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Runaways (2003-2009) (Collected Editions)
Runaways, Vol. 1: Pride & Joy
All young people believe their parents are evil ... but what if they really are? Meet Alex, Karolina, Gert, Chase, Molly and Nico - whose lives are about to take an unexpected turn. When these six young friends discover their parents are all secretly super-powered villains, the shocked teens find strength in one another. Together, they run away from home and straight into the adventure of their lives - vowing to turn the tables on their evil legacy.
144 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2006
142 people are currently reading
20784 people want to read
About the author
Brian K. Vaughan
1,056 books14k followersBrian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site www.PanelSyndicate.com
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,113 reviews
January 25, 2018
I read Pride and Joy as part of a larger volume years ago, but what with my daughter wanting me to watch the tv show with her, I thought it was probably time to dust off the cobwebs and do a re-read.
And, hey! This was still a cool story.
The basic premise is that these kids discover their parents are supervillains when they stumble onto them ritualistically killing a young woman at their annual house party.
They freak out and go on the run (<--because they're runaways! ) together, trying to figure out who and what their parents are - while also discovering that they may not be as mundane as they had always believed.
The tone is very anti-adult which I found slightly annoying (because I'm a totally cool and awesome adult), but considering this is a TEEN comic...?
Eh. Whatcha gonna do?
I thought most adults were retarded and evil when I was a teenager, so I can't in good conscience complain too much.
If you haven't checked this title out yet, now is as good a time as any.
And, hey! This was still a cool story.
The basic premise is that these kids discover their parents are supervillains when they stumble onto them ritualistically killing a young woman at their annual house party.
They freak out and go on the run (<--because they're runaways! ) together, trying to figure out who and what their parents are - while also discovering that they may not be as mundane as they had always believed.
The tone is very anti-adult which I found slightly annoying (because I'm a totally cool and awesome adult), but considering this is a TEEN comic...?
Eh. Whatcha gonna do?
I thought most adults were retarded and evil when I was a teenager, so I can't in good conscience complain too much.
If you haven't checked this title out yet, now is as good a time as any.
August 15, 2023
When I first read this, I thought it was one of the best Marvel books of all-time, a decade later I realise it was the innovative storyline and artwork that was so different at the time it astounded me. The tale of an eclectic group of five youngsters witnessing a murder, and finding out that there parents are crime lords! Still an innovative idea, but there's a fair few plot holes and artistic licence around, still mightily departs from the mainstays of the Marvel Universe. 7 out of 12, Three Star read.
2020 and 2010 read
2020 and 2010 read
August 1, 2016
“What If They’re Not Good Guys?”
Deuteronomy 5:16
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged...”
Reverence for parental figures has traditionally been held up as an untouchable virtue in superhero comics, with heroes like the Batman and Spider-Man devoting their entire lives to the memory of their guardians. But what if those guardians don’t actually deserve all that reverence? What if they were never as benevolent as we were brought up to believe? Looking at the current economic and environmental state of the world, today’s youth may well raise the question: Have our parents secretly been the bad guys all along?
When the six teenage protagonists of Runaways are forced to spend a few hours together during their parents’ annual charitable get-together, they are shocked to discover that the so-called charity work is merely cover-up for a criminal, downright evil organization called “The Pride,” and that their parents are, in plain fact, super-villains. The kind of super-villains, as it turns out, who don’t even shy away from taking out their own children in order to protect their sinister and very profitable secret society...
It’s a great premise that, sadly, becomes more relevant by the minute (even if Donald Trump should not be elected on November 8th), dressed up as genre fare but executed with skill, spunk, charm and wit. Lots of it! Seriously, superhero comics don't get much better than this. If you have not read Runaways, do yourself a favor and check it out... pronto! And then let’s all step up to the plate and help those teenagers fight the bad guys!
Deuteronomy 5:16
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged...”
Reverence for parental figures has traditionally been held up as an untouchable virtue in superhero comics, with heroes like the Batman and Spider-Man devoting their entire lives to the memory of their guardians. But what if those guardians don’t actually deserve all that reverence? What if they were never as benevolent as we were brought up to believe? Looking at the current economic and environmental state of the world, today’s youth may well raise the question: Have our parents secretly been the bad guys all along?
When the six teenage protagonists of Runaways are forced to spend a few hours together during their parents’ annual charitable get-together, they are shocked to discover that the so-called charity work is merely cover-up for a criminal, downright evil organization called “The Pride,” and that their parents are, in plain fact, super-villains. The kind of super-villains, as it turns out, who don’t even shy away from taking out their own children in order to protect their sinister and very profitable secret society...
It’s a great premise that, sadly, becomes more relevant by the minute (even if Donald Trump should not be elected on November 8th), dressed up as genre fare but executed with skill, spunk, charm and wit. Lots of it! Seriously, superhero comics don't get much better than this. If you have not read Runaways, do yourself a favor and check it out... pronto! And then let’s all step up to the plate and help those teenagers fight the bad guys!
August 3, 2020
I went into this expecting a bunch of whiny, morose teens with so much angst that they felt their only recourse would be to runaway. I couldn't have been more wrong. This felt new and fresh, at least as fresh as you can be in this particular genre, and the plot twists were great. The characters were diverse with distinct personalities. The art was charming and beautifully colored. I genuinely was not expecting much and I ended up loving every second of it. So if you're bored with the average comic book, and want to read something noteworthy, give this one a go. Let me know how you like it. :)
March 11, 2015
Mums and dads play a major role in superhero stories. Frequently they are the hero’s main motivation for becoming the superhero in the first place: Bruce Wayne’s parents were shot dead, Kal-El’s parents’ last act was to send him to Earth where he became Superman, Peter Parker’s father figure Uncle Ben was killed by a mugger, Hal Jordan’s dad died in a plane crash, Odin gave Thor his powers by forging Mjolnir, Charles Xavier shepherded untold numbers of young mutants to realise their full potential, and so on.
