Customer Reviews

Runaways, Vol. 3 (v. 3)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have the other three volumes that Vaughan wrote and was a bit let down by this volume. It still has the wit and craft of the others, but the story feels a bit perfunctory. Regardless, this is one of the best series written and Vaughan with his collaborators more than made me a fan with the first two volumes. I love Nico and Gertrude most of all because of their passion and personality. It's about time someone wrote a book with strong female leads. I recommend this to anyone and if you want to get a sibling into comics I'd say that this series is a great place to start. By the way, it's unfortunate that the cover pictured above is not the actual cover for the book because I think it's one of the best I've seen on a book. The one that actually appears on the book is much less effective. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and read this series.

This book could not be more worthy of your cash. Instead of buying "Runaways" in those tiny little digest books, treat yourself to this beautiful, over-sized hardcover edition. The sheer size of the pages really allows fans to appreciate the art (pencilled by Adrian Alphona, complimented by Christina Strain's lush colors) and the details that go into making each page. The binding is strong, the covers are awesome, and the page quality is top-notch.

And, for all of those who aren't familiar with Brian K. Vaughan's writing, please stop reading this review right now and buy "Runaways." The story is amazing, compromised of some of the best comic book writing--or just writing, period--that I've ever read. This story is made of an astonishing one-shot Molly story (#13), "Parental Guidance" (#14-18) which is easily the best arc of the series, "Dead Means Dead" (#19-21), and "Live Fast" (#22-24). I won't bog this down by reviewing each arc [for my review of #12-18, click here:Runaways, Vol. 6: Parental Guidance/ for my review for #19-24, click here: Runaways Vol. 7: Live Fast ], but I can safely say that you'd be hard pressed to find a better team: writer Brian K. Vaughan, penciller Adrian Alphona, colorist Christina Strain, and cover artist Jo Chen are forces of life in the world of comics, and they come together on this project with beautiful results.

If Runaways, Vol. 1 is called "Season One" by fans, then this book acts as the finale of the second season. This is Brian K. Vaugahn's last work on "Runaways," but the series is not over. The "third season" starts off with a six-issue arc by Joss Whedon (Runaways: Dead End Kids Premiere HC (Runaways)) which I can only hope will someday be collected into an oversized hardcover. But until that day, we have this. Marvelous buy.

9/10

Runaways is one of my top three favorite comic book series. This hardcover trade is a must-have for collectors.

This hardcover trade collects Runaways Volume 2 issues #13-24
The Story Arcs:
Dead Ringers (issue 13)
Parental Guidance (issues 14-18)
Dead Means Dead (issues 19-21)
Live Fast (issues 22-24)

I suggest you pick up Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways as well. This trade, written by Zeb Wells with art by Stefano Caselli, occurs between issues 21 and 22 of Runaways. If you like the characters in Runaways, read the Young Avengers and Runaways crossover. You won't regret it.

This trade concludes Brian K. Vaughan's run as writer of Runaways. Issues 25 - 30 will be written by Joss Whedon. After Joss' brief run, Terry Moore will take over as writer of Runaways.

You'll dig it if you want something new and not convoluted like the rest of the Marvel Universe. It's smart, funny and overall well done.

Picked up both Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 hardbacks from Amazon.

I love this book. It's truly one of the best titles being published by Marvel these days, and is probably the most unique among them.

My only complaint, and this applies to both books, is that the cover artwork for both books is different than what is shown on Amazon, which is a shame. The two covers shown (Vol. 2 has an outline of Molly, and Vol. 3 has a group shot saying "one of these runaways is going to die") are fantastic cover designs, but they aren't the covers of the actual books. In fact, the Molly pic really belongs to Vol. 3 instead of 2, as the story it's associated with is actually in Vol. 3.

Oh well.

I love the Runaways. Probably this is because in a superhero universe where all the other inhabitants seem to be variations on a theme, these guys truly seem to march to a completely different drummer. Other Marvel heroes can be considered outsiders, like Wolverine and Spiderman, but even they have forged strong connections with other heroes. But our Runaways not only want little or nothing to do with other heroes, they don't want anything to do with any adult either, caped or not. This is the third collection in the Runaways saga and brings to an end the stories by series creator Brian K. Vaughan. Luckily the series has continued is uniquely capable hands. One of the clear influences on the Runaways is the television series BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, and BUFFY creator Joss Whedon has taken over the kids from Vaughan. Based on the first two issues by Whedon to have appeared so far, there is going to be no decline in quality. In fact, some fresh blood is likely to keep this the most original line in the Marvel world of comics.

