Runaways Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan
#62 in my book challenge for the year. I’ve been reading and loving Vaughan’s Ex Machina and Y the Last Man comic book series for a while, but I had yet to pick up Runaways. My friend the Big Brain told me to be patient; the initial series was going to be collected in a full-size, color hardcover. I’m glad I waited rather than picking up the individual issues here and there. The art, by newcomer Adrian Alphona, is distinctive and engaging, and it benefits from the increase in size. Runaways is the story of six teenagers who accidentally discover that their parents are supervillains. Some have powers of their own, others have gadgets, and one has a genetically engineered pet velociraptor. As the series progresses, both the parents and the teens are fleshed out believably. One of the teens is revealed as the mole, and another turns out to have a surprising crush. In the notes that accompany this collection, Vaughan writes that he was trying to make a true all-ages book, one that could be read, understood and enjoyed by kids and adults. I think he’s succeeded, and am now awaiting the next Runaways collection.