Runaways is an American comic book series created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona for Marvel Comics. The series debuted in April 2003. It has covered 13 story arcs, and is currently in its fourteenth. Runaways has frequently been collected in digest-sized books, which led to booming sales. Series creator Vaughan wrote the entire first volume and most of the second, which was continued and ended by Joss Whedon. Rainbow Rowell currently runs the series.
Runaways is frequently praised for being a simple story while being set in the typically complex and twisting Marvel Universe. While it was initially intended to be a six-part miniseries, the popularity of "Pride & Joy" and new ideas from writer Vaughan allowed it to grow into a regular monthly Marvel title, Runaways. Runaways has subsequently won several comics awards, including the 2006 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
The Brian K. Vaughan era Series' creator Brian K. Vaughan's tenure on the series ran from April 2003 to 2007. "Pride & Joy" was launched in 2003 as a part of Marvel's Tsunami imprint, the goal of which was to attract new readers, particularly young readers and the manga audience. The imprint was unsuccessful, and "Pride & Joy" (and the series Runaways that continued it) was one of the very few series from that imprint to continue being published and to do well in sales.
In Vaughan's original pitch for the series, Karolina Dean was originally called Leslie. This name would eventually be given to the character's mother. Her parents were originally real estate agents, as opposed to famous actors. Molly was one of the few Runaways to actually keep the name she had in Vaughan's original proposal; she is named after Vaughan's younger sister, Molly Hayes Vaughan. However, in the original pitch for the series, Molly's parents were Hollywood actors. This would eventually become the cover story of Karolina's parents. Also, Molly's sibling-like relationship with Chase was originally supposed to be with Gert. Molly was supposed to be thirteen years old in the original pitch instead of eleven. Nico Minoru was called Rachel Messina. Her parents were still magicians, but posed as wealthy antique dealers; this cover story was ultimately used for Gert's time traveling parents. Nico's source of power was not originally going to be her mother's Staff, but Robert Minoru's spellbook. Chase was originally called John, and Gert was called Gertie. Originally, Gert was meant to give Molly the name "Bruiser". The character of Catherine Wilder was originally designed to look like singer-songwriter Sade.
Pride & Joy Originally published in: Runaways #1-6 (April 2003 - September 2003) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Adrian Alphona
Nico, Gert, Chase, Karolina, Molly, and Alex meet at their families' annual gathering. When they see their parents performing the ritual sacrifice of a teenaged girl, the shocked teenagers vow to turn the tables on their evil parents. Nico steals her mother's mystical Staff of One, Chase finds powerful gauntlets and x-ray goggles, Karolina learns she is an alien, Molly finds out she is a mutant and Gert inherits a genetically engineered dinosaur who she can mentally control. In order to get their children back, the Pride frame them for the murder of the innocent girl they had sacrificed. The runaways retreat to a hideout they call "the Hostel". Vaughan has claimed that he had only planned to create "Pride & Joy" to be set for six months (six issues), but because of the popularity of the series, Marvel decided to continue issuing it on for a monthly basis.
Teenage Wasteland Originally published in: Runaways #7-10 (October 2003 - January 2004) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Adrian Alphona
While stopping a robbery, the Runaways encounter a boy named Topher, who claims his parents forced him to aid them in the robbery. Deciding he is one of them, the group takes him back to the Hostel; the innocent Topher, however, reveals himself as an evil vampire and attempts to "turn" Nico by biting her, but Alex manages to rescue her and the two rekindle their relationship. Topher then goes after Karolina, but after a bite of her solar-infused blood, Topher explodes. Alphona's artwork was positively received. Along with Christina Strain's handling of lights, shadows and atmosphere, it was "far more effective in this volume than in the last". Manga Punk.com gave this arc (along with the next) a double rating of 9/10.
Lost and Found Originally published in: Runaways #11-12 (February 2004) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, guest-artist Takeshi Miyazawa Guest appearances: Cloak and Dagger
Former runaways Cloak and Dagger (informed that the teenagers had "kidnapped" Molly) arrive in Los Angeles to confront the runaways. While Cloak arrests the four older kids, Gert and Molly are finally given the chance to get into battle. Upon battling Cloak and Dagger and informing them of the real truth, the two superheroes promise to contact the Avengers to help the runaways take down the Pride; a mole in the Runaways, however, tips off the Pride. Catching up with the vigilantes, the Pride telepathically removes all memory of the meeting from Cloak and Daggers' heads, so they do not remember the Runaways.
The Good Die Young Originally published in: Runaways #13-17 (March 2004 - July 2004) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Adrian Alphona Guest appearances: Captain America
The origin of the Pride is revealed, along with another revelation: the Hayes and the Deans plan on murdering the rest of the Pride in order to inherit a valuable gift by the Pride's benefactors, an ancient race of mythical giants called the Gibborim. The Runaways engage the Pride in battle and succeed in disrupting a spiritual ceremony, but in the end, Alex dies after outing himself as a traitor. When the Gibborim go on a rampage, the Runaways manage to leave alive, though the Pride themselves end up in the final explosion. Just when the Runaways escape, Captain America arrives to apprehend them.
