The Runaways Thread

[spideyboy_1111]

The first printing of the Runaways HC sold out quickly and the book itself went on to win several awards. Now, the story of a group of teenagers who discovered their parents were really super villains continues in Runaways Vol.2 HC, which features an all-new cover by regular artist Adrian Alphona.

Featuring guest-stars including the New Avengers, the X-Men, Cloak and Dagger, and a group of fan-favorite former teen heroes, Runaways Vol.2 HC collects the first 12 issues of Runaways Vol.2 as well as the Runaways/X-Men team-up from Free Comic Book Day 2006.

Be sure to pick up Runaways Vol.2 HC to see why many say Brian K.Vaughan, Adrian Alphona, and the rest of the Runaways team have crafted a series that is addicting as it is engaging. Also be sure to pick up the monthly Runaways series as Vaughan and Alphona wrap up their heralded run in time to hand it off to the new creative team of Joss Whedon and Michael Ryan!

RUNAWAYS VOL. 2 HC (OCT062211)
Written by BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
Penciled by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA, ADRIAN ALPHONA & SKOTTIE YOUNG
All New Cover by ADRIAN ALPHONA
312 PGS./Rated T+ ...$24.99
FOC – 11/2, On-Sale – 12/6/2006

thats a friggin awsome cover

 

[Silvermoth]

I like Molly. Shes very different mentally to every other superhero out there. Not as sactinmonous. But I must admit my favourite character is Nico

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Yeah, I think Molly's pretty cool too.

 

[The Cajun]

Forget Molly!

Nico and her ****ty ways owns all!

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

Molly sucks, Nico sucks, like in the way my sisters suck, Karolina rules!

 

[JewishHobbit]

Okay, I love Alex in that cover

 

[Dread]

Great Alphona cover.

 

[The Cajun]

I want Topher to make another apperance!

Damn me and my love of Vampires.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

If it leads to a crossover with Blade or Dr. Strange or one of the other supernatural characters, I'm all for it.

Molly sucks, Nico sucks, like in the way my sisters suck, Karolina rules!

Karolina's become my favorite female of the team. It was Gert until she became a useless tag-along and then died, but Karolina's stepped up and gotten really interesting lately. Now, if only Molly would die and Victor would grow some self-respect and leave Nic-ho, Runaways would be perfect...

 

[Dread]

If it leads to a crossover with Blade or Dr. Strange or one of the other supernatural characters, I'm all for it.

Karolina's become my favorite female of the team. It was Gert until she became a useless tag-along and then died, but Karolina's stepped up and gotten really interesting lately. Now, if only Molly would die and Victor would grow some self-respect and leave Nic-ho, Runaways would be perfect...

Without Molly, the Runaways would all be a teenager angst athon like every single teen team yet written. They need her to pop that bubble for comic relief.

But I'll admit Karolina has seriously stepped up since the first volume, and since she went to space to marry Xavin. I still liked Gert although her death has become a turning point in the series, and Chase's more assertive with the dinosaur anyway.

Yeah, Nico's loose, but when the hell has anyone called Hawkeye, who's bragged about sleeping with every lady Avenger ever, a "himbo"? How about Nightwing? I rest my case. I just dislike double standards.

 

[AndThePickles]

I like Molly. Shes very different mentally to every other superhero out there. Not as sactinmonous. But I must admit my favourite character is Nico

Yeah, she's a little girl.

My favorite character is still Karolina.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

If it leads to a crossover with Blade or Dr. Strange or one of the other supernatural characters, I'm all for it.

Karolina's become my favorite female of the team. It was Gert until she became a useless tag-along and then died, but Karolina's stepped up and gotten really interesting lately. Now, if only Molly would die and Victor would grow some self-respect and leave Nic-ho, Runaways would be perfect...

Fully agreed with you except for Nic-ho. SHE should get some self respect and stop being a ****e.

But yes, I totally fully agree, Karolina is by far the best of them. The most aesthetically pleasing, and most interesting. Xavin is kind of cool. But for whatever reason, s/he isn't really hitting me like I thought s/he would. For a long time, I wanted to see a "good guy" Skrull, a Super-Skrull at that, and I thought Xavin was the answer to all the Satanic sacrifices I made, but it seems the devil has cheated me. Gert was actually the only one who posed to be smart, yet never used her brain. Ever. EVER!

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

Without Molly, the Runaways would all be a teenager angst athon like every single teen team yet written. They need her to pop that bubble for comic relief.

