It is well known that the demise of the super group StormWatch led to the birth of their successors, the Authority. But until now the inner origins of how the most powerful team in the WildStorm Universe came together has never been revealed. Seen through the eyes of Jenny Sparks, "The Spirit of the Twentieth Century" and Authority team leader, we experience Jenny's first meetings with all of her teammates and learn how each encounter took place during pivotal points in Twentieth century history. From stealing mystical artifacts from the Nazis to working with government covert op teams during the '80s, the true beginnings of the Authority are finally told.

The graphic novel sheds light on the history of Jack Hawksmoor, the mysterious member of super team, THE AUTHORITY, who can control cities. Before he was a member of the World's most powerful super team, Jack Hawksmoor was a solitary urban hero, misanthropic and alone. While preventing a massive robot attack on the Golden Gate Bridge, Hawksmoor gets unexpected assistance from a woman he has more in common with than he realizes, then later stumbles upon a locked-room murder mystery. On top of all this, his city-born powers have been acting up - and he has a gumshoe's suspicion that all this may be connected.