Runaways #24

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
March 2007
*****

The final (for now) battle with the mag’s trio of titans ends in victory, distrust, romance—all the emo sentiment this mag is beloved for, topped by a fan-boy nod to classic Claremont. This arc feels like the climax to an abbreviated third ‘season’, esp since it’s the creators’ last issue.

last issue: Runaways #23
next issue: Runaways #25

also indexed for Mar. ’07
Annihilation #6 of 6
Daredevil #93
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #12
Thunderbolts #110

Runaways #14

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
May 2006
****

#14 checks in with the whole gang (including the space-romance of Karolina & a transsexual Skrull) before flashing to backstory. Even before running away in vol. 1, the late turncoat Alex Wilder had made a backdoor plan for his MMORPG pals to resurrect him in case of death!

last issue: Runaways #13
next issue: Runaways #15

also indexed for May ’06
Annihilation: Prologue #1 of 1
Daredevil #83
Iron Man #6
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #3
The Pulse #14
X-Statix Presents: Dead Girl #3 of 5
Young Avengers #11

Runaways #17

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
October 2004
****

Even in the first arc, Alex Wilder drew interest for his braininess and tactical ability; plus he was a comics nerd, an obv ID figure for the reader. Here he sides w/ faux-Kirby Gods over humanity! It prefigures Cabin in the Woods, but does his reasoning convince? No, so he gets zapped by the gods!

last issue: Runaways #16
next issue: Runaways #18

also indexed for Oct. ’04
Astonishing X-Men #4
Daredevil #63
Fantastic Four #517
Secret War #3 of 5
X-Statix #26

Runaways #16

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
August 2004
****

Last month, as Whedon himself began his Runaways-influenced X-run, Vaughan set up his Whedonesque climax. In #16 the kids finally fight their parents, but they’re betrayed by their nerdy leader! He seemed the obv choice for a mole, but it’s still disappointing since he’s the cast’s best character.

last issue: Runaways #15
next issue: Runaways #17

also indexed for Aug. ’04
Astonishing X-Men #2
Daredevil #61
Fantastic Four #515
Thanos #11
X-Statix #24

Runaways #15

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
July 2004
***

Vaughan continues to maneuver his pieces into place for the endgame. The teens follow their parents into an underwater superbase, hoping to stop a black ritual. Alphona does his best work in this art nouveau lair, part of his infusion of mainstream comics with a steampunk style that’s very trendy.

last issue: Runaways #14
next issue: Runaways #16

also indexed for Jul. ’04
Astonishing X-Men #1
Daredevil #60
Fantastic Four #513
Fantastic Four #514
The Pulse #3
Secret War #2 of 5
Thanos #10
X-Statix #23

Runaways #14

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
June 2004
***

The decompressed pace is the Achilles Heel of Runaways, but it looks like the momentum is shifting. The teen not-a-team (a la the Defenders) take the initiative and head off to spoil their parents’ next magic ceremony. Fortunately for them, the cabal has begun to show signs of discord.

last issue: Runaways #13
next issue: Runaways #15

also indexed for Jun. ’04
Daredevil #59
Fantastic Four #512
Thanos #9
X-Statix #21
X-Statix #22

Runaways #13

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
May 2004
****

A(n original) pantheon of six-fingered elder gods plan to restore utopia by exterminating humanity. Their servants on Earth, the mag’s supercabal, arrange to save their children (the superteens). One year in, the creative team comes through with fun backstory. And Alph does astonishing Kirby gods.

last issue: Runaways #12
next issue: Runaways #14

also indexed for May ’04
Daredevil #58
Fantastic Four #511
New X-Men #154
The Pulse #2
Thanos #7
Thanos #8
X-Statix #20

Runaways #12

Brian K. Vaughan // Takeshi Miyazawa
late April 2004
***

After visiting the hellscape of Cloak’s cloak, the team convinces him & Dagger that they’re innocent. I actually enjoy this short arc more than the previous ones, simply for its pacing! But calling foul on C&D’s mind-wipe by the evil parents. In post-Buffy comics, events oughta have ramifications!

last issue: Runaways #11
next issue: Runaways #13

also indexed for Apr. ’04
Daredevil #57
Fantastic Four #510
New X-Men #153
The Pulse #1
Runaways #11
Secret War #1 of 5
X-Statix #19

Runaways #11

Brian K. Vaughan // Takeshi Miyazawa
early April 2004
****

Guest art by Canadian Miyazawa, who outdoes Alphona in manga influences. Other guests: Cloak & Dagger the original superteen runaways-turned-vigilantes! A corrupt cop has asked them to find our team, which leads to the ol’ Marvel scenario of having the superheroes fight before cooperating.

last issue: Runaways #10
next issue: Runaways #12

also indexed for Apr. ’04
Daredevil #57
Fantastic Four #510
New X-Men #153
The Pulse #1
Runaways #12
Secret War #1 of 5
X-Statix #19

Runaways #10

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
March 2004
****

The new kid reveals he’s a vampire; when he preys on Psychedelic Supergirl, her solar-fueled blood dusts him. A nice twist: her strategy is actually a death-wish! Glad to see BKV pays his debt to Buffy so early in his run! Alphona’s line is lovely, physiques too, but his layouts frankly are dull.

