The Runaways return for a second series, and Vaughan, as he takes the property in a much different direction, still maintains much of what made the previous series so much fun. The gender and accompanying power imbalance in the team makes for some interesting new dynamics, and the new premise is intriguing. There's a playfulness here that's entertaining, and Vaughan also provides a look back at some lesser known Marvel characters who have faded into memory somewhat. But there's a darker tone to the story here, darker than what we saw in the first Runaways run. At its heart, this is the story of five teens who have been horribly hurt... by their parents, by a friend and by the system.
With the death of the 12 members of the Pride at the hands of their children, there's a void in the structure of the criminal underworld on the West Coast of the United States. Among the first criminals setting their sights on an unfettered crime spree is the Wrecking Crew, complete with a new member, Escavator, Piledriver's son. Unfortunately for the villains, the Runaways are looking to recruit super-powered teens such as themselves who need to be freed from the influence of evil adults. Meanwhile, several former teen heroes gathers to form an unusual support group.
I'm so pleased to see original series artist Adrian Alphona is still with this property. His style is refreshingly unique, giving the Runaways a look that really stands out. There's a far more realistic approach to super-hero art here. These characters look like real people. Gert isn't a super-model type, but a confident yet frumpy young woman. That's actually where Jo Chen's cover goes awry, as it fails to capture the youth and average look of the characters. I also love the deep and dark color palette that Udon's Christina Strain employs here. It reinforces that darker mood I mentioned earlier.
Speaking of realism, Vaughan doesn't sit back and present his readers with a whitebread vision of teen heroes. The dialogue hints that Chase and Gert are sexually active with one another, and I get a strong vibe that Nico and Karolina might be a couple as well. I see a lot of fear over teenage sex in today's society, and many feel -- wrongly, actually -- that the best answer is to hide kids from the very notion of sex, to bury our respective heads in the sand and just hope that somehow a powerful and natural biological force will just go away if we will it so. Vaughan doesn't shy away from it here. The focus isn't on sexuality, but he doesn't ignore it either.
The Runaways' "mission," such as it is, doesn't seem all that well thought out, but it works for these characters. Circumstances have brought them together as a family, and they're looking for others who have had similar experiences and could benefit from the support system they've created, as they have. There's not a lot of long-term thought at play here, but that makes sense of adolescent characters. Vaughan also oes a nice job of presenting an accessible script. Not only does he sum up the events of the previous series nicely, he provides solid and clear re-introductions to some obscure Marvel characters who return in much different roles here. 8/10
