A fun little comic that can be read by anyone, even people who are not so familiar with any previous 'Runaways' comics or anything Marvel.
Years ago, when I was first trying to get into comic books, I wasn't hooked on the first volume of 'Runaways', a series about a team of superhero kids struggling to be good; developing into a true family, away from their supervillain parents. But when I heard that this new revival story would be penned by a woman writer - a well-known YA author, Rainbow Rowell - and when I saw that it was in my local bookshop, I decided to give it a go.
I'm glad I did; £14.99 well spent.
Full of drama and heart, and the right amount of action to go with the nice, well-executed dose of character development. The young, traumatized members of the Runaways have been going their separate ways for some time now, but now they're getting the band back together. To say it won't be easy would be to underestimate Galactus. There is a lot to deal with and cope with, as the past catches up to each of these gifted yet strained and troubled youths.
There is the de facto leader, Nico Minoru (aka Sister Grim), the gothic Asian bisexual witch, possessing the dangerous "Staff of One", whom I had read about in a few things before, but here is where I've come to like her the most, as I've always wanted to. Then there's Chase Stein, the cocky, overconfident but nonetheless hardworking and tragic tech guy, and the only biological male member of the superhero group. He really is the driving force of this bunch, as he gets a lot of things done, even when the others think he's the lamest, most useless, self-serving member. Gert Yorkes is back (VERY long story), along with her pet dinosaur Old Lace, and she is awesome; bitingly sarcastic, yet optimistic, yet cynical, all at the same time. She's so complex, and is never to be pitied despite what she's been through, not to mention she's great fat representation in comics, especially for Marvel. Gert is considered to be the heart of the Runaways, and from this comic it's easy to see why; she's desperate for a loving family and home, and the team fell apart when they lost her. What will it mean now that she's suddenly brought back to life (because you should never trust anyone to stay dead for long in comics)? Now-thirteen-year-old Molly Hayes, a friend to all possessing super strength, is adorable, and as believable as everybody else - she lives at home with her terribly suspicious grandmother, and with a lot of cats and pop culture collectibles. Karolina Dean, the humanoid alien of sunshine and fashion, is in college. New life, new girlfriend, but can she leave it all behind for the old gang, where there are friends but also painful memories? And what will become of her relationship with Nico, whom she had feelings for in the past, and has now tried to kiss her? Finally there's Victor Mancha, an android originally programmed for evil (who is also Ultron's son, again, VERY long story), currently just a talking head.
'Runaways, Vol. 1: Find Your Way Home' is about all these misfits coming together and trusting one another again, for even when adjusting to change, to new lives, ordinary or superheroic (or in Gert's case, beginning to literally live in the here and now), they might always need each other. They are a great cast of characters worth reading about; worth exploring their issues and differences with them as they come to know more about themselves as well as their friends.
However, they are not just friends. Whether they realize it or not, the Runaways are not some outsider kids who'd happened to have traveled together under the same circumstances. They are a family. A dysfunctional, complicated, but loyal and loving family. There is still tragedy and heartbreak, but the kids will fight back. They will make the right decisions.
Sooner or later, the kids are alright.
Rainbow Rowell did exceedingly well here - the characters, their interactions, the humour, the action, the mystery: everything is written and paced with the skill of an experienced storyteller. The diversity is excellent. The artwork is a topnotch beauty. And who can go wrong with good and evil cats, dinos, and talking robot heads in superhero comics!
Overall, a lovely, endearing Marvel comic, and a start of something special, I'm sure. Recommended.
Final Score: 4/5
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