Runaways is also one of the comics in Marvel's new "Marvel Age" line, which as far as I can tell is directed toward new and younger readers; despite the deomgraphic, Runaways is a very enjoyable read for any age group, and definitely isn't dumbed down.
This review contains spoilers only for the basic premise of the comic, including a couple of revelations from issue #1.
The Story
Runaways is, as you'd expect, a comic about a group of runaway kids, varying in age from about 12 to 16. There are six of them in all--Alex, Karolina, Gert, Chase, Molly, and Nico.
The pivotal plot point of the first book, and of the series, is pretty simple: these kids' parents have had regular "charity" meetings the whole time they were growing up, and so the kids are at least casual friends. However, as we learn in the first issue, all isn't as it appears. By spying upon their parents, the kids learn that, far from meeting together as a charity, their parents are instead super-villains, forming a secret group called The Pride.
Things unfold from that point, and I won't spoil the first volume other than to say that it's about this group of kids deciding what to do about this revelation, and truly coming of age as a result.
The Continuity
Runaways is indeed set in the Marvel universe, but at least in this first volume, the connection is very light. We see a super-hero MMORPG, a mention of a Skrull, and that's about it. Everything else, in particular the various super-villainous parents, is new and original, and so a first-time reader will be no more off-balance than a long-time fan of Marvel.
Which is to say fairly off-balance; we're learning things as the kids do.
The Story Telling
Brian K. Vaughan has already proven himself a strong storyteller in his acclaimed series, Y: The Last Man. I picked up this volume solely on the strength of his other writing, and was pleased to see that strength carried over. Vaughan isn't putting out this book just to pay the bills; instead he's putting in clear effort here to produce a comic that's more than just standard super-hero fare.
The comics' biggest strength is the characterization. In these first six issues we meet the six teen-aged stars of the books and their twelve super-villainous parents. By the end of the volume I was getting a good feel for the characters of all the kids and was starting to get a handle on the adults. (I plan to read the book through a second time sometime soon, and I think I'll have the parents better figured out after that.) The kids are deep characters and they have interesting relationships.
The plotting is above average. I was fairly entranced through the whole book, and I never knew exactly where it was going. I'm quite enthused to read the next trade, and that's because I want to know where the story goes next, and not just as a result of a surprising twist about six pages from the end of the book.
Finally, I really appreciate how Vaughan is looking at the standard super-hero genre from a surprising angle--not just the villain's viewpoint, but the viewpoint of the kids of villains.
Overall, I thought that Runaways was a superb example of the super-hero genre at its best. It's not as deep and meaningful as the comics that truly break out from standard comic book tropes (such as Watchmen, Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, or even Kurt Busiek's Daredevil), but for something that's truly a part of the super-hero pantheon, this is top rate. It earns a "4" out of "5" for Substance.
The Artwork
The artwork is by Adrian Alphona, who's advertised as a newcomer. He draws in a style that's very derivative of animation. It's full of crisp lines and monotone shading. The result is very attractive and evocative.
The characters are all very clear and distinct. Some of the parental couples look very similar when in supervillain gear, because they dress identically, but other than that purposeful point, all 18 characters are clear, distinct, and easy to dinstiguish.
The only issue I have with Alphona's artwork is that he sometimes muddles action sequences a little bit by not drawing important actions with appropriate importance. More than once I had to go back through a scene just to pick out what had happened. I suspect that this issue will lessen as he matures as an artist.
The Presentation
Honestly, I would have preferred this book be published as a regular, glossy trade paperback, because it's a good story that I'm going to want to hold on to.
I wasn't too offended by the smaller size, because the art and lettering seems to have survived the reduction well (though I have to wonder if some of my issues with Alphona's action scenes were a result of the reduction).
However, I will say that I hate the grade of paper that Runaways is printed on. It's a very rough texture, similar to the stock they used to print most paperbacks on two decades ago or so. My fingers are sensitive to this stuff, and so I found it abrasive after reading through the whole book.
The stock also shows a light texture which muddles the artwork a bit. You can always see the grain of the paper and in gloomy scenes in particular, it makes the art a bit harder to read.
Overall, I've decided to give Runaways a low "4" out of "5" for Substance, with any points lost primarily due to poor decisions on paper stock.
Usage in RPGs
This book may be of some interest to GMs running super-hero RPGs. It provides interest food for thought on super-villain groups, but more so on their private lives and their children. If it helps you to humanize your villains just a bit, and make them more than just the fight-of-the-week, it'll be well worthwhile.
Beyond that, Runaways provides an interesting seed for a campaign if you want to start your game off from a unique direction. The characters as children of super-villains? It might have possibility.
Conclusion
This is a super-hero comic, yes, but it's also one of the best I've read in the last year or two that truly stays within the genre--without expanding into horror, science-fiction, or noir. It's wonderfully characterized and well plotted in a way that makes me ask, "What's next?" Especially given the very low price point I have no regrets in buying this book, and expect I'll keep picking up trades as long as Vaughan is writing.
If you like super-heroes, and you haven't forgotten what it's like to be a kid, give this book a chance.
