Marvel Comics
Runaways #25
By Zak Edwards
July 4, 2007 - 04:28

Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Joss Whedon
Penciller(s): Michael Ryan
Cover Artist(s): Jo Chen



Runaways #25

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I, like many others, was saddened when I heard the news of Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona’s departure from one of Marvel’s best new properties.  Will Molly be the same, are the kids going to still be so real and possess an endearing cartoonish quality that the team created over forty some issues?  I was scared, and then Marvel announced the new team: Joss Whedon and Michael Ryan.  My first thought was “crap.”  I read on an internet post somewhere something to the effect of “great, now we’ll get Runaways plagued by all sorts of delays.”  That didn’t bother me.  What bothered me were two things: first, how much rope are they going to give Joss Whedon, and two, is he going to hang himself with it.

The book is out and I have some answers to my many questions and worries.  Unfortunately, not all the answers are good ones.  Joss Whedon may be a big fan of Runaways, but that doesn’t mean he can write the book.  I expected more from the man who is doing such an amazing job on Astonishing X-Men.  He completely ignored Brian K. Vaughan’s ending last issue and plopped the kid’s into New York without any rhyme nor reason.  There seems to be no motivation for the kids moving across the entire country.  One of the best things about Runaways was the fact that they were away from the Big Apple, isolated from the rest of the universe, Whedon has removed that completely.  Also, the characters just don’t seem the same in his hands, especially Molly.  Whedon’s attempt at a “out of the mouth of babes” moment fell flat and at Xavin’s expense, a character that is not an idiot, and yet Whedon treats him/her as such.  But it isn’t all bad.  There are some moments I enjoyed, as I’m sure you will find out.  Whedon has seemed to capture Chase as a character and deepen the Xavin-Carolina-Nico relationship.  If your just hopping on board, you will probably think I’m crazy to be saying these things about this issue because, from that viewpoint, it’s a solid read.  The kids are great characters with an all-star supporting cast, I’m just underwhelmed at this point.  If you’re reading this, Mr. Vaughan and Mr. Alphona, your Runaways are in desperate need of a direction to be running in.

As for the art, Michael Ryan is a talented artist and does a very good job of handling Whedon’s awkward script.  Ryan seems to have followed what Alphona was doing and bring his own style into the mix with great results.  I enjoy what he’s doing, the kids still have some flavour to them.  There is a classic feel to them, I hope he sticks around.

6.5/10  Art is good, story is lacking.  Whedon should stick to Astonishing X-Men.

And remember, feel free to e-mail me your own thoughts at zak@comicbookbin.com

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