|
|
All teenagers feel – at some time, in some
tantrum or fit of angst – that their parents are evil. For the Runaways,
however, it’s true. They’re in a genuine Luke Skywalker situation, between a
rock and the dark side: they’ve discovered that their ’rents comprise The Pride,
a secret cabal that runs crime and
corruption up and down the West Coast. They’ve amassed wealth and power and made
a wicked pact with a race of giant… well, that would be telling, now wouldn’t
it?
Brian K. Vaughan has become my favorite comics writer of the past two years,
penning two excellent adult series - Ex Machina and Y: The Last Man
- and winning two of this year’s Eisner awards, the Oscars of comics. He’s also
been lauded for creating great stories for younger readers in the series
Runaways, the perfect choice for middle readers in need of some end-of-the
summer, post-Harry Potter reading.
The Runaways are a band of only children, all slight misfits, trying to right
the wrongs of their criminal families. Each has a special gift – a magic staff,
super strength, alien powers, or a telepathic dinosaur – that he or she must
learn to use for the greater good. They’re super heroes of a sort, but they’re
also kids who have grown up with comic books, video games, and fantasy novels:
they’re savvy to how this sort of thing works (they hope), and they’re game to
take on the bad guys in order to make the world safe for Muggles.
Things set off in Pride and Joy when the kids join forces and sniff out
their parent’s dastardly dealings. Their adventures continue in Teenage
Wasteland as they run afoul of people interested in keeping adolescent crime
fighters off the
streets. And the climactic showdown arrives when our Runaways face their parents
– and their mysterious allies – in The Good Die Young. Each book collects
six issues of the comic.
The backs of the books declare Runaways an adventure/comedy/teen romance
story, and I think its right, in just that order. It’s great fun with snarky
laughs and some dating thrown in. The characters are believable and endearing,
and there are several smart, strong girls (including pint-sized Molly, who
sports cute stocking caps and a mean left hook). The books are a handy size that
would fit well in a backpack, making them a perfect treat for those first
back-to-school bus rides or upcoming holiday car trips. And what better way to
show kids that not all parents are ogres?
Runaways is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Review by Mark Bradshaw, August 22, 2005
Related reviews-
For kids: Batman Adventures: Rogues Gallery and Shadows and Masks
from DC Comics:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0705-013.html
For adults: Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days by Brian K. Vaughan and
Tony Harris:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0605-015.html
|
