The Authority: The Lost Year is a 12 issue maxi-series that came out between 2006 to 2010. Story by Grant Morrison and Keith Giffen and written by Keith with art by various artists.
The series begins with The Authority slipping through the bleed into an alternate earth where they some how end up losing the 'baby universe' that powers the Carrier. And so they are stuck until they can find a way to get back home. But they realise that a parasite like creature is using the people of this alternate earth as what can only be described as the humans caught in the Matrix. Well you can accept that explanation or that its a Cthulhu like creature feeding on the emotions of the people, who have no idea that its feeding off them. I think the Matrix is less gross.
The series begins with The Authority slipping through the bleed into an alternate earth where they some how end up losing the 'baby universe' that powers the Carrier. And so they are stuck until they can find a way to get back home. But they realise that a parasite like creature is using the people of this alternate earth as what can only be described as the humans caught in the Matrix. Well you can accept that explanation or that its a Cthulhu like creature feeding on the emotions of the people, who have no idea that its feeding off them. I think the Matrix is less gross. 
