Runaways (comics) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Runaways |
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Runaways Vol. 1 hardcover, art by Adrian Alphona
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| Group publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Runaways #1 (July 2003) |
| Created by | Brian K. Vaughan (writer) Adrian Alphona (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | Malibu; formerly a lair beneath the La Brea Tar Pits |
| Leader(s) | Nico Minoru Alex Wilder (formerly) |
| Agent(s) | Current members: Karolina Dean Molly Hayes Old Lace Nico Minoru Chase Stein Gertrude Yorkes Victor Mancha Rufus Gib Doombot Former members: Topher Alex Wilder Zeke Zheng Allis Abernathy Xavin Klara Prast Leapfrog |
| Runaways | |
| Series publication information | |
| Schedule | monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Science fiction, superhero |
| Publication date | (Volume 1) April 2003 – August 2004 (Volume 2) February 2005 – June 2008 (Volume 3) August 2008 – November 2009 (Volume 4) May 2015 – November 2015 (Volume 5) September 2017 – August 2021 |
| Number of issues | (Volume 1): 18 (Volume 2): 30 (Volume 3): 14 (Volume 4): 4 (Volume 5): 38 |
| Creator(s) | Brian K. Vaughan (writer) Adrian Alphona (artist) |
[[Category:Science fiction comics|]][[Category:Superhero comics|]]
Runaways is a popular superhero comic book series from Marvel Comics. It's about a group of teenagers who make a shocking discovery: their parents are actually part of an evil crime group called "the Pride".
The series was created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona. It first came out in July 2003. The story begins with six kids who spy on their parents during a yearly charity event. They find out their parents are not just regular people, but a secret group of mob bosses, time-travelers, wizards, evil scientists, aliens, and mutants.
The kids decide to run away and fight back. They steal special items from their parents and soon learn they have inherited amazing powers too!
- Alex Wilder, a super smart kid, leads the team.
- Nico Minoru discovers she is a powerful witch.
- Karolina Dean learns she is an alien who can glow and fly.
- Gertrude Yorkes finds out she has a mind link with a dinosaur.
- Chase Stein gets his dad's special "fistigons" (fire gauntlets) and X-ray goggles.
- Young Molly Hayes discovers she has incredible super strength.
Together, these kids defeat their parents. They then try to make up for their parents' bad deeds by fighting new villains. Later, other heroes join them, like Victor Mancha (a cyborg), Xavin (a shape-shifting alien), and Klara Prast (who can control plants). The Runaways become a close, even if sometimes messy, family.
The comic series has been very popular. It was even made into a live-action TV show on Hulu in 2017, which is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Contents
How the Comics Were Made
The creator, Brian K. Vaughan, first suggested Runaways in 2003. Marvel wanted to create comics that would attract new, younger readers. Wizard Magazine even called it "one of the best original concepts from Marvel in thirty years."
The first series ended after 18 issues. But because the collected comic books sold so well, Marvel decided to bring the series back. Brian K. Vaughan had only planned to write for six months. However, because the series was so popular, Marvel kept it going.
In 2007, Vaughan decided to leave the series. Joss Whedon, a big fan of Runaways, was chosen to write some issues and finish the second volume. Later, new writers and artists took over, including Terry Moore and Humberto Ramos, and then Kathryn Immonen and Sarah Pichelli.
After a break, the Runaways characters appeared in other Marvel comics. For example, Victor Mancha joined the Avengers A.I. team. Nico Minoru and Chase Stein were part of Avengers Arena and Avengers Undercover.
In 2015, a new Runaways series was launched during Marvel's Secret Wars event. This version featured a new team of characters in a different universe. Then, in 2017, Marvel started a brand new Runaways series written by Rainbow Rowell and drawn by Kris Anka. This series ran for 38 issues and ended in 2021.
The Team's Adventures
The story of the Runaways begins when Alex, Chase, Gert, Karolina, Molly, and Nico see their parents, "The Pride", sacrifice a young girl in a strange ceremony. The kids are horrified and run away from home.
As they try to survive on their own, they learn about their special powers and backgrounds. They also steal important items from their parents, like futuristic gloves, a dinosaur, and a magical staff. Using these, they manage to stop their parents, who were working with powerful beings called the Gibborim, from controlling Los Angeles.
During their fight with the Pride, Alex reveals he was secretly loyal to his parents. He betrays the other Runaways, but in the end, he is destroyed by the Gibborim.
With the Pride defeated, Nico becomes the leader. The team promises to stop other villains from taking over Los Angeles. Later, an older version of Gert travels back in time. She asks the Runaways to find a boy named Victor Mancha. She warns them that he will become a supervillain named "Victorious" in her future and kill all heroes.
Gert dies, but the Runaways decide to help. They find Victor and learn his "father" is Ultron, a famous robot villain. Ultron created Victor to be a secret weapon against the Avengers. The Runaways stop this plan. They welcome Victor to their team, as he is also trying to escape a dark family past.
