Customer Reviews

Runaways, Vol. 1

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A few months ago, I was walking around in a comic book store with a friend of mine. While I am a newbie in the world of comics, he knows his stuff, and he pointed out Runaways to me. I had never heard of it before, but he assured me that it was amazing. The premise is simple: 6 kids in Los Angeles find out that their parents are supervillains, and they run away from home and try to find ways to defeat them. I was intrigued by the idea, but I never picked it up until just now. The book was everything he said and more.
Alex Wilder, Gertrude Yorkes, Chase Stein, Karolina Dean, Nico Minoru, and Molly Hayes are six kids, ranging from 12 to about 17, living in LA. They exist within the established Marvel universe, meaning that heroes like Spider-Man, Captain America, and Wolverine, as well as supervillains like Dr. Octopus and Dr. Doom live in their world as well. That doesn't mean that they don't also live in "our world" as well. There are many references to popular culture, which I will touch on later. Since most Marvel stories are based in New York City, the six kids have never experienced larger than life situations that super heroes find themselves in. The closest Alex ever got was when he played online games with his friends.
Every year, the six families got together so that the parents could get stuff done for the charitable organization that they work for. At least that's what they tell their children. Meanwhile, the six kids, who aren't big fans of each other, are forced to hang out together and find ways to pass the time. Gert is a cynical girl who can't stand capitalist culture (if you've ever read/seen Ghost World, she's very much like Enid) while Chase is a lacrosse player without an overabundance of brains. Nico is a goth while Molly is a young firecracker. Karolina is an outgoing daughter of two movie stars while Alex is a calm and collected, somewhat shy boy (of all the characters, Alex is most like me).
One year, the kids decide that they are fed up with waiting for their parents to finish their business, so they decide to spy on the group, only to witness their parents murder a young woman. Terrified by the act, the group decides to run away. Soon, each child learns that they have received some sort of ability or gift from their parents. Gert, whose parents are time travellers, finds a genetically modified raptor that she can telepathically communicate with, Chase steals some gadgets and weapons from his inventor parents, and Nico learns that she, along with her parents, are sorcerors. Meanwhile, Karolina and her family are aliens with powers drawn from the Earth's sun, and Molly learns that she comes from a family of mutants. While Alex doesn't have any offensive abilities, he, along with his parents, is a master strategist.
Using their newfound abilities, the Runaways vow to atone for their parents' sins and become a West Coast-based team of superheroes. Along the way, they fight their parents a few times (and barely make it out alive), encounter Marvel superteam Cloak and Dagger, and find friendship (and a few find a little romance) in each other.
Despite being about a group of teenagers (and one pre-teen), this isn't kids' stuff. It does get very dark at times, and there are a lot of adult issues in the storylines (I don't want to mention what they are, because a few of them aren't revealed until the end). Although, it's interesting how certain aspects associated with real teenagers are twisted to fit the storyline. For example, while some real-life teens cut themselves out of anger, Nico cuts herself in order to get access to her magic staff (it will make much more sense when you read the book). Also, the characters are very well developed. Karolina may seem like a perky Hollywood girl on the outside, but there is a lot more going on under the surface. Molly may be the youngest, which causes the others to attempt to shelter her, she may be the most powerful among them, and can keep up with every other runaway. Not only are the kids developed, but they act and talk like real kids would. There are tons of pop culture references in this book. The best part is that it isn't all just about current culture. The Who, The Beatles, and James Dean's Rebel Without A Cause are all worked into the story, but that doesn't mean that things like The Matrix, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Smallville (a show involving a DC Comics character, mind you) also make the book.
The artwork in this book is great. A mix of American comic book art and anime, each character has their own distinctive look to them.
Originally, the book was cancelled after these 18 issues chronicled in this amazing hard cover set. However, wild fan support, some of which even came from Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and he is also referenced to in the story) helped get the book revived, and it is currently in its second "season". Speaking of Whedon, author Brian K. Vaughn even lists Whedon as one of his heroes in the book's forward, and it is amazing to know that he is a fan of this story, especially since it is written by a fan of him.
Runaways is definitely one of the most original stories I've come across in a while. Even if you aren't a comic book fan, you should definitely check it out. There will be a few references you might not get involving characters within the Marvel universe (there were a few I didn't get due to the fact that I'm not a hard-core comic book fan), but overall, it won't hurt your understanding or enjoyment of the story.

Runaways, Volume 1 (Hardcover) is a collection of Runaways series one issues 1-18. If your a huge fan of Runaways this is a must have. If your a fan in general you will still enjoy this edition. I got this for $21-22 including shipping and I think it was worth every penny.
Here's a break down of what's in the book:
1) Introduction - Some word from Brian K. Vaughan.
2) The comics. (Issues 1-18)
3) A fan letter by Joss Whedon that appears in issue 18 and Brian K. Vaughan's response.
4) Runaways Expanded Proposal by Brian K. Vaughan.(I think this was interesting. To see what was originally planned. It funny to see what some of the characters name were originally and how they changed. A lot of the changed were for the best I think. Read and decide for yourself.)
5) Adrian Alphona Sketchbook. (Character concept art, character sketches and reandom doodles.
6) Promotional Art by Adrian Alphona.
7) Bios of Brian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona, Craig Yeung, Christina Strain, Jo Chen and Takeshi Miyazawa.
Also the book it's self without the dust cover is black with Runaways written in red. Very cool looking. So go and get your own copy today and enjoy. =^__.__^=

