If I had to choose two Western comics that defined my teen years, Runaways would be one of them (Young Justice the other).

This was a fine return to form, but holy stars I missed A LOT. ( )

I only finished this for the sake of nostalgia. The first Runaways was great, but each subsequent one has been worse and worse.

This one barely had a plot. The dialogue was terrible. It just lacked in every way possible. ( )

I'm a long-time Runaways fan from the original run. The characters are precious to me for a variety of reasons, so of course I was wary that it was being picked up again. Wary but also excited because there's a lot of potential to be mined.

I need not have worried as Rainbow Rowell's take, complemented beautifully with Kris Anka's art, was perfect. Rowell has a great grasp on the characterization and voice of each kid, incorporating what the Runaways had been doing in other Marvel comics with ease. They're older, sadder, maybe wiser, maybe more desperate, but their connections to their fellow Runaways remain strong. Kris Anka's art is gorgeous, vaguely reminiscent of Adrian Alphona's distinctive style while still unique. His attention to detail is particularly noticeable in the personal style of each character. As always, Matt Wilson's colouring is outstanding, I just love how his style looks; it's bright and vibrant, using colour to really set the mood and tone of scenes.

The book starts with two of our arguably most damaged Runaways dealing with their regrets in different ways. Nico by wallowing in her dank apartment and Chase by trying to save Gert. Going back in time, he brings her back to Nico on the brink of death. With some help, they manage to revive her but are now faced with a bunch of new problems; number one being that two years have passed for everyone else but no time at all for Gert. Gert returned, they set out to get the whole gang back together, including Victor's disembodied head.

A great first six issues. ( )

Honestly I'm just so happy to see the band back together again!! I can't wait for more adventures and more characters!! I've waited way too long for this continuation to come about... It feels like the old run all over again except the characters are older. So well written but just holds the excitement and humour and originality that the original run had too. ( )

3.5 stars

A little angsty and confusing for the start of a new arc, but I like Rainbow Rowell, and I’m interested to see where the series goes. There was still a good amount of snarky Runaways humor, and the main story was interesting enough.

There’s a reason I don’t read many superhero comics, and that’s because I have a hard time following the timelines when my superheroes leap back and forth into other heroes’ stories. At one point in this book, there was a reference to an important event that had happened in an issue of Vision. I didn’t even know Vision had his own comics (but I’m thankful for the asterisk marking the brief explanation). I thought Runaways was more self-contained, but I’m discovering that’s not the case. And I should have realized that because it’s Marvel, and I ran into the same trouble when I thought I’d pick up Guardians of the Galaxy for a lark. I just don’t have time to figure it all out or read it all once it’s figured.

ANYWAY.

Given the note it ended on, I think volume 2 will be more fun. We’ll see. ( )