A shape-shifting alien called Skrull Xavin arrives on Earth. Xavin explains that Karolina is their fiancée, arranged by their parents, and they must leave to stop a war between their alien races. After a big fight, Karolina and Xavin escape before their home planet is destroyed. They return to Earth and join the Runaways.
Just as the Runaways defeat a new version of the Pride, Gertrude is badly hurt. Before she dies, she gives her power to control Old Lace to Chase.
Later Challenges and New Members
During the Civil War event, the Young Avengers come to Los Angeles to help the Runaways. They fight government agents and other villains. Chase tries to sacrifice himself to the Gibborim, but the team saves him. This causes the Gibborim to be destroyed.
The Runaways are accidentally sent back in time to 1907. There, they meet Gertrude Yorke's parents, who are still alive. After defeating them and a dangerous gang, a plant-controlling girl named Klara Prast joins the team when they return to the present.
The Runaways also help the Young Avengers during the Secret Invasion, where alien Skrulls invade Earth. Xavin pretends to join the Skrulls to protect the team, helping them escape.
Later, more aliens from Karolina's home planet hunt the Runaways. Xavin changes shape to look like Karolina and leaves with the aliens to protect her friends. The Runaways also stop a zombie outbreak in Los Angeles.
The team faces more challenges. Old Lace is hurt saving Klara. Chase is injured in a car accident while chasing someone who looks like Gertrude.
The Runaways eventually reunite. They work with Daken to defeat a criminal named Marcus Roston, who has ties to the Pride. They also try to find Old Lace, who was sent to a secret dimension.
The Team Changes and Reforms
The Runaways team splits up for a while. Victor joins the Avengers A.I. team. Nico and Chase are captured and forced to fight in Avengers Arena. After Nico dies and is brought back to life, she struggles to return to normal. Chase seems to enjoy his new fame.
Eventually, Chase uses the Yorkes' time machine to go back and save Gert before she dies. The plan mostly works, but Gert is still badly hurt. Nico heals her, and they decide to find the old team members. Karolina is in college and dating Lightspeed. Molly lives with her grandmother. Both decline to rejoin at first.
Gert accepts and becomes Molly's adopted sister. Chase reactivates Victor Mancha, whose head was all that was left. The team reforms and lives in an old underground hideout. Nico and Chase become Molly's legal guardians. Nico and Karolina start a relationship, as do Gert and Victor.
Alex Wilder reappears to warn them about new gods called the Seed of the Gibborim. These gods are descendants of the beings their parents tried to summon. The Seed wants the Runaways to continue the ritual. One of them, Gib, betrays the Seed and joins the team. Alex is cast out because his teammates don't trust him.
The team is later recruited by Doc Justice to become official heroes. But Gert discovers Doc Justice is evil and plans to sacrifice Karolina. The team fights him, and Old Lace kills Doc, offering his soul to Gib.
Team Style
The Runaways comics are different from typical superhero stories. The characters don't use superhero names, wear uniforms, or even call themselves "the Runaways" very often. They mostly fight in their regular clothes and use their real names.
In the first volume, all the characters except Alex Wilder use codenames, but they stop using them later. Molly is the only one who tries to make a costume, but it's from old bed sheets, not a fancy uniform.
Unlike many superhero teams, the Runaways usually have more girls than boys. At one point, there was only one boy on the team with four girls! Other Marvel characters often call them "the Pride's kids" or "those kids in L.A."
The series also makes fun of common superhero catchphrases. For example, Nico once jokingly tells Victor their team's rallying call is "Try not to die."