Brian K Vaughan’s Runaways are similar in that the characters are made into superheroes through their parents - except they’re forced to step up and make that choice because their parents are supervillains trying to kill them!
Alex, Gertrude, Karolina, Chase, Molly and Nico are the teenage offspring of well-to-do Californian philanthropists. When their parents gather to decide which charities to patronise for the following year, the bored kids decide to spy on the dull grown-ups - and then discover that their parents are secretly supervillains in a group called The Pride! The murder of an innocent at the hands of their mums and dads makes up their minds for them - they have to run away, or they could be next!
I’m a big Brian K Vaughan fan so I’m not sure how it’s taken me this long to get around to this series but I’m glad I did because Runaways is terrific! Like Joss Whedon, Vaughan’s speciality is self-aware drama with the right amount of levity, as well as writing superb dialogue for convincing young characters. There’s not a single member of the group that doesn’t feel like a real teenager or unlikeable in any strong way. They’re charming and obnoxious, wise-ish but still kinda dumb, vulnerable, idealistic and guileless, thoughtless, fearful and brave - they’re teenagers.
Runaways’ concept is still remarkably fresh so that even in 2015 this comic from 2003 reads really well. It’s also Marvel in name only with a handful of pages at the start and the occasional reference tossed in denoting this is set in the Marvel Universe. I’m convinced if Vaughan were to write this today, he’d publish it via Image as his own independent superhero comic and it’d still work as perfectly.
The only giveaway that this is from several years ago is Adrian Alphona’s art. I’m a fan of the guy’s work from his recent run on G. Willow Wilson’s Ms Marvel so it’s surprising to see how different it looks here. It’s not as stylised or unique, not as eye-catching - it’s fine, it’s just a bit bland and generic, so much so that if I hadn’t seen his name on the cover, I would never have guessed he drew this book.
That and Vaughan’s occasionally too cool for school dialogue (Nico yawns, Gertrude points and deadpans: “What she said”) are the only critiques I’ll say about this book, but they’re minor quibbles really.
Runaways is brilliant. I wasn’t expecting it to grab me like it did but I was really drawn into the story with its unpredictable twists and turns and I loved getting to know this completely new set of characters. In fact the unpredictability comes from not knowing the characters and what they can do, so the two go hand in hand.
It’s definitely my favourite of all Vaughan’s work for hire Marvel stuff, maybe because it doesn’t feel like a Marvel comic or that it tries something a little different and succeeds. I think if you liked Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s Young Avengers, you’ll get a lot out of Vaughan and Alphona’s Runaways, though even readers who don’t especially like superhero comics might find themselves turned by this one. Good job, guys!
Brian K Vaughan’s Runaways are similar in that the characters are made into superheroes through their parents - except they’re forced to step up and make that choice because their parents are supervillains trying to kill them!
Alex, Gertrude, Karolina, Chase, Molly and Nico are the teenage offspring of well-to-do Californian philanthropists. When their parents gather to decide which charities to patronise for the following year, the bored kids decide to spy on the dull grown-ups - and then discover that their parents are secretly supervillains in a group called The Pride! The murder of an innocent at the hands of their mums and dads makes up their minds for them - they have to run away, or they could be next!
I’m a big Brian K Vaughan fan so I’m not sure how it’s taken me this long to get around to this series but I’m glad I did because Runaways is terrific! Like Joss Whedon, Vaughan’s speciality is self-aware drama with the right amount of levity, as well as writing superb dialogue for convincing young characters. There’s not a single member of the group that doesn’t feel like a real teenager or unlikeable in any strong way. They’re charming and obnoxious, wise-ish but still kinda dumb, vulnerable, idealistic and guileless, thoughtless, fearful and brave - they’re teenagers.
Runaways’ concept is still remarkably fresh so that even in 2015 this comic from 2003 reads really well. It’s also Marvel in name only with a handful of pages at the start and the occasional reference tossed in denoting this is set in the Marvel Universe. I’m convinced if Vaughan were to write this today, he’d publish it via Image as his own independent superhero comic and it’d still work as perfectly.
The only giveaway that this is from several years ago is Adrian Alphona’s art. I’m a fan of the guy’s work from his recent run on G. Willow Wilson’s Ms Marvel so it’s surprising to see how different it looks here. It’s not as stylised or unique, not as eye-catching - it’s fine, it’s just a bit bland and generic, so much so that if I hadn’t seen his name on the cover, I would never have guessed he drew this book.
That and Vaughan’s occasionally too cool for school dialogue (Nico yawns, Gertrude points and deadpans: “What she said”) are the only critiques I’ll say about this book, but they’re minor quibbles really.
Runaways is brilliant. I wasn’t expecting it to grab me like it did but I was really drawn into the story with its unpredictable twists and turns and I loved getting to know this completely new set of characters. In fact the unpredictability comes from not knowing the characters and what they can do, so the two go hand in hand.
It’s definitely my favourite of all Vaughan’s work for hire Marvel stuff, maybe because it doesn’t feel like a Marvel comic or that it tries something a little different and succeeds. I think if you liked Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s Young Avengers, you’ll get a lot out of Vaughan and Alphona’s Runaways, though even readers who don’t especially like superhero comics might find themselves turned by this one. Good job, guys!
January 31, 2019
I think every kid has wondered at one time or another if their parents were actually evil. What if your philanthropic parents were in truth ritually sacrificing people in those meetings? That's what happens with the kids in Runaways. The kids of course, freak out and slowly figure out the deal with their parents as they go on the run.
