534 RUNAWAYS
Ramos and Takeshi Miyazawa then produced nine subsequent issues, with Kathryn
Immonen and Sara Pichelli scheduled to follow them.
Forced to go on the run, the runaways of the title plot to take down their parents’
syndicate and atone for the previous generation’s crimes by using their own powers for
good. Since they have a very loosely constructed idea of themselves as a team, there is
no cohesive group identity and no group costumes (much to the disgust of Molly, the
youngest character). In contrast to other superhero groupings, there is a higher ratio of
female characters and the group is diverse in age, ethnicity , and sexual orientation.
Runaways combines innovative content (fantastic plots and heroics often take a
backseat to human relationships and themes regarding the journey to adulthood) with
the traditional style and continuity of the Marvel universe of superhero narratives.
Featuring quick-moving storylines that nonetheless give the reader emotional food for
thought, a plethora of popular culture references, and engaging, well-rounded charac-
ters, the series has attracted both young adult and adult audiences.
Each of the multiple artists and inkers who have worked on the series has brought
diff erent artistic styles with them, but all share common features that complement and
further construct the Runaways’ world: a large color palette, realistically proportioned
bodies, and clothing refl ecting current trends in young adult fashion. While the art has
changed signifi cantly over the years, the individual characters are still instantly recog-
nizable with their original personalities intact. As the series develops under new creative
teams, it seems to have lost touch with the generational confl ict of previous story arcs.
Th e membership of the group, however, does not remain static as some of the charac-
ters are killed and still others, also runaways, are invited to join them in their quests for
justice. Th e core characters include de facto leader Nico Minoru, a Japanese American
who began the series as a 16-year-old Goth and is a sorceress like her parents. Th e son
of mad scientists, Chase Stein turns 18 early in the series and is the most rebellious and
unpredictable of all the characters. He possesses the world’s most powerful gauntlets
and, since the death of his girlfriend and fellow member of the group Gert Yorkes, has
had an empathetic connection with the dinosaur Old Lace. Karolina Dean is a 16-year-old
alien whose natural form is visually fl uid, often depicted with waves of rainbow-like
light enveloping her humanoid structure. Her early struggles with her homosexuality
were treated respectfully and gradually at the onset of the series but her confi dence has
grown, particularly as result of her relationship with her Skrull fi ancée, Xavin. Molly
Hayes, the youngest member at age 11, is a mutant with superhuman strength and
invulnerability. She provides a foil for much of the angst of the older members of the
group as well as providing insight for crisis situations.
Th e various series of this title have been collected in diverse formats. Th ere are, to
date, three volumes of oversized hardcover editions: Volume 1 collects the premier
single issues #1–18; Volume 2, the newly numbered issues #1–12, and the 2006 Free
Comic Book Day crossover issue with X-Men ; and Volume 3 gathers the remaining
issues that were produced by Vaughan and Alphona (#13–24). Ten digest-sized trade
collections, mostly in soft cover, include the material collected above (but grouped in
