Archive for the ‘Gertrude Yorkes’ Category
July 6, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
September 2006
*****
The kids foil their rivals’ apocalypse, but at a cost. No really, Gert dies! Amid fire & sacrifice, the second ‘season’ of Runaways ends with a well-executed climax & a gorgeous splash page for the death. The solid melodramatic beat is erected on three years of solid emotional investment.
last issue: Runaways #17
next issue: Runaways #19
also indexed for Sept. ’06
Annihilation: Nova #4 of 4
Annihilation: Ronan #4 of 4
Annihilation: Silver Surfer #4 of 4
Annihilation: Super-Skrull #4 of 4
Civil War #3 of 7
Daredevil #87
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #7
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Victor Mancha, Xavin | Leave a Comment »
July 5, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
August 2006
****
Setting the climax up for next issue, #17 (part 4 of 5) shows just how good this mag is: a few plot twists, a few large & small emotional beats, a real sense of stakes & of setting. Alphona’s ‘actors’ are wonderfully expressive cartoons. But let’s also stop to admire the great covers by Marcos Martin!
last issue: Runaways #16
next issue: Runaways #18
also indexed for Aug. ’06
Annihilation: Nova #3 of 4
Annihilation: Ronan #3 of 4
Annihilation: Silver Surfer #3 of 4
Annihilation: Super-Skrull #3 of 4
Astonishing X-Men #15
Civil War #2 of 7
Daredevil #86
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #6
Young Avengers #12
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Victor Mancha | Leave a Comment »
July 2, 2015
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
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Alex Wilder, Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Victor Mancha, Xavin | Leave a Comment »
June 30, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
March 2006
****
Molly pounds the New Avengers, who do little to help rescue damsel Dagger from a fan-boy rapist on superdrugs. This is a fine baseline arc, with guests Cloak, Dagger & Spidey adding an ’80s Marvel tone that’s amplified by the story length (4 issues), a charitable churchman, & NYC snowfall.
last issue: Runaways #11
next issue: Runaways #13
also indexed for Mar. ’06
Daredevil #81
Iron Man #5
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #1
The Pulse #13
X-Statix Presents: Dead Girl #1 of 5
Young Avengers #10
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Captain America, Chase Stein, Cloak, Dagger, Gertrude Yorkes, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Spider-Woman (J. Drew), Victor Mancha, Wolverine | Leave a Comment »
June 29, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
February 2006
****
#11 reverses convention by having the kids chat with Spider-Man first & then fight him. What’s more notable is how, tho’ he’s the poster boy for Marvel’s teen heroes, Spidey is set up as a contrast to the Runaways: a lonely kid but a solid home life. Plus Chase bluffs info from a drug-dealing pimp!
last issue: Runaways #10
next issue: Runaways #12
also indexed for Feb. ’06
Daredevil #80
Drax the Destroyer #4 of 4
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Captain America, Chase Stein, Cloak, Dagger, Gertrude Yorkes, Iron Man, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Spider-Man, Victor Mancha | Leave a Comment »
June 28, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
January 2006
***
BKV leads his charges into the center of the contempo Marvel U.: BMB’s New Avengers in NYC. The guest cast should goose sales but the mag stays focused on its own superheroes, in that chat-heavy/plot-lite style that’s so fashionable. Alph has fun with the change of climate & cityscape tho.
last issue: Runaways #9
next issue: Runaways #11
also indexed for Jan. ’06
Daredevil #79
Drax the Destroyer #3 of 4
The Pulse #12
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Captain America, Chase Stein, Cloak, Dagger, Gertrude Yorkes, Iron Man, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Spider-Man, Victor Mancha, Wolverine | Leave a Comment »
June 27, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
December 2005
****
Cloak, the ’80s super-runaway, avoids a ‘New’ Avengers manhunt after his GF Dagger ends up hospitalized. It’s up to our plucky LA outsiders to clear his name! On art, Alphona uses computers to draw (not photoref!) his fine lines. His comic timing also adds to the Buffy vibe.
last issue: Runaways #8
next issue: Runaways #10
also indexed for Dec. ’05
Daredevil #78
Drax the Destroyer #2 of 4
Secret War #5 of 5
Young Avengers #9
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Captain America, Chase Stein, Cloak, Dagger, Gertrude Yorkes, Luke Cage, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Spider-Woman (J. Drew), Victor Mancha | Leave a Comment »
June 26, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Takeshi Miyazawa
November 2005
****
Evil alien parents had betrayed their homeworld & betrothed their daughter to the Skrulls. Now it’s time for Karolina’s arranged marriage to an aristo—& since she’s a lesbian, the Skrull is game for adopting female characteristics! Coince, Young Avengers also has romance w/ an alien princeling.
last issue: Runaways #7
next issue: Runaways #9
also indexed for Nov. ’05
Daredevil #77
Drax the Destroyer #1 of 4
The Pulse #11
Young Avengers #8
Tags:Brian K. Vaughan, Takeshi Miyazawa
Posted in Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Victor Mancha, Xavin | 1 Comment »
June 25, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Takeshi Miyazawa
October 2005
****
With status quo established & relief artist Miyazawa on hand, BKV restarts some of the mag’s soap elements. Psychedelic Supergirl makes a pass at Nico M. in a no-big-deal coming-out scene, then learns she’s affianced to a Skrull! Plus the newbie defeats a local LA villain: a mad Nazi made of bees!