Main Characters
- Bold indicates current member
Founding Members
| Character | Alias | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Wilder | Runaways #1 (July 2003) | The son of mafia bosses. He was very smart at planning. He betrayed the team and died, but later reappeared. | |
| Nico Minoru | The Gloom; formerly Sister Grimm | The daughter of dark wizards. She is a powerful witch and becomes the group's leader. | |
| Karolina Dean | Princess Justice; formerly Lucy in the Sky | The daughter of alien invaders. She is an alien who gets powers from the sun. | |
| Molly Hayes | Blue-J; formerly Bruiser, Princess Powerful | The daughter of telepathic mutants. She has super-strength and is very tough. | |
| Chase Stein | Gun Arm; formerly Talkback, Neo, Darkhawk, Chasehawk | The son of mad scientists. He uses his father's special flame-throwing gloves called "Fistigons." | |
| Gertrude Yorkes | Formerly Arsenic | The daughter of time-traveling criminals. She had a mind link with Old Lace. She died but was later brought back to life. | |
Later Members
| Character | Alias | Joined in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Lace | Runaways #2 (July 2003) | A dinosaur from the future. She had a mind link with Gert and later Chase. | |
| Topher | Runaways #7 (December 2003) | A vampire who pretended to be a runaway. He tried to turn the team into vampires but was destroyed. | |
| Leapfrog | Runaways #18 (November 2004) | A smart frog-shaped vehicle with lasers and a cloaking device. It's the team's transport. | |
| Victor Mancha | Kid Justice, formerly Victorious | Runaways Volume 2 #6 (September 2005) | A cyborg created by the villain Ultron. He can control electricity and metal. He later joined the Avengers A.I. team. |
| Xavin | Runaways Volume 2 #17 (August 2006) | An alien shape-shifter who can use the powers of the Fantastic Four. Xavin left the team to protect Karolina. | |
| Klara Prast | Formerly Rose Red, Tower of Flower | Runaways Volume 2 #30 (August 2008) | A girl from 1907 who can control plants. She was adopted by a couple after the team split up. |
| Rufus | Runaways Volume 5 #6 (April 2018) | A stray cat given telepathic powers by Molly's grandmother. Rufus joined the team after she was defeated. | |
| Gib | Old God | Runaways Volume 5 #18 (April 2019) | A giant with immense strength, one of the Seed of the Gibborim. He joined the Runaways after betraying his family. |
| Doombot | Runaways Volume 5 #32 (December 2020) | A robot reprogrammed by Hank Pym. He was Victor's friend and later moved in with the team. | |
Other Versions of the Runaways
Heroine
In one possible future, Gertrude's older self, called Heroine, travels back in time. She is the leader of the Avengers in her timeline. However, she and her team are killed by Victor Mancha's future self, who becomes a supervillain called "Victorious."
House of M
In the House of M reality, the Pride rules all of Southern California. The Runaways stay with their parents in this version. When the Scarlet Witch removes most mutants' powers, Molly is one of the few who keeps her super strength.
Marvel Zombies
In Marvel Zombies/Army of Darkness, zombie versions of the Runaways are shown eating Old Lace.
What If...?
In a What If...? story, the Runaways become the Young Avengers. Iron Lad recruits them to be a real superhero team with costumes. It turns out the Iron Lad who brought them together was actually Victor Mancha from the future.
Ultimate Marvel
In the Ultimate Marvel universe, a different version of the Runaways exists. They are an all-mutant team working for S.H.I.E.L.D. Director General Nick Fury. This team is officially named The Runaways in Ultimate Comics: Ultimates.
Battle of the Atom
An adult version of Molly Hayes from an alternate future appears in the X-Men event Battle of the Atom. She is part of a new Brotherhood of Mutants. Molly looks tall and strong, and her powers no longer make her tired. It is later revealed she was under mind control.
Secret Wars
A different group of Runaways stars in the comic's fourth volume during Secret Wars. These kids are students at a special school who discover their "final exams" are deadly. They escape and are chased by other students.
This new team includes alternate versions of Marvel heroes like:
- Amadeus Cho
- Cloak and Dagger
- Delphyne Gorgon
- Frostbite (Sanna Strand)
- Jubilee
- Molly Hayes (the only original Runaways character)
- Pixie (Megan Gwynn)
- Skaar
Awards and Recognition
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Eisner Award | Best Writer | Brian K. Vaughan | Won | |
| 2006 | Harvey Award | Best Continuing or Limited Series | Runaways | ||
| Shuster Award | Outstanding Artist | Adrian Alphona | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Peach Award | Georgia Peach Book Award For Teen Readers | Runaways | ||
| Shuster Award | Outstanding Artist | Adrian Alphona | |||
| 2009 | Eisner Award | Best Cover Artist | Jo Chen | ||
| 2019 | GLAAD Media Award | Outstanding Comic Book | Runaways | ||
| Eisner Award | Best Continuing Series |
Runaways in Other Media
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Television Series
For many years, there were plans to make a Runaways movie. In 2008, the comic's writer, Brian K. Vaughan, was working on the script. However, in 2010, Marvel decided to focus on making The Avengers movie instead. The Runaways film was put on hold.
Later, in 2016, Hulu ordered a pilot episode for a Runaways TV series. It was written by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Filming began in 2017. The main cast members were announced, including Rhenzy Feliz as Alex Wilder, Lyrica Okano as Nico Minoru, Virginia Gardner as Karolina Dean, Ariela Barer as Gert Yorkes, Gregg Sulkin as Chase Stein, and Allegra Acosta as Molly Hernandez. The actors playing their parents, the evil Pride, were also announced. In July 2017, it was confirmed that the show takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Video Games
The Runaways characters have appeared in several video games:
- Nico Minoru (as Sister Grimm) is a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight.
- Nico Minoru, Karolina Dean, Victor Mancha, Chase Stein (with Old Lace), and Molly Hayes are playable in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
- The Runaways are playable characters in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 as part of a special content pack.
- Nico Minoru, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, and Old Lace were playable in the mobile game Marvel Avengers Academy.
- Nico Minoru and Karolina Dean are playable characters in Marvel Puzzle Quest.
- Nico Minoru is a playable character in the role-playing game Marvel's Midnight Suns.
See also
In Spanish: Runaways para niños