But I'll admit Karolina has seriously stepped up since the first volume, and since she went to space to marry Xavin. I still liked Gert although her death has become a turning point in the series, and Chase's more assertive with the dinosaur anyway.

Yeah, Nico's loose, but when the hell has anyone called Hawkeye, who's bragged about sleeping with every lady Avenger ever, a "himbo"? How about Nightwing? I rest my case. I just dislike double standards.

I have, in reference to your last question. But you and I have had that talk before.

Either way, Molly kind of follows the trend of the angst, though portrays it in a more naive fashion. She still just feels like a token member of the team, for a team that doesn't have a mold to come from. Don't know why.

 

[Kevin]

My favorite runaway is still Victor, but he's a tool because he's leading himself with his heart. He's only gonna get himself hurt. I miss Gert.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

My favorite runaway is still Victor, but he's a tool because he's leading himself with his heart. He's only gonna get himself hurt. I miss Gert.

Leading oneself with their heart would make the VAST majority of all humans as tools.

 

[Marcdachamp]

Molly is the heart of the team. She provides an innocence and moral center for a group that desperatly needs it. I'd be pissed if she was killed off.

 

[Kevin]

Leading oneself with their heart would make the VAST majority of all humans as tools.

... Your words, not mine.

 

[Dread]

I have, in reference to your last question. But you and I have had that talk before.

Either way, Molly kind of follows the trend of the angst, though portrays it in a more naive fashion. She still just feels like a token member of the team, for a team that doesn't have a mold to come from. Don't know why.

I still like her enough not to see her die. Fine, I usually find her funny. Not that she's my favorite, though. That's Chase.

But that's neither here nor there. Most of us have established ourselves in the "Pro" or "Anti" DEATH TO MOLLY CAMP.

I'm in "anti".

I can't wait for the next arc. BKV was vague but he seems to speak highly of it when he talks about leaving, so I can't wait for his last ride with his creations. As well as the last time Alphona may do art for them (beyond HC covers). RUNAWAYS has just been a terrific Marvel property and I give them credit for contiuning to publish it. It always proves that no matter how bad Marvel may get, it always has something worth reading if you just look for it.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

... Your words, not mine.

My words indeed.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

I still like her enough not to see her die. Fine, I usually find her funny. Not that she's my favorite, though. That's Chase.

But that's neither here nor there. Most of us have established ourselves in the "Pro" or "Anti" DEATH TO MOLLY CAMP.

I'm in "anti".

I can't wait for the next arc. BKV was vague but he seems to speak highly of it when he talks about leaving, so I can't wait for his last ride with his creations. As well as the last time Alphona may do art for them (beyond HC covers). RUNAWAYS has just been a terrific Marvel property and I give them credit for contiuning to publish it. It always proves that no matter how bad Marvel may get, it always has something worth reading if you just look for it.

That's cool. Everybody has to have some character that they like that I wish would be obliterated in a solar flare, like Wolverine.

And CHASE!!! I kept wanting to call him Rex like in Invincible. I don't know why, and I don't know how I forgot, but thank you for reminding me.

Alphona's leaving to just maybe HC's? That SUCKS!!! I was LOVING her work.

I fully agree with you though. No matter how craptacular somethings in Marvel may be, you can always count of the magic ****e and her squad to make you smile again.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Finally got my copy of # 20 yesterday and could catch back up. Definitely good to read issues back to back in this case. I think my favorite part of it all was Molly catching the monsters foot, getting tired, and then Nico blasting Molly with a shot in the arm. "It's like there's a pizza party in my heart!" Heh.

Chase is definitely getting bad ass. It's going to be so sad knowing Vaughn and Alphona are leaving soon.

 

[hippy fascist]

Finally got my copy of # 20 yesterday and could catch back up. Definitely good to read issues back to back in this case. I think my favorite part of it all was Molly catching the monsters foot, getting tired, and then Nico blasting Molly with a shot in the arm. "It's like there's a pizza party in my heart!" Heh.

Chase is definitely getting bad ass. It's going to be so sad knowing Vaughn and Alphona are leaving soon.

To be fair though I think whedon is the ONLY current marvel writer who would get the characters to the point he could do them justice

 

[AndThePickles]

How has no one posted about the last Young Avengers/Runaways yet?! I thought it was great!

 

[spideyboy_1111]

it twas... oooo how i love billy and teddy

 

[Dread]

How has no one posted about the last Young Avengers/Runaways yet?! I thought it was great!