I decided to revisit Runaways with the publication of the Complete Collection line. I'd forgotten how YA this is. This was part of Marvel's Tsunami imprint where the trades were printed in those little collected Manga formats. The art does not look good blown up fullsize. It's very basic and relies too much on poor coloring to fill in the gaps. Each face has around 12 sources of light. It's looks very unnatural. The costume designs for the evil parents are ridiculous looking. They look like Molly's or another 11 year old's idea of cool. Vaughan does a fantastic job of giving each kid their own personality. The story is very Buffy-esque. It's got that same self-aware and irreverent tone I loved in Buffy and Angel.
I decided to revisit Runaways with the publication of the Complete Collection line. I'd forgotten how YA this is. This was part of Marvel's Tsunami imprint where the trades were printed in those little collected Manga formats. The art does not look good blown up fullsize. It's very basic and relies too much on poor coloring to fill in the gaps. Each face has around 12 sources of light. It's looks very unnatural. The costume designs for the evil parents are ridiculous looking. They look like Molly's or another 11 year old's idea of cool. Vaughan does a fantastic job of giving each kid their own personality. The story is very Buffy-esque. It's got that same self-aware and irreverent tone I loved in Buffy and Angel.
April 18, 2018
Original and interesting concept for a comic. I like all of the characters but I’m hoping there will be some character development as the story goes on. The illustrations are quite simple but I like them. I loved the colours used. I’m excited to see where this one goes.
January 10, 2019
First book of 2019!
Re-reading the early days of the Runaways. I had completely forgotten this was originally part of Marvel's short-lived 'Tsunami' range of supposedly manga-inspired titles.
This is a great set-up. The only thing that stops it getting five stars from me is the artwork, which, while perfectly serviceable, stops short of greatness. Knowing how much the artist has improved in the last fifteen years, it'd be cool to get them to redraw these early issues. Or pointless. One of the other.
Re-reading the early days of the Runaways. I had completely forgotten this was originally part of Marvel's short-lived 'Tsunami' range of supposedly manga-inspired titles.
This is a great set-up. The only thing that stops it getting five stars from me is the artwork, which, while perfectly serviceable, stops short of greatness. Knowing how much the artist has improved in the last fifteen years, it'd be cool to get them to redraw these early issues. Or pointless. One of the other.
December 5, 2015
What would you do if you discover that your parents are super villains? And if, after that, you find out that yourself have powers?
That's the premise of this history and let's be real,if you have a tons of teenagers for that plot it can be really awesome or a total disaster. In this case we have a incredible story.
But, what is what make it so good? First, this isn't the typical superheroes comics. Yes, it shows the moment when discover their powers, or abilities or artefacts that let them fight against the evil, but none is alone when happen. Even more, all characters have their own abilities, but that doesn't mean that all have powers or lot of money to transformate themselves in superheroes, in fact in this number they don't want to be one, just want to stop their parents.
As younger people we have romances but, please, don't run away, this romance is credible. First because they know each other since they we're kids. Second because you feel that this group have a friendship, doesn't matter how many differences they have, you believe that they are good friends.
And speaking about the characters...I'm gonna speak about the girls and boy as separate sets. In this number we have two guys, Alex and Chase, the first one is super-smart, the second is super-funny and have a straing artefact to defense; the both have awesome personalities and are lovely in their own way...but i prefer Chase.
The girls...oh Geez, i love these girls. THEY ARE BAD-ASS. They make her own decisions, and if she are leaders is because they want to be. Have power but they think in what they gonna make, accepts help if they need, and give the same help to other, and take "the team" as a family. And don't get me wrong, the boys have the same qualities, but in historically the very few heroines are provide of this kind of personality, so i want to point it.
We have 4 girls, Nicco who is one of the leaders. Karolina, is a alien. Gertrude, like a Daria Morgendorffer with purple hair and a dinosaur as a pet. And Molly, like a little hulk without the green part.
Aparently these guys isn't connected with the rest of Marvel Universe but ww have a lot of winks to other superheroes, and the way that are presented is super funny.
Yeah, basically this isn't a review, is more a fangirl leakage. But if you like comics, good characters and funny and smart histories, you need to read this history, I freaking love it.
That's the premise of this history and let's be real,if you have a tons of teenagers for that plot it can be really awesome or a total disaster. In this case we have a incredible story.
But, what is what make it so good? First, this isn't the typical superheroes comics. Yes, it shows the moment when discover their powers, or abilities or artefacts that let them fight against the evil, but none is alone when happen. Even more, all characters have their own abilities, but that doesn't mean that all have powers or lot of money to transformate themselves in superheroes, in fact in this number they don't want to be one, just want to stop their parents.
As younger people we have romances but, please, don't run away, this romance is credible. First because they know each other since they we're kids. Second because you feel that this group have a friendship, doesn't matter how many differences they have, you believe that they are good friends.
And speaking about the characters...I'm gonna speak about the girls and boy as separate sets. In this number we have two guys, Alex and Chase, the first one is super-smart, the second is super-funny and have a straing artefact to defense; the both have awesome personalities and are lovely in their own way...but i prefer Chase.
The girls...oh Geez, i love these girls. THEY ARE BAD-ASS. They make her own decisions, and if she are leaders is because they want to be. Have power but they think in what they gonna make, accepts help if they need, and give the same help to other, and take "the team" as a family. And don't get me wrong, the boys have the same qualities, but in historically the very few heroines are provide of this kind of personality, so i want to point it.
We have 4 girls, Nicco who is one of the leaders. Karolina, is a alien. Gertrude, like a Daria Morgendorffer with purple hair and a dinosaur as a pet. And Molly, like a little hulk without the green part.