What a fun book! 6 teenagers find out that their parents are really supervillains. The book just sets up the premise and shows some of the initial confrontations between the kids and their parents. The term to use here is "Buffyesque" :) Just like Buffy, this is a good story with a premise that might appear silly at first. Just like Buffy, half the fun is the various characters and the way they interact. There is still so much left to explore - the full extent of the children's and parent's powers, the true nature and goals of the secret organization that the parents belong to. I have not had this much fun reading comics in a while. Think of the first volume as 1/2 of season one of a good teen SciFi/Fantasy show like Buffy or Smallville.

Marvel has had the great fortune of having Brian K. Vaughan's story of children who "runaway" from their evil, would-be world conquering parents. A story which has uprooted super-hero cliche's in the same way Spider-Man did in the 1960's. These kids don't want to save the world so much as make it through the day and you won't find them in spandex or masks. For jaded comic book readers this is a breath of fresh air and for new readers it is a completely fun read that fans of Harry Potter would surely enjoy.

I am not a serious comic fan. I own about three dozen graphic novels, which is a lot compared to the average American, but paltry compared to serious comic fans. But I can't imagine many not loving this story about six young kids who become runaways when they realize their parents are super villains. It is set very much within the Marvel comic universe. Captain America appears briefly and there is mention of the Avengers. Also, one of the six kids is a mutant of the X-Men variety. But the story is not at all dependent on any in depth knowledge of the Marvel pantheon of heroes and in fact having such knowledge won't actually add much to the enjoyment of the story.

I want especially to recommend the book to parents of children. I deeply regret that this wasn't around when my daughter was young and we were still reading books together. There are a couple of bits that might be disturbing to very small children, but I would have felt comfortable reading this with my daughter when she was 8 or 9. The book is especially good for girls, because in an unusual alignment, four of the six kids are girls and in fact both the oldest and the youngest are female. A girl of 10 would really identify with Molly aka Bruiser (though she would prefer to be called Princess Powerful), an eleven-year-old mutant with super human strength (though upon using it she always has to take a nap afterwards). But I don't want to mislead and suggest that this is mainly or even primarily for kids. This is an "all ages" book in the best possible sense. An adult of 60 could easily enjoy this as much as a child of 16.

This is certainly a nonstandard collection of heroes. I've mentioned Molly. Karolina Dean is the oldest, the child of two famous actors who in fact are aliens from another world. Karolina aka Lucy in the Sky turns out to have remarkable powers based on her ability to channel the energy in sunlight. Alex is not gifted with any powers, but is a master of strategy and tactics and a brilliant prodigy. Chase is your the dimmest bulb of the bunch, but uses his parents' fistigons, metal gloves that spew out fire. He is given the name Talkback by the others. Nico aka Sister Grimm has taken possession of her mother's Staff of One, with which she can cast any spell, but only one time. Gertrude aka Arsenic has no powers, but is the recipient of a velociraptor who is tied to her DNA and who responds to her telepathically whom she names Old Lace. (The first volume never addresses the question of precisely what Old Lace eats to stay alive.) The wonderful twist is that one of these heroes is in fact a mole and still faithful to the Pride, the super gang formed by their parents.

I can't recommend this volume strongly enough. It is a wonderfully fresh take on the idea of the superhero. Creator Brian K. Vaughan went on to write two more volumes of their adventures and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER creator Joss Whedon is now continuing it (though I feel compelled to add that as much as I love what Joss is doing with the X-Men, the Runaways, and his continuation of BUFFY in comic book form, I would really like to see him get back to TV).

Brian K Vaughan has done it again. Just when you thought he couldn't get any better, he does, and he gives us Runaways. This 18 issue volume is quite the page turner, filled with plot twists, comic book cliches (which are humorously made fun of to no end), and the freshest group of characters in the Marvel Universe. Six teenagers (Alex, Nico, Karolina, Chase, Gert, and 11 year old Molly) discover that their parents are actually evil crimelords who control almost all of LA. They decide to Runaway and put a stop to their parents evildoings. BKV cleverly plays off classic teenager attitudes and puts them in a comic book world. The art is also amazing. Adrian Alphona has a unique and attractive style that can be summed up as simply beautiful. And his teenagers actually look like teenagers, which is rare for comic books, where most characters are adults. Part of the draw to this book is that it is set in LA, a place in the Marvel Universe that doesn't have many super heroes or villains. So we get a fresh setting, fresh art, fresh characters, fresh stories, and an amazing time overall.

For Runaways Fans: This is THE way to read Runaways. Under the attractive dust jacket, the cover is made up of a soft black vinyl material that is extremely durable. The book itself is huge, letting you appreciate the art in a way that it may not have been able to be appreciated in the original comics and the infinitely smaller digest trade paperbacks. Plus, the book is loaded with extras. We've got an introduction, sketches, a letter from Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, and the man who eventually takes over the writing duties of Runaways himself), and the actual proposal for the series by Brian K. Vaughan. Whether you're buying this because you want to get the most you can out of the series or because you're a fan wanting to own a true collectors item, this is more than worth the $[...]. Forget those tiny, manga-looking digests. THIS is the way to go.

