 "Runaways: or Why I Still Love Comic Books" | 2009-10-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1SOS1SQTMRCST |
In the beginning was Krypton, and that perfect, pedestrian Man in Blue becomes very boring, very quickly. The Dark Knight comes along on day two, but doesn't become truly heroic until the gritty realism of Frank Miller and later on the insane treating of Mr. Nolan, who annihilated the left over crust of camp from the sixties. Friday rolls around and The Watchmen changes everything. The comic book takes on global annihilation, super heroes that aren't so super, and a god-like hero that hides on Mars. Amazing!
Enter the Runaways. I have read the first year of the book (issues 1-12) and have so far been thoroughly impressed. Runaways is so cool because it has taken all of the traditional aspects of comics and thrown them on their ear. Why hasn't any one asked what happens to the kids of those super hero or villain groups? Runaways takes the logical conclusion that people (even in comics) have normal relationships and from those relationships, kids are born. If I was a super villain and I had a teenager, I certainly wouldn't want them to find out that I am part of crooked outfit that wants to dominate the world.
The Pride, this group of super villains, do have children. Once every year these uber-baddies get together to talk about their future plans. They lock themselves in a room, thinking that their children will behave, but teenagers are teenagers. They find a secret tunnel and end up witnessing a brutal murder of a young girl their own age. How would you react knowing that your parents, sacrificed someone to increase their personal power. The kids decide that they need to take off.
Thus forms the Runaways. The book formulaicly sets up finding out the powers of each of the young super heroes. Some of the powers are pretty cool, for example being able to mentally control a velociraptor. Others are a little bit more generic, super strength. But even when the power is generic it's owner isn't; twelve year old Molly Hayes needs a nap after each super exertion.
Runaways is cool because it knows that it is cool. The writer, Brian K. Vaughn, knows that when he brings in two "middle-grade super heroes from New York" he can make fun of all the comic book titles that have taken these type of heroes so seriously. Vaughn laughs at these heroes, tongue-in-cheek. He also dumps in great cultural references that my generation knows and loves. Runaways is hip and also very deep. Runaways is a Marvel book and often references all that has come before. During a struggle, one of the characters suggest that they call the Avenger's Crime Hotline. Chase replies that he has already called several times, but they will only respond to a nuclear crisis. I love it.
Runaways is also unique in the fact that it does away with many of the regular super hero trappings: costumes, secret code names, and tired cliches of having the super group fight a new super villain every episode. It is a breath of fresh air. All too often I have read books that just seem to throw in enough plot to keep that issue selling. Runaways sticks to the arch, and only has a few occasions where the story is not directed toward progressing the great story telling and incredible writing.
So far, I have to say I am loving the book, and look forward to catching up to the current issue. As far as I can see, the book has been published for at least five years. For those of you who enjoy a good comic book, Runaways should be the one you pick up. |
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 "Grounded for Life" | 2009-10-06 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3MZU8A1ASX8X2 |
I've seen real parent/child fights get ugly, but Brian Vaughan and Adrian Alphona take the age-old war to a whole other level. When six teens discover their parents' deadly inner circle, they band together to keep themselves and any hope of escaping their evil legacy alive. Collecting issues 1-6 of "Runaways," Vaughan is busy establishing the characters and whatnot, and business doesn't really pick up until near the end. But Vaughan's cast lives in a world of their own--with no other heroes stealing their thunder--making "Runaways" a promising diversion from Marvel's mainstays.
This comic is rated for ages 12 and up: Violence. |
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| "Cool Concept, Just Enough To Entice Further Reading" | 2009-09-20 |
| - Reviewed By storkamps001 |
In this first compilation, we learn that the "Runaways" are a set of teens whose parents may be super-villains or they may be super-heroes. The dialogue is the sometimes witty, sometimes indulgent style favored by Brian Vaughan. I love his allusions to all manner of pop culture, including art, music, TV and movies. What I don't love is the way all the characters talk in the same way. This set-up has some potential, however, and after reading this first book there is just enough of interest to entice the reader to read on. But just barely enough.
I am not a fan of Adrian Alphona's artwork in this book. The faces of the characters are flat and I found myself breezing through the book, reading the story without any desire to dwell on the art. Good comics need good story and good art. Great comic artists challenge the reader to dwell on the page, despite the fast action. This is one of the reasons Alan Moore did not want to see Watchmen made into a movie. I also found the computerized lettering flat and lacking personality - it is surprising how much a good letterer can bring to a comic book. Finally, this book is a 7.6" x 5.1" format, which is too small to showcase great artwork. It feels like Marvel was rushing this project to print. Now that Disney has bought them, I expect this series to be one of the first to be made into a movie franchise. |
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 "Runaways" | 2009-04-24 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1QPHO8AC3GTOR |
| Alex, Gert, Nico, Karolina, Molly, and Chase find out that their parents are villians and that they might be in danger with their loved ones. Now they have to runaway and they are asking themselves how did it happen? They stayed up all night to practice their powers. Now that they Know that molly could be in a lot of danger their mission is to find her. Will they find her? This book is fild whit lots of excitement and mystery so if you like fantasy this is your book. |
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| "Fun fresh read" | 2008-12-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1HJ5A0SHAK2K8 |
| This one took me by surprise. I heard that is was well written, but hadn't heard about any of the plot or characters. Without giving away any spoilers, this books has some good twists, a fresh cast of characters, and no Marvel Universe baggage. |
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| "Don't Buy This Edition, Buy This One Instead" | 2008-11-30 |
| - Reviewed By saiparadis2 |
Instead of picking up this book, buy this edition instead: Runaways, Vol. 1.
Originally this brilliant run by Vaughan was collected in these small Reader's Digest sized books. Runaways Vol. 2: Teenage Wasteland is now out of print. If you want to read the whole first arc of this excellent series, you will have to double dip and buy Runaways, Vol. 1 this as well as this edition, so don't waste your money. |
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