Aparently these guys isn't connected with the rest of Marvel Universe but ww have a lot of winks to other superheroes, and the way that are presented is super funny.
Yeah, basically this isn't a review, is more a fangirl leakage. But if you like comics, good characters and funny and smart histories, you need to read this history, I freaking love it.
February 6, 2022
This was quite different from the usual Marvel stuff we get and wow I loved it!
It starts with Alex Wilder and his friends finding out what their parents do to a young girl and they belong to a group named "The Pride" and that they maybe supervillains and we follow this group as they go to expose their parents for who they are but well they are children and think everyone is innocent but they ain't and thus begins them vs their parents after they find out. Meanwhile Karolina's power kicks in, Gert finds out a dinosaur and Chase some mechanical equipment and when one of their own i.e. Molly's life is threatened, will the group be able to save her and what more secrets and battles they will discover or have to fight for?
Loved this whole thing and its a very new concept in Marvel like I said and that makes it so fun and these are children fighting their super-villain parents and thats cool and all and then the drama and tension it creates is awesome and I love how the children are written, they are innocent and all and the black/white lines is all they see, not the shades of grey and then we follow this team in weird wild aventures and all that and I like how the powers reveal themself and the mystery behind Nico is intriguing. Plus whatever the mission in the end is has me excited to read future volumes!
It starts with Alex Wilder and his friends finding out what their parents do to a young girl and they belong to a group named "The Pride" and that they maybe supervillains and we follow this group as they go to expose their parents for who they are but well they are children and think everyone is innocent but they ain't and thus begins them vs their parents after they find out. Meanwhile Karolina's power kicks in, Gert finds out a dinosaur and Chase some mechanical equipment and when one of their own i.e. Molly's life is threatened, will the group be able to save her and what more secrets and battles they will discover or have to fight for?
Loved this whole thing and its a very new concept in Marvel like I said and that makes it so fun and these are children fighting their super-villain parents and thats cool and all and then the drama and tension it creates is awesome and I love how the children are written, they are innocent and all and the black/white lines is all they see, not the shades of grey and then we follow this team in weird wild aventures and all that and I like how the powers reveal themself and the mystery behind Nico is intriguing. Plus whatever the mission in the end is has me excited to read future volumes!
March 9, 2018
Not for me.
Teen angst fantasy of children vs parents.
-----------------
El otro dia por casualidad vi los primeros capitulos de la serie Marvel Runaways, y recordé que habia visto un review de los comics, asi que decidi ver de que se trataba. Bueno, no me impresionó, para nada. De hecho, la forma en que se enfocó la serie es mucho mejor que la manera en que la trama se presenta, totalmente desenfocada y descontinuada.
La historia en si es 'simpática'. Unos chicos adolescentes y una preadolescente con edades entre los 16 y 11 años se reunen una vez al año cuando sus padres , que a primera vista se ven muy disimilares, se juntan para reunir fondos para caridad. En ningun momento se menciona que los chicos sean amigos, ellos ni siquiera quieren estar ahi, y de aburridos deciden espiar a sus padres y ven algo inesperado que cambia su vida.
El que ellos se asusten es comprensible. El salto de pensamiento que hacen que sus padres van a matarlos... no. Bueno, llamen a la policia, pero muchas cosas que dice Alex en forma acertada acerca de las identidades de sus padres y continuas referencias a un 'ritual' (¿cuál? , no se ve nada en los paneles) cuando no hay ningun razonamiento ni clave ni información me hizo revisar paginas hacia atras pensando que me habia perdido de algo o me faltaban unas páginas... pero no. Es como si sucedieran cosas fuera de escena y que salen de la nada. Ellos no tienen ninguna informacion para saber que son sus padres, ni sus fines, y no piden una explicacion ni se plantean que exista una razon desconocida para ellos.
Esto esta situado en una situacion contemporanea con referencias culturales actuales y por eso me saca de quicio que no piensen en pedir explicaciones o que las cosas no parezcan lo que son.
Ahora el que sus padres un momento digan no va a pasar nada, y que son unos chicos malcriados a fulanita es 'desechable' ...wtf. Ni siquiera unos padres malvados pasan en un segundo de querer un futuro para sus hijos (textual) a 'vamos a apuñalarlos' [a menos que involucre varios obliviate y un sarcofago regenerador ]
---
Alex is so annoying.
_sigh_ Cool pet.
A few nice witty phrases
but... still not for me.
Teen angst fantasy of children vs parents.
-----------------
El otro dia por casualidad vi los primeros capitulos de la serie Marvel Runaways, y recordé que habia visto un review de los comics, asi que decidi ver de que se trataba. Bueno, no me impresionó, para nada. De hecho, la forma en que se enfocó la serie es mucho mejor que la manera en que la trama se presenta, totalmente desenfocada y descontinuada.
La historia en si es 'simpática'. Unos chicos adolescentes y una preadolescente con edades entre los 16 y 11 años se reunen una vez al año cuando sus padres , que a primera vista se ven muy disimilares, se juntan para reunir fondos para caridad. En ningun momento se menciona que los chicos sean amigos, ellos ni siquiera quieren estar ahi, y de aburridos deciden espiar a sus padres y ven algo inesperado que cambia su vida.
El que ellos se asusten es comprensible. El salto de pensamiento que hacen que sus padres van a matarlos... no. Bueno, llamen a la policia, pero muchas cosas que dice Alex en forma acertada acerca de las identidades de sus padres y continuas referencias a un 'ritual' (¿cuál? , no se ve nada en los paneles) cuando no hay ningun razonamiento ni clave ni información me hizo revisar paginas hacia atras pensando que me habia perdido de algo o me faltaban unas páginas... pero no. Es como si sucedieran cosas fuera de escena y que salen de la nada. Ellos no tienen ninguna informacion para saber que son sus padres, ni sus fines, y no piden una explicacion ni se plantean que exista una razon desconocida para ellos.