last issue: Runaways #9
next issue: Runaways #11

also indexed for Mar. ’04
Daredevil #56
Fantastic Four #509
New X-Men #151
New X-Men #152
X-Statix #18

Runaways #9

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
February 2004
***

A newcomer upsets the (recently-established) status quo by creating a love triangle with Nico & Alex. The psychedelic alien also kisses him for good measure. Soap opera is especially fun in teen super-teams, and Alphona uses his characters’ faces & postures to provide great ‘acting’.

last issue: Runaways #8
next issue: Runaways #10

also indexed for Feb. ’04
Daredevil #55
Fantastic Four #508
New X-Men #150
X-Statix #17

Runaways #8

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
January 2004
****

The son of supercriminals quickly insinuates himself into the gang. But BKV glances at teen issues as he & Nico talk about self-mutilation—you see, the goth girl must cut herself to activate her magic staff. Runaways ticks the boxes on the superteen checklist, tho it moves at a snail’s pace.

last issue: Runaways #7
next issue: Runaways #9

also indexed for Jan. ’04
Alias #28
Daredevil #54
Fantastic Four #506
Fantastic Four #507
New X-Men #149
X-Statix #16

Runaways #7

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
December 2003
****

This team is unique in concept, multi-culti cast, & superpowers. In #7, they finally fight crime, a hold-up at a convenience store—the sort of petty crime that Ditko’s teen would stop every ish or two. Similarly these thin-lined bodies look like actual kids, not steroidal superheroes.

last issue: Runaways #6
next issue: Runaways #8

also indexed for Dec. ’03
Alias #27
Avengers/JLA #4 of 4
Daredevil #53
Fantastic Four #504
Fantastic Four #505
New X-Men #148
X-Statix #15

Runaways #6

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
November 2003
***

BKV & AA do yeoman’s work setting up a status quo after one arc. The titular non-team has been framed for the murder they saw their parents commit. Now they’ve holed up in one of Cali’s, um, hotels buried in an earthquake…? The influence of Buffy/Angel is strong, but not in plotting or momentum.

last issue: Runaways #5
next issue: Runaways #7

also indexed for Nov. ’03
Alias #26
JLA/Avengers #3 of 4
Daredevil #51
Daredevil #52
Fantastic Four #502
Fantastic Four #503
New X-Men #146
New X-Men #147
Runaways #5
X-Statix #14

Runaways #5

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
November 2003
****

Although little continues to happen in this decompressed arc, the character do continue to reveal shades (if not surprises) to their personalities. In an update of ’80s Marvel style, one good bit has the runt of the Runaways develop mutant powers after she’d asked the gals about her period.

last issue: Runaways #4
next issue: Runaways #6

also indexed for Nov. ’03
Alias #26
JLA/Avengers #3 of 4
Daredevil #51
Daredevil #52
Fantastic Four #502
Fantastic Four #503
New X-Men #146
New X-Men #147
Runaways #6
X-Statix #14

Runaways #4

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
October 2003
***

BKV finally gets to a fight scene: the grown-ups attack the kids in a super-tech backyard shed. Not sure why they shot first rather than acting like parents, and god this mag moves slow. The sense of LA is great tho. So are the characters—I esp. like Alex Wilder, an ordinary boy w/ a knack for tactics.

last issue: Runaways #3
next issue: Runaways #5

also indexed for Oct. ’03
Alias #25
Avengers/JLA #2 of 4
Daredevil #50
Fantastic Four #501
New X-Men #145
X-Statix #13

Runaways #3

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
September 2003
****

The mag starts to play its cards and finally takes a few tricks. The Pretty Girl learns that she’s a Supergirl type; the Smart Girl finds she’s mentally linked to a robo-dino (!), courtesy of her steampunk chrono-criminal parents! Note also how casually Runaways adds diversity to Marvel comics.

last issue: Runaways #2
next issue: Runaways #4

also indexed for Sept. ’03
Alias #24
Daredevil #49
Fantastic Four #500
JLA/Avengers #1 of 4
New X-Men #144
X-Statix #12

Runaways #2

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
August 2003
***

A team book with a new hook: teens learn that their parents are a low-profile cabal of successful supervillains! Vaughan writes dialogue in the trendy Bendis style—all bratty attitude. It works as well here as in Ult. Spidey; the decompressed storytelling less so since we don’t know these kids yet.

last issue: Runaways #1
next issue: Runaways #3

also indexed for Aug. ’03
Alias #23
Daredevil #48
Fantastic Four #70
New X-Men #142
New X-Men #143
X-Statix #11

Runaways #1

Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
July 2003
****

I’m a sucker for superteens, so I already like this book about kids who can’t appeal to authority for help against their supervillainous parents. But IMO Alphona’s under-hatched style is better read in digest form, which accentuates his manga-influenced use of open space and emo directness.

next issue: Runaways #2

also indexed for Jul. ’03
Alias #22
Daredevil #47
Fantastic Four #69
New X-Men #141
Wolverine/Doop #1 of 2
Wolverine/Doop #2 of 2