The Runaways Thread

[Zoken]

I haven't heard her talk about her sister before, it is humorous. She sounds like a female version of my brother.

 

[Dread]

This incident came up in this week's JOE FRIDAYS:

If Wilson Fisk is currently permanently expelled from U.S. soil according to the recent Daredevil arc, how is he operating as the Kingpin in the recent Runaways preview? I'll assume Runaways now takes place post-Civil War, so I'm a little befuddled by this. Especially if the Hood is soon to be taking a rise to power. Did someone not give Whedon the memo?

JQ: Joss definitely got the memo, Mundungus...and read it. Runaways is post-Civil War and in continuity. We talked it all over with Brubaker (who is a gentleman, a scholar and Kristin Bell’s #1 fantasy) and he was cool with it.

Here's how it works: just because you quit something doesn't mean that you're easily extricated from it. He's in NY wrapping up some loose ends that he had to deal with. It's only temporary. You'll see a reference to current Daredevil continuity in Runaways #26. The Runaways have been on the run during the whole "Fisk in prison" stuff and contacted him through channels set up when their parents were in charge of the LA criminal underground. A lot of this will become clearer as the story goes on, true believer.

It always bemuses me that whenever these things happen, it can never just be covered in the first issue, to avoid this sort of question.

2 lines.

"Wasn't Kingpin supposed to have been punted off the state?"

"I heard he's only back temporarialy, incognito. That's why we had to do this so quickly."

Two lines. And I'm not paid 5 figures an issue. Why can't trained professionals be able to come up with in weeks what I just did in seconds? It's nice to hear something about next issue addressing this, but why? Throw us a bone and then get into it. Save yourselves the trouble.

 

[CConn]

They do seem awfully close. Karolina's experiencing problems with Xavin and Nico's experiencing problems with her flavor-of-the-week, so it seems like they might be heading for some girl-on-girl action. At least, that looks like what Whedon is setting up in this issue. They were a little more touchy-feely than simple friends. I think an attraction is there and it's gonna lead to problems.

I hope Whedon, in terms of Nico's attraction to Karolina, addresses Nico's (nearly) unhealthy need for emotional/romantic support rather than just turning her bi.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

That would be nice. Nico clearly has some intimacy problems, which is natural given that her first two crushes were evil and ultimately tried to kill her.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Don't make excuses for her.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Not excuses. It's not like I don't agree 100% that Nico's a dirty ****. But every ****e has her reasons for being thus. It'd be nice if someone explored Nico's.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Maybe she was touched as a child by an old uncle

 

[AndThePickles]

Nico seems to be a ****e because she truly wants to be loved, but no one will love her So she's reaching out for any attention she can get.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Maybe she was touched as a child by an old uncle

I hope not. The sexual abuse by an older relative angle is old hat at this point. Seriously, it's the basis for 90% of all the fictional serial killers, prostitutes, emo losers, etc. Find a new schtick already.

 

[Dread]

I hope not. The sexual abuse by an older relative angle is old hat at this point. Seriously, it's the basis for 90% of all the fictional serial killers, prostitutes, emo losers, etc. Find a new schtick already.

Not to mention the influx of "I was raped" heroine stories. Some comic writers should literally send royalty checks to local prisons for their inmates keeping these sorts of ideas as fresh, "relevent" fodder.

However, it is good to see that Whedon appears to have learned his pacing lessons from ASTONISHING X-MEN as this moved along much faster. Most A-List writers don't improve, they merely remain stagnent for the rest of their careers as the praise is heaped before the product is finished. It would be nice to find one who wasn't a Brit who could defy that.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Whedon's first issue wasn't too bad. I wasn't expecting too much but it definitely seems like a pretty smooth transition as far as the writing goes. I'm not so much into the artwork, that could be because I'm so used to Alphona's work. Definite lesbo moment between Nico and Karolina and not the sexy kind of lesbo moment. With Kingpin thrown in there and now the Punisher and a giant winged mofo...yeah, it's a little interesting. Definitely sticking around to see where things go.

 

[The Cajun]

Why was there nothing on Runaways in the recent June solicitations?

 

[RskimB]

Finally read #25 it wasn't too bad but the artwork and especially the inking is not really what I'm used to.

 

[chamber-music]

not feeling the art

 

[Mogwai]

i def miss alphona.

