The Runaways Thread

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Reposting my review of the issue from the B/T:

HEAVY SPOILERS!

Dread said:
RUNAWAYS #23: Just when I used to gloat about how this was a "great book that shipped on time", this issue is 3 weeks late, causing RUNAWAYS to skip December. I can still say it's a title that throughout it's run has RARELY been late (as in maybe 1-2 late issues a year), which is still very skippy considering today's market. And, yes, it does sell poorly in the monthly totals, although it has a small-but-loyal fanbase of some 23,000-25,000 readers who have managed to keep this plucky book within the Top 100 for the past year. And Marvel does seem to like the book and has tried to promote it; their HC's consistantly sell out. Marvel inserted the RUNAWAYS into their FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2006 story (even if, since it was a bit lame, a bit of a waste) and into a CW mini with the Young Avengers, which sold within the Top 35 (which, admittedly, was where the YA title sold before it's ending). Marvel is also willing to invest in an A-List lineup of Whedon & Ryan after BKV departs AND sell a one-shot specifically to "catch up" more casual readers to the RUNAWAYS history so they won't need to dig through a handbook to jump aboard Whedon's run. Plus, Marvel's cancelled some books for selling around where RUNAWAYS has (even some X-spinoffs), but RUNAWAYS is still with us for another go. So, it would be unfair to say that in 2006, Marvel didn't try hard to promote RUNAWAYS in some fashion given it's sales. And it is a title that deserves it because it's been a rollicking ride with some of Marvel's best teen creations in a decade that span across several Marvel genres (mystics, mutants, aliens, time-travel, tech, etc). Vaughan also is leaving the book on his own terms, much like Tiki Barber from the GIANTS, claiming he wants to leave when he's still been at his A-game, not a few years down the road when he's been slacking compared to his prime. It sometimes is hard to accept, but man, imagine if Claremont had done that for the X-Men, instead of smelling up his 20 year legacy with trash. Vaughan also feels it's best for the book, for him to leave on-top in terms of quality and then pass the ball for another, and considering Whedon is expected to at least double sales for this book by namepower alone, that may bare fruit. But while Vaughan seems to feel as if Whedon is going to easily outshine him, to me his shoes on this franchise will perhaps always be too large to fill. Whedon at his best is going to have to break a sweat to keep RUNAWAYS as hotly anticipated a book it has been to me under BKV. And naturally Alphona's quirky art and designs will be missed.

Naturally, though, BKV & Alphona have 2 more issues left and they're setting up the book for a bang, keeping the storyline tense and the fans guessing. Initially leading all sorts of speculation about "Chase turning evil", it stands revealed that he's simply become self-destructive and desperate for Gert after her death; he wants to sacrifice HIMSELF to the Gibborum, and wants to "save" Nico too by removing her Staff of One, which he claims is "evil" (as it was an artifact from her wicked parents, he may not be off; he's used it before and it seems to be a trial using spells from it). He also provides her with some "shutdown" codes for Victor from the Abstract, which seem to be for emergency only...but it has to provide a helluva bargaining chip to give a teenage girl the power to literally shut down her boyfriend (Chase "pulls a Kirk" and confuses Vic's programming, crossing his "super-faith" with "super-logic"). BVK also throws in an abscure sitcom reference by having Chase call Victor "Small Wonder" (that was an 80's sitcom in which a family has a daughter that's a robot). Xavin also takes on Nico's form to try to please Karolina before revealing he "doesn't know who he is", and Molly continues to mourn Gert, before mysteriously "hearing her voice" (or A voice) in her head that leads her to gather the others. And so the team assembles to basically stop Chase from killing himself for the Gibborum, and even Old Lace wants to help by leaving a "marker trail" for Xavin to follow. But I wonder, is it a coincidence that all the kids lately have dreamt of their parents? Does Molly "hearing Gert" mean perhaps her powers are psionic as her parents' were and she is developing some weird sort of telepathy or intiution (Johnny Gallo, Ricochet, had a mutant power that warned him of danger). Or is Gert actually a ghost? BKV also has the kids finally get seen leaving the Tar Pit, which sets up a life of them on the road for Whedon's arc, presumably starting in April. The third and final issue may be a showdown with the Gibborum where, once again, we have no clue who might actually bite it and what does happen, as Vaughan sometimes likes throwing us. He's gone back and forth with Chase with revealing a "darker past" and now revealing that Chase merely "imagined" and internalized bad things about himself to justify his parent's abuse, which is psychologically possible. The last issue of BKV's launch certainly has more anticipation than the book has had in years (despite being a looked-forward-too fave of mine) and it has me buzzing.