The charter members of the Runaways were a group of kids whose parents turned out to form The Pride, a thoroughly evil criminal organization that dominated Los Angeles. After most of them accidentally see their parents commit a ritual human sacrifice that is the cornerstone to their power, they run away from home and eventually fight and defeat them, resulting in the death of their parents. One of the original kids turns out to be a traitor. The remaining members are led (somewhat ineptly) by the Asian goth teen Nico, who is a powerful sorceress who possess the Staff of One, with which she can cast any spell, but only once. She also has a tendency to develop sexualized relationships with others in the group, a real life character flaw that is a bit more real-to-life than that with which other Marvel heroes struggle. The oldest in the group is Chase, the child of two evil genius inventors. Chase, however, though goodhearted, is not the brightest bulb in the bunch. Karolina, who can channel the power of sunlight into a variety of powers, is actually an alien and a lesbian, whose betrothed, Xavin, is a Super Skrull warrior (who didn't complete his training and therefore can wield only one of his many powers at a time) and shape shifter, so that he/she appears alternately in alien, female, and male form. Xavin appears different in almost every frame. Gert is the child of time travelers and has no powers of her own, but she is psychically linked to a velociraptor named Old Lace that her parents got for her before they knew that she was going to reject them. Victor Mancha is a cyborg who is the son of Ultron. Gert traveled from the future to let the Runaways know that in the future Victor turns evil and kills most of the world's superheroes. Victor, humbled by this, is striving not be become the kind of person who would fulfil that kind of destiny. Finally, and physically least, is Molly Hayes, who I will confess is my favorite character. She is now twelve, is still very much a little kid (she is actually young for her age in terms of behavior), and is the child of mutants. The Runaways exist in the post-House of M Marvel Universe, which means that Molly is one of less than 200 mutants left in the world. Her powers are that she is incredibly strong, even by mutant standards (she and Victor replicate the famous scene in which Colossus throws Wolverine through the sky like a football; only, Molly's passes are a bit wobbly and Victor doesn't fly so much as tumble through the air), has remarkable endurance, and is virtually indestructible. But after using her powers for a bit, she usually has to take a nap (actually, it is a long, deep sleep). Her strength and tendency to fall asleep combine for one of the funniest moments in the book. A monster even larger than Godzilla tries to stomp on 4'11, 100 lb. Molly, his foot large enough to crush two school buses parked beside one another. She catches the foot, holds it for a bit, and starts growing sleepy. Nico casts the spell "Caffeine Injection" and Molly not only wakes up, but flips the monster backwards, causing it to fall (in the Marvel "Power Grid" Molly is listed as having Strength of 4, the same as Victor Mancha, but this seems wrong, since some of her feats of strength seem more in the Incredible Hulk, Colossus or Thing--Molly does use the phrase "It's clobberin' time" on a couple of occasions--range, which would mean ability to lift over 100 tons, which was certainly the weight range of the large monster in this volume, though maybe this was a burst that she won't consistently be capable of until she matures). Molly, who always wears some kind of hat with an animal theme, is also the only one of the group who would like for them to wear uniforms.

The volume collects two story arcs. The first is concerns a group of Alex Wilder's former gaming buddies who are duped into thinking the Pride were heroes. By following instructions Alex left behind they inadvertently summon Geoffrey Wilder, Alex's father, from the eighties. During the course of these adventures, Wilder kills Gert, who while dying transfers the psychic connection with Old Lace from her to Chase. The second arc, however, deals with the enormous grief that Chase feels following Gert's death and his attempt to get the Gibborim to bring her back.

I love the Marvel world, but as I mentioned above, sometimes it all feels like variations on a theme. The Runaways are just a wonderful breath of fresh air. They are loosely integrated in the rest of the post-House of M/Civil War universe, but not deeply so. In fact, in this volume the other Marvel characters barely make an appearance, though Cloak and Dagger along with Captain America appeared in the first volume and a number of the New Avengers and other East Coast heroes in the second one. This is sure to change in the current Whedon stories, since they are set in New York City (where they have relocated in an effort to escape super hero registration and foster care). Still, it is impossible to imagine that these guys will ever be easily integrated into one of the usual teams or organizations. It will also be interesting to see how they change as they age. Chase turned 18 in this volume. Many of the Marvel heroes seem to be perpetually ageless, but these guys seem to be aging. I'll be delighted to see what happens to them.

Brian K Vaughan finishes his run on his monumental teen drama with high marks, but the Runaways never quite captures the magic of the first 18 issue volume. Still a great read for fans.

What a great book I didn't think I would like it but then I heard great ythings about the writer and like i said I enjoyed it very much!!!!

This sure is a fun book... Consistently engaging and playful, written with a light touch that makes it a breath of fresh air in the current crop of comics. It helps to know that there's stuff that happens in the "Young Avengers/Runaways" crossover that is referenced in the start of this book... Nothing that really has an effect on your ability to enjoy this volume, but you might scratch your head at a couple of references... Otherwise: kick back and enjoy! (Axton)

Like new condition. Less expensive to buy this than all the comics individually. Haven't read yet; but I did read a Young Avengers comic book in which the Runaways were featured- and they were a pretty cool group of kids/outcasts/heroes.