Me too. Hence, a repost!

YOUNG AVENGERS & RUNAWAYS #4: While CIVIL WAR still has 3 acts and a MESSLOAD of tie-ins to go, it may go down in the annuls of fandom that the best thing to come of it, at least story-wise, was this mini. This is an accomplishment considering that despite the cult-like status of both franchises (YA sells within the top 35 as a monthly; good but not record-breaking, and the Runaways are indie hits all over), it was being written and drawn by NONE of their creators and the CW climate is a climate that embraces things like character assassination and death in the name of blunt-force shock value; an event that gleefully will kill a C lister because it can. As Zeb Wells was last known for being the FINAL writer to run the New Warriors into the ground to the point that they were good sacrificial lambs for Millar & Marvel (although underwhelming stuff throughout the 90's provided the majority of the nails into that coffin), many of us wrote him off and doubted he could really "capture" the spirit of Heinberg & Vaughan. Heck, most of us, admit it, would have been satisfied had he merely not screwed up. Instead he, like Giffen, managed to capture the heart & soul of his characters, embrace them, and take them seriously while at the same time providing a rarity from CW; a back-to-basics superhero story that, yes, isn't the most original, but is efficient at what it does and unashamed of it. Unashamed to have heroes be heroes (even having them do the obligatory "first meet fight", although that is seen as less of an issue as they're all teenagers and the Runaways usually misread and fight damn near anyone they encounter) and villians being villians (the Warden, with Noh-Varr as an efficent lacky).

Spoiler

In fact, if I had to pick one flaw, it'd be that the Warden was in the "arrogant to the point of utter stupidity" camp, but that really wasn't a concern because he was still loathesome and brutal. You're not supposed to like him and want to see him go down. He digs into Hulkling and seeing that his form "shifts" away vital organs, decides to keep cutting just because he enjoys it. He puts devices in Wiccan's ears so he can't hear his own voice and can't do his spells, yet allows him to keep mumbling because the Warden likes hearing his pleas (and to sticklers wondering how it is possible, then explain first how Banshee & Siryn can do their sonic-scream AND talk at once with only one throat & mouth). And the Warden leaves the seemingly-dead corpse of Xavin right across from his bride, Karolina. Even still, he lowered his security around the lab and should have known Skrulls regenerate (especially young super-Skrulls). Ah well.

The YA & the Runaways team up to kick arse, and kick arse they do, but Zeb provides more than action, he has them interact in fun ways that please fans of both camps. Vision 2.0 uses some Latin to provide Nico more fodder for spells. Cassie stands by Victor's side, making Vision jealous that he's losing out to not just another "robot", but his bloody BROTHER. Speed and Molly continue to get along, with Speed later emploring Chase to not be as rough on the kid. And Caselli's art, as usual, rocks. Great for action & shiney costumes. He even manages to make Speed & Marvel Boy look different, a task harder than it seems. The gang goes on their ad-hoc rescue after Vision 2.0 hacks the security, and Chase naturally rips through soldiers with the rest, 'till Noh-Varr starts ripping into Old Lace and Molly saves him. Chase steps up and vows to protect her, even in the face of death. Luckily, Wells remembers that Vision 2.0 isn't a robot, but is actually ARMOR, and provides a great use by having Vision literally cover Chase to save him (and bring back Cheung's cool "armor Vision" look). However, Xavin snaps his neck back into place, frees his comrades and all but wants to kill the Warden, but Hulkling & Karolina talk him out of it. At first chastising Hulking for his "lack of resolve", Xavin later waxes philosophical about how Karolina is all he has left and by keeping him in check, Hulkling's proven he has some leadership skill. Vaughan may have made Xavin, but Wells did a great job of making him more likeable with this series & issue, IMO. Finally, Victor uses smarts to short out Noh-Varr (who is still the most efficient speedster at Marvel now), which beats him, but also leads to the collapse of the Cube as it frees him from control and he now runs it (cueing the way for Marvel's upcoming mini about him; it was hinted at in a past JOE FRIDAYS). The series didn't kill anyone or provide any "shawks", it just told a really good team up between the teams.

I love comics that do what they promise to, and do it well. Buy it in trade, or support the back issues. The best thing from CW.

Wells naturally gives hope that someone other than Vaughan can do RUNAWAYS, so if Whedon screws up, then he should just stick to Wonder Woman and milking the Buffyverse forever.