Series: Runaways (2005) #1
Published by Marvel on December 6, 2006
Genres: Graphic Novel, Superheroes
Pages: 144
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Meet Alex, Karolina, Gert, Chase, Molly and Nico - six young friends whose lives are about to take an unexpected dramatic turn. Discovering their parents are all secretly super-villains, together the teens run away from home and vow to turn the tables on their evil legacy!
Since sponsoring the Superhero Club at my school last year, I’ve been keeping my eye out on superhero books. This one caught my eye at my local Half Price Books because of (1) the title, (2) the publisherโMarvel, and (3) the diverse group of teens on the cover.
At some point in their lives, children think of their parents as evil, or at least the enemy. At the beginning of Runaways, Alex’s parents force him to discontinue his subscription to an MMORPG, and pretty much all of the teens are forced to hang out at their parents’ annual gathering. On a whim, the teens decide to spy on their parents’ meeting, expecting to discover nothing worse than an orgy. Instead, they discover that their parents are super-villains.
Runaways features a diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds and personalities. Through them, the creators explore how children may react upon finding out their parents are evil: calling the police, running away, fighting back, wanting to believe in their parents. I enjoyed the mix of personalities. Though they may have their differences, the Runaways prove themselves loyal and strong of heart. They are compelling characters that I can believe in and want to support.
This graphic novel provides a quick read told six short chapters. 144 pages isn’t enough to tell the whole story (the entire arc spans three volumes), but it is enough to introduce the premise for the arc and to give us a feel for the characters’ personalities and abilities. I appreciate the sturdy construction of the pages and the full-color illustrations.
Runaways explores children’s fear of discovering that their parents are evil, a topic that the target audience (teen/YA) will find compelling. This graphic novel may provide even more interest to teens with the recent interest in superheroes. (Note: Runaways is part of the Marvel universe.) Especially since these superheroes-in-the-making are teens themselves.
Content
Let’s Chat
๐ Have you read Runaways? Or any other Marvel graphic novels? What are your thoughts?
๐ If you have recommendations to continue my graphic novel reading adventures, please include them in the comments below!
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer says
Love the Superhero Book club..so cool! Great thrift store find. I like the premise.
Crystal says
Superhero club kept saying that we need to read comics. While this isn’t exactly a comic, I’m sure they’ll enjoy this one. The premise is a lot of fun ๐
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
Ha! I agree that this is a topic most kids and teens can relate to at some point or another. ๐
Crystal says
It was so much fun to read this and think about it from a kid / teen perspective. I’ll have fun sharing this with my students, especially the superhero fans among them ๐
Ethan says
I love the diverse group of characters in this one. Plus a new marvel comic might be just what I need to hold me over to the next movie!
Crystal says
Glad to hear that, Ethan. I hope you enjoy Runaways!
Dani @ Perspective of a Writer says
This is a graphic novel I have been wanting to try! It does sound totally cute as a premise. I do think teens and middle graders will love the focus of this on fighting their evil parents lol. โค๏ธ As for recs… Orphans and Isola are two graphic novels that I enjoyed a ton.
Crystal says
I think they’ll get a kick out of the topic. Kids often complain about the “evil” deeds their parents do, like taking away their cell phones or not letting them skip school on prom day ๐
Thanks for the recs, Dani. I’ll check them out!
Sophia Rose says
Oh wow! You did find a winner for your club library, but I love what you are describing with the kids different reactions to such a shocking secret.
Crystal says
Thanks, Sophia. I love how books can provide different perspectives on topics.