutions. This issue is Joe Casey pissed off that the same old shit keeps happening again and again and again and again. It's only the illusion of forward momentum.
And he's not immune from that same problem as issue 19 begins "Coda War One." That bad third act has arrived, people.