For New Comers: Not too long ago, I was one of you. I'll help you make your decision. Have you read any of Brian K. Vaughan's previous work? Do you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Veronica Mars, Heroes, Supernatural, YA lit, or comics in general? Do you like quirk? How about a bit of geekery? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, give this book a try. It's a comic series worth getting into.

For Nay Sayers: The biggest complaint I'm hearing is that "Runaways" is 'too young' or 'too immature' for them. I say unto thee: the first issue left that impression on me as well. But read past it. Read between the lines, and a complex story will emerge through what seems simplistic. The mythology of the story (and the villainous "Pride") will grow, and the characters will have a sort of endearing depth to them. Give it another try, will you?

For Me: I loved this book. Eighteen issues of quirky, Young Adult, fantasy-drama written, pencilled, and colored beautifully is precisely what I was looking for when I purchased this book. My reviews for the individual six-issue arcs found in this book can be found HERE (Runaways Vol. 1: Pride and Joy, (No Link Here For #2, So Here's The URL:) [...], and Runaways Vol. 3: The Good Die Young). The only problem I had with this book was finding a shelf big enough for it to fit in!

9/10

This hardcover trade collects the entire first run of the series Runaways, created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona.

Included are issues #1-18 of the first run of Runaways.
The story arcs:
Pride and Joy (issues 1-6)
Teenage Wasteland (issues 7-10)
Lost and Found (issues 11-12)
The Good Die Young (issues 13-17)
Eighteen (issue 18)

If you've never read Runaways, this is the place to start. The beginning of the story. Brian K. Vaughan has an amazing talent for creating characters that you care about.

If you enjoy this book, continue reading the series with Runaways, Vol. 2 and Runaways, Vol. 3, as well as Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways.

RUNAWAYS is a graphic novel published by Marvel Comics revolving around six teenagers with nothing in common except for the fact that their parents know each other. Once a year they are forced to spend an evening together while their parents have a secret meeting. Unable to stand the boredom during one of these nights, the kids decide to sneak in and see what really goes on behind the closed doors of these meetings. They learn that their parents are supervillains with powers that are maintained by sacrificing a human life on an annual basis. Witnessing the sacrifice shatters the kids' world and sends them running for their lives.

Nico, Gertrude, Chase, Karolina, Molly, and Alex learn their true heritage and each get a weapon or a power that they didn't know they had. Nico is the daughter of dark wizards and carries the "Staff of One," which allows her to cast spells. Gertrude is the daughter of time-traveling criminals and receives a genetically engineered deinonychus which she shares a telepathic bond with. Chase is the son of mad scientists and he uses high-tech gadgets he stole from his parents' laboratory to help them with their missions. Karolina is the daughter of alien invaders and can fly and manipulate solar energy. Molly is the daughter of evil mutants and has super strength, and Alex is the son of crime bosses and turns out to be a big surprise.

The kids run underground and hide in a place they call "The Hostel" and try to come up with ways to thwart their parents' evil plans and help the world -- while at the same time, stay alive.

Comic book fans will be glad to see some familiar superheroes make appearances throughout the book, such as Captain America and Cloak and Dagger. RUNAWAYS VOL. 1 is the collection of comic book issues #1 through #18 in hardback format. Volume 2 (Runaways, Vol. 2) is already out and Volume 3 (Runaways, Vol. 3) will be released in April 2007. Beginning with Issue #25, Volume 2, Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, will take over writing responsibilities. The graphic novel world is very excited about this development.

Reviewed by: Karin Perry

Brian Vaughan is one of the best writers out there right now and has been for the past few years; between him and Robert Kirkman I am guaranteed something I will love reading each week on new comics day. Runaways is a bit of a side step from his other titles and yet it still has the same quality you would expect from him. I would go as far as saying it is his best work yet and I love Y and Ex Machina so much.

There is just something so right about the story and characters in Runaways that anyone can pick it up and enjoy it no matter their comic book knowledge. This is pretty much the official book to make someone read that is hesitant about getting into comic books or jaded by the big two publishers main universes. I've got people hooked that have never read a comic book in their life before this to someone that hated anything that could be 'cape' related and was only into more mature titles like Sandman beforehand. All of the characters are strongly developed and each one has well defined character traits. The dialogue is so fitting to how people their ages would interact as well as react to everything going on, especially Molly and Chase.

I can't really say anything negative about the book as I am so glad we finally got a beautiful hardcover of this wonderful story instead of being stuck with the horrible digests. All the complaining to Marvel finally paid off and it's just a show of how great the run is that people cared enough to keep up the fight to keep Runaways alive and get it into hardcover. The only negative is that when Amazon sealed the plastic bubble around the book it got stuck together with the plastic cover and it got a little loose in transport so the slip cover is a bit damaged. I'm sure that's just typical of my luck though. Buy this book, you will not be disappointed!