Esto esta situado en una situacion contemporanea con referencias culturales actuales y por eso me saca de quicio que no piensen en pedir explicaciones o que las cosas no parezcan lo que son.
Ahora el que sus padres un momento digan no va a pasar nada, y que son unos chicos malcriados a fulanita es 'desechable' ...wtf. Ni siquiera unos padres malvados pasan en un segundo de querer un futuro para sus hijos (textual) a 'vamos a apuñalarlos' [a menos que involucre varios obliviate y un sarcofago regenerador ]
---
Alex is so annoying.
_sigh_ Cool pet.
A few nice witty phrases
but... still not for me.
October 13, 2019
Decent, pretty fast opener to the series. I'm already pretty familiar thanks to the tv show by the same name.
I still think the premise is strong. Kids of a bunch of supervillains run away, emancipating themselves from their dark, evil families. :)
I still think the premise is strong. Kids of a bunch of supervillains run away, emancipating themselves from their dark, evil families. :)
July 10, 2020
2020
I read this a few years back, but wasn't that take in by it. It fell a bit flat in comparisons with Saga (which I was also reading at the time).
But the story kept hunting me... I really needed to know if these kids ever got to the bottom of what their parents were up to.
So I decided to re-read it and then jump straight into the next volume to see if it will grab me this time around.
I'm still not a fan of the art. This is a major info dump and I feel a bit overwhelmed in putting kids and parents together. But I'm going to stick to reading at least the next two volumes and only after that decide if I'm giving it up for good.
2017
Somehow I expected more.
Even being a very original story, the characters is too one dimensional and boring.
The art is very basic with no WOW factor.
So I'm a bit disappointed.
Should I keep reading?
I read this a few years back, but wasn't that take in by it. It fell a bit flat in comparisons with Saga (which I was also reading at the time).
But the story kept hunting me... I really needed to know if these kids ever got to the bottom of what their parents were up to.
So I decided to re-read it and then jump straight into the next volume to see if it will grab me this time around.
I'm still not a fan of the art. This is a major info dump and I feel a bit overwhelmed in putting kids and parents together. But I'm going to stick to reading at least the next two volumes and only after that decide if I'm giving it up for good.
2017
Somehow I expected more.
Even being a very original story, the characters is too one dimensional and boring.
The art is very basic with no WOW factor.
So I'm a bit disappointed.
Should I keep reading?
July 22, 2017
Hey Book Peeps
So this graphic novel was in a Booktuber's TBR list and once it was described to have X-men vibes I was sold. I decided to grab it from the library and give it a go and I am so glad that I did. I really enjoyed the storyline even though it is part mystery. There is a lot of info kind of thrown at you but its never more than you can handle and it is just enough to keep you coming back for more.
All the runaway characters were fantastic. They all had distinct personalities and back stories that didn't make them fade into the background of the crazy plot. I also liked that the parents got air time in this graphic novel and they were not just side characters. They were active participants in this storyline and even though I am confused on what their overall intentions are in this book, I think that they added a different element that you just don't see everyday in coming of age superhero graphic novels. Well at least in my opinion:)
I think if you want a light read about superheroes then I think this will be it. I had a lot of fun and I can't wait to start volume 2.
Happy Reading
Jo
So this graphic novel was in a Booktuber's TBR list and once it was described to have X-men vibes I was sold. I decided to grab it from the library and give it a go and I am so glad that I did. I really enjoyed the storyline even though it is part mystery. There is a lot of info kind of thrown at you but its never more than you can handle and it is just enough to keep you coming back for more.
All the runaway characters were fantastic. They all had distinct personalities and back stories that didn't make them fade into the background of the crazy plot. I also liked that the parents got air time in this graphic novel and they were not just side characters. They were active participants in this storyline and even though I am confused on what their overall intentions are in this book, I think that they added a different element that you just don't see everyday in coming of age superhero graphic novels. Well at least in my opinion:)
I think if you want a light read about superheroes then I think this will be it. I had a lot of fun and I can't wait to start volume 2.
Happy Reading
Jo
May 2, 2018
How old is James Masters in the TV show adaptation from this cómic. Since 2002 when I fall in love with him for being Spike in Buffy.
December 20, 2019
My wife and I just purchased Disney Plus, ostensibly for the kid, but we’ve been spending more time watching stuff than the six-year-old. We’ve already binge-watched the first seven episodes of “The Mandalorian”, which is as awesome as the hype made it out to be, and so now we’re just skimming and surfing. I recently came across a Marvel TV series that I had never heard of, and my wife and I had just settled down to check out the first episode. Before we knew it, we were hooked, binge-watching six or seven episodes in two days.
The show is called “Runaways”, and it is based on a long-running Marvel comic book series of the same name. I had never heard of it prior to watching the show, but it intrigued me because Brian K. Vaughan had his name attached to it as the writer. Vaughan is the writer behind two excellent comic book series that I love: “Y: The Last Man” and “Saga”. He was also a co-writer for the TV show “Lost”, which I also loved.
I devoured the first volume of “Runaways”, titled “Pride and Joy”, in a sitting. It collected the first six issues of the series, written by Vaughan and drawn by Adrian Alphona. (This may show my age, but I didn’t like that the book was published in “digest” format, which is roughly the size of those manga magazines. The print is too damn small, especially for 47-year-old eyes. Anyway, that’s my grumpy-old-man comment for the day...)