Whedon may be the best A-list choice, especially as he is a professed fan of the franchise, but he definately is going to have big shoes to fill no matter what he wrote in the past. RUNAWAYS #24 can't ship fast enough, exactly as it should be.
Click to expand...
 
It won't be the same, but I'd like to give the man the benefit of the doubt about quality before I cast my vote.
 
That is my fear too. RUNAWAYS for this last volume for the past 2 years has been my "rock" title, with only the more sporatically shipping YOUNG AVENGERS able to match it. A title I could always count on for a good cast, good stories, and good art (as well as a regular shipping schedule). Whedon, hype aside, has a huge shadow to overcome. Any writer coming onto a book after the creator's spent over 3 years launching it is in for a tough ride, and Whedon's a mixed bag at times. He'll have to "justify" himself to the fanbase although he'll be bolstered by new fans coming in for his namepower, which could match or outnumber the 25,000 or so regular Runaway readers BKV built. Even if he unleases his A-Game, Whedon will have his work cut out for him.

It's great that he's a fan of the franchise and is supposedly better with the continuity of it off the top of his head than BKV is (according to a WIZARD article, BKV admits he needs post-it notes to recall the Runaways' names). Surely Whedon can match their snarky wit. But it'll be the pace, the plots and whichever Runaway he inevitably kills off that will be the problem. ASTONISHING is struggling with some mediocre plots and slow as snail pacing. Even at that it's readable, just underwhelming as the #1 selling X-book.

Vaughan will be missed. He sells himself short, being humble (sometimes a rarity from comic writers; Bendis hasn't been humble since 2001).
 
THis is the first time i have marked in a calendar when a comic book comes out! I have to know what happens to Chase if he dies!!!! I think i would stop reading it:csad:
 
I'd still read it. I'd even give up all comics if Gert comes back, but it won't happen.:(
 
I gotta admit something, I've dropped RunAways 3 issues ago. I'm debating if I should pick it back up when Whedon takes over.
 
I'll give his first issue a try. This book is still good, it's just no longer doing anything for me. I'm starting to think I was in love with Gert.:eek: I have a thing for fat girls.:csad:
 
I still like runaways, its still a new and exciting idea, But they need to spice up the "Roster" alittle, and whats up with Chase anyway?
 
I guess I'll give Whedon a try for sure, I'm just losing interest in RunAways. The one thing that's lessened my enjoyment of the series overall is BKV's need to be so seperate from the rest of the Marvel U.


Plus I'm just not that excited about the prospect of yet another RWY dying.
 
I'm not keen on the fear of another RUNAWAY dying, although to be fair, at least these are his own creations and no end of books, including many CW ones, use the "guess who dies" mantra to death.

I've remained intereted in Runaways throughout. Whedon's the one who has to prove himself. ;)
 
Hey whedon created Buffy the vampie slayer and Angel [the superior show], I already know he can write runaways. The question is will the fans like his run?
 
I have no fears on Whedon's ability to write teens, it's his volume of work will it come out on time and his 'tired' (In my opinion) Buffy like heroines. Kitty Pryde is pretty much Buffy-lite in AXM.
 
I feel that Whedon is possibly the most overrated writer of all time, next to Tolkien.
 
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