last issue: Runaways #6
next issue: Runaways #8
also indexed for Oct. ’05
Iron Man #4
Daredevil #76
Young Avengers #7
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Takeshi Miyazawa
Posted in Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Swarm, Victor Mancha, Xavin | Leave a Comment »
June 24, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
September 2005
*****
My misgiving that Ultron was too far above our kids’ weight class is finessed by the post-teen cavalry saving their hides. Turns out Vaughan has written a backdoor pilot (to use an LA term) for a team of New New Warriors (AKA Excelsior—nice name!), financed by Marvel’s original c-lister, Rick Jones!
last issue: Runaways #5
next issue: Runaways #7
also indexed for Sept. ’05
Daredevil #75
The Pulse #10
Young Avengers #6
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Chase Stein, Darkhawk, Gertrude Yorkes, Julie Power, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Phil Urich, Rick Jones, Ricochet, Turbo, Ultron, Victor Mancha | Leave a Comment »
June 23, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
August 2005
****
The kids face the secret father of a new superfriend: Dr. Doom! or maybe a Doombot! …nope, it’s Ultron! I’d usually call foul on this bait-n-switch reveal, esp. as facing a rogue Doombot would be perilous enough, plus BKV nails Doom’s voice. But AA draws the fight exceptionally well, which earns a few points!
last issue: Runaways #4
next issue: Runaways #6
also indexed for Aug. ’05
Astonishing X-Men #12
Daredevil #74
Young Avengers #5
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Chase Stein, Darkhawk, Gertrude Yorkes, Julie Power, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Phil Urich, Rick Jones, Ricochet, Turbo, Ultron, Victor Mancha | Leave a Comment »
June 22, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
July 2005
****
A ’90s d-lister is suffering PTSD from his darkling powers, while a new castmember (Hispanic son of a single mom!) learns pop is a supervillain! Tho the mag is slowing back down, it’s got enough plots & characters—and sketches them out well enough—that the decompression isn’t a drag on momentum.
last issue: Runaways #3
next issue: Runaways #5
also indexed for Jul. ’05
Astonishing X-Men #11
Daredevil #73
The Pulse #9
Young Avengers #4
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Chase Stein, Darkhawk, Gertrude Yorkes, Julie Power, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Phil Urich, Ricochet, Turbo, Victor Mancha | Leave a Comment »
June 21, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
June 2005
****
The story of teens & 20-somethings reaches the trad Marvel beat of heroes pounding on each other w/o talking first. But w/ the rebooted numbering, Alphona has upped his game. His art has taken on a supple quality, his physiques & faces moving further from figuration to lovely expressionistic forms.
last issue: Runaways #2
next issue: Runaways #4
also indexed for Jun. ’05
Daredevil #72
Young Avengers #3
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Chase Stein, Darkhawk, Gertrude Yorkes, Julie Power, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Phil Urich, Ricochet, Turbo, Ultron, Victor Mancha | Leave a Comment »
June 20, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
May 2005
****
BKV plays an interesting game with the margins of the Marvel U. A team of washed-up ’90s heroes suggest one prospect for this mag’s protags; an Avenger from the future—Gert, all grown up—points toward more successful careers. The time twist has them out to reform a kid before he turns supervillain.
last issue: Runaways #1
next issue: Runaways #3
also indexed for May ’05
Astonishing X-Men #10
Daredevil #71
Fantastic Four #524
The Pulse #8
Secret War #4 of 5
Young Avengers #2
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Armor, Chase Stein, Darkhawk, Gertrude Yorkes, Julie Power, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Phil Urich, Ricochet, Turbo, Victor Mancha | Leave a Comment »
June 19, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
April 2005
*****
After half a year hiatus, Runaways returns reinvigorated! The remit is evidently not only to speed up the action (hurray!) but to tie the mag more tightly to the Marvel fabric. So the kids foil a heist by post-Kirby bruisers while a support group of ex-superteens hint at life after caped heroics.
continued from Runaways #18
next issue: Runaways #2
also indexed for Apr. ’05
Daredevil #70
Fantastic Four #523
Young Avengers #1
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Bulldozer, Chase Stein, Darkhawk, Gertrude Yorkes, Julie Power, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru, Phil Urich, Piledriver, Ricochet, Thunderball, Turbo, Victor Mancha, Wrecker | Leave a Comment »
June 18, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan // Adrian Alphona
November 2004
****
Hey, Vaughan can write normal-paced comics! The kids slip out of their foster homes for a sentimental reunion, then break into an Avengers warehouse to liberate their stuff. Not only is it a done-in-one coda to Runaways‘ first ‘season’, it sets up a new status quo for a renumbered mag.
last issue: Runaways #17
continued in Runaways #1
other issues indexed for Nov. ’04
Astonishing X-Men #5
Daredevil #64
Daredevil #65
Fantastic Four #518
The Pulse #5
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Captain America, Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru | Leave a Comment »
June 17, 2015
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
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Alex Wilder, Captain America, Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru | Leave a Comment »
June 16, 2015
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
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Alex Wilder, Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru | Leave a Comment »
June 13, 2015
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
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Alex Wilder, Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru | Leave a Comment »
June 12, 2015
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
Tags:Brian K. Vaughan, Takeshi Miyazawa
Posted in Alex Wilder, Chase Stein, Cloak, Dagger, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru | Leave a Comment »
June 11, 2015
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
Tags:Brian K. Vaughan, Takeshi Miyazawa
Posted in Alex Wilder, Chase Stein, Cloak, Dagger, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru | Leave a Comment »
June 10, 2015
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
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Alex Wilder, Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru | Leave a Comment »
June 7, 2015
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
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Alex Wilder, Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru | Leave a Comment »
June 6, 2015
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
Tags:Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan
Posted in Alex Wilder, Chase Stein, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Nico Minoru | Leave a Comment »