Zachary Palisoc
Apr 17, 2003, 08:38 pm
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/runaways_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/runaways_1t.jpg" align=left alt="Runaways #1 preview"></a>Reviewer: Zachary Palisoc, Zack1778@yahoo.com
Quick Rating: Excellent!
Story Title: Pride and Joy, Chapter One
They're young, they're normal, and they're just about to discover their parents are not who they seem to be!
Written by: Brian K. Vaughan
Pencilled by: Adrian Alphona
Inked by: David Newbold
Colored by: Brian Reber
Cover by: Jo Chen
Lettered by: Paul Tutrone
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Moore
Editor: C.B. Cebulski
Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
Runaways is a pure pleasure to read. It's delightfully fun and full of great laugh-out-loud moments. It's also a book that connects on so many levels and reaches out to the general audience with its worldwide appeal, with Brian K. Vaughan creating characters that we can all connect and sympathize with.
As he introduces these characters--Alex, Gertrude, Karolina, Chase, Molly, and Nic--he gives them each some characteristics that any reader can identify with on a personal level. There's the smart computer geek, the girl going through puberty, the abused boy, the "perfect" good little girl, the intellectual, and the girl who likes black nail polish. But the insight into their characters is only a brief one, as this is simply an introduction issue, spotlighting the main characters and letting the reader know who they are on the surface. There a few interesting dynamics already in play among the characters. One character dislikes somebody for calling him an annoying nickname. One character may have a crush on another character. It all presents an interesting set-up for potential conflicts to come into play in future issues.
And, on the other side of the coin, there are their parents, who doesn't understand them at all. We've all been there before, right? Your parents think you're freaky because you spend too much time on the computer, you have strange taste in clothes, etc. Some of them just don't understand and some of them exhibit not-so-nice qualities toward their children. In fact, only one set of parents have a good, easygoing relationship with their child. It's easy to get frustrated at these parents because I know what where these kids are coming from and I can sympathize with them. These parents keep their kids at a distance, meanwhile accusing them of hiding things and therein is the ultimate irony of it all--because as some of these parents want to be in the know about what their children are doing, they are keeping a secret themselves. And it's a big one.
The plot itself moves along at a brisk pace, keeping the humor infused right up to the last few pages, where it takes a much darker turn. The humor is mostly geared towards teens, including pop-culture references in the book, ranging from M.M.O.R.P.G's to "The Prisoner" DVD's which gives the book an added appeal. In fact, everything about the story is appealing to a broad audience and hits on all emotional levels--the kids, their relationship with their parents and the situation that the kids ultimately find themselves in towards the end when it hits them that their parents aren't the good guys after all. It's practically impossible not to have a smile on your face as you're reading it thanks to the touch of humor that Vaughan adds to almost every page. It's just an enjoyable, clean and fun read.
Speaking of clean and fun, the artwork is very pleasing and easy on the eyes. Jo Chen's cover is eerily abstract, melding every body of the kids featured in the book into one unit, while Adrian Alphona's pens has a simple, uncluttered style to it. It's simple and straightforward. There are no superhero poses, no ripped or muscular bodies. The kids look like they're supposed to, like normal, regular kids that come from your standard family. Most importantly, they look like anybody you could pass by on the street without giving them a second glance and that's what makes the connection to the characters more profound.
If you're looking for a story that you can easily identify with, then, "run" to your nearest comic store and pick this up today! I guarantee that you won't be disappointed!
Art:
http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpg
Story:
http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpg
Overall:
http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpg
Order this book from X-World (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=3497) and save!
Quick Rating: Excellent!
Story Title: Pride and Joy, Chapter One
They're young, they're normal, and they're just about to discover their parents are not who they seem to be!
Written by: Brian K. Vaughan
Pencilled by: Adrian Alphona
Inked by: David Newbold
Colored by: Brian Reber
Cover by: Jo Chen
Lettered by: Paul Tutrone
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Moore
Editor: C.B. Cebulski
Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
Runaways is a pure pleasure to read. It's delightfully fun and full of great laugh-out-loud moments. It's also a book that connects on so many levels and reaches out to the general audience with its worldwide appeal, with Brian K. Vaughan creating characters that we can all connect and sympathize with.
As he introduces these characters--Alex, Gertrude, Karolina, Chase, Molly, and Nic--he gives them each some characteristics that any reader can identify with on a personal level. There's the smart computer geek, the girl going through puberty, the abused boy, the "perfect" good little girl, the intellectual, and the girl who likes black nail polish. But the insight into their characters is only a brief one, as this is simply an introduction issue, spotlighting the main characters and letting the reader know who they are on the surface. There a few interesting dynamics already in play among the characters. One character dislikes somebody for calling him an annoying nickname. One character may have a crush on another character. It all presents an interesting set-up for potential conflicts to come into play in future issues.
And, on the other side of the coin, there are their parents, who doesn't understand them at all. We've all been there before, right? Your parents think you're freaky because you spend too much time on the computer, you have strange taste in clothes, etc. Some of them just don't understand and some of them exhibit not-so-nice qualities toward their children. In fact, only one set of parents have a good, easygoing relationship with their child. It's easy to get frustrated at these parents because I know what where these kids are coming from and I can sympathize with them. These parents keep their kids at a distance, meanwhile accusing them of hiding things and therein is the ultimate irony of it all--because as some of these parents want to be in the know about what their children are doing, they are keeping a secret themselves. And it's a big one.
The plot itself moves along at a brisk pace, keeping the humor infused right up to the last few pages, where it takes a much darker turn. The humor is mostly geared towards teens, including pop-culture references in the book, ranging from M.M.O.R.P.G's to "The Prisoner" DVD's which gives the book an added appeal. In fact, everything about the story is appealing to a broad audience and hits on all emotional levels--the kids, their relationship with their parents and the situation that the kids ultimately find themselves in towards the end when it hits them that their parents aren't the good guys after all. It's practically impossible not to have a smile on your face as you're reading it thanks to the touch of humor that Vaughan adds to almost every page. It's just an enjoyable, clean and fun read.
Speaking of clean and fun, the artwork is very pleasing and easy on the eyes. Jo Chen's cover is eerily abstract, melding every body of the kids featured in the book into one unit, while Adrian Alphona's pens has a simple, uncluttered style to it. It's simple and straightforward. There are no superhero poses, no ripped or muscular bodies. The kids look like they're supposed to, like normal, regular kids that come from your standard family. Most importantly, they look like anybody you could pass by on the street without giving them a second glance and that's what makes the connection to the characters more profound.
If you're looking for a story that you can easily identify with, then, "run" to your nearest comic store and pick this up today! I guarantee that you won't be disappointed!
Art:
http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpg
Story:
http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpg
Overall:
http://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpghttp://www.x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/runfull.jpg
Order this book from X-World (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=3497) and save!