The plot: a disparate group of high school students who all happen to have grown up with each other and consider each other friends inadvertently discover that their parents are a group of super-villains. They witness their parents kill someone in a secret ritual, and they then struggle to figure out how to report it to the authorities while dealing with the fact that it is their parents. They also begin to realize that each of them has their own super-power.
Overall, I was impressed by how the producers of the TV show adapted the comic book so closely, with a few minor changes.
Actually, the changes weren’t so minor, but they were, in my opinion, improvements.
The first major difference is that the TV show eliminates any subtle or not-so-subtle connections with the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). The comic book series clearly grounds the story in a world in which superheroes exist. The Avengers are real, but they live all the way in New York. (The story is set in California.)
By eliminating references to the MCU, the show is grounded in a reality that more resembles our own. It helps to make the revelations by the kids of their parents’ evil actions and their own superpowers that much more intense and believable. The parents in the show don’t wear super-villain costumes, and the kids don’t spend an entire day coming up with superhero names for themselves. The truth is, the TV show could still be a part of the MCU, it just doesn’t seem relevant or necessary to the plot.
Another major difference is that, while the parents are clearly doing horrible things, they don’t come across as absolutely horrible people. They still love their children, and they rationalize their actions by believing that they are making a better life for their kids. On the same token, the kids are truly conflicted about going to the authorities, because they still love their parents, despite the horrible things that they now know about them. This adds an element of realism and believability to the show that seems absent from, or at least watered-down in, the comic books.
I’m still enjoying the comics, because I realize that what works in comic books doesn’t always translate well to TV or movies. I think the producers realized that and made a choice, one that I think works well.
My wife and I are looking forward to watching season 2 someday (as soon as Disney and Hulu can come to some sort of contractual agreement), but in the meantime, there are about ten more volumes of “Runaways” to read. I just wish they had them in large print.
The show is called “Runaways”, and it is based on a long-running Marvel comic book series of the same name. I had never heard of it prior to watching the show, but it intrigued me because Brian K. Vaughan had his name attached to it as the writer. Vaughan is the writer behind two excellent comic book series that I love: “Y: The Last Man” and “Saga”. He was also a co-writer for the TV show “Lost”, which I also loved.
I devoured the first volume of “Runaways”, titled “Pride and Joy”, in a sitting. It collected the first six issues of the series, written by Vaughan and drawn by Adrian Alphona. (This may show my age, but I didn’t like that the book was published in “digest” format, which is roughly the size of those manga magazines. The print is too damn small, especially for 47-year-old eyes. Anyway, that’s my grumpy-old-man comment for the day...)
The plot: a disparate group of high school students who all happen to have grown up with each other and consider each other friends inadvertently discover that their parents are a group of super-villains. They witness their parents kill someone in a secret ritual, and they then struggle to figure out how to report it to the authorities while dealing with the fact that it is their parents. They also begin to realize that each of them has their own super-power.
Overall, I was impressed by how the producers of the TV show adapted the comic book so closely, with a few minor changes.
Actually, the changes weren’t so minor, but they were, in my opinion, improvements.
The first major difference is that the TV show eliminates any subtle or not-so-subtle connections with the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). The comic book series clearly grounds the story in a world in which superheroes exist. The Avengers are real, but they live all the way in New York. (The story is set in California.)
By eliminating references to the MCU, the show is grounded in a reality that more resembles our own. It helps to make the revelations by the kids of their parents’ evil actions and their own superpowers that much more intense and believable. The parents in the show don’t wear super-villain costumes, and the kids don’t spend an entire day coming up with superhero names for themselves. The truth is, the TV show could still be a part of the MCU, it just doesn’t seem relevant or necessary to the plot.
Another major difference is that, while the parents are clearly doing horrible things, they don’t come across as absolutely horrible people. They still love their children, and they rationalize their actions by believing that they are making a better life for their kids. On the same token, the kids are truly conflicted about going to the authorities, because they still love their parents, despite the horrible things that they now know about them. This adds an element of realism and believability to the show that seems absent from, or at least watered-down in, the comic books.
I’m still enjoying the comics, because I realize that what works in comic books doesn’t always translate well to TV or movies. I think the producers realized that and made a choice, one that I think works well.
My wife and I are looking forward to watching season 2 someday (as soon as Disney and Hulu can come to some sort of contractual agreement), but in the meantime, there are about ten more volumes of “Runaways” to read. I just wish they had them in large print.
March 11, 2017
This is pretty cool! It really is. The title accurately shows you what this is about.
WHAT IT IS ABOUT?
Runaways is about a group of teenagers who witnessed something they shouldn't have, and now, they are on the run.
I don't want to spoil anything for you guys so I won't go into too much details about the plot.
MY THOUGHTS
- This story was about teenagers who acted like teenagers. I loved that they didn't act like they were older than they are. They made stupid, irrational decisions, like most teens their age would. I, normally, would dislike teenage characters being made to think like an adult to make the character more likeable, which isn't always true. The more grounded or realistic the characters are, the better readers would emphatize and relate to them, the better liked these characters would be.
- I liked the relationship these teens had with their parents... at first... way before all the crazy stuff happened. Haha. I won't get into any further details than that. The reaction of these parents to the things their kids do, were gold! It was so funny how much I related to it.
- I liked the vibrant colors and illustrations.
- There was a plot twist here that, while I liked it, was a bit problematic for me. If one thing was done by one party, all this misunderstanding (or is it?) could have been avoided.
- I had a bit of a problem with the pacing. There were slower parts where I want more things to happened, then there were faster parts, which I enjoyed more.
- It was a bit predictable. The plot twist was something I have smelt way before the thing was revealed.