Eighteen Originally published in: Runaways #18 (August 2004) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Adrian Alphona Guest appearances: Captain America, brief one-shot of Vision With their parents dead, Social Services separates the Runaways. Three exhaustive months after the destruction of the Pride, Karolina organizes a reunion, and the team heads off to an Avengers storage complex to retrieve Old Lace. The teenagers decide, rather than return to their new lives, to stay together and uphold a strong distrust towards adults. Although it was announced that Runaways would end with this issue, it was hinted that the series would come back again.
True Believers Originally published in: Runaways #1-6 (February 2005 - July 2005) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Adrian Alphona Guest appearances: Wrecking Crew, Excelsior (Turbo, Darkhawk, Chamber, Lightspeed, Ricochet, Phil Urich, Rick Jones), Ultron, Armor, Doctor Doom After a five-month hiatus, the Runaways fight the villains of Los Angeles attempting to fill the Pride's void. A future version of Gert travels back in time to warn the group that a boy named Victor Mancha will grow up to become "Victorious", the greatest villain of all time; before she dies, she warns them to kill Victor before he becomes too powerful. At the same time, a group of former teenage superheroes (called "Excelsior") are promised a $1,000,000 grant from a mysterious benefactor if they successfully detain the Runaways. The Runaways subdue Victor and are later shocked to discover that he is a cyborg created by Ultron. With the help of Excelsior, the Runaways defeat Ultron, and Victor joins them, having nowhere else to go. After the battle with Ultron, Excelsior discovers its benefactor is Rick Jones. The story arc ends with the reveal that Chamber is a fraud, and implies him to be a resurrected Alex Wilder.
Star-Crossed Originally published in: Runaways #7-8 (August 2005 - September 2005) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, guest-artist Takeshi Miyazawa Guest appearances: Swarm Karolina outs herself as a lesbian, and reveals she harbors romantic feelings for Nico, but Nico turns down Karolina's advances. As Karolina attempts to cope with the rejection, a Skrull named Xavin lands in Los Angeles and tells Karolina that he is her fiancée, due to an agreement between both their parents. Xavin informs Karolina of the fifteen-year-long war between their races, and insists that their marriage is the only way to enforce peace. Although Karolina initially declines on the basis that she is homosexual, Xavin shape-shifts into a female form. Karolina, finally agreeing, leaves her friends behind and departs with Xavin.
East Coast/West Coast Originally published in: Runaways #9-12 (October 2005 - January 2006) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Adrian Alphona Guest appearances: New Avengers (Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, She-Hulk), Cloak and Dagger Cloak, whose memories of the Runaways are restored, convinces the Runaways to travel with him to New York City and help solve a crime: someone posing as Cloak has used Mutant Growth Hormone to attack Dagger. When Chase and Nico end up in a dangerous situation with a drug dealer, Chase bluffs his way out. A relieved Nico kisses Chase - who outright rejects her by saying Gert is his girlfriend, and the only thing keeping him "good". Gert and Victor run into Spider-Man, but Nico knocks him out because Spider-Man is an adult and an Avenger. Meanwhile, after Wolverine scares Molly she punches him through a building. In the end, the Runaways defeat Dagger's attacker, and they return home. Meanwhile, someone (implied to be a resurrected Alex) says that one of them is about to die.
Dead Ringers Originally published in: Runaways #13 (February 2006) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Adrian Alphona During a super-human fight with "a dragon lady", Molly Hayes is knocked unconscious, and washes up down into a sewer system. After waking, she finds that she has been "recruited" by the Provost, who runs a crime ring that uses children to commit thefts. With much strategics, Molly leads her classmates into a defeat of the Provost. Although Molly invites them to join the team, all disagree - saying they would all go to their families. After going home, Molly has a dream that shows her deepest desire: to go home with her parents.
Parental Guidance Originally published in: Runaways #14-18 (March 2006 - July 2006) Creators: writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Adrian Alphona As it turns out, it was not a resurrected Alex Wilder - it was a much younger version of Geoffrey Wilder, Alex's late father. After Victor has a nightmare about killing his friends under Ultron's influence, Chase confesses to being jealous of Victor, someone his parents would have loved. Nico tells Gert she wishes that Gert will become the leader, if something happens. The teenagers go to stop a crime in the middle of the night, but discover the younger Geoffrey Wilder and a new version of the Pride. In a twisted turn of events, the New Pride takes control of Victor, Gert finds out that Nico kissed Chase, and the New Pride kidnaps Molly. Before they can rescue Molly, they have to repair the Leapfrog - in this period, the Runaways' personal issues begin to get to them: Molly's absence, Gert breaks up with Chase, and Nico learns that the New Pride is getting their information through Victor (much to his shock). Just as the group breaks into a full-blown explosion, Karolina Dean returns to stop the fight.