 

[Dread]

Naturally, as Alphona co-created the franchise and was amazingly reliable for a modern artist (out of 42 issues total, he only needed a fill-in for 7 issues, which in the 21st century era of comics, is ridiculously rare, even for a franchise co-creator; Walker only lasted 7 issues on INVINCIBLE, for instance), filling his boots is going to be a very hard task. One can imagine early ASM fans feeling the same when Ditko left. Unfortunately, while Romita Sr. had a very long run to solidify himself on the book, Ryan is presumably here for Whedon's limp 6 (now 5) month run. That is not enough to build any sense of consistantcy; just ask readers of ULTIMATE X-MEN who've had to go through an ungodly amount of artists within under 85 issues. Alphona's depictions of the characters are the definitive ones, so any new artist will have some hurdles. Still, I think Ryan is doing fine, although out of all the kids, Chase seems the most off. But he is also my favorite, so I'd be the most critical of him. Yes, I am the rare fan who acknowledges my own bias and subjectivity.

It will be interesting to see sales figures on Whedon's first issue. The strength of his name alone propelled a Dark Horse comic into the Top 10 sales for March for his BUFFY #1, and a non Big Two hitting that number is very rare. RUNAWAYS had actually gained some readers in BKV's ending stretch, moving up from hovering around the Top 90-95 to within the Top 85; nothing to brag about, but for small books, a thousand or so readers can boost them up a few slots. Marvel is counting on a big boost with Whedon, and hopefully they get it, because the dropoff when he leaves in October (assuming all issues are on time) may kill the book off once and for all, at least unless the next writer for the end of 2007 has some steam.

 

[Anubis]

Ryan rocks, youse guys got bad taste.

 

[Dread]

Ryan rocks, youse guys got bad taste.

I said he was "doing fine".

 

[fifthfiend]

However, it is good to see that Whedon appears to have learned his pacing lessons from ASTONISHING X-MEN as this moved along much faster. Most A-List writers don't improve, they merely remain stagnent for the rest of their careers as the praise is heaped before the product is finished. It would be nice to find one who wasn't a Brit who could defy that.

Just to ask, which particular British writers would you say have demonstrated such a capacity for growth?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Ryan rocks, youse guys got bad taste.

I think Ryan's style is more suited to adults than kids. I'm having the same problem with his art in Runaways that I had with Andrea DiVito's fill-in on Young Avengers. They're both great artists but neither book really plays to their strengths, thanks in large part to the heavy association between those characters and their founding artists. DiVito, an artist who favors crisp, simple contours, made all of Cheung's ultra-detailed costume designs on the Young Avengers look boring and flat. Similarly, Ryan's straight-forward superhero stylings and monotonous faces create a jarring change from Alphona's almost surrealistic ambience and heavy emphasis on facial expression. Again, I really like Ryan, but I just don't think he's right for the Runaways. I would've liked to see Mike Norton or Cory Walker take over, actually.

 

[Dread]

Just to ask, which particular British writers would you say have demonstrated such a capacity for growth?

Alan Moore is the easy answer.

I think Ryan's style is more suited to adults than kids. I'm having the same problem with his art in Runaways that I had with Andrea DiVito's fill-in on Young Avengers. They're both great artists but neither book really plays to their strengths, thanks in large part to the heavy association between those characters and their founding artists. DiVito, an artist who favors crisp, simple contours, made all of Cheung's ultra-detailed costume designs on the Young Avengers look boring and flat. Similarly, Ryan's straight-forward superhero stylings and monotonous faces create a jarring change from Alphona's almost surrealistic ambience and heavy emphasis on facial expression. Again, I really like Ryan, but I just don't think he's right for the Runaways. I would've liked to see Mike Norton or Cory Walker take over, actually.

You hold some very strong points on both, although I didn't mind DiVito's art on YOUNG AVENGERS despite the shift (and also because both of his issues shipped on time). I like Ryan's art overall but I do agree he is better suited for more mainstream hero books than RUNAWAYS, although he's far better than Miyazawa or Ramos were. Both of your alternates I would have liked too, although I just like Walker and Norton's art in general.

 

[PhotoJones]

I think Ryan's style is more suited to adults than kids. I'm having the same problem with his art in Runaways that I had with Andrea DiVito's fill-in on Young Avengers. They're both great artists but neither book really plays to their strengths, thanks in large part to the heavy association between those characters and their founding artists. DiVito, an artist who favors crisp, simple contours, made all of Cheung's ultra-detailed costume designs on the Young Avengers look boring and flat. Similarly, Ryan's straight-forward superhero stylings and monotonous faces create a jarring change from Alphona's almost surrealistic ambience and heavy emphasis on facial expression. Again, I really like Ryan, but I just don't think he's right for the Runaways. I would've liked to see Mike Norton or Cory Walker take over, actually.

Norton's work is too stiff for me. Cory Walker would've been an interesting choice, but I'd rather see him on a Spider-Man title.

 

[KingOfDreams]

I have to say, I'm not digging the new creative team.

 

[JP]

I just picked up Runaways Vol. 1. This is the first time I'm reading Runway-anything. I'm enjoying it so far.

 

[JP]

I just picked up Runaways Vol. 1. This is the first time I'm reading Runway-anything. I'm enjoying it so far.