- The characters (talking about the teenagers here) had their own distinct personality.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I found myself enjoying this quite a bit. I am familiar with Brian K. Vaughan's other work (Saga) which I actually really liked, so I was a bit confident that I was going to like this one too. The concept was simple, really, but I liked how it was exectuted. Aside from the problem I had with one story element, I really liked this.
WHAT IT IS ABOUT?
Runaways is about a group of teenagers who witnessed something they shouldn't have, and now, they are on the run.
I don't want to spoil anything for you guys so I won't go into too much details about the plot.
MY THOUGHTS
- This story was about teenagers who acted like teenagers. I loved that they didn't act like they were older than they are. They made stupid, irrational decisions, like most teens their age would. I, normally, would dislike teenage characters being made to think like an adult to make the character more likeable, which isn't always true. The more grounded or realistic the characters are, the better readers would emphatize and relate to them, the better liked these characters would be.
- I liked the relationship these teens had with their parents... at first... way before all the crazy stuff happened. Haha. I won't get into any further details than that. The reaction of these parents to the things their kids do, were gold! It was so funny how much I related to it.
- I liked the vibrant colors and illustrations.
- There was a plot twist here that, while I liked it, was a bit problematic for me. If one thing was done by one party, all this misunderstanding (or is it?) could have been avoided.
- I had a bit of a problem with the pacing. There were slower parts where I want more things to happened, then there were faster parts, which I enjoyed more.
- It was a bit predictable. The plot twist was something I have smelt way before the thing was revealed.
- The characters (talking about the teenagers here) had their own distinct personality.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I found myself enjoying this quite a bit. I am familiar with Brian K. Vaughan's other work (Saga) which I actually really liked, so I was a bit confident that I was going to like this one too. The concept was simple, really, but I liked how it was exectuted. Aside from the problem I had with one story element, I really liked this.
February 28, 2013
A fun read, but so far really preoccupied with setting up the plot. At the very end of the first book, we've just gotten to the premise of the series: a group of teenagers discover that their parents are actually powerful supervillains and go on the run. This time, I don't actually mind that it took so long to get the plot running, because the setup is necessary and because we need an introduction to what's actually a pretty big cast of characters. The teens are likeable enough that I want to keep reading about them, and I'm interested to see where this is going. I do like that we don't get all of the answers about their parents, or about what the kids themselves are capable of, right away.
One thing that does bother me is how Vaughan writes Molly, the youngest in the group. She's eleven, but acts way, way younger, more like a seven year old would act. I suspect that Vaughan is doing this purely because he thinks it's funny (she's naive! it's hilarious! sigh). Her parents do seem to infantilize her to a slightly creepy degree, but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to read it as such or if I'm just supposed to think of them as protective parents.
One thing that does bother me is how Vaughan writes Molly, the youngest in the group. She's eleven, but acts way, way younger, more like a seven year old would act. I suspect that Vaughan is doing this purely because he thinks it's funny (she's naive! it's hilarious! sigh). Her parents do seem to infantilize her to a slightly creepy degree, but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to read it as such or if I'm just supposed to think of them as protective parents.
April 13, 2017
Geweldige verhaallijn, prettig geschreven en goede graphics! Snel verder in vol. 2 ♡
February 16, 2016
Brian Vaughn and Joss Wheedon are two of the best sci-fi/fantasy writers alive and it is great they are also gn writers. They are similar in that they are witty, sometimes downright hilarious, they are pop culture and sci-fi/fantasy scholars, they read everything and anything... and they are very smart. For instance, Vaughn goes from references to the Who to Twister the Avengers to technology to romance... everything, and he knows how to tell a story...
October 10, 2014
Bullet Reviews:
I've now got a fangirl crush on Brian K. Vaughan. What an amazing writer! Who hasn't imagined he or she was on the run from the parents? I love how this book takes one of my favorite plot devices - being on the run - and combines it with a great, diverse cast of likeable characters.
I'm going to get poor from all the amazing comic book series I keep finding!
I've now got a fangirl crush on Brian K. Vaughan. What an amazing writer! Who hasn't imagined he or she was on the run from the parents? I love how this book takes one of my favorite plot devices - being on the run - and combines it with a great, diverse cast of likeable characters.
I'm going to get poor from all the amazing comic book series I keep finding!
October 15, 2014
I read this book years ago - probably when it was still an active series in its early, obsessive days of new wild-eyed fans who couldn't believe comics could be this good.
At the time I thought it was a little juvenile for my tastes - who would I be kidding, a grown man reading a comic about a group of teenagers? So I think I put it away and tried to forget how skeezy I felt, and returned to stuff that was a little more age-appropriate (or at least didn't make me think of how many perverts drooled over the teenaged girls in this book). Weird thoughts, but almost certainly among those in my head at the time (along with "Why did I move to this rain-infested town?" and "When will Americans finally figure out how to write an unambiguous date?").
Now I'm re-reading this book because my partner Sara (of SaraAndMikeOnComics) is going to try this book soon, and I wanted to have something to contribute to the podcast episode beyond "Hey, isn't it crazy how they're kids of supervillains!" Now that I've re-introduced myself to these kids, I think I understand why I felt ashamed of how much I liked these kids: it's the dialogue, stoopid.
As is Vaughan's signature move, he infuses the dialogue between characters with the sharp edge of real-sounding people who are thrust together but don't quite like each other enough to hide their conflicting opinions from each other. They're individuals with different speech patterns, specific desires and interests, and wildly different approaches to solving problems.
So when a group of kids who see each other every year or so discover (not all at once) that their parents aren't quite the squares they thought they were (and are actually killing and scheming their ways against the good guys, it's not like they know what to do or even agree on what they should try to do. There's arguing, bad ideas, disbelief and stubborn refusal.
How these kids get into trouble, and the frankly implausible scenarios that keep them one step ahead of getting stomped, is a pretty wild ride. Vaughan doesn't let up long enough for us to try to figure out the next move before he throws the next curve ball.
Nice job with the twist there Mr. V, way to up the tension and blow all sorts of holes in how predictably this might play out.
Check out all of the shallow reviews at
At the time I thought it was a little juvenile for my tastes - who would I be kidding, a grown man reading a comic about a group of teenagers? So I think I put it away and tried to forget how skeezy I felt, and returned to stuff that was a little more age-appropriate (or at least didn't make me think of how many perverts drooled over the teenaged girls in this book). Weird thoughts, but almost certainly among those in my head at the time (along with "Why did I move to this rain-infested town?" and "When will Americans finally figure out how to write an unambiguous date?").
Now I'm re-reading this book because my partner Sara (of SaraAndMikeOnComics) is going to try this book soon, and I wanted to have something to contribute to the podcast episode beyond "Hey, isn't it crazy how they're kids of supervillains!" Now that I've re-introduced myself to these kids, I think I understand why I felt ashamed of how much I liked these kids: it's the dialogue, stoopid.
As is Vaughan's signature move, he infuses the dialogue between characters with the sharp edge of real-sounding people who are thrust together but don't quite like each other enough to hide their conflicting opinions from each other. They're individuals with different speech patterns, specific desires and interests, and wildly different approaches to solving problems.
So when a group of kids who see each other every year or so discover (not all at once) that their parents aren't quite the squares they thought they were (and are actually killing and scheming their ways against the good guys, it's not like they know what to do or even agree on what they should try to do. There's arguing, bad ideas, disbelief and stubborn refusal.
How these kids get into trouble, and the frankly implausible scenarios that keep them one step ahead of getting stomped, is a pretty wild ride. Vaughan doesn't let up long enough for us to try to figure out the next move before he throws the next curve ball.
Nice job with the twist there Mr. V, way to up the tension and blow all sorts of holes in how predictably this might play out.
Check out all of the shallow reviews at
February 5, 2019
Introduction to the runaways, and their parents the Pride. I liked this collection of stories better than the ones that followed. I know I should have read this first, but it didn't work out that way. I was a bit confused during some parts because it almost seemed like the kids were misunderstanding what the parents were doing, but then, in the end, it was that they were villains. SO I dunno how they made it seem like they were not in the beginning.
June 16, 2015
Very nice story (very Vaughan-y), but I don't like the artwork. It's not offensive to the eye, but it just isn't good. I think the book lost some of it's charm because of how uninspired the art is.
Still, the writing and the plot is good enough to continue reading.
Still, the writing and the plot is good enough to continue reading.
April 10, 2019
The prodigal children have returned.
Alex Wilder leads his group of friends away from their parents after witnessing the death of a teenager...
https://media.giphy.com/media/5nqw7hC...
August 1, 2022
An interesting take on the superhero genre. Too bad the next installment is out of print!
Full review to come
Full review to come
July 31, 2023
What would you do if you and your Teenage friends discovered your parents were human sacrificing Super Vilains?
Things kick off at a brisk pace. Quickly they discover they have powers/abilities and have to go on the run.
Well plotted for sure, note Brian K. Vaughn.
Really enjoyed the character designs, and though the art is simplified by today's standards I began to enjoy the clean look.
Most of the media/ pop culture references are going to fall flat unless you are 35+ years of age. Always a pitfall to consider when a book starts to age.
Overall this was a good time and I've been wanting to read it since I saw it on the shelves way back when.
Things kick off at a brisk pace. Quickly they discover they have powers/abilities and have to go on the run.
Well plotted for sure, note Brian K. Vaughn.
Really enjoyed the character designs, and though the art is simplified by today's standards I began to enjoy the clean look.
Most of the media/ pop culture references are going to fall flat unless you are 35+ years of age. Always a pitfall to consider when a book starts to age.
Overall this was a good time and I've been wanting to read it since I saw it on the shelves way back when.
December 7, 2017
UGH! Why did I wait so long to read this awesome teen comic! All the characters are fantastic and the setup/plot is awesome. Kids versus their parents, what an interesting dynamic. LOVE IT! Must read!
August 15, 2013
3.5 stars
This was pure fun and I didn't want to put it down once I started. Six kids discover their parents are supervillains and band together to fight against them. Perfect for teens but adults will enjoy this too. There's a twist at the end that makes you want to keep reading - so I'm starting Vol 2 tonight.
First impressions:
Alex - I see potential in his super smarts. He also seems like the sensitive one.
Nico - a cool goth girl, hooray!
Chase - seems kind of dumb but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now
Karolina - cute and hippyish and I'm pretty sure she's a lesbian, with a crush on Nico
Gertrude - so glad there's a snarky kid. I could see her becoming a favorite.
Molly - the pre-teen, sweet and very innocent compared to the other kids
...
The Velociraptor - I love the random dinosaur, made me chuckle
From later books but I love these
This was pure fun and I didn't want to put it down once I started. Six kids discover their parents are supervillains and band together to fight against them. Perfect for teens but adults will enjoy this too. There's a twist at the end that makes you want to keep reading - so I'm starting Vol 2 tonight.
First impressions:
Alex - I see potential in his super smarts. He also seems like the sensitive one.
Nico - a cool goth girl, hooray!
Chase - seems kind of dumb but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now
Karolina - cute and hippyish and I'm pretty sure she's a lesbian, with a crush on Nico
Gertrude - so glad there's a snarky kid. I could see her becoming a favorite.
Molly - the pre-teen, sweet and very innocent compared to the other kids
...
The Velociraptor - I love the random dinosaur, made me chuckle
From